To ask for some book recommendations

[rightleftbabysteps]

I am aware that I’m getting a £50 Waterstones voucher for Christmas.

I am a huge reader. But I’ve really fallen out of the habit lately. The last book I read was the wedding people by Alison Espach. I loved it.

i love a crime/thriller book, or a romance. I also like stories - no real plot or crime to solve, but just a nice story.

I really want two or three books that will reignite my love for reading. Any ideas?

I have loved the HRH Elizabeth II mysteries. By SJ Bennett. I think they start with The Windsor Knot. Very light but also interesting and charming.

The Names by Florence Knapp is very very good. I listen to loads of audiobooks and that’s the one I have loved most this year.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry got me out of my reading rut, and I'd been in it for a couple of years.
It's not even my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
In light of this, I'll be pulling it off the bookshelf now for my Christmas reading.

For crime / thriller, the jack caffrey series by mo hayder are excellent.

Agree that the Names is great

One of my recent favourites is King Sorrow by Joe Hill

Lee Child Jack Reacher series. Crime thrillers with a great hero who basically beats the shit out of his enemies. I'd start with "one shot"or "the visitor" as they don't need to be read in order and the first book is a little darker than the rest. Sadly the last 2 or 3 he wrote were poorer and the ones where his brother Andrew has taken over no where near as good....I still buy them because they are easy reading and are ok, just not as good as the earliest ones.
The ones I recommend are both very clever crime novels and even with the cult hero would stand alone as good books

Seascraper Benjamin Wood.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler - my book of the year!
For thriller/Mysteries anything by Claire Douglas.

Just finished All The Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker and I loved it.

Any of Gemma Rogers’ books - The Good Wife, The Honeymoon, The Mistake, The Teacher, The Secret etc. they’re all really good.

Personally, I struggled to get into The Babysitter and The Stranger at No 6 as easily as I did the others, but still good.

Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers.
Or any of her books. They have great characterisation and interesting stories

I tend to find that something light and fun but still well written reignites my interest whenever I’m stuck in a reading rut. Romance-wise, I would suggest anything by Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez, and the Thursday Murder Club series too.

Following!

I've really enjoyed Raising Hare. True story of a woman who saves a hare and it lives with her. Lots of nice, soothing descriptions!

Just read the blurb for Wedding People. Sounds great - thanks.

Was also going to say The Names!

I read 'the Women' by Kristen Hannah a few months and absolutely loved it, one of the best books I've ever read. I also really enjoyed 'the Nightingale' by the same author

I'm currently reading The Favourites by Layne Fargo. It's about the lives of two ice dancers. It reads really well, almost like a thriller as it's fast paced and there's an element of "what is going on here? Where is this going?" Really enjoying it!

Anything by John marrs. Recently enjoyed The Passengers and The One

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading

You might be better of looking at this page , there are 1000s of recommendations on here covering loads of genre

Very mixed reviews on Amazon

I have treated myself to Daphne Du Maurier's newly published collection of short stories, and I cannot wait until Boxing Day to devour them!

I really enjoyed it! I did read it on a sun lounger in Rome though 🤣

Penny Vincenzi - the best of times or sheer abandon.

Douglas Kennedy - the persuit of happiness or the job.

Linwood Barclay is good for thriller type books

Light reading I'd go for Adele parks, Erica James Jane Fallon or Beth O'Leary - particularly the no show for her.

Wild Dark Shore.

spellbinding and got me firmly out of a reading rut.

Just wanted to say I'm about halfway through The Wedding People and loving it so far. Thanks for the recommendation.
What did you end up getting OP?