Since I talk about books all the time (my friends love me ok), I thought I might as well write about them too… In an effort to write more and an attempt to fill my bank holiday Monday with something productive, I bring to you the top books I read during lockdown that kept me (slightly) sane.

The One by John Marrs

This book is basically the perfect mix. It’s got a bit of everything – a dystopian theme, a serial killer and some romance. The premise of the novel is that everybody has their DNA match – their soulmate based on the make up of their DNA – and it follows different people and their journey after finding out their ‘match’. The chapters are really short and snappy and always leave you hanging so it’s virtually impossible to put the book down. It’s very Black Mirror-esque and I literally finished it in 24 hours so I can’t recommend it enough.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

After reading The Flatshare earlier this year I pre-ordered Beth O’Leary’s second novel ready to devour it after its release and it did not disappoint. Leena switches ‘lives’ with her grandmother Eileen, she goes to live in a Yorkshire village and her grandmother adopts her life in East London. As someone who frequently burns the candle at both ends I felt all the feels with this book and identified a bit with Leena. Again, I essentially read the whole book in one evening (with a bottle of wine), but just wanted to start reading it again and again once I’d finished. 

The Truants by Kate Weinberg

The Truants is a bit Sally Rooney vibes meets murder mystery and I absolutley loved it. OK it’s not the best book I’ve ever read but it did satisfy a Sunday-afternoon-without-plans kinda vibe. It’s all about academia, love and triangles (ooooooooh). I think if you like a book with intense and detailed characters you’ll like this one. 

Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce 

Another thriller, because what could possibly be better as helping to distract from the global pandemic than a gripping page-turner? I really loved this book, it has so many twists and turns and a classic unreliable narrative so things don’t quite tie up until the end. I believe some of the twists might be easy enough to guess but I’m so rubbish at guessing endings so I was genuinely shook at the end of this book. Loads of people have also said they hate all the characters but I honestly think that’s kind of the point? Anyway, I devoured this and would thoroughly recommend it. Trigger warning though, it has abusive relationships as a recurring theme.

Missing Presumed by Susie Steiner

Andddddd I couldn’t write this list without a detective novel. I am such a sucker for a good detective series. I read all the Cara Hunter books this year and although the Susie Steiner series don’t quite do the same as Hunter’s novels, they’re pretty good. The first one takes a little while to get into but once you’re gripped, you’re gripped. You learn to love the detectives and the crime comes second to the plot of your most-loved detectives. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Not a thriller or a detective novel this one, but equally fantastic. The book really took me into the world of Hollywood in the 1950s. This book is just one to really help you escape from the day to day and the sh*tstorm that is the world right now. Evelyn is so enticing and her story is fascinating and (shock) I DID NOT guess the ending (told you I was terrible at guessing the endings and twists). Also, read Daisy Jones and the Six by Jenkins Reid because that is one of my all time favourites.

Reading has literally always been a sanctuary for me. Getting myself lost in a book for hours on end makes me feel more grounded than any yoga/meditation/exercise so I really found solace in my books over the last few months.

Be friends with me on Goodreads and happy Sunday (Monday) pals x