Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

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

A book you couldn't put down!!

146 replies

circleinthesands · 23/01/2023 12:04

I'm hoping just to dedicate some time to getting back into reading...
Have a young child so it's not always possible!!

I think I've been trying to read Rosie Project for three years now !!

Looking for recommendations for your best book, book you couldn't put down to try and start something new that will keep me interested....
X

OP posts:
Howeverdoyouneedme · 23/01/2023 12:06

I raced through Sorrow and Bliss.

RenegadeMrs · 23/01/2023 12:07

What kind of books do you enjoy normally?

Also, I've been there with being 'out' of reading due to young children. I found revisiting my old favorites that I hadn't read for a while helped.

Original poster
circleinthesands · 23/01/2023 12:11

Family dramas.....relationships ....witty and amusing writers...

OP posts:
AnnPerkins · 23/01/2023 12:14

I couldn't concentrate on fiction for years after having DS. I read a lot of autobiographies, particularly by ultra runners for some reason.

I'm getting back into fiction now, (DS is 13 Grin) but started with fairly light stuff like Jane Fallon.

I recently saw a recommendation for The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard and I'm already on book 3. It's a wartime family saga written from the point of view of each of the characters, so each chapter is quite short. So, although it is a lot of story altogether, you can read it in bitesize chunks.

AnnPerkins · 23/01/2023 12:16

Sorry, to be clear, there are 5 books in the series.

cheeseisthebest · 23/01/2023 12:16

Following! I'm reading the cazalet chronicles, i do like it but it's not massively grabbing me. I think thats me though, I've struggle to read anything for months.

ChillysWaterBottle · 23/01/2023 12:16

If you're up for non-fiction, Bad Blood the Theranos story was such a good book I couldn't put it down!

ToBeOrNotToBee · 23/01/2023 12:18

The Passage by Justin Cronin.

Not my usual genre but this was unputdownable.

Genuinely an incredible book and it's sequels are just as impressive.

WeWereInParis · 23/01/2023 12:19

A book I read recently I thought was really really good was the Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

I also like the Thursday murder club books, but think the first one isn't as good as the second.

Frenchfancy · 23/01/2023 12:22

Any of Kirsten Hannah's books. Always strong women, adversity and some history. And very good writing.

Millcris58 · 23/01/2023 12:24

The Other Half of Augusta Hope by Joanna Glen.
All books by Belinda Bauer.
Love the use of the English language and the quirky plots.

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 23/01/2023 12:27

The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer is a 7 book series, very much family saga.

Also the Spoils of Time trilogy by Penny Vincenzi.

I'd also recommend the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley (currently 7 books with 1 more out May this year)

Ylvamoon · 23/01/2023 12:27

A discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness...

I know they made it into a TV series, but the books are sooo much better!

AdaColeman · 23/01/2023 12:49

I never finished the Rosie Project, I don't think I got beyond page 20!

Books I recommend with good gripping plots, a variety of characters, an interesting central character, and interesting use of language, are anything by William Boyd, and anything by Andrew Taylor.
I've recently read Taylor's The American Boy, which I really enjoyed, and as you say "couldn't put down"! It's a murder mystery (nothing too gruesome) with a small dash of romance.

SkiingIsHeaven · 23/01/2023 13:31

The Couple at Number 9.

toomuchscreentime · 23/01/2023 13:36

I also have a small child so I know exactly what you mean but I recently raced through Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter and have also really enjoyed her others too

donttalkaboutbookclub · 23/01/2023 13:39

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihari. I would have stayed up all night reading that if I could have stayed awake. I know a lot of people say it's too sad and miserable, but it is also full of joy and love as well. I could have read more of it, even though it's already a long book. I haven't read anything else by the same writer, so I'd be interested if anyone else has.

MaMisled · 23/01/2023 13:44

I love David Nobbs

WeWereInParis · 23/01/2023 14:33

donttalkaboutbookclub · 23/01/2023 13:39

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihari. I would have stayed up all night reading that if I could have stayed awake. I know a lot of people say it's too sad and miserable, but it is also full of joy and love as well. I could have read more of it, even though it's already a long book. I haven't read anything else by the same writer, so I'd be interested if anyone else has.

I loved this as well. I know lots of people hated it though.

I have The People in the Trees by the same author which looks interesting but I've not read it. It's nowhere near as long. And I keep meaning to buy her latest one, Paradise, which is really long.

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 23/01/2023 15:33

Just listened to the midnight man by Caroline Mitchell. I then have binged the rest of her books. It was so good

RustyBear · 23/01/2023 18:47

Just One Damned Thing After Another - the first of the Chronicles of St Mary’s by Jodi Taylor - and there are 12 more after that, all of which I have read pretty much in a sitting. They get to my Kindle at midnight on publication day & I read till I fall asleep & then start again as soon as I wake up. (Except for the one that was published on DD’s wedding day, I did wait for that one 😁)Plus there are numerous short stories and no 14 due later this year, as well as a spin off series that’s already got to 4 books.

Sio1989 · 23/01/2023 18:57

Love Sophie Ranald's books, some of the names of the books are: sorry, not sorry. Its not you its him. We cant be friends. They are an easy read. Also The midnight library so so good too, that was a recommendation.

SummerHouse · 23/01/2023 19:01

Marianne Keyes is my recommendation for you.

saveforthat · 23/01/2023 19:06

I read loads of books, if you have never read The curious incident of the dog in the night, try it. The stage play was also brilliant

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 23/01/2023 19:14

Behind Closed Doors.