I have been whizzing through my reading challenge this year and it is making such a difference to the way I feel. Reading has always been my go-to when I need to switch off but as life became busier, my love of reading fell further and further down my list of things to make time for. When the start of 2019 rolled around, it seemed like the perfect time to take back my love of reading and make some time so that's exactly what I did. I'm now nineteen books down and reading more really has made a difference.
I shared a post on What I've Been Reading in January so I thought why not make this into a little mini-series where I update you on the books I've read throughout the year in a variety of different posts. I get a number of messages on Instagram about what I'm reading so having a place to direct people to seemed logical.
Today's post is on the last five books I've read, one or two I've been sent, some are charity book finds and another is one I've been meaning to read for ages.
The Stepney Doorstep Society by Kate Thompson
I was sent this by Penguin recently and it couldn't have been more perfect for me. I love modern history, especially from the 1800s up to around 1960 so this story of the inspiring tales and strength of the women who were the backbone of the East End as war rolled across Europe was ideal. It's a tale of love, loss and heartache, Kate Thompson talks to a collection of women who had their childhood stolen from them by Hitler but continued with life regardless. It really shone the spotlight on wartime East End for me, something that I find is never a focus in most history books. I couldn't put this down and I've already ordered a few more books to read about the East End and the Blitz.
Twenties Girl by Sophia Kinsella
I found this in a charity shop a couple of weeks ago and delved straight in. I'm a big fan of Kinsella's Shopaholic series so knew I'd love this. It follows the story of Lara who has recently split with her boyfriend and has to navigate life again with a ghostly sidekick. The story is heartwarming, funny and definitely feel good with a very surprising twist thanks to some family members. It's chick-lit at its finest.
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
The third instalment in the Me Before You series, I couldn't resist this when I found it for half price in Waterstones. Lou Clarke returns but in New York after following her heart and the words of Will Traynor. The story follows the woes of a long-distance relationship with paramedic boyfriend Sam, navigating a new and demanding family to care for and settling in somewhere completely alien to her. It's a joyful read, completely enjoyable and the perfecting ending to the series... at least I think this is a trilogy?!
The Language of Kindness by Christie Watson
This is the account of nursing from Christie Watson who was a nurse for twenty years. It was eye-opening, shocking and very sad in parts. I found it much harder going than Adam Kay's This is Going to Hurt, I think I thought it would be more humorous but it wasn't but then I suppose nursing really isn't. It was hard-hitting and I found her own grief about her father passing really affected me due to my own recent family bereavements. I ended the book in tears and it stayed with me for a number of days afterwards.
I urge everyone to read this to try and understand a snippet of what life in the NHS is like.
Dead Pretty by Candy Denman
This was another one that was sent to me to read and when I first read the synopsis I was a bit unsure as it is not my usual genre but I stuck with it and thoroughly enjoyed it even if it did scare the crap out of me a little, I'm a total wimp! Dead Pretty is the first in the series of Jocasta Hughes Mysteries and follows the part-time GP and on-call forensic medical practitioner in Hastings. It's full of gruesome murders and had an ending I did not see coming. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series now, the book was really well written and I love how it kept you completely gripped throughout. I will definitely be looking at murder/thriller books more.
I'm just about to start book twenty but I'm always open to more recommendations so let me know what you're reading or enjoying so I can add it to my to-read list.
