Some books that I've enjoyed recently

My To Be Read pile at the moment is huge! I recently got back into using our local library, I have a friend that regularly passes me piles of books, and I have a huge stash borrowed from my Mum, along with a few others that I've picked up here and there. I'm not daunted though, I love having a selection of books to choose from and work my way through. 

Here are some excellent books that I've enjoyed recently. All are written by women, all have one or more female protagonists who are both intelligent and creative, and three have the word 'book' in the title which is always a big draw for me!

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

I don't read many psychological thriller type books, but I have enjoyed several by Lisa Jewell and this one was gripping! It's about a teenage mum and her boyfriend who disappear on a night out, and a new resident who starts to uncover clues to the disappearance. I felt that there were lots of different ways that the story could play out, and it really kept me guessing.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

This romantic comedy is a bit of a twist on the 'uptight city girl moves to the country and falls in love with a handsome local' trope which I liked, as I've read many books that follow plot! Maybe it's a little predictable, but it was a really enjoyable read with plenty of romance, a traditional bookshop that needs a helping hand, and a few twists and turns.

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

I've been wanting to read this for ages, and I wasn't disappointed. The book tells the story of a failed writer who witnesses her rival die in a freak accident and takes the opportunity to update and publish her unfinished novel. The catch is that she's a white author rewriting a story about Chinese history, she makes her own biased revisions to the story, and she publishes it under a version of her name which makes her appear Chinese. It's beautifully written, really engaging, and I always love an unreliable narrator. Lots of insights too into the cut throat writing industry, and how some authors and up at the top while others fade into obscurity.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

Maggie O'Farrell is a favourite author, so I was pleased to spot this recent release at the library. It's a historical novel, inspired by the poem My Last Duchess. In sixteenth century Florence, sixteen year old Lucrezia is married off to a Duke, and the story charts Lucrezia's childhood, as well as jumping ahead to when she starts to suspect her husband is going to try and kill her. It's beautifully written, quite long and slow moving and although the outcome is made clear from the beginning, the ending isn't quite as expected. 

The Book Share by Phaedra Patrick

This was a fun read about a housekeeper and aspiring author who finds herself entrusted with finishing her employer's final novel. I don't have any aspirations to write a book of my own but I love reading about people who do, and imagining what it would be like to be a writer. It was a simple and quick read, humorous, with plenty of engaging characters.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

This was a magical story and beautifully written story about a mysterious bookshop and the three people that it brings together. It was a really enjoyable read and I loved all the characters as well as the literary references and the unusual story. Great for a bit of escapism.

Photo credit Lenin Estrada via Unsplash