1. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Ran Away by Jonas Jonasson
I love this book. It was recommended to me by a date (which went terribly, no more info necessary) and it’s hilarious. It intertwines the adventure of Alan Karlsson’s escape through the window and his ventures with his past as assistant builder of nuclear bombs and the friend of multiple presidents, kings and emperors. The story is well-written and funny, and it’s fascinating to see familiar world history come to life from a different perspective. There’s also an elephant and a lot of vodka involved. I highly recommend to everyone!
2. A Girl Like You by Gemma Burgess
This is one for the ladies. This is a sharp, funny and relatable chick-lit book. Abigail is smart, funny and single for the first time ever. Her housemate Robert teaches her how to be a kick-ass dater and things go from there. It’s set in London, which I love as I recognise so many of the places (pubs) mentioned in it. I don’t know what it is about Gemma’s writing, but I relate to her characters so entirely; it feels like I’m reading about the exploits of some of my best friends.
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I devoured this book in one day. It’s an amazing contemporary fairytale that tells the story of Celia and Marco, two magicians locked in a battle of enchantments. The setting is the glorious Night Circus, an incredible monochromatic travelling fair that comes and goes as it pleases. I’m not describing it anywhere near well enough as it deserves, but you definitely need to give this one a go. I had goosebumps the whole way through!
4. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
This entire series just had to be on my list. When I was 8, people kept trying to get me to read these books, and I, being a pretty stubborn kid, refused, mainly because everyone kept trying to get me to read them. Then I was given them for Christmas and have read them umpteen million times since then. I love the story, the characters, the magic, and I just generally love most of it, to be honest!