I haven't read in years, please could you tell me about your favorite books

[overthinkersanonnymus]

I have no hobbies, and I'd like to start reading but I have no idea what I'd like!

When I was in my early twenties I enjoyed the Martina Cole books but they got a bit samey and I just never picked it back up. I do find it difficult to get lost in a book but I think that's probably because I never found the right style.

What books have you read that gripped you? I'm open to trying all genres! Although nothing too high brow or intellectual - I am neither of these things 😊

I am in the middle of reading Mad Honey by Jodie Picoult, I've read 4 of her books now and have always found them so unputdownable! Whenever I'm in a lull I pick one of hers up. Love the characters and that she tackles very relevant societal issues in her books. With her you are guaranteed a gripping & rewarding read.

I like Jodi Taylor - the first book is called “just one damn thing after another” and it’s about time travelling historians. So not like Martian coke, but they’re books I reread.

Damn, GetTheWinterQuiltOut has beaten me to suggesting Jodi Taylor. Love her books.

I'll give Jodie a bash! Thanks very much

Second Jodi Taylor series.

I haven't read Martina Cole but The Maid by Nita Prose won the Goodreads 2022 Crime novel of the year. I enjoyed Murder in the Fast Lane by Natasha Orme.

Personally I enjoy books by Andy Weir, Neil Gaiman and MR Carey.

A friend of mine was in exactly the same place as you so started up and ran their own book club. Has now found their genre. Just celebrated their five year anniversary.

Robert Harris
Clare Macintosh

• two authors I’ve really enjoyed recently and can recommend

Graham Norton's books are very easy and enjoyable reads, might be a good start.

I have just gorged myself on the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas.
Read all five books in three weeks.
The hyper-popular booktok favourite series of the newish Romantasy genre. My 19 yo old dd got me into it. Was like fucking crack for my brain.
Each book got spicier and spicier. The last one was pure hilarious filth.
High quality fiction it was not.
Pure indulgent “I am going to bed at 7:30pm to read my book about hot faeries” it was, in wild gay abandon.
Can’t remember that last time I got so addicted to reading.

I really liked Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalir
It's a bit different from the other suggestions. It's about friendship, the role of women in 1830's England and of course the amazing Mary Anning and her triles and tribulations. It's well researched and the writing is very good, so should be an easy read!

Liane Moriarty's books are a really easy read and lots of twists and turns so you want to keep reading to see what happens.

Marian Keyes is really good too. Lots of humour in her books but give you something to think about too.

Lisa Jewel
Claire Macintosh
Gillian McAllister
Caroline Mitchell
Kerry Wilkinson
Frieda McFadden
C.L Taylor
Mark Edwards
All great reads and I used to love Martina Cole too but, like you they all got a bit samey.

I never struggle to get into a Gillian McAllister or Claire Douglas book.

Anything by Lucinda Riley. Totally gripping

Totally agree with Claire Macintosh, I also love Adrian Mckinty.

Recently loved American Dirt, Lessons in Chemistry, and the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. All different types of story. Lessons in Chemistry was the easiest read of those. Currently reading Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow.
Also like a good Jodi Picoult and Sophie Hannah. Think next book will be the first Strike book - A Cuckoo's Calling. Then maybe an Agatha Christie as I don't think I have ever actually read any of her books.

Just read my first Sophie Hannah 'Haven't they grown', totally absorbing and easy to read!

I have put lots of these suggestions in my Amazon wish list.

Thanks you so much!

If you're just getting back into reading, I found going to the library and picking up some quick reads was a good way to get back into the habit.

Mary Lawson books are quite an easy read -about the residents of a s mall town in CAnada - often over a few decades.

I like the Thursday Night Murder Club Richard Osman books they are a very light read, perfect for a Sunday afternoon and tends to get me back into reading when I've lost my mojo.

I second the Strike novels. I’m tearing my way through them, they’re so good!

I used to read all sorts of classic fiction, Evelyn Waugh, Oscar Wilde, Dickens, that sort of thing. Then life got busier and my dad died and I got my first job and had my kids and didn't have the headspace for that kind of reading. I didn't pick up a book for a long time, but eventually I got back into reading because I happened across a Jenny Colgan novel at the start of lockdown and it was so light hearted and funny. I went on a binge of Jenny's books and spent a few years reading cosy romantic fiction.

After a while I was getting a bit bored of the stories about a woman who gets dumped and moves to a cottage beside the sea in a remote village and falls in love with the hunky neighbour next door. I tried reading Stacey Halls The Familiars and LOVED it. Since then I've branched out a bit and while I still enjoy easy reading, it's got a bit more plot these days and I do like historical elements. I loved Lucinda Reilly's Seven Sisters series.

So yeah think about what you want to get from your books. I like light hearted escapism and a bit of romance and mystery but loads of people seem to enjoy scary tales about gristly murders!

similar to a PP I Loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and American Dirt.

Best book this year, Horse by Geraldine Brooks

I also have really liked pretty much everything by JoJo Moyes.

Oh no, I will have to add Horse to my tottering pile of to read books @Lizzieregina

I have been in a similar situation and like you hadn't read martina Cole/anything similar for many years. A friend passed her latest book (Loyalty) on to me 2 weeks ago and since then I have read that, another MC and am now on a Kimberley Chambers. It has really reignited my love for books - so might be worth a try?