I like both James and Proverbs as being very approachable in regard to common sense that easily translates to the modern day.

When it comes to the Gospels, I always prefer Matthew.

Revelations is heavy. And I know you said you want to read the texts, but our paster recently started a sermon series on Revelations. What is cool is how he explains how John wrote that book with two audiences in mind: the Jews who knew their "Old Testament" and the Romans who could apply in a current context (their own gods, guilds, wars/sports games, etc). Each party would read it and say "ahh, I see what you did there".

Those messages are online (video and podcast) and he's the best I've heard in regard to providing historical context.