One thing that I try to do during the summer holidays, is carve some time to myself and read while the little ones nap or splash about the pool.
I love reading books from all different genres, so I have put together an eclectic mix of my favourite paperbacks for you to devour this summer:
The Remains of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro – This 1989 Booker-winning novel is a captivating story of lost love, unreliable narration and class, narrated by Mr Stevens who is chief of Staff at a stately home in the countryside in 1956. This book got more interesting by the page- and I could not put it down.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante – It’s the first volume of a series and it left me wanting to read all of them. Following the protagonists’ life through childhood and adolescence, this book is a coming-of-age novel exploring poverty, education, feminism, and personal growth in a constantly transforming society. Very thought-provoking- a must-read!
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Set in a small Tokyo café, where a magical seat allows customers to travel back in time, this is one of the most heartwarming books I have come across. Slightly unconventional, beautifully written and with such intense emotions throughout. Enough said…now go read it!
The Maid by Nita Prose. I won’t spoil the character arc for you- but just know you’re in for a treat. Both a crime mystery and a tale of character development, the book starts with Molly (The Maid) finding a guest dead in their bed. Prose’s novel is so thought-provoking, I didn’t want it to end!
Love, Nina by Nina Stibbe. The perfect poolside book, Love, Nina is charming, entertaining, funny and irreverent. It’s a collection of letters written by Nina Stibbe during her time as a nanny for a London family. If you have read this before, I would suggest a reread- it’s still so funny the second time around.
Emma by Jane Austen. What a classic. It’s about a snobby young woman who enjoys meddling in other people’s love lives, often generating complications and misunderstandings. A must-read if you ask me.
I can’t wait to get reading! What are your favourite books for summer? Find more here
xx,
