reading round-up 3

everything i read from july to september

1. Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth

A heartfelt, tender and devastating coming-of-age story about growing up gay in a small, conservative town. Incredibly raw and real. It feels like it’s set in Sally Rooney’s Ireland, alongside Kala by Colin Walsh.

2. None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

The queen of thrillers does it again. Everything I’ve read by Lisa Jewell has been addictively gripping from the start and this is no different. It’s all you could want from a psychological thriller: dark, twisty, and great fun.

3. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

I’m a bit of a book snob so I had pretty low expectations for this. Particularly when a member of staff had to lead me to the ‘young adult’ section of Waterstones to find it. But I was pleasantly surprised — it’s a little teen-y but I was immediately hooked by the story and the plot twist left my mouth literally hanging open.

4. Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

Ok, maybe Lisa Jewell can do some wrong. This one fell really flat for me. The main character swindles countless women over several decades in almost identical ways which gets repetitive pretty fast. He is so clearly a wrong-un it was hard to believe this many women were stupid enough to fall for him. And the ending far-fetched and unsatisfying.

5. All Fours by Miranda July

I’d spotted this book countless times on the tube over the last few months but went into it knowing absolutely nothing and it turned out to be my favourite of the bunch. It’s a completely unabashed, unashamed, uncensored portrayal of female desire amid a menopausal existential crisis. Spicy in places and funny in others but ultimately charming.

6. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This book gets incredibly high praise so I was apprehensive going in but it lives up to the hype. It’s a beautiful and deeply sad story following the lives of two women living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Definitely one that will stay with me for a while.