I love the thought of reading every evening but the reality is that if it isn’t gripping enough I get super bored and distracted. Some books have even taken me around three months to finish before because they just didn’t have me hooked. However, there are four books I’ve read over the last year which I read in one sitting.
I’m not set on a particular genre; if I like the sound of it or if I’ve seen it trend on social media I’ll give it a try. Whilst I like the typical romance book, I am also getting into thriller books. Here are four books I highly recommend reading, and ones I just couldn’t put down.
The Housemaid
Written by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid is the first in a four-part series. The novel is a psychological thriller that follows a housemaid, Millie, who begins working for the wealthy Winchester family.
It’s sold over two million copies and the unbelievably twisty read had me glued from the first chapter, which is incredibly rare.
Whatever I thought would happen or where I thought the twists would be, I was totally wrong, which had me on the edge of my seat throughout.
I have also read the second in the series, The Housemaid’s Secret, which continues to follow Millie on her adventures, and it was just as gripping.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
An unbelievably moving book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a 2018 novel by Heather Morris.
The book tells the story of how Lale Sokolov, who was imprisoned at the concentration camp in 1942, fell in love with Gita Furman, who he was tattooing at the concentration camp.
The novel draws on the real-life experiences of the pair, and it’s incredibly upsetting and definitely pulled on my heartstrings.
The book is part of a series, and is followed by Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters, which explore the theme of love and survival during the Holocaust.
The Cat Lady
The Cat Lady by Dawn O’Porter follows Mia, a wife and stepmother whose life is upended by a shocking event.
The story explores the themes of societal judgement, self-discovery and the power of unexpected friendships, all while highlting the unbreakable bond Mia has with her cat, Pigeon.
This book was incredibly relatable and super easy to read. I just couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting.
It’s a standalone book, but O’Porter writes some great books, including Honey Bee, Life in Pieces and So Lucky.
Everything I Know About Love
This book is a 2018 memoir by the British journalist Dolly Alderton, in which the author recounts the adventures of a woman navigating her 20s.
Whilst this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, for me at the time, navigating my 20s, it was incredibly relatable and once I had finished it I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be in life.
The book will give you a whole new view on love, relationships, family and friends.
There’s even a series based on the book now, which was released in 2022 and is available on BBC iPlayer.