Hmm - book recommendations -

anything by Sheri S Tepper - especially Grass and Family Tree (she is a fantasy/ sci-fi type and also feminist)

I highly recommend Snowcrash by Neil Stevenson

I also really liked Neuromancer by William Gibson

Both Gibson and Stevenson fit in the sci-fi / cyberpunk areas

For romance the Vicki Lewis Thompson Nerd series are great. They're funny and a quick read.

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein is a classic sci-fi that is awesome
also by Heinlein is Stranger in a Strange Land