The Prince of Tides

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy is a family saga spanning 40 years of the Wingo family, narrated by Tom Wingo to a therapist to save his twin sister Savannah, delving into their traumatic Southern upbringing filled with love, darkness, and harrowing experiences. I discovered Conroy on a whim and became obsessed—his prose is the most eloquent I've ever read, making the South a vivid character, and he handles sensitive topics with tenderness unlike anyone else. This chunky book changed my life, with trigger warnings for its intensity, but the relationships and wordplay are masterful. I recommend it to give Conroy more love in the book community; if it's too long, try South of Broad, but this will show why he's my favorite author—you won't regret the emotional journey.