For a while me and my friends have been swapping books around and I’ve leant a few out that people have enjoyed and told me they couldn’t put down. I love those books that throw you right back into reading again, the ones that you can get totally lost in and forget what’s going on in the real world for a hour or two. You know the ones where you are reading just a few more pages stood up in the kitchen making a cup of tea, the stories that keep you awake until two in the morning even when you know your kids will wake you up at 6am.
Books were such a massive part of my life before children that maybe I took it for granted, after I had Lucas I didn’t pick up a book many months! I feel like I’ve needed something to get me back into it and I’ve found a few books that you’ll want to race through and once you’ve read them you want to read more.
I was going to say that these are all easy to read, and while that’s true I think they are all about some pretty serious subjects. I’ve tried to go for the kind of books that don’t fall into any specific genre as I think most people would enjoy these whatever they like to read. Most of these I would read again and a few of them are incredible films too so it’s worth watching them, after you’ve read the book of course, the books are always better than the film!
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
This is such a great read and so incredibly engaging. This was the first book I made it through after having Lucas and I remember staying up late reading just another chapter because I didn’t want to put it down. It’s an incredibly sweet story which deals with some really difficult issues and yet it isn’t hard to read. The story is told through a few different characters and you really get a feel for their voice and attitude, you fall in love with them and their stories.
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
I had to put this in because I did read it so quickly, it took me about three days which is not at all like me nowadays. I was reading it standing up in the kitchen whilst cooking tea just trying to get through a few more pages. It had me completely hooked and even with the annoying characters I couldn’t put it down! Having said that I couldn’t read it again knowing how it ends, it’s not a book I would call a favourite but it is one you’ll read quickly as it keeps you guessing.
Perks of Being A Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky
This one is still one of my all time favourite books. It is written as letters from a teenage boy to no one in particular, all about how he doesn’t fit in and then we follow him as he starts to make friends and navigate the world of parties, music, books and drinking. This is another one I stayed up way too late to read as I wanted to get to the end. Parts of it are sad and dark but it is easy to read and the main character, Charlie, is so loveable. It is compulsive reading, so innocent and true that it draws you right in.
The Rosie Project – Graeme Simsion
I just smile when I think of this book, it’s a wonderful story so full of charm. The main character, Don, is totally endearing, he is a scientist who loves his ordered life and decides to come up with a way to find his perfect woman. It follows him as he tries to navigate social situations and emotions he isn’t comfortable with. It made me laugh out loud but it is lovely and heart-warming
Wonder – R.J.Palacio
This book is just amazing, it is one of the most moving stories I have ever read. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much reading a book when it’s been happy and sad. I feel like everyone should read it but it’s hard to explain what it is about. I think it just needs to be read and you’ll never forget it. It’s so clever and beautiful, sad yet uplifting. I don’t have a bad word to say about it.
I’d love to hear if you’ve read any of these or which books you love and just couldn’t put down.
31 Comments
Oh, I love these posts. I have heard of most of these but haven’t read any of them. I really want to read more this year (I’ve heard that before!!) so it is great to have some fabulous suggestions from someone I trust. Thanks lovely Hayley. Hugs Lucy xxxx
January 21, 2016 at 8:18 pmI’m the same Lucy, every year I say I’m going to read more but I think I did manage around 20 last year which is actually amazing for me and way more than I have read since having the boys! This are the ones that have really stood out for me, I think you would love them all, do let me know if you try any! xxxx
January 22, 2016 at 12:02 pmOoh thanks for these lovely, I love posts like this because I am always on the lookout for new books to read! x
January 21, 2016 at 8:26 pmI hope you try one out Katie! I’ve been lending them out to Mummy friends and they all say they’ve read them quickly so must be good, you know that if a mum finds time to read it must be a great book! xx
January 22, 2016 at 12:03 pmThe only one of these I have read is Gone Girl and I have just added the others to my Amazon wish list – I love a recommendation! Another favourite of mine was Girl on the Train x
January 21, 2016 at 10:09 pmThat is on my to-read list Donna, I’ve heard good things about it! I think most people would enjoy at least a couple of these, let me know if you like any of them. It’s hard to make the time to read but I’m always glad when I do xx
January 22, 2016 at 12:04 pmOooo! Thanks for this Hayley! I’ve read the first two, but will definitely look into the others. The Help is fabulous and I wouldn’t have read Gone Girl if I knew how it ended. They are both such horrible characters!…and it’s all a bit backwards xx
January 21, 2016 at 10:54 pmI feel exactly the same…I was so annoyed with them all at the end of Gone Girl!! I almost didn’t put it in here but I probably read it the quickest out of all the books. I think you’d love the others too, they are all quite short too so perfect for busy mums 🙂 xx
January 22, 2016 at 12:06 pmHayley I love the Help – I read it so quickly a couple of years back and just enjoyed it so much! Is gone girl scary? I think I might enjoy it, but the film trailer looked intense lol x
January 22, 2016 at 10:32 amHaha, it isn’t scary at all really but I didn’t like the ending! I did end up being annoyed with everyone in it BUT it is a real page turner so I felt like I should include it. The Help is so lovely isn’t it? One of my favourites 🙂 xx
January 22, 2016 at 12:08 pmHave you read the girl on the train? I read that in about 2 days flat and couldn’t put it down. I’m gong to give the Rosie project a go!
