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Original poster

Easy to read book that isn't a love story

62 replies

Adollop · 24/10/2019 18:57

I'm looking for a new book. I loved Eleanor Oliphant and also just finished The Lido, great book.

So long for something like that, not keen on love stories these days. I'm in my fifties and find them a bit sickly. I've enjoyed a lot of Marian Keyes books, also Lisa Jewell, although not as much her latest ones. I prefer books set in Britain.

So what have you read recently and enjoyed that fits the bill?

OP posts:
astridstar · 25/10/2019 16:59

I loved the 5 books in the Cazelet Chronicles by Elizabeth Howard:-

•	All Change
•	Casting Off
•	The Light Years
•	Confusion
•	Marking Time

Suggested then to friends who have really enjoyed them as well. They begin in the late 1930s and follow the various family members through to the fifties.

JoinTheMicrodots · 25/10/2019 16:20

The sequel to The Rosie Project was a bit shit but worth reading so that you can read the third in the series, which was excellent.

The Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. You have to bear with the slightly dubious attitudes (in places) of the characters to start with - the first ones were written in the 70s and they’re set in the 1880s-1920s. They were supposed to be tongue in cheek and taking off a certain style of victorian adventure novel. They’re funny and it’s a long series, so something to get your teeth into. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Peabody_series

drspouse · 25/10/2019 16:18

I loved The Help but it IS sad.
I've also loved almost all of Barbara Kingsolver.
I read a lot of mysteries. I've loved the Lewis series (as in, Island of)

raisinseverywhere · 25/10/2019 16:15

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

HuckfromScandal · 25/10/2019 16:11

Came on to say Chronicle of St Mary’s
Really really enjoyed
Funny escapism.
Can’t recommend enough!

BikeRunSki · 25/10/2019 16:09

This is Going to Hurt - Adam Kaye

Original poster
Adollop · 25/10/2019 16:07

Thanks, that sounds good, I've downloaded a few samples into my kindle.

OP posts:
Springfern · 25/10/2019 15:32

Wolitzer**

Springfern · 25/10/2019 15:32

Anything by Elizabeth Strout or Meg Wolitzer - Womotzer wrote The Wife (which was made into a film last year) but all her other books are great as well

Original poster
Adollop · 25/10/2019 00:39

Thanks, I'll look at those.

I've read one of Liane Moriartys books. It was ok.

I've read some of Dorothy Koomstons earlier books, they were quite good.

I struggled with Gerald Durrell.

Loved Harold Fry, I'm not sure if I've read the sequel, so will look for that.

I've read all David Nicholls books, loved them.

OP posts:
Papergirl1968 · 24/10/2019 23:59

Liane Moriarty, sorry.

Papergirl1968 · 24/10/2019 23:57

I was going to suggest Liane Moriaty but she’s Australian so her books tend to be set there.
Dorothy Koomson writes some good ones, usually set in Brighton.

Ludways · 24/10/2019 23:13

The Chronicles of St Mary's series by Jodi Taylor are funny and interesting. I'd thoroughly recommend. First one is Just One Damned Thing After Another. They're dubbed as fantasy as they involve time travel but they travel to real events, observe and get into muddled, no weird stuff.

damnilovejam · 24/10/2019 22:56

The Keeper Of Lost Things is excellent

nearlynermal · 24/10/2019 22:52

Gerald Durrell's Corfu trilogy? The Garden of the Gods was my favourite.

Cuddling57 · 24/10/2019 22:50

Also Still Missing by Chevy Stevens is one of my favs

Cuddling57 · 24/10/2019 22:49

Yes definitely The Rosie Project

PerspicaciaTick · 24/10/2019 22:48

Nation isn't fantasy. It is the story of an island, a tsunami and the survivors in a sort of Victorian era.

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead · 24/10/2019 22:47

Agree with The Help.

Also The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and the sequel The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is also brill although it did make me cry.

rookiemere · 24/10/2019 22:45

oh sorry just read your OP and can see you've already read Lisa jewell and Marian Keyes Blush.

Ok try Us by David Nicholls part disintegrating marriage part European guide book. I loved it.

ODFOx · 24/10/2019 22:45

Try Magnus Mills. Short, easy to read, entertaining.
Or Tom Sharpe.
Both laugh out loud but slightly odd/off kilter.

TheWildOnesNeverDie · 24/10/2019 22:42

Ever the Optimist by Gylisa Jayne

There’s a relationship in it but it’s not sickly, and is an interesting true to life story!

rookiemere · 24/10/2019 22:42

The Immortalists - where a group of siblings are told what date they will die on - great read. Or try anything recent by Lisa Jewell or The Breakup by Marian Keyes. Or how about The Testaments by Margaret Atwood ?

Papergirl1968 · 24/10/2019 22:35

I’m really enjoying The Help by Kathryn Stockett - about the black maids employed by white families in Jackson, Mississippi, and the wider racial segregation and tensions.
It’s not sad as such so far (halfway through) but it is shocking. But very easy to read and thought provoking.

Alabasterangel6 · 24/10/2019 22:35

And capital by John lanchester

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