I was a huge SF fan when i was younger, but gradually the habit to read books disappeared from my radar. But i decided to pick it up again and bought two books to start with:
I am almost halfway through the Three body problem from Cixin Liu, but frankly; so far, i don't get the appeal. The way the author writes is quite cold or distancing - if that is a word - and i find it hard to feel for any of the characters.
So, i also just started reading Children of time, from Adrian Tchaikovski.
Just started Bob Legion. LOVE it so far. If you like bob and haven't done Project Hail Marry there's some common DNA. Also the audiobook voice actor is the same.
I just finished The Dark Forest and I've got to say: I was not enjoying myself until halfway through. TBP was a slog and the first half of TDF was more of the same. But the second half of TDF? It was alllll worth it for me. I couldn't put it down and I'm super excited to start book three.
I finished it and it picked up in the final couple of chapters, but i too still preferred Children of Time; that was maybe the most eye opening 'what if' about a completely believable alien species. I've read many SF books, but this one was the only one where i found it to be a totally convincing, completely different species.