My 5 most recent reads and whether they are worth it (spoiler: some are not)
As a recent graduate who has no idea what they are doing with their life, I've spent recent months reading in order to try and forget about the impending stress of what my future holds. Here are my five most recent reads and how much I would recommend them to anyone else.
Despite its mediocre reviews, I really enjoyed this book. It follows the story of Emma and Leo, who are married and have a young daughter, Ruby. Emma has suffered with cancer and is awaiting the all-clear, and supportive husband Leo is with her every step of the way. This is until he finds out Emma has been keeping a huge secret from him even before they knew each other. This romance turned mystery novel kept me engaged throughout, and I couldn't put it down.
4/5
Dear Dolly: On Love, Life and Friendship, Dolly Alderton
I'm sure almost everyone has heard of Alderton's memoir 'Everything I Know About Love', and I decided to give 'Dear Dolly' a read. Dolly Alderton's wisdom throughout the book made it a quick and easy read, and essentially being a 200 page agony aunt column, it felt like I was having a conversation with Alderton herself as she gave advice on topics like friendship, family, relationships and more. If you're looking for a quick read that will make you feel like a better person once you finish it, this is a book for you.
5/5
After I Do, Taylor Jenkins-Reid
If you haven't heard of Taylor Jenkins-Reid, where have you been? It feels like everyone and their cat has read her most popular book 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' (I have not, probably should). After I Do is the third TJR book I have read, and it didn't disappoint. A typical romance about a married couple at breaking point, so they decide to take a break from each other and explore other avenues. Despite figuring out what was inevitably going to happen at the end, I still loved this book. I'm a sucker for a romance, and this ticked all the right boxes for me.
4/5
Call Me By Your Name, André Aciman
I committed a crime here and watched the film adaptation of this book a few years ago. However, the film made me very optimistic that the book would be just as incredible - it was not. The story of a beautiful romance between two men in the Italian Riviera unfolds over a six week period, and we learn a lot about the protagonist, 17 year old Elio, as the novel progresses. This book felt like a teenage diary entry to me. Obviously focused on Elio and his emotions, it just didn't work as beautifully as the film did. Perhaps I should have read the book first, but maybe my expectations were too high for this one.
1/5
Now I didn't want to end this post on a bad note, but this book also did not impress me. I read Florence Given's debut 'Women Don't Owe You Pretty' a couple of years ago and enjoyed it, but her first attempt at fiction was not as good for me. I enjoyed Given's writing; it was fast paced and I found myself getting through the chapters quite quickly, however the actual plot was disappointing. Focused on bisexual protagonist Eartha as she breaks up with her toxic ex and explores her sexuality, alongside becoming a social media sensation, the storyline was pure chaos. It felt very stereotypical and inauthentic as a novel focused on a female bisexual protagonist, and the ending was far too rushed considering it's an almost 400 page novel. I really wanted to enjoy this, but unfortunately I didn't.
2/5
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