Forget FOMO, I’m guilty of feeling FOGO (the fear of going out!). The gentle call of your cosiest blanket, glowing fairy lights and the flicker of your favourite candle set the perfect scene for shutting yourself away from the outside world and immersing yourself in the fictional world of a great book.
The books below are eight of my all-time favourites, covering a variety of genres and styles. Whether they provide a starting point for your next read or encourage you to dive into something new, these recommendations will ultimately make you want to cancel your plans for “just one more chapter”.
1. The Wedding People by Alison Espach
For a book so popular and acclaimed, it manages to live up to its hype. The narrative centres around Phoebe and explores some incredibly difficult themes in a way that’s unusually light-hearted. You quickly develop a real empathy for Phoebe and despite everything she’s going through, you genuinely enjoy her company.
It’s that connection you build with her, paired with an underlying uncertainty about where her story is heading, that makes this story so strong.
Phoebe has a brilliant wit and matter-of-fact attitude which becomes the star of the show and provides a fresh perspective for what could be a heavy story. Paired with a fantastic blend of supporting characters, cleverly representing the complexities of typical family dynamics against the backdrop of an extravagant wedding, this book is the perfect companion for your next summer holiday.
What particularly stuck with me was the beautifully descriptive interactions Espach articulates, where gestures, reactions and what’s left unsaid communicate just as much as the dialogue itself. The Wedding People is a book that leaves you feeling hopeful and fulfilled, while making you reluctant to leave Phoebe behind.
2. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
As a rule of thumb, Lisa Jewell is a very safe bet when it comes to finding a great book and this one is no exception. Alix and Josie meet and spark a seemingly normal friendship, until it’s anything but. Centring around a podcast, the more Alix interviews Josie and finds herself rummaging through the strange and uncomfortable corners of her life, the more she fears what she’s got herself into.
This is a fantastic modern thriller that will leave you questioning what to believe and unsure exactly where the story is heading, all while expecting the very worst to be just around the corner. If you want to be taken on a journey of twists and turns that’ll keep you on your toes, this one is for you.
3. James by Percival Everett
Now for a book I can’t say I ‘enjoyed’, but one I’ve included on this list for good reason. Meet James, more commonly known as Jim, Huckleberry Finn’s friend and travel companion. You may be familiar with this age-old story, but this time, it’s told from a brand new perspective.
This story explores incredibly heavy themes and documents scenes of unimaginable cruelty but somehow retains the sense of an adventure story, ringing true to its origin. Beyond the fact that one human could’ve ever possibly treated another in such brutal, inhumane ways, it’s almost as chilling to know this isn’t even ancient history.
It’s stories like this that give us an opportunity to learn, however uncomfortable that may be, and confront parts of history we should never allow ourselves to forget.
We often read to escape, but sometimes we read to learn, and this book is an adventure that encompasses both.
4. Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Next up is the debut novel from Schitt’s Creek writer Monica Heisey. This painfully relatable, perfectly modern and consistently funny story gives some great life lessons and reminds you to be kind to yourself.
Starting off as a slow burn, you’ll soon find yourself rooting for Maggie as she navigates life after divorce and begins to discover who she is outside of the relationship she entered so young. Watching her gradually find herself and grow as a person is what kept me wanting more. Heisey cleverly uses Maggie’s Google search history and obsessive list writing to build personality.
For tools so commonly used and yet so deeply personal, they reveal further insight into her character in a particularly unique way. For lovers of sit-coms or anyone looking for the perfect companion for a weekend away, this one’s for you.
5. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Everyone knows something about Achilles. Whether that’s simply in reference to his heel or a deeper appreciation for Homer’s classic, The Song of Achilles sheds a fresh light on his story. Told from the perspective of Patroclus, Miller explores his intimate relationship with Achilles, revealing a soft, romantic and vulnerable side to the otherwise anger-fuelled, powerful and seemingly impenetrable hero.
The story spans their upbringing, relationship and the events that led them to the Trojan War and subsequent tragedy.
You don’t need to know your Iliad from your Odyssey to enjoy this book, as it works beautifully for those who aren’t deeply familiar with Greek mythology. While it focuses on this beautiful love story, I can’t promise you won’t want to further immerse yourself in the stories of these stone-carved legends once you’ve read it.
6. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
The structure of this book alone is enough to keep you invested. The story starts with Jen, a mother who is worried about her son who’s out past his curfew. Looking out the window, she watches him stab a man in plain sight, only to wake the following morning and discover she’s somehow woken up the day before the crime.
Jen keeps going backwards in time, trying to piece together what led her son to commit this unimaginable act while also untangling why she’s travelling through the past. You don’t often come across something that feels like a truly original idea, especially in a genre so widely explored, but McAllister delivers a complex, gripping story that you won’t want to put down until you’ve solved the mystery.
The narrative is purposefully disorientating, so you’ll benefit from reading this in longer sittings to fully absorb the breadcrumbs of evidence left scattered throughout. And when the pieces finally fall into place, you’ll be left picking them back up long after you’ve put the book down.
7. Go as a River by Shelley Read
Prepare to have your heart broken by this rainy-day adventure. Read takes us on Victoria’s journey of finding strength as a young woman after suffering profound loss. While elements of the story are incredibly hard to read, it’s so powerful in its purpose that you can’t help but endure more.
Sometimes the books that make us uncomfortable are the ones most worth reading, giving us an opportunity to vicariously experience alternative perspectives and come away with a greater sense of empathy and gratitude.
It’s beautifully written, handling delicate scenes with care and creating a landscape that almost becomes a character of its own. Themes of nature are laced through this novel, from the way Victoria navigates the land in her most desperate time of need to the power of her maternal instinct and the impossible choices she makes out of love.
If you enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing, you’ll love this book.
8. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Here’s another author whose work is always a safe bet; you really can’t go wrong with anything Taylor Jenkins Reid has written. Reid has an innate ability to conjure fictional celebrities that feel genuinely real and, the longer her list of novels grows, the more the worlds she’s built intertwine.
Reid tells the story of ageing Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo’s life through interviews with Monique, the hand-selected journalist she’s chosen to write her memoir. Hugo divulges the intricacies of her life, detailing her relationships with each of her seven husbands and revealing the secrets she’s kept from the public along the way.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo isn’t a book that demands too much from its reader, nor will it necessarily leave you pondering life, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. If you like to be thoroughly entertained by your reading, its Old Hollywood setting and eccentric characters deliver glamorous drama that’ll keep you engaged until the very end.
Whether it’s a story that keeps you guessing, introduces you to a character you don’t want to leave behind or simply transports you somewhere else for a while, there are few better reasons to stay in than a book you can’t put down.
So, cancel the plans, light your favourite candle and get comfortable. You’ve got some reading to do!
