Please help me get back in to reading

[Twoweeksinaugust]

It's been so long since I read a book. I've rejected a few after 20 pages and I'm despairing that I'll never read again.
In the past I've enjoyed:
A thousand splendid suns
The kite runner
The Dry
I Pilgrim
Tony Hogan bought me an ice cream float before he stole my Ma
Several Irvine Welsh books.

I'm sure there are hundreds more but none are coming to mind.

I love a thriller (but find most predictable)

I hate all the "She padded over to him carrying her coffee and he looked in to her blue eyes before sweeping her up in his arms" rubbish.

Please recommend me anything to hook me in, nothing historical though please.

I was once an avid reader but really struggled since I had kids. I don’t seem to have the attention span that I once had.

I have a kindle full of unfinished books, but one that I have read recently, was gripped by, and ultimately actually managed to finish was Girl A by Abigail Dean. Would highly recommend.

Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis.

Lessons in chemistry
a mind of my own by Kathy Burke

The Measure is very good and a bit different

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.
I am currently reading The Echoes by Evie Wyld. Short but layered.

Exiles by Jane Harper was v good, if you liked The Dry.
Nothing good happens after 2am by Niamh Hargan was great too, the blurb on the back really misrepresents the quality of the story telling and whats in the book.

I had a bit of a reading slump and found Lessons in Chemistry and American Dirt got me back into reading. Totally different styles but loved them both!

If you love a thriller, try the Charlie Parker by John Connelly.

have you read any Rose Tremain or William Boyd OP? Or the slow horses books?

Lucinda Riley books are amazing start with the 7 sisters, can recommend the Audio too

the heart's invisible furies by John Boyne - so good, it is impossible to put down .. brilliant book, both to read and on audible

You might very well like Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris.

I love Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Have you read And The Mountains Echoed? Also recommend The Beekeeper if Aleppo.

I couldn't concentrate on a book after my son died. I used to love reading but for over a year I just couldn't. Then a friend gave me The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I couldn't put it down. One of the best books I have ever read.

The bee sting
lonesome dove
atmosphere (or daisy jones or seven husbands)
my best friends exorcism
southern book club slaying vampires
listen for the lie
sweet bean paste
the vegetarian
tender is the flesh
i who have never known men
11.22.63
the awakening (altho ww2 fiction)
the one
the family upstairs
god of the woods

I’m in the same scenario. Find it difficult to sustain a reading habit. I will pick up something random and will finish it then find it difficult to get into another book and the momentum is lost. I think the issue is more nuanced than book recommendations.

Any experiences of overcoming would be welcome.

Following this. Since my DH died 18 months ago, I haven’t been able to read a book.

Wow, thanks so much!

Reading your posts has reminded me that I have read and enjoyed some of these books, so we are definitely thinking in the same way! I will stack some of these up in my library requests (I haven't moved over to Kindle, I still love a physical book).

You are a kind bunch, thank you.

Birds Without Wings. It's set against a historical backdrop but in the same way as some of the books you've mentioned you liked.

The Summer Book, Tove Jansson. It's not gripping exactly, it's just an easy book to relax into and feel at home in, and not too long.

I also find good novellas work when I am in this situation.
A Month in the Country - J.L. Carr
Chess Story - Stefan Zweig
They're so short that even if I didn't find them compelling, I'd end up continuing as once you're 20 pages in, you're a substantial way through! And they are both excellent.