January 22, 2016 at 1:22 pmEveryone has said it is a good one, I really need to give it a try! I love books that you read quickly, Rosie Project is so good, I think you’ll love it!
January 26, 2016 at 10:35 amI loved The Help, though cried through much of it. The Rosie Project made me laugh out loud, too, an endearing and funny read. I’ve not read the others, so thanks, I’ll look out for them. I do like picking up books I wouldn’t normally choose as it takes you somewhere totally different x
January 22, 2016 at 8:09 pmI cried though most of The Help too, such a great book! I think all of these most people would enjoy, even if you aren’t sure about them, think you’d like Wonder Jocelyn, that is a fantastic book xx
January 26, 2016 at 10:36 amOh I don’t read nearly enough because I don’t really give myself time to! I’m going to see if I can start with one of these – love the sound of Wonder. xx
January 22, 2016 at 10:25 pmIt is maybe the hardest thing to make the time to read, I think these are all books that would hook you in enough to make the time. I think you’d love Wonder Julia, it’s so sweet xx
January 26, 2016 at 10:37 am3 out of 5! I’ve not read Wonder or Perks of Being a Wallflower. I’ve been getting back into reading recently – I used to read a book a week, sometimes more, but stopped because I was always too busy. I’ve been making time to read and have been enjoying thrillers. I’ve read The Girl On the Train, Try Not To Breathe and Disclaimer in the last month, they were all brilliant x
January 23, 2016 at 9:08 amI know, I used to read at least a book a week too. It’s so hard to get back into it when you have kids but these books will help, oh Sian I think you’d love the ones you haven’t read, espeically Wonder, give it a try. I’m adding yours to my to-read list, I really need to read Girl on the Train! xx
January 26, 2016 at 10:39 amThe only one of these that I have actually read is The Help and I enjoyed it so much I went through it within days (and I am a very slow reader!). I do fancy Gone Girl too to see if Ben Affleck is doing it any justice xXx
January 23, 2016 at 8:11 pmI know, I haven’t seen the film of Gone Girl so I couldn’t comment! Honestly the ending really annoys me but I read the book SO quickly. The Help is just lovely xx
January 26, 2016 at 10:40 amI love The Help and Perks of Being A Wallflower, this is a great post. I have added The Rosie Project to my to read list now x
January 24, 2016 at 4:43 pmThe are lovely books aren’t they?! Both two of my favourite books and films xx
January 26, 2016 at 10:40 amGreat selection and I have read a few of them. I loved Wonder such an amazing special story. I also enjoyed The Help and Gone Girl. I love a good read x
January 25, 2016 at 3:57 pmI’m so glad to have found someone else who has read Wonder, it is so lovely isn’t it? I pass my copy on to everyone and they all love it. Never enough time in the day to read everything I want to xx
January 26, 2016 at 10:42 amI’ve read all of these and agree with you that they were all fab. I loved Wonder, such a special book. Truly inspirational in lots of ways.
January 26, 2016 at 10:22 amYou’re the first one who has read them all! Wonder is amazing isn’t it, one of my favourites of all time xx
January 26, 2016 at 11:50 am[…] I really enjoyed it – I really wasn’t expecting the ending. Not sure what to read next. Hayley wrote a post on some good books so I might try some of her […]
January 29, 2016 at 8:39 amOoh what a good list! I keep meaning to pick up Perks of Being a Wallflower and for some reason I keep forgetting. I’m going to add it to my Amazon list now xxx
January 29, 2016 at 10:26 amHope you get to read it, it really is such a great book, think you’d love it! xx
May 27, 2016 at 9:20 pmJust downloaded the last three! I am so excited!!! Thanks Hayley. I always struggle deciding what to read because I hate getting to the end and feeling like I’ve wasted time. It’s so nice to find someone who has similar taste! xx
May 27, 2016 at 7:57 pmLet me know if you like them E and feel free to pass any recommendations my way! I’m always looking for new books to read, I’d trust your judgement and like finding books that are a bit different 🙂 xx
May 27, 2016 at 9:17 pm