So which book did you love that you just randomly picked up?

[Coatdegroan]

I have just read "In the Springtime of the Year" by Susan Hill. I'm not a very accomplished or complicated reader... its not everyone's cup of tea but I was spelll bound by it. Picked it up in a second hand bookshop for 50p. Very understated and quite sad, but beautiful reading.

Anyone else had a surprise lovely read?

“Once Upon a River” by Dianne Setterfield. 50p from a charity shop. Absolutely loved it. Was a really wonderful read.

After hearing Marian Keyes wonderful podcast series, I picked up one of hers in a charity shop - Grown Ups. It's SO good, I don't want it to end.

The thirteenth tale by same author. Found in a holiday cottage.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.

Randomly picked it up in a charity shop for £1 - couldn't put it down!

I randomly picked up a really lovely memoir called Easy Beauty from my local library this week and it is such a thought provoking read. It’s written by a lady with a rare spinal defect, about both how she is perceived in the world and also human perceptions of beauty in general

"Just one damned thing after another"
Got it free on Kindle unlimited, best book series I've ever read. Proper geeky into it and theories about the series.
If you like a bit of history / time travel / geekiness you must give this series a try. All my geeky friends have loved it too.

Valley of the dolls.

At my Saturday job, about 20 years ago. One of my friends was reading it and had left it in the staff room so I had a look while I was on my lunch break.

I've loved it ever since!

Cuban Heels by Emily Barr, random buy for £1 from The Works and probably a bit trashy but I loved it.

Loving the random titles! Especially the ancient 50p finds!

Trashy is sometimes what is needed@Cantbeliveyoufakeit

The Couple at No.9 by Claire Douglas. Really not my usual sort of book, but sonehow it was calling to me from the middle aisle in Aldi. Extremely gripping, gave me a whole range of emotions and I was really sad to reach the end.

The good thing is you have lots of Marian Keyes books to look forward to now. Rachel's Holiday and her recent follow up Rachel Again can be your next treat.
I rarely buy autobiographies but sometimes pick a random one up in a charity shop and love them even if l have never heard of the person!

The Cult - Abby Davies, got this on Kindle cheaply, absolutely loved it

I remember picking up a book in a charity shop once because it was so well worn - I figured it must have been well loved. It was really good (but can’t remember the book).

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hildebrand - I think I bought it in a charity shop and I loved it so much I now own every single one of her books.

The Puppet Show by MW Craven. Picked it up 3 for £5 I think in the garden centre. Read all five in the series now. Really good crime thriller / detectivey series

Heidi Swains - Summer at Skylark Farm, so far from the crime novels I love, but really enjoyed it.

The Card by Arnold Bennett.

I had never heard of him but apparently he was the most famous and beloved author of the Edwardian period.

Such a funny, charming story about a funny, charming man.

Medusa- Jessie Burton

Picked it up at the library in the kids section and really loved both the illustrations and the retelling.

www.amazon.co.uk/Medusa-Jessie-Burton/dp/1408886936

OP, gosh you just took me back to when I found In the Springtime of the Year in a charity shop years ago and read it on my lunch breaks. I was doing a call centre job that I just hated and even though the book was sad it was a welcome escape 😅you're right that it's beautifully written, I should read it again sometime

I love valley of the dolls….. It reminds me floating on a lilo in Spain reading it when I was 16 😊

Legends and Lattes - cheap kindle read that was cheerful, upbeat, fun, and generally optimistic. Like the fantasy books i read as a teenager in the 80s, before everything became post-apocalyptic and depressing.
legends&lattes

two young adult books that i loved but knew nothing about before picking up
The Bone Dragon just beautifully, poetically written, although often harrowing in subject matter.

and Alyzon Whitestarr just really gripped me, although the author doesn’t seem well known in the UK.

The Food of Love by Anthony Capella.
A love story set in Italy and a complete delight to the senses, food, wine, aromas and sunshine. It includes recipes that the love interest cooks but probably not for vegetarians!!

Why men lie and women cry by Allan & Barbara Please. Laugh so hard!!!

Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain. It was so interesting and brilliant and every book I've read since has been disappointing as it's just not as good

Middlesex. Picked it up in my brother’s house in Africa and really enjoyed it.