Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Need unputdownable easy reads. Please recommend.

56 replies

DoggoDallow · 26/04/2025 19:33

I'm dealing with tons of stress right now, finding it hard to concentrate and get into books. Please suggest me any books that will hook me from the start but are not too taxing to read.
I'm open to most genres except graphic novels and sci-fi.

OP posts:
wrongthinker · 26/04/2025 20:46

theotherfossilsister · 26/04/2025 20:42

Also Frances Hardinge’s novels. They are aimed at teenagers but I loved Gullstruck Island, couldn’t stop reading.

Ooh I forgot about her! Love her books.

Also Margaret Elphinstone. Her novels are wonderful.

SmoothRoads · 26/04/2025 20:45

The Harry Potter series. It's written for children, but I still can't them down every time I start reading them.

Atarin · 26/04/2025 20:44

StanfreyPock · 26/04/2025 20:35

Robert Harris spins a good yarn if you prefer a thriller, he wrote Conclave, also Ghost about a political ghost writer, and Pompeii, a very accurate but fast moving account of the eruption of Vesuvius. Various others also in print, easy reads.

Pompeii was brilliant, and I am definitely not a lover of historical novels.

I second Lianne Moriarty for some easy but interesting reading. Anthony Horrowitz is also perfect for an easy reading whodunnit - my favourites are the ‘Word is Murder’ series, but the Magpie Murders are good too. Lucy Foley is good for this too.

John Irving books are always an interesting story.

Mote recently I have enjoyed ‘Lessons in Chemistry’, and ‘What a Way to Go’, the latter being a fun dark comedy with Jilly Cooper notes!

wrongthinker · 26/04/2025 20:43

Anything by Louise Candlish. Also most things by Laura Lippman. Patricia Highsmith is always gripping.

One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall.

Jane Fallon's books are usually entertaining.

Circe, by Madeline Miller.

Following for others' suggestions!

theotherfossilsister · 26/04/2025 20:42

Also Frances Hardinge’s novels. They are aimed at teenagers but I loved Gullstruck Island, couldn’t stop reading.

theotherfossilsister · 26/04/2025 20:41

Once Upon a River

The Cazalet Chronicles

Old Soul (Just out and very compelling but also scary and gruesome, but beautiful.)

stonkytonk11 · 26/04/2025 20:38

Yes Clare Chambers for me too. I also like Claire Mackintosh for something to get into quickly that keeps me hooked.

theotherfossilsister · 26/04/2025 20:37

ToBeOrNotToBee · 26/04/2025 19:56

In Memoriam by Alice Winn.
It had me in tears at times.

This was bloody wonderful and I regularly recommend at work but I wouldn’t say it’s not relaxing. It’s compelling and gorgeous but it damn near broke my heart and the violence was realistic and grim.

Hellohah · 26/04/2025 20:36

If you value punctuation, don't read The Bee Sting 😂

I read Listen to the Lie recently, I found it a quick read and quite enjoyed it.

SociableAtWork · 26/04/2025 20:35

Just finished a couple I really enjoyed -

‘Elinor Oliphant is completely fine’ by Gail Honeyman

‘There are rivers in the sky’ by Elif Shafak

The ‘Elinor Oliphant…’ one has been recommended loads of times and was a really easy read with a brilliant, funny, slightly awkward and. at times, moving, storyline
with a happy ending.

SkibidiSigma · 26/04/2025 20:35

I've just bought Clare Chambers Shy Creatures as it's currently 99p on kindle, love these threads for new book recommendations!

StanfreyPock · 26/04/2025 20:35

Robert Harris spins a good yarn if you prefer a thriller, he wrote Conclave, also Ghost about a political ghost writer, and Pompeii, a very accurate but fast moving account of the eruption of Vesuvius. Various others also in print, easy reads.

JulesJules · 26/04/2025 20:30

Blackcountryexile · 26/04/2025 20:04

These books have kept my interest
Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans
Let's Solve Murders by Richard Osman
The Trial by Rob Rinder
Dear Mrs Bird By A J Pearce
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
I second Clare Chambers. Her latest is Shy Creatures that I thought was very good.

I was going to suggest both Clare Chambers and Lissa Evans 'Small Bomb at Dimperley' which I loved

Misknit · 26/04/2025 20:30

M.W. Craven's Washington Poe series. The first is called The Puppet Show.

SkibidiSigma · 26/04/2025 20:27

I've recently read all of Natasha Boydell's books. Very easy to read and had me hooked. I read The Fortune Teller first, and that is still my favourite. Just finished Dolls House which I stayed up until 1:00am to finish one day last week 😂

SheilaFentiman · 26/04/2025 20:27

Gillian McAllister books

JillAndJenTheFlowerpotMen · 26/04/2025 20:26

I loved lessons in Chemistry and Small Pleasures.

Muteswan · 26/04/2025 20:24

I just finished Just One Look by Harlan Coben. I'm extremely sleep deprived (baby + toddler who doesnt sleep) and can barely form a sentence but I devoured it in less than 48h. 99p on Kindle at the mo!

Tidypidy · 26/04/2025 20:18

Lascivious · 26/04/2025 20:01

I’ll read any old twaddle. But I read Frieda McFadden’s Housemaid book on holiday last month. What a load of poorly written guff. I’d struggle to find a worse book.

I’d recommend The Bee Sting. Easy to read and pretty fabulous.

Totally agree about Frieda McFadden books, very formulaic.

I love anything by James Patterson, the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz is compelling, Wilbur Smith can be good too if a little old fashioned.

GroovyChick87 · 26/04/2025 20:15

Lascivious · 26/04/2025 20:01

I’ll read any old twaddle. But I read Frieda McFadden’s Housemaid book on holiday last month. What a load of poorly written guff. I’d struggle to find a worse book.

I’d recommend The Bee Sting. Easy to read and pretty fabulous.

She's not particularly highbrow author but I really enjoy some of her books. I like the Housemaid ones. Some of the others are hit and miss I think. But when you just want to read something easy to follow and not focus on anything too complicated, she's good. We don't all want to read Donna Tartt and the like.

Blackcountryexile · 26/04/2025 20:04

These books have kept my interest
Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans
Let's Solve Murders by Richard Osman
The Trial by Rob Rinder
Dear Mrs Bird By A J Pearce
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
I second Clare Chambers. Her latest is Shy Creatures that I thought was very good.

Lascivious · 26/04/2025 20:01

I’ll read any old twaddle. But I read Frieda McFadden’s Housemaid book on holiday last month. What a load of poorly written guff. I’d struggle to find a worse book.

I’d recommend The Bee Sting. Easy to read and pretty fabulous.

alcoholnightmare · 26/04/2025 19:57

I second frieda McFadden, but also Mark Edwards

VivIsBlonde · 26/04/2025 19:57

The housemaid series

ToBeOrNotToBee · 26/04/2025 19:56

In Memoriam by Alice Winn.
It had me in tears at times.