I always get such a thrill when I buy a new batch of books from Amazon. It must be the prospect of Autumn on the horizon (writing this on a cold and rainy Sunday in London seems particularly apt) but stocking up on good reads is simply the equivalent of a hot cup of chocolate or snuggling up in a cosy blanket with the fire roaring in the background.
Here is what I’ve been reading and will be reading over the coming weeks – mostly a fiction fan, I also love to dabble in autobiography and memoir-writing, alongside women’s fiction and a good old thriller. Read on if you’re looking for any book recommendations, hopefully there’s something for everyone in this round-up…
Neon in Daylight by Hermione Hoby; I adored this book. Telling the parallel stories of two young women trying to find themselves in an especially hot and sticky New York summer, this book made me want to read it with a glass of wine in hand with my head out the window on a summer evening. I loved being in the world of indecisive and flippant Inez as she tries to find her place in the world. Really evocative and an easy read – perfect for a beach holiday.
Sunburn by Laura Lipmann. This psychological thriller tells the story of a summer love between Polly and Adam. Both meeting by chance and not able to let the other go, both embark on a passionate affair whilst still hiding things from the other. Then someone dies…was it an accident or part of the plan? This sounds like another great page-turner from New York Times best-selling author Laura Lipmann.
Tiny Beautiful Things: ‘Advice on Love and Life from someone who’s been there’ by Cheryl Strayed; I was recommended this book by WILD author, Cheryl, who has written down her thoughts on life, love and many other things through this collection of her agony aunt columns. For several years, thousands turned to Cheryl Strayed, a then-anonymous internet Agony Aunt. Having successfully battled her own demons while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl then took to answering the letters of the frightened, the anxious and the confused. With each correspondence – of which the best are collected in this volume – she’s proved to be the perfect guide for those who had got a little lost in life…I can’t wait to get stuck in.
Beautiful Animals by Lawrence Osbourne. This novel by Brit author Lawrence, is a psychological thriller set on the greek island of Hydra. Described as ‘compulsive reading’ by The Guardian, I’ll be taking this on my next holiday.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. I’ve been waiting to read this book for a while – I love that the basis of the novel poses the question; ‘If you knew the date of your death, how would you choose to live your life?’ The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes when a fortune-teller woman comes into their lives in NYC in the late ’60s. The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in ’80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality. Described as ‘A sweeping novel of remarkable ambition and depth, The Immortalists probes the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next.’ Can’t wait to read this one.
The Wild Other by Clover Stroud; Recommended to me by The High Low podcast, a favourite weekly listen of mine, I have yet to delve into the pages of Clover’s memoir. But I am told this book is a grippingly honest account of love, loss, family and the healing strength of nature – a powerful and emotional story of an extraordinary life lived at its fullest.
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman – this is the next pick for our book club (follow us on Instagram here if you don’t already!). A brilliantly pacey thriller with the tagline ‘the perfect couple commit the perfect crime’, this novel has more twists and turns that you can imagine and set against the idyllic island of Bora Bora, all is clearly not as it seems in paradise…
How Do You Like Me Now? by Holly Bourne; Known for her Young Adult writing, this is Holly’s first adult work of fiction as we follow Tori, a successful Self-Help author, who is navigating her early thirties and the balance between what is happiness and what we convey to our friends on social media. It’s hilarious, touching and will resonate with anyone within this age group – it reminded me of Dolly Alderton’s writing and so if you liked her book, then you will love this.
Adele by Leila Slimani; I was a HUGE fan of Lullaby and have written about that book on the blog before. In her follow-up novel, Leila explores the life of Parisian Adele; a sex addicted woman who is trying to navigate her way in the world as she struggles with her own selfish desires and her role as mother and wife. It’s a really uncomfortable but important read and Leila is establishing herself as an incredible writer of woman you will love to hate.
Normal People by Sally Rooney; Sally Rooney’s debut Conversations with Friends (which I adored by the way) was famously bought in a seven-way auction when she was just 25 – earning her the nickname the Salinger for the Snapchat generation. Her follow-up, Normal People, has already been shortlisted for this year’s Man Booker Prize and the simple plot follows the relationship between young Irish adults Connell and Marianne. Hugely likeable and a refreshing change to read a genuine love story. If you liked ‘One Day’, then this book is also for you.
True Roots by Kristin Cavallari; If anyone else is a fellow fan of The Hills, you’ll know Kristin. Well here she is writing her own lifestyle /cookbook and I’m a huge fan of some of these simple and healthy recipes, interwoven with lifestyle sections about her life in Nashville.
Happy reading guys! Would always love to know any further recommendations on other books you’ve been loving recently.
LMNH x
