I read everyday – these are the top five books I’ve read in the past 10 years

Books are a great way to relax, pass the time or learn something new – and choosing your favourites is a very subjective matter. They can leave an impression on a young mind, or offer guidance in a time of need – as well as providing a bit of escapism from reality.

I have compiled a list of some of my favourites and why they are my must-reads. Here are my top five books I’ve read in the past 10 years, to add to your reading list.

The Midnight Library follows a woman who is struggling with unhappiness and discontentment. When she finds herself in a magical library between life and death, she is forced to explore all of the “what could have beens” in her lifetime.

Here, she learns a huge lesson about what she truly wants from life, and it’s a very relatable read. The book details some home truths about life that we all know but sometimes need to be reminded of, realising that you have to choose the path you want to go down and it’s not all up to fate. I would recommend this book to anyone, as much as it is about a dark time in life, it’s told in a light-hearted and relatable way.

One Day, written by David Nicholls holds a special place in my heart. It follows Emma and Dexter ans their lives through a 20-year period. Each chapter of the book returns to same day each year, St Swithen’s Day to be exact, and we see how the couple’s lives and relationship has progressed. It’s a beautfiul concept used to fulfill a classic will they, won’t they. Though it is a heartbreaking story, I think it is a perfect example of how life can sometimes have other plans for you, despite the paths you choose to go down. The book has been made into a film and was made into a TV series for Netflix last year.

The Bridget Jones series of books has got to be a national treasure of British culture. Helen Fielding’s novels are nothing short of iconic in their relatability and humour, but the first one will always stand out for me. It follows the life of Bridget, a 30-something single woman navigating work, love and self-improvement while living in London.

The story is told in the form of a diary, revealing Bridget’s thoughts and struggles. It’s a book I return to time and time again; despite some of its references being a tad dated, it feels like a rite of passage to read Bridget Jones’ Diary.

The Diary of Anne Frank is a deeply moving and vulnerable firsthand account of the Holocaust. Perhaps it’s one of the most visceral accounts of how it was to live during this time, and it comes from the perspective of Anne, a brave Jewish teenager grappling with desire, ambition and an uncertain future. The book is a rarity as its author writes in her most vulnerable state and it allows for an important insight into how life was for both young women and Jewish people during WWII. Of all the books on the list, this would be my number one must-read.

This book follows the lives of two Afghan women whose worlds have become connected in tumultuous modern Afghanistan. Mariam is an illegitimate child who was married off at a young age and later finds an unexpected friendship with Laila, who is also taken in by Mariam’s husband.

But as Afghanistan descends into war, their lives and their bond are tested by hardship and tragedy. This book really opened my eyes and allowed me to have more insight and appreciation of different cultures

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