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

Book everyone raved about a year or two ago.

35 replies

DoctorMartin · 09/07/2025 14:53

Please could anyone help me find a book?. I read about it on here either last summer or in 2023. I’m sure it was described as life-changing and a must-read by several people and recommended loads!

I can’t remember the plot, but I thought it had a door on the cover and possibly has ‘number’ in the title eg Number 42 or similar.

I feel as if it wasn’t a summer thriller, so not The Housemaid or of that ilk.

I thought I’d added it to my Amazon basket but if I did it has disappeared Confused

I realise this is hopelessly tenuous but thought it might strike a chord with someone. Chat GPT hasn’t helped.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Cinaferna · 07/08/2025 06:34

GettingFestiveNow · 10/07/2025 06:04

All Fours by Miranda July?

It could have been this. I can see how people might think it life changing. If you want to emulate a completely self absorbed, money squandering lousy parent.

Billybagpuss · 07/08/2025 06:31

whatsit84 · 06/08/2025 23:10

No idea if this was your book OP but I do love this!

Show quote history

I ended up abandoning this, I quite like his style of writing but just couldn’t get into it at all, I’ll maybe give it another go.

whatsit84 · 06/08/2025 23:10

waltzingparrot · 10/07/2025 05:38

Was it Anxious People by Fredrik Backman? The cover has house windows on it. It was recommended a lot on here so I bought it for my kindle - still haven't got round to reading it though.

No idea if this was your book OP but I do love this!

LaProf · 06/08/2025 22:58

DoctorMartin · 10/07/2025 11:19

OMG yes it was!!! I recognised the cover immediately. I’m so grateful to you Grin But…is it any good?

Show quote history

I was coming on to say this too. I loved it!

TheOliveFinch · 10/07/2025 12:15

@DoctorMartin It’s currently free on kindle unlimited

Original poster
DoctorMartin · 10/07/2025 11:22

I think I must have seen it recommended on TikTok, hence why I had a memory of the cover with a door.

OP posts:
SkibidiSigma · 10/07/2025 11:22

Glad to have helped! I actually read it off the back of a recommendation here too, so I remembered. It was good but not life changing or anything. I don't really get the hype. Still a good read though!

Original poster
DoctorMartin · 10/07/2025 11:19

SkibidiSigma · 10/07/2025 09:37

Was it number 32 by Cassie Steward?

OMG yes it was!!! I recognised the cover immediately. I’m so grateful to you Grin But…is it any good?

OP posts:
iwantavuvezela · 10/07/2025 09:45

Would it be the new book by Abraham Verghese - he wrote The Cutting Stone (which I read as so many people raved about it - I found it too overwhelming as if the author tried to squeeze every life experience possible into it)

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 10/07/2025 09:40

All Fours? Not a thriller but certainly had a few thrills (!) with a theme of blowing up your life (to have hot if ultimately weirdy sex).

SkibidiSigma · 10/07/2025 09:37

Was it number 32 by Cassie Steward?

Kingsleadhat · 10/07/2025 09:31

3luckystars · 09/07/2025 21:01

Was it the midnight library

I was wondering that from the cover description. Certainly not life changing for me though.

alcoholnightmare · 10/07/2025 09:30

Nine perfect strangers? It’s now a series with Nicole Kidman

Book everyone raved about a year or two ago.
BunnyRuddington · 10/07/2025 07:37

waltzingparrot · 10/07/2025 05:38

Was it Anxious People by Fredrik Backman? The cover has house windows on it. It was recommended a lot on here so I bought it for my kindle - still haven't got round to reading it though.

Ive read a few of his earlier novels and really enjoyed them but for some reason I couldn’t get into this one although I might have had slightly distracting events going on in my personal life to be fair to the book.

I might have to give it another try.

Original poster
DoctorMartin · 10/07/2025 07:29

Thanks all. Not in my save for later. I’ve read Evelyn Hugo. Not Hilary Mantel or the others mentioned either. Maybe I dreamt it!!

OP posts:
bringbackthespira · 10/07/2025 06:39

7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo?

GettingFestiveNow · 10/07/2025 06:04

All Fours by Miranda July?

Trallers · 10/07/2025 05:42

Was it The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel?

waltzingparrot · 10/07/2025 05:38

Was it Anxious People by Fredrik Backman? The cover has house windows on it. It was recommended a lot on here so I bought it for my kindle - still haven't got round to reading it though.

LoudSnoringDog · 10/07/2025 05:37

3luckystars · 09/07/2025 22:48

If it’s ’the Lost Bookshop’ don’t bother !!

I gave up on this. God knows how it was highly recommended.

NoviceScoutMum · 10/07/2025 05:28

DoctorMartin · 09/07/2025 22:29

I’m really sorry I can’t, I don’t recall ever reading a synopsis, just saw it mentioned several times in different places as a must-read, life changing novel. I popped it in my Amazon basket ready to download when the time was right but I must have deleted it at some point. I got the impression it was vaguely historical and about a house?

Show quote history

Have you checked your "saved for later" bit on amazon?

My only other suggestion would be to have a look through some of the "discover" lists on Goodreads e.g. best books of 2023 or whatever. You can add search terms and get lists of books you can skim through

Titasaducksarse · 09/07/2025 23:08

I'd say it was The Couple at Number 9 as well

zaxxon · 09/07/2025 23:06

Well, there's Number 11 by Jonathan Coe

Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins

Slade House by David Mitchell

All good in their own way but not life-changing.

...the Locke & Key novels? (a long shot)

alcoholnightmare · 09/07/2025 22:48

The Chain - Adrian Mckinty

Adrian McKinty's 2019 thriller The Chain follows Rachel Knight, whose 13-year-old daughter is kidnapped. To save her, Rachel must kidnap another child and force their family to do the same. The book is set on Plum Island, Massachusetts and explores themes of existentialism, psychopathic behavior, and Mexican drug cartels. Reviewers praise the book's believable characters, particularly the strong female protagonist Rachel, and its tense, terrifying atmosphere.

3luckystars · 09/07/2025 22:48

If it’s ’the Lost Bookshop’ don’t bother !!