What’s on my reading pile…
It’s so easy for me to lose hours to screens – I go from my phone to my laptop to my phone to my TV throughout the day and I often wonder the affect it’s having! Lately I’ve been making a conscious effort to carve out time amidst a chaotic day to read more books. When I’m flying through the pages of a great read, I always wonder why I don’t read more!
Anyway, here’s a couple of amazing reads I had to recommend, as well as a few that are on my reading pile…
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins
This heartbreaking and beautifully dramatic read was recommended to me a few times, I’d had it sitting in my Kindle library and had browsed the first few pages but the recommendations were the push I needed to dive in!
It truly did not disappoint; I was completely absorbed – I think I read it in one go on the flight home from New Zealand. I just adore old Hollywood, the era in which this book is set, and I thought the entire narrative was so interesting – Taylor Jenkins Reid is such a captivating writer and I love the way she pushes boundaries and thinks outside of the typical storyline.
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins
Straight after finishing Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I just had to read another of Jenkins’ books, After I Do… which means I’ve now read every one of her books!
This book is another one with an atypical storyline, it focuses on a young married couple who find they’re no longer in love. After many fights and some hurdles they cannot overcome, they decide to trial a year-long separation where they don’t have any communication at all. I honestly felt for the characters Lauren and Ryan so much, I wanted happiness for them both – and I truly did not know if that meant I wanted them to be together or not.
It made me evaluate a lot about my own marriage in a way; how easy you can get comfortable or take each other for granted, or just drift apart over a period of time if you’re not both pulling your weight. I found this book was so much more than I expected, more than just a love story… a bit of a lesson in life at the same time.
As always, I have a mountain of books I’ve been meaning to get through…
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
I feel like this is the book everyone’s talking about at the moment, I keep seeing the brightly coloured cover everywhere! The interweaving storylines of the characters really speaks to me, I love books that observe seemingly normal people like this – perfect for someone as nosy as me! If you’ve read this (seriously, I think I’m the last one left that hasn’t!), did you enjoy it?!
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
I’ve read the tidal wave that was Sally Rooney’s second book, Normal People but I’ve yet to read her debut, Conversations with Friends. The book touches on just about everything, including exploring topics of youth with a sort of coming of age spin. I think it’s had a mixed bag of reviews, which only makes me want to read it more!
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
I’ve adored listening to Dolly Alderton’s podcast The High Low with the lovely Pandora Sykes. Since then, I have been desperate to read Dolly’s debut novel, Everything I Know About Love. The book sounds like a whole heap of emotions and an ode to female friendship, which I think will really resonate with me. So many of my close friends have recommended this and I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve had the book gathering dust for way too long!
At Home In Joshua Tree by Rich Combs
I was drawn to this book as interior inspiration, but I finally purchased it because it seemed so far away from the life that I know. I’ve barely been to the desert, but I find myself inspired by this calm and cool way of living.
What I first thought would be simple ideas for my home came to be so much more than that – from the mindful rituals they commit to daily, to added contributions from our designers inspired by the desert.
While I’ve only flicked through this coffee table book so far, I can tell it’s something I’ll take a lot of inspiration from!
Have you read any of these? What is on your reading list at the moment?
