My book recommendations from the 9 books I’ve read recently.
My reading challenge for this year is to read 30 books and so far I’ve read 22. In the last couple of months, I’ve read 9 books – a mix of fiction and memoirs – and most of them were pretty good.
My latest book recommendations
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
Cleo books a week away on a remote Irish island, to celebrate her 30th birthday and indulge in some much-needed alone-time as she takes stock of her life. Mac is also looking forward to some time by himself in this cabin, after some big changes in his life in Boston. This double-booking mix-up means that they’re both booked into the one-bedroom cabin for the same dates and they’ve got to work something out before the next weekly ferry arrives.
I loved this book so much while I was reading it that I didn’t want it to end. And I really hope that Josie Silver writes a sequel to this story. It was just the kind of escapism I needed at the time and I’d highly recommend this one.
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The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? And this one did not disappoint. Jess jets off to Paris to stay with her brother, Ben in his Paris apartment, but when she gets there her brother isn’t there. And the longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess digs into the situation that’s unfolding. Ben’s neighbours seem to know more than they’re letting on. And the suspense continues to heighten as new information emerges. You may not be able to put this one down at bedtime so be warned.
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Nobody will tell you this but me: A true (as told to me) story by Bess Kalb
Bess Kalb, a TV writer and New Yorker contributor, writes this memoir about her relationship with her grandmother. It tells the stories of four generations of strong women, divulging family secrets and bringing to life different times in history. Parts of it were amazing. But I ended up only giving it 3 stars on Goodreads.
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This is going to hurt: Secret diaries of a junior doctor by Adam Kay
This is Adam Kay’s account of his time working as a junior doctor for the NHS. It’s essentially a diary of his years spent on the wards – with many a harrowing story and a few jokes thrown in for good measure. He writes very well and his book shows (in lots of detail) how incredibly difficult life is for junior doctors. But while you will have a giggle every now and then, you’re left with a rather negative feeling for the NHS system after finishing the book. But having said that, I do recommend this one.
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Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
This is the story of the Delaney family – Stan (dad), Joy (mom) and their grown-up children – Amy, Logan, Troy and Brooke. One night a stranger (Savannah) knocks at Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding and needing their help. She then moves in which makes the grown-up children uneasy. Then Joy goes missing and Savannah is nowhere to be found. The police question Stan who seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney siblings think their father is innocent of any wrongdoing but the other two are not so sure. This book had me guessing right until the end. Fun read.
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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
This is an American classic about a young girl’s coming of age at the turn of the century, in New York. It took a while to get into the writing style but I found this book so fascinating and I learnt a lot. At a time when life seems overwhelming, it’s interesting to read about how life used to be and how far civilisation and society have come. Worth a read.
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Related: 7 Great Books I’ve Read This Year, so Far
Still Hot! 42 Brilliantly Honest Menopause Stories by Kaye Adams
I loved this collection of short stories about menopause. There is a great diversity of contributors to this book and it is one of the most informative books I’ve read about menopause recently. I’d highly recommend it to those who are still a good few years away from perimenopause and also to those who are just starting their perimenopause journey. Because being prepared and informed is so beneficial.
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Taste: My Life through Food by Stanley Tucci
I had seen this book recommended by so many people that I decided to take the plunge and see what everybody was raving about. Honestly, I wasn’t blown away by this book, but it was fun to get to know more about Stanley Tucci’s life – from childhood, to when he started out on his acting journey, all the way through to the present day. He even covers his Covid lockdown experience and most revealingly, his illness.
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Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up by Selma Blair
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because Selma Blair’s writing style is easy to read and her content kept me glued to my Kindle. In fact, I finished this book in one day! There are some shocking revelations in these pages and it shows Hollywood from a very personal perspective which is fascinating. I don’t usually read celebrity memoirs, but this one is a goodie.
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In conclusion
I hope this book list has given you some reading inspiration and that you at least find one book that appeals to you. Reading choices are so personal, aren’t they? But I seem to have covered a diverse range of topics with this list – romance, thriller, whodunnit, menopause, food, memoir, history, medical, and family relationships.
I think I needed some author and genre variety after finishing The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley, back to back! That series was good fun – have you read them?
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