When I was younger, I had so much time to read. I conquered series after series of books and blasted through required readings for school, including the works of Shakespeare, Fitzgerald and Lee. When I got older and started working while still going to school, reading moved to the side as I focused on well, living.
Reading became a chore rather than something fun and turned into something I only did for school. With no time for long stories, I spent my time reading anything quick–papers, magazines, and news articles. Feeling so drained between work and school, I had such a short attention span that any book I read had to be interesting enough I could put it down and pick it back up whenever I had the time, yet short enough to hold my attention and not seem daunting.
I’ve put together a list of the books I’ve enjoyed in the past couple of months I wasn’t able to put down or when I put them down, I was able to pick up right where I left off.
- In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
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Ware’s book begins with the main character, Nora, recieving an invitation to a bachelorette party out of the blue from an estranged friend. This is made stranger by the fact that she wasn’t even invited to the wedding. Mystery ensues as Nora begins to realize the intentions behind the invitation, and how the secrets of her past have come back to haunt her.
In a Dark Dark Wood is a fairly quick read but a good one nonetheless, especially considering the major revelation at the end of the novel. Ware’s book is perfect to curl up with on a night in, or at the end of a busy day out.
- The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
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The Couple Next Door starts off with two parents living in seemingly domestic bliss, at a party at their neighbours’ house. However, when the parents return home to check on their child they had left sleeping, they are horrified to discover their baby has gone missing.
The prime suspects, in this case, become the parents themselves, as the detectives notice increasingly anxious and panicky behaviour between them during questioning. Who is the couple next door, and who committed this crime?
This book forces you to reconsider if you really know the people who live just a few steps away from you as secrets are revealed throughout the novel.
Easy to follow and captivating to read, The Couple Next Door is the perfect book to read in bed after a stressful day. It will draw you into its story and make you want to know what will happen next.
- The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton
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Hamilton’s novel sounds as though it is something that will make you feel totally insufficient in your romantic relationships, but it is actually quite the opposite.
The Perfect Girlfriend is a twisted love story between sociopathic Juliette who is obsessed and her ex-boyfriend, Nate. Although he broke up with her six months ago at the start of the novel, nothing will deter her from ensuring they get to live out their happily ever after.
The true depth of Juliette’s obsession is revealed as the story progresses; she is determined to prove that she is the perfect girlfriend. This book is interesting because you don’t often get to read from the perspective of the stalker. Quite honestly, this book will also make you feel better about any “crazy” stunts you’ve pulled in your past relationships.
The Perfect Girlfriend will keep you on the edge of your seat with suspense as you imagine which scheme Juliette will come up with next.
- The Girls by Emma Cline
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The Girls is a novel which follows a young teenage girl in the 1960s, Evie, and her journey as a young person joining a cult. The cult in this novel is very Manson-esque, which makes it all the more intriguing.
Evie becomes a part of the inner circle, becoming obsessed with pleasing other members of the group as they get closer to their infamous and violent future. Evie begins to ignore other aspects of her life as she remains desperate to be accepted by the members of the group, vowing to be as free and careless as they seem to appear.
The excitement and danger Evie experiences translate through the pages of Cline’s book and remind you what it was like to be a vulnerable teenager looking to be accepted. Nostalgia aside, the creepy cult-iness of this book makes it really exciting, and therefore easy to pick up and hard to put down.
- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
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This book follows Cadence, a teenager from a wealthy family who spends their summers on a private island and refuse to be seen as anything other than perfect. As a result of a serious accident the previous summer, Cadence suffers from serious memory loss, and cannot remember her accident, or the events of the entire summer. No one in her family will talk to her about it after being advised by Cadence’s doctor not to discuss the accident.
The entire book is spent in suspense of learning what actually happened the summer previous, with plot twists and turns that keep you engaged through the book. An easy read for in between classes or a moment to yourself on a lunch break, We Were Liars is a perfect escape from reality and a good story that will have you waiting anxiously for the final reveal.
For all those busybodies out there, remember to take time for yourself to relax! Happy reading.