Today is my 27th birthday so I am officially in my late 20s. I don't know if it's an age thing or a post-pandemic birthday hangover but I haven't been that excited about my birthday this year! But I did manage to put together a list of 27 books I'd recommend and a little one line review about them all so I'll jump straight into it (in no particular order, also all the books are linked to amazon by clicking the title - they're affiliate links).
Confessions of a Forty Something Fuck Up - Alexandra Potter
Hilarious and relatable - even in my 20s.
Everything I know About Love - Dolly Alderton
I couldn't put this down - a must read for every 20-something
Just Haven't Met You Yet - Sophie Cousens
I read this in a day, loveable characters and set in the beautiful Jersey - Sophie should be on the tourism board because this made me want to visit!
Piranesi - Susanna Clarke
For the first half of this book I thought it was a fantasy book (my least favourite genre) but by the second half it all started to make sense and I loved it.
Boys Don't Cry - Fiona Scarlett
Get the tissues ready, this is both heartbreaking and moving.
The Man Who Didn't Call - Rosie Walsh
I loved the mystery of this and never guessed the ending - I was completely gripped!
Last Tang Standing - Lauren Ho
Hilarious romcom - another one I couldn't put down!
A Woman is No Man - Etaf Rum
I kept putting this off until we chose it as a book club pick and I'm so glad we did. An emotional and gripping story of three generations of Palestinian-American Women - I cannot do this book justice it's wonderful.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid
The glamour and suspense in this novel win every time for me. I always recommend this one!
Elenor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
A strange one to make the list because I can't remember it but I know it was my favourite book for about two years after I read it in 2018 so I had to include it!
The Hearts Invisible Furies - John Boyne
My current favourite book, there is so much in this book I don't know where to start but if you have watched It's a Sin and liked it, pick this up!
The Education of Ivy Edwards - Hannah Tovey
I love Ivy - that's all there is too it. If you like funny, realistic female characters this will be a new favourite of yours!
It Must Be Love - Caroline Khoury
Such a beautiful romance set in the most beautiful locations! Great for a summer holiday read!
Beach Read - Emily Henry
I could have chosen any of Emily's books but this was my first by her so it edged it's way forward - an amazing summer romcom!
The Silent Treatment - Abbie Greaves
My other favourite book. It touches on some tough subjects but I loved it and the main character Frank!
Lonely Castle in the Mirror - Mizuki Tsujimura
A fantasy book (it's not fantasy in the dragons and witches sense) I didn't expect to enjoy and ended up loving. It is a gorgeous translated Japanese fiction!
Eight Perfect Hours - Lia Louise
A beautiful love story, I was rooting for the main characters the whole way through!
Twelve Days in May - Niamh Hargan
A romcom set during the Cannes Film Festival is a winner for me. Full of glamour and sunshine!
The Hating Game - Sally Thorne
Read this and then watch the movie - it's actually a really good adaptation!
The Best is Yet To Come - Katy Collins
This got me out of bed at 6am on a Sunday because I woke up thinking about it and had to finish - theres no better recommendation from me!
Open Water - Caleb Azumah Nelson
This is a beautifully written, poetic, love story.
Conversations on Love - Natahsa Lunn
Theres so much in this book I couldn't sum it up but it explores the many ways love shapes our lives.
How We Met - Huma Qureshi
A glorious memoir about how the author met her husband.
Shiver - Allie Reynolds
The only thriller to make the list - this is set at a ski resort and makes for the best (or worst) atmosphere!
The No-Show - Beth O'Leary
The first of Beth O'Learys books on this list but I love how different this is to her other books. The groundwork at the beginning leads to a huge payoff at the end!
Snowflake - Louise Nealon
My final favourite book on the list - I loved everything about this book!
The Flatshare - Beth O'Leary
This got me back into reading romcoms so it will always have a special place in my heart and on my shelf!