My Favorite Star Wars Books

My most-recommended Star Wars books for every kind of reader.

On this week’s episode of Now This Is Lit, I discussed some of my all-time favorite Star Wars books.

These books are stories I both frequently recommend to fellow readers and have a strong desire to spend as much time getting lost in as possible. Let’s talk more about these books and what makes them truly special.

Phasma (Delilah S. Dawson)

Part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi series of releases, Delilah S. Dawson’s Phasma tells the story of the book’s title character … through the eyes of the eyes of another character. It’s the perfect way to tell the mysterious life story of someone who spends most of their days hiding behind a literal mask.

The book introduces the character of Vi, now a Galaxy’s Edge staple and a fan-favorite. Vi also appears in the book Black Spire, an unofficial sequel to Dawson’s first Star Wars novel.

I love this book largely because Phasma is my favorite Star Wars character (yes, of all time). But it’s also a captivating story. And terrifying, dark — Andor ruined the word “gritty” for me, but you get the message.

Most Wanted (Rae Carson)

Rae Carson’s Most Wanted remains one of my favorite Star Wars novels of all time. I knew it was a treasure within a few pages. Even though I’ve only read it once, I really hope to add some repeat reads to my tab.

Qi’ra and Han are young Corellians doing whatever it takes to survive—and for them, this means doing the dirty work of some of the sector’s biggest crime lords. It’s not a great way to live, but it’s better than not living at all.

Some day they’ll get away. But not now. Not yet.

This book is so well-paced and thrilling and, yes, a little sad. But it’s the perfect book to read before you watch Solo again. Speaking of which …

Solo: A Star Wars Story novelization (Mur Lafferty)

I’ve followed Mur for so long, and was so thrilled when she announced she would be writing a Star Wars book. The Solo novelization is a true work of art.

It’s a unique set of skills to write a novelization of a film that hasn’t been released yet, and Mur was the perfect person for this project. The scenes she added and expanded made the story so much more meaningful to me.

And the epilogue!! I will not spoil it, though it’s tempting.

Ahsoka (EK Johnston)

I’ve read this book twice now. Not everyone is a fan of Johnston or her storytelling, but the book and its plot remain one of the most special entries into the expanded universe for me.

Ahsoka was the book that brought me back to Star Wars books after a very long hiatus—I’ve spoken about this several times on the show before. It’s a book about trauma and sacrifice and selflessness and being honest with yourself about what’s right and necessary and true.

A year after Order 66 and the violent formation of the Galactic Empire, Ahsoka Tano is in hiding. But she’s Ahsoka Tano. She’s going to do whatever it takes to protect the innocent, even if it endangers her own life.

Some of the best lightsaber lore here, too. I’m drooling a little bit, not going to lie.

Bloodline (Claudia Gray)

One of my personal favorite Leia stories of all time, Claudia Gray’s Bloodline takes place between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

A key member of the New Republic Senate, Leia seems to be on track to significantly advancing her career … until information about her past puts everything she has worked to achieve in jeopardy (and if we’re being honest, perspective).

The book does a brilliant job of explaining the formation of the Resistance and why Leia ends up in that position later on. It also introduces some fascinating characters that may or may not show up in other books set later on in the timeline.

And also … Leia. What’s not to love?

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Let me know some of your favorite Star Wars books! Canon! Legends! Comics! All of it counts. All that matters is that you love it.

Now This Is Lit is a podcast celebrating Star Wars books, the people who make them, and the readers who can’t get enough of them. Listen to the latest episode on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.