I’ve read a couple of very, very good books recently, and my ever-growing TBR (to be read) pile is stacked with titles that I’m highly anticipating picking up. After I’ve shared my recent reads, I thought I’d share some of the books that I’m most looking forward to reading, in the hopes of inspiring your own reading list for the months ahead. I’ve also shared a list of the books I’m planning on taking with me on my upcoming trip to Greece in this recent newsletter.
Some of the books mentioned below were sent to me by the publishers to review (ad/pr). Most of the links below are affiliate links. This means I receive a small portion of the sale if you purchase a book via my link, but you will be charged exactly the same amount of money. Please note - I will only ever link to Amazon when I can’t find the book anywhere else.
Recent reads
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
Set in and around New York over two time periods with two different protagonists, this unique novel focuses on the art world of the 1980s and 1990s. First we have the titular Anita, who at the beginning of the novel falls to her death from a 30th-story window and then narrates from the grave (or more precisely, the afterlife she finds herself in). Anita is a talented artist who is overshadowed by her husband due to him being both a man and white. The second narrator is Raquel, an art-history student preparing her final thesis as one of the only students of colour on campus. I loved both narrators (and especially loved how their stories merged as the novel progressed) and was just completely hooked throughout this read. It is beautifully written, and the unexpected supernatural elements were an added bonus for me.
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
I read an advance copy of this wonderful book, but it’s due to be released next week so you don’t have long to wait. Real Americans chronicles the lives of three generations of one family; from grandmother May’s upbringing and student life in communist China, to mother Lily’s meeting of a man who completely changes her world, and son Nick’s hunt for his missing father and how he plots to escape the small island he calls home. I love books like this, which detail different family members through various generations, explaining how each of their lives has been shaped by the events of the past. I was hooked throughout, completely engrossed in the stories of all three characters.
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
This was my book club read for April, and I would recommend that absolutely everyone reads this book. Based on the stories of many different Palestinian women, this novel really drilled home how horrific the Israeli occupation has been for such a long time. It was upsetting to read in parts and made me cry several times, but taught me so much. At its core, this is the story of one Palestinian woman who grows up in Kuwait before being displaced to Jordan after America invade Iraq for the first time. After already going through a lot in her life, including the breakdown of her first marriage and her subsequent years as a sex worker, she then visits Palestine and it at this point in the book that I became completely gripped. We tend to only see or hear about the horrors of daily life in Palestine, so it was wonderful to read the sections of this story when the protagonist is living a happy life and the beautiful descriptions of where she is living. I recommend this to anyone who loves stories that chronicle many years in a person’s life and how they became the person they are at the end of the story - but also anyone who wants to understand more about the history of the current genocide.
Currently reading: The Four by Ellie Keel
The second part of my monthly book club newsletter is usually available to paid subs only. Every month, I’ll be sharing lists of books I love, ramblings about reading, and opening up the comments for you to ask me for personal recommendations.
I’m having a hectic week with two trips back-to-back, so this month’s book club is shorter than usual, and I’m making the entire newsletter free to all my subscribers. If you want to read my entire back catalogue of book-related newsletters, including my all-time favourite books and the top ten books I read last year, upgrade to a paid subscription for just £5 a month.
The Books on my TBR for Spring
I’m scared to count all of the books on my shelves that I have yet to read, but these are the titles that are currently stacked beside my bed, destined to be read over the next few weeks.
The Four by Ellie Keel - dark academia based around four scholarship students and a dark secret that could destroy them all.
At the Table by Claire Powell - an astute novel focusing on family dynamics, following 4 family members over a year of meals.
The Favourite by Rosemary Hennigan - a gripping dark academia thriller where a young woman determined to be her professor’s ‘favourite’ has an ulterior motive.
Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky - the story of a young girl dealing with loss.
The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells - a devastating read chronicling the lives of three orphaned siblings.
Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver - a young mother and Entomology expert investigate monarch butterflies and climate change.
Ava Anna Ada by Ali Millar - a contemporary fable about climate change, lust and reality.
Looking for your next read? Leave me a comment below telling me your favourite books and what you’re looking for, and I’ll reply with personalised recommendations.
Happy reading!
Emma x
Thanks for these recommendations! Looking forward to getting stuck into some of them!
Taking note of some to add to my TBR. Thanks for the recs!