Reader recommendations
Looking for a good read? Below you'll find some of the books our readers have been recommending recently.
Top pick! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hattie Brings the House Down
A reader says:
Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Engaging, poignant, hilarious, full of twists and turns, just the perfect mystery novel.
Little Mushroom
Buy this bookdiyu247 says:
too much to talk about! it made me cry so much but left me so satisfied :( beautiful world building, atmosphere, characters
The Crossing Place
Buy this bookCarole says:
Ruth Galloway, Forensic Archeologist is the main character, along with the Norfolk Marches. When an uncovered site first thought to contain ancient bones soon becomes a modern crime scene.
Big Magic
Buy this booknediaiden says:
The book is the first book I picked back up after a long time of not reading and the way in which creativity is described throughout this book is truly something everyone should experience once in their life. Very inspiring and has many very honest depictions of human behaviour as far as creativity is concerned.
The Master and Margarita
Buy this bookHayleyO says:
Its zany but I couldn't stop thinking about it for days after I'd finished it!
Klara & the Sun
Buy this bookAngie says:
I finished this in one day. A story of friendship in the technological world. It's sad, gripping, beautiful and a must read. I loved this book so much I didn't want it to end. Just beautiful
Mikaela says:
It shows what it truly means to be a human.
Pachinko
Buy this bookAngie says:
Honestly I bought this in the airport before a flight with zero expectations, and I was gripped. It's a beautiful story of 3 generations from Koreo in Japan over the 20th century. I learnt a lot about the history of Korea and Japan but also fell in love with the characters. It's beautiful with some tragic twists. I cried so recommend tissues.
Nina says:
This richly told and profound novel has everything you would want in a book. As someone who knows very little about Korean history, this book was absolutely fascinating. Rich, detailed characterisation draws us into the lives of these people and, at least for me, teaches us a chapter of modern history we might not have been aware of.
Unwell Women
Buy this bookAngie says:
History of medicine and the LACK of female inclusion... It's maddening, gripping, frustrating, insightful and a must read.
Finding the mother tree
Buy this bookAngie says:
As a tree lover anyway, this book has had a profound impact on me ever since. It is scientific, fascinating, sad and hopeful. It's a beautiful story of the authors life and her bond with trees in Canada. Highly recommend
Babel
Buy this bookAngie says:
Set mainly in Oxford in the 1800s, bit of magic and about the British empire and the power of translation. I was hooked and couldn't wait to get through it, obviously I was then devastated when I got to the final page that the adventure was over!
Swan Song
Buy this bookMaria says:
Such a wonderful story that pulls you right in immediately, and never let’s go until the last page.
The Poisonwood Bible
Buy this bookNaomi says:
This is so evocative of the Congo, a really readable and yet challenging and thought-provoking book.
The Florist
Buy this bookBrenda says:
could relate in some ways to the protagonist and it was a real page turner
Falling Upward
Buy this bookTom says:
Although I find him a "difficult read", I sometimes wonder what he is saying exactly, reading the book left me feeling a warmth and comfort that I can only ever remember feeling as a small child at home with my parents.
The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Buy this bookLiv says:
The writing style and how the characters are described are amazing it makes you feel like Evelyn is a real person.
Fingersmith
Buy this bookGlynne says:
It’s a wonderful Victorian classic of life of thieves in London
The map of salt and stars
Buy this bookDominique says:
It juxtaposes the story of a contemporary Syrian girl and a girl in the 16th century. It has a positive and empowering ending. It contains poems
The island of missing trees
Buy this bookDominique says:
One of the characters is a fig tree. It is based jointly in Cyprus and London. It is poetic and poignant and speaks of the experience of love and war and people who have moved country.
Fifty fifty
Buy this bookKay says:
It keeps you guessing, just when you think you have it solved, something throws you off the trail.
The Comfort of Things
Buy this bookJim Thakeham says:
Wonderful descriptions of people’s homes
The Last Wish
Buy this bookLianne says:
Creates an immersive fantasy world and makes you invest in the main character, the short stories element of this book keep things moving and interesting.
The Lemon Tree Café
Buy this bookCiera01 says:
Light hearted, funny, and emotional at times- this is the kind of book that makes me want to open my own little artisan caf.
None of This is True
Buy this bookCiera01 says:
Full of plot twists, so engaging and addictive, and strong female leads.
Twenty eight and a half wishes
Buy this bookRachael says:
I love a series and this one is a great series. It's about a repressed young woman who decides to take on the world and enjoy life to the fullest. It gets her in a lot of trouble along the way, but it's an easy read for a bit of escapism.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Buy this bookJKtring says:
Book just draws you in and you feel as if you are actually there