25 books we enjoyed
Fiction and non-fiction recommendations
The best type of books are books that you can’t put down.
But, it can be hard to find your next favourite when browsing the bookshop. So to save you some time, here are some of our favourites.
‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.’
George R.R. Martin
When it comes to books you can’t put down, let’s start here. This gorgeous story transports you into the complex, beautiful, and mysterious world of Geishas, just before the onset of WWII. Told through the eyes of Sayuri, an apprentice Geisha who captures the attention of many and who must find her way to happiness in an often hostile environment.
A thousand splendid suns, Khaled Hosseini
Two women struggle to survive in Afghanistan in the 90s under harsh political rule and domestic abuse. Have tissues at the ready. It can be painful to read in places, but it’s unforgettable. A story of courage, endurance, and friendship. And a sad reminder that life can be very unfair.
Never let me go, Kazuo Ishiguro
What’s going on at Hailsham? It’s a classic English boarding school in the rolling countryside, or is it? Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy grow up there under unusual circumstances. But it’s only when moving in together as young adults, that they understand what Hailsham had planned for them all along.
Where the crawdads sing, Delia Owens
When it comes to books you can’t put down, this one needs no introduction as a top bestseller in recent years. See for yourself why and follow Daisy growing up in poverty in the marshlands of Louisiana, fighting to survive against all odds. The beautiful description of the raw nature of the Deep South takes you there. At its heart, it’s a story of judging others for being different and the risk of underestimating those closest to you.
Girl with a pearl earring, Tracy Chevalier
The story behind the painting of the woman by Dutch artist Vermeer is one of mystery. But the imagined truth is brought to life in this captivating account of who he was and who she was and what happened in his workshop to create this masterpiece.
The other boleyn girl, Philippa Gregory
Many know the story of Anne Boleyn and her infamous marriage to Henry VIII. But few may know that her sister, Mary, also had a relationship with the King, which was just as short-lived but no less complicated.
Historical fiction queen herself, Philippa Gregory has written many other great reads including The White Queen, The Red Queen, Wideacre, The Wise Woman, and more.
The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime, Mark Haddon
Christopher Boone is a teenager with Aspergers, who loves maths and amateur sleuthing. When he finds his neighbour’s dog mysteriously dead in the wee hours, he wants to know whodunnit, but will he be prepared for the truth? It’s an uplifting and hilarious read.
Classic fiction
Crime and punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky
A story of a man and a murder. The psychological fallout of the crime and a young prostitute who can offer him hope. Set in the bleak slums of St Petersburg in the late 1800s, you feel the desperate plight of the protagonist, wrestling with his mind as he comes to terms with what he has done and what he must do.
I capture the castle, Dodie Smith
Lovable and hilarious, 17-year-old Cassandra and her eccentric family live in rural England. Her father, a renowned academic and author, has a serious case of writer’s block and is struggling to keep the wolf from the door. But change is afoot for the family, including love and loss. Will Cassandra be able to handle it all?
Great expectations, Charles Dickens
When Pip moves to London from his humble home, his new friends influence his values and outlook on life. But the ties of his childhood hold fast. Especially the gothic and mysterious characters of beautiful Estella and her guardian Miss Havisham. His intertwining fate with theirs will compel him to search for truth.
Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley…’ is the famous line you may know already, which opens the book and will have you hooked. Beautiful yet haunting, Manderley is a stately home full of shadows since the death of its beguiling mistress, Rebecca. But what happened at Manderley? And can its new mistress ever find her place there?
Positive mindset
Atomic Habits, James Clear
A useful book for anyone looking to break bad habits and build good ones. This book tells you why and how bad habits are formed and the scientific steps it takes to break the cycle and move in a better direction.
The power of now, Eckhart Tolle
How can we turn off excessive thinking? How can we stop the stream of uninvited negative thoughts throughout the day? How do we sit still and be present? How can doing this simple, yet not-so-simple act, change our lives? This book has the answers.
A new earth, Eckhart Tolle
Are you aware that you have an ego? Are you aware of its power over you? Have you ever been consumed by anger, resentment, jealousy, or other negative emotions? Does it leave you unable to think clearly? Does it linger for days, weeks, or even years? And, if you become aware of your ego, can you overcome it? Find out.
The magic of thinking big, David J. Schwartz
Wholesome, old-fashioned advice on how to ‘tune into channel P’ (channel positive) and get the most out of your every day. Its lashings of cheerful yet powerful (and often forgotten) common sense advice, is why this book is a favourite with many top entrepreneurs of today.
The power of positive thinking, Norman Vincent Peale
Written by a minister, this book has a strong Christian theme, but you don’t have to be a Christian to apply its messages to your own life. Some of those include the peace that comes with not always being ‘in a hurry’. Or, how to practice positive thinking with real results.
Beach Reads
One day, David Nicholls
Recently remade by Netflix, you’ll probably binge read this one. Smart and independent Emma meets handsome and engaging Dexter at university. Just good friends, they have their whole lives ahead of them with the world to explore. They are each other’s confidants, but what would happen if that bond was broken?
For more David Nicholls, read Us. A mismatched, middle-aged couple is on the brink of divorce. Embarking on a ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe with their teenage son, can they save their marriage?
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, Gail Honeyman
Eleanor has life all figured out. Her weekly schedule runs like clockwork. She has a stable job and a nice home. But (hilariously) socially awkward, she has no friends. But then a twist of fate leads her to Raymond. A friend she never knew she needed and everything changes with startling revelations.
One hit wonder, Lisa Jewell
If you haven’t read any of Lisa Jewell’s books, youre in for a treat. And One Hit Wonder might be one of the best. Glamorous popstar Bea Bearhorn had it all, until she didn’t. After dying suddenly, her sister wants to know what happened to Bea. But is she prepared to?
Other books from Lisa Jewell include Ralphs’s Party and Thirtynothing.
Secret dreamworld of a shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella
Addictive easy reading and the first book in a long series that you will want to read all of. Follow Becky, who the expression ‘shop till you drop’ was invented for with hilarious and surprising consequences. The characters feel like your best friends from the start.
Me before you, Jojo Moyes
Will has it all. He’s young, rich, and handsome. But then he has a serious accident and everything changes. When he meets his new care assistant, Lou, he has nothing left to live for, or so he thinks.
Young adults
We couldn’t resist adding some favourites from growing up. They may not appeal to all readers, but for us, a good book can be enjoyed at any age!
The book thief, Markus Zusak
The narrator is ‘Death’ who is working overtime collecting souls in 1939 Germany. Liesel, a teenager living with foster parents, has a secret friendship with a Jewish man who teaches her to read, with life-changing consequences.
A chinese cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah
This absorbing memoir recounts the life of Adeline, a Chinese girl growing up in a wealthy family in the 1940s. A gifted student, she yearns for acceptance in an unloving household, dominated by the whims of her unpredictable stepmother. The sequel Falling Leaves follows Adeline as an adult as she studies in the USA, while trying to overcome the emotional challenges she faced in childhood.