recommend me an easy but addictive read

[avocadogreen]

I need distraction. Going through a messy separation and I have found myself drawn to Closer magazine and Eastenders for light relief, ignoring my poor Kindle. It has to stop!

Can anyone recommend something fast-paced and entertaining, not too heavy, definitely not romance. Usually I love authors like Maggie O'Farrell, Audrey Niffenegger, Ian McEwan, Dave Eggers... I recently read Gone Girl and enjoyed that, also loved the new Bridget Jones.

[melrose87]

I find celebrity autobiographies/biographies quite good to read and they aren't too strenuous! I enjoyed Cheryl Cole's autobiography - it was an easy read and was quite addictive. Also recently read the book that Amy Winehouse's father wrote about her career, fame and problems. That is quite a sad read for obvious reasons but kept me hooked. Depends who you're interested in really.

I'm reading a book called Before I Go To Sleep by S.J Watson at the moment. Similar to Gone Girl (which I liked) and seems good so far.

[yesnoyesnoyesno]

Room by Emma donoghue

[EyelinerQueen]

I really wanted to love both Gone Girl and Before I Go to Sleep but found both frustratingly disappointing.

In a similar vein and much much better is Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes.

[Chopsypie]

Try the night circus. Little bit of romance but not much and it's a fascinating story, really unusual.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Yy to Room great book.
I liked before I go to sleep but the ending was a but disappointing.
Read 'me and emma' and 'this perfect world' recently and they were both fab

[Foosyerdoos]

Tales of the City books by Armistead Maupin. The chapters are short and the characters are very engaging.

[ilovenetmums]

The goldfinch long but amazing

[avocadogreen]

Some good suggestions- I love Tales of the city, actually maybe I will reread them. In fact wasn't there another sequel recently...?

I have read Room, I really enjoyed that. Before I Go To Sleep sounds popular, I will have a look. Thanks!

[Kleptronic]

Terry Pratchett is my chick lit. He just loves humans.

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

I've just finished The Innocents. Really enjoyed it.

[Rommell]

Sorry to hear about your separation and hope that you are in a better headspace soon.

Books that I enjoy for a bit of light relief:

Wise Children by Angela Carter. Little bit of the magical realism that she is known for but really it's a very engaging romp with good strong likeable characters that moves at a cracking pace.

The Collector Collector by Tibor Fischer - life, the universe and everything as seen through the eyes of a precious pot. Yes, it's the kind of creative writing exercise that bored you to tears at school, but here it's done by a master who whips in a breathtaking amount of scenes and people, all done with a wit that made me if not laugh out loud then at least chuckle, even when I was sitting on my own with it.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - kind of like being let into the coolest clique that existed at your 6th form/uni group.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - genuinely funny with lots of in-jokes about literature which if you have even a passing knowledge of the 'classics' will make you laugh and nod and feel like a genius for getting.

[BaileysOnRocks]

Any Paige toon book, she's fabulous!

[pootlebug]

The Rosie Project
Miss Buncle's Book
Miss Pettigrew lives for a day

[TurnOverTheTv]

The Husbands Secret. Took me a day to read. I couldn't put it down!

[Hiphopopotamus]

The Hunger Games - written for adolescents, so very easy read. But very very addictive!

[Foosyerdoos]

The Days of Anna Madrigal was released recently Avo, I re read the earlier ones recently in preparation but I am saving the new ones for my hols.

I also like Bill Bryson if I want something not to taxing and cheery.

[5ofus]

Wool by Hugh Howey.

Actually I think a teen read but it grabbed me.

[SpringyReframed]

The first book I managed to read in those dark days you're going through was Eat Pray Love. It really cheered me up. I then watched the film several times, and took up yoga

[mmack]

Do you ever read crime? The Jo Nesbo Harry Hole books are very addictive and would keep you reading for weeks. Or The Passage by Justin Cronin. I couldn't put it down when I was reading it last year. Or any of the Curtis Sittenfeld books, all very readable and not romances.

[Ubik1]

I read alot on nightshift and it had to be reasonably easy and addictive so I don't resort to daily mail website instead.

I enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy fir sheer escapism (which is what you need) also Stoner was good -nothi g really happens but it is beautifully write .

I also like Jon Ronson for a bit of popular journalism -The Psychopath Test and Themwere very good.

Oh also any Daphne Du Maurier -she is a master storyteller, Rebecca especially.

Also Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy -it is unputdownable and good quality writing: " Every man carries the seeds of his own destruction" never a truer word written.

[Ubik1]

I would rather read the DM website than read Eat Pray Love

[EyelinerQueen]

Now that The Hunger Games has been mentioned I feel like I can recommend A Song of Ice and Fire without losing credibility .

They are seriously addictive books. I read the lot in a couple of months and I was an absolute fantasy hater. I have never felt so completely immersed in a fictional world!

[MincingOnBy]

Quick and easy light reads for chick lit/funny - Sophie kinsella, Marian Keyes, Jodi picoult, Alexandra potter - be careful what you wish for

Good thrillers - shutter island, the millennium trilogy by stieg Larsen if you haven't already read them, child 66 by Tom rob smith, Linwood Barclay, Sophie Hannah

I also second hunger games, and if you like those try divergent by Veronica Roth.

[Cheboludo]

I'd second Room and The Eyre Affair. Room was surprisingly uplifting and The Eyre Affair is hilarious.

Very light but readable recommendations would be Love, Nina, the Rosie Project, the Husband's Secret.

I hated Before I Go to Sleep because I thought there were way too many plotholes but I recently read ALex by Pierre le maître and it was amazing -one of the best crime novels I've read in a very long time (though it is quite graphic without being gratuitous.)

Other recommendations which aren't light or fluffy but are exceptionally good are The End of Everything by Megan Abbott, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, Crooked letter, Crooked letter, any Angela Carter or Jeffrey Eugenides.

I find YA excellent for keeping my attention when I'm stressed or worried: the Hunger Games, The Northern Lights etc.

I hope things get better and less messy very soon.