Where Do We Go From Here: A Reading Pathway Through Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim

These recommendations begin with the books Elle from Elle Reads Library Books then branch out into additional titles inspired by the themes of Sublimation.

One of my favorite moments in every Books With Friends conversation comes at the very end, when I ask my guest one simple question: Where do we go from here?

Rather than recommending books that are simply like the one we’ve just discussed, I ask what books continue the conversation.

For our second Books With Friends, I had the pleasure of talking with Elle Reads Library Books, whose thoughtful recommendations and love of libraries remind us that books are invitations to keep exploring. If you'd like to get to know Elle beyond our conversation, I especially recommend reading her curated list about American history. You can check it out here.

Thanks! Now back to the post.🤗

Our discussion centered on Sublimation, Isabel J. Kim’s debut speculative science fiction novel, releasing in June 2026.

Kim imagines a world where crossing an international border causes an immigrant to “instance,” creating two separate versions of the same person. One remains behind while the other begins life somewhere new. Through that striking premise, the novel explores immigration, identity, belonging, regret, memory, and the impossible question of whether we can ever reclaim the lives we leave behind.

As a curator, I am less interested in helping readers find books that feel the same and more interested in helping them explore a theme from multiple perspectives. I hope that these books broaden the conversation, challenge assumptions, spark curiosity, and perhaps even introduce you to a voice you might not have discovered otherwise.

And if I may offer one final suggestion: invite a friend to join you because books help us live more examined lives, but conversation helps us see further.

✨Means it was recommended by Elle. Enjoy!

✨Dark Matter by Blake Crouch | American | Male | Speculative Thriller A gripping exploration of alternate lives, identity, and the haunting question of who we might have become had we made different choices.

✨The Midnight Library by Matt Haig | British | Male | Speculative Fiction A hopeful novel about regret, possibility, and learning that the life we imagine isn’t always the one that brings fulfillment.

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin | African American | Female | Science Fantasy A Hugo Award-winning novel about survival, fractured identities, and rebuilding a world shaped by systems of oppression and loss.

✨The Odyssey by Homer (Emily Wilson translation) | Ancient Greek | Translation by an American Female Classicist | Epic Poetry A timeless story of homecoming, endurance, and how both people and places change while we’re away.

✨Exit West by Mohsin Hamid | British-Pakistani | Male | Literary Fiction A beautiful novel that uses magical doors to explore migration, displacement, and love.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi | Ghanaian American | Female | Historical Fiction An extraordinary multigenerational novel examining home, migration, family, and the lasting consequences of forced displacement.

Dear America by Jose Antonio Vargas | Filipino American | Male | Memoir A powerful reflection on citizenship, identity, and living between worlds.

Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz | Mojave American | Female | Poetry A stunning collection exploring Indigenous identity, language, borders, and belonging.

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson | African American | Female | Narrative Nonfiction An unforgettable history of the Great Migration that reveals how movement, hope, and the search for belonging have shaped generations of Black Americans.

✨The Circle by Dave Eggers | American | Male | Dystopian Fiction A cautionary novel about technology, surveillance, and the subtle erosion of individuality.

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong | Korean American | Female | Essays & Cultural Criticism A thoughtful examination of race, identity, and belonging in America.

Passing by Nella Larsen | African American | Female | Classic Fiction A brilliantly layered novel exploring identity, race, belonging, and the complicated choices we make to survive within society’s expectations.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro | British Japanese | Male | Literary Science Fiction A haunting meditation on memory, love, mortality, and what makes a life meaningful.

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang | Taiwanese American | Male | Short Story Collection Speculative fiction that explores language, consciousness, time, and the consequences of human choice.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler | African American | Female | Science Fiction A visionary novel about migration, community, resilience, and imagining a future beyond collapse.

🎉Want to Read a Book With Me?

Whether it’s literary fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, nonfiction, poetry—or a hidden gem you think deserves more attention—I want to hear about it.

I’m especially excited to feature fellow Substack writers and creators, and if you’re an author, I’d love to read and talk about your book as well.

If you’d like to be a guest on Books With Friends, send me a DM.🤗

Many Thanks 💖

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for continuing the conversation with us. One of the greatest joys of reading is discovering that a single book can lead us in countless directions, and I hope this pathway helps you find your next meaningful read.

Every book featured in this reading pathway links to my Bookshop.org storefront.

To Date they have raised over $48,000,000.00 for local bookstores!

If you choose to purchase through those links, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Those commissions help support future reading guides, Books With Friends conversations, and my ever-present café writing habit—while also supporting independent bookstores and the communities they serve.

I’d love to hear from you. Have you read any of these books? Is there one you’re excited to pick up next? Or is there another title that you think belongs in this conversation? Share your thoughts in the comments—I truly believe the best reading lists are built together.

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to visit Elle Reads Library Books and explore her wonderful corner of the bookish world. Her thoughtful recommendations and passion for libraries are a gift to readers everywhere. And if you stop by, tell her I said hello. ❤️

Until next time… wherever your reading takes you, I hope it leads to another great conversation.