Take what you need
Recommendations #1
Welcome to If In Doubt, Read an approachable book recommendation newsletter. There are two core newsletters (1) a Monthly Review of what I have read and (2) Recommendations that will be categorised into Cosy, Love, Intense and Pick ‘N’ Mix. Subscribe below to make sure they land in your inbox 💌
This is the first sole recommendation edition.
September. It’s ‘back to school’ time with unsettled weather and lots of change in the air… So what do you need this month? A cosy and snuggly read? A relatable reassuring read? Something to get your teeth stuck into? Or something a bit different?
I’m currently reading: The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand (and looking forward to watching it on Netflix).
All recommendations are listed and categorised each month in my Bookshop.org store!
COSY & COMFORTING
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Published: July 2021
Summary: If you’re not wanting to give up Summer just yet, enjoy one last holiday to Cape Code via this book. Untangle years of history through one 24 hour day at this tumbledown holiday home. The relationships in this book are so real and I simply adore the mother (grandmother).
Rating: 7/10
Recc: The Paper Palace has a similar pace and concept to Tom Lake by Ann Prachett; a mother relieving her choices now her kids are slightly older. Lots of forbidden love and paths not taken.
LOVE & BEING HUMAN
Expectation by Anna Hope
Published: Jul 2019
Summary: A hugely accurate portrayal of female friends through their 20’s and 30’s. A time when, with every marriage/ new baby/ breakup and move to the country, it feels like your friendships are tipping on their axis and continually fighting to reconfigure. This book cuts to the core and is a book (of very few) I would read again.
Rating: 10/10
Recc: Anything by Dolly Alderton, naturally, as she is the queen of promoting the tender, tumultuous and magical nature of female friendships. Alternatively, Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth is a messier grittier take on your best friend getting engaged (without consulting you first!).
INTENSE & REWARDING
Great Circle by Maggie Shepard
Published: May 2021
Summary: It’s long, it's winding and it’s a bit disjointed and yet it is utterly brilliant. I didn’t think I’d care for aviation, especially aviation in the early 1900’s but I was totally wrong. Follow Marian as she aims to be the first person to fly the Great Circle around the Earth, north to south around the poles. There is a plot-line set in modern day that felt a bit forced at times but definitely didn’t take away from the overall story. Epic.
Rating: 8/10
Recc: For some reason Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow popped into my head as a like-for-like, purely because, like aviation I have little to no knowledge or interest in gaming and yet I was entirely captivated by it.
PICK ‘N’ MIX
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Published: Mar 2022
Summary: This is a murder mystery novel with a twist. It tells you on what page people will die, it lays out the rules of a successful crime novel (followed by some of the murder-mystery greats including Agatha Christie) and then you’re on your own to solve the murders that occur within this one unlucky family. The author is also a stand up comedian so it’s a hilarious, immersive and different read. (PLUS there is a sequel - Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect)
Rating: 7/10
Recc: Bella Mackie is an understandable direct comparison with her “How To Kill Your family” and her latest novel (out this week) “What A Way To Go”.
NOT WORTH IT
The Wake Up Call by Beth O’Leary
Published: Sept 2023
Summary: Two ‘enemies’ manage to save a hotel from closing. Your predictably peppy protagonist and grumpy misunderstood male can’t stand each other but… [spoiler] they fall in love. All very predictable and a bit too on the nose for me.
Instead: Any of her other books. Most famous is The Flat Share which has been made into a TV Series. But my personal faves are The No-Show which genuinely kept me guessing and The Switch where a nan and granddaughter swap lives for a short while, heartening and so joyful.
TBR
All Fours by Miranda July
This is everywhere! And seems so loved! A women leaving her routine (and child…) and leaning into her wants and desires for a few months. Revolutionary or irresponsible? I am definitely intrigued.
God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Two disappearances. The same place. The same family… I’m reluctant to read too much more about this as I want to get fully submerged into the story without any preconceptions (although it is rated 4.27 stars out of 5 on Goodreads with 80k, so I do have high hopes…).
Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson
The Girls (remember Girls in Love, Girls under Pressure, Girls out Late and Girls in Tears?!) are back, they are aged 40 and still best friends just with a lot more baggage. If, like me, you can’t remember the details of the original books (they did start in 1997 after all), Penguin have kindly summed them up here so you can dive straight back in with Think Again.
Happy reading xo
If you do buy via the Bookshop.org link I may receive some commission
Great Circle is one of my favourites from the last couple of years and I've recommended it a lot but you're the first person who has been very positive about it. Glad you liked it too.
Just added Expectation to my TBR list!!! Great recs. xx