10 Fascinating Books to Read in Spanish Right Now

For those of us who speak English as our primary language, English-language books, movies and even music probably makes up most of our media diet, and it's easy to assume that's the best of what entertainment has to offer. But there's a wealth of pleasure available in languages other than English that's as beautifully diverse as the United States itself.

The makeup of our country's demographics show that a lot of people get left out of the conversation if we're only holding it in English. The Hispanic and Latinx population in the U.S. is 18.9%, according to the most recent Census data, and more than 30 million people ages 5 and older speak Spanish. Those numbers are only projected to rise, so there's real demand for Spanish language books and entertainment such as movies, in general. For people who want to read books in their native Spanish, or practice their language skills in a fun and immersive way, below are some of the best Spanish-language books to explore.

If you're picking up a novel to improve your Spanish skills, here are a few tips for success:

• Don't look up every word you don't know. Reaching for the dictionary every few sentences is a real drag. Instead, see if you can use context clues to decipher new vocabulary.
• Choose topics you enjoy. After all, this is supposed to be more fun than traditional language learning classes!
• Give it time. You didn't learn your primary language overnight, did you? Take it slow, be patient with yourself, and you'll be a fluent Spanish reader in no time. And if your brain needs a break, check out some of our favorite books by Hispanic and Latinx authors written in English next.