Restarting reading - recommendations please

[Lilipot15]

I've got a toddler and a 5 month old. Been too tired to concentrate on books so have spent night feeds browsing online.
But, whilst still tired and up a lot at night, I feel like I need to get into a good book again.

I have enjoyed Jane Smiley, Anne Tyler, Sue Miller in the past.

Nothing too challenging and no ghosts / murder-mystery type stuff, just a good story of normal life I think is what I need please!

It's been months since I read a book and nor have I been reading literature sections of papers so I don't know many new books to try.

I like the writers you mention and I think you might like In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume or something by Curtis Sittenfeld, Anita Shreve, Jacquelyn Mitchard or Alice Hoffman. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld is about a girl from a normal background who gets a scholarship to a really exclusive boarding school and it's involving without being too challenging.

Have you read Capital by John Lanchester? If not, then you might like that. I read it recently ahead of the tv adaptation, and loved it.

If you like historical novels, then Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things is a good read, which I enjoyed.

Anything by Laurie Graham. Future Homemakers of America might be a good one to start with.

im reading girl on the train. very easy to get into but hard to put down!

I'd recommend The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.

Thank you. I read a lot of Anita Shreve some time ago, but not recently.
I did enjoy the Help. Girl on the Train was about the only book I did manage to read whilst feeding!

Thanks all. I have just had a splurge on my Kindle and downloaded:
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
The Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfield
Capital by John Lanchester
The Signature of All Things
In the Unlikely Event
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

At the rate I've read over the last 18 months they'll last me about 2 years. Or if I get back to how much I used to read, about 3 months!

I think you'll enjoy A Spool of Blue Thread. I read it last week and really enjoyed it. And there's plenty of other Anne Tyler novels to choose from too :) The Amateur Marriage is in this month's kindle sale.

Have you read any Joanne Harris? Chocolat, Five Quarters of the Orange, Blackberry Wine. Gentlemen and players was really good, and she has written short stories too - Jigs and Reels, and A Cat, A Hat and A Piece of String.

Ooh, I might get An Amateur Marriage.
I've not read any Joanne Harris - I'd wondered if they were too "magical" for me, but might give one a go.
Started Capital last night - it's good, thanks!

The Amateur Marriage isn't her best. the Accidental Tourist maybe ? I love Anne Tyler so much. Digging to America is wonderful.

I want to work my way through Anne Tyler's novels (probably not in the immediate future - have huge tbr pile ). I've read three or four in the past, and remember really liking an early one Morgan's Passing.

I am exactly like you (children way older but not had the concentration for reading.) I like Anne Tyler too and funnily enough Joanne Harris.

What about One Plus One Jojo Moyes?

I haven't read the Spool of Blue Thread yet because I keep saving it up. Morgan's Passing, I might start rereading that today. Thank you.

I've just read The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. The Shardlake series by C J Samson is enjoyable, light reading

Perhaps try Jo Jo Moyes or Susan Lewis?

I love love love the St Mary's chronicles by jodi Taylor - they are my go to recommendations