This year I dug out my ancient Kindle in its falling apart case and started reading properly again. I’d forgotten just how relaxing it feels to settle down in a quiet spot and become engrossed in a good book. It’s become my nightly routine to read a few chapters in bed and it’s done me the world of good.
If you haven’t read a book in a long time you need one that will remind you why you loved reading in the first place. Something that will grip you from the opening chapter and not let go until the last word.
I thoroughly recommend these page turners:
This book is heartwarming, funny, terrifying and utterly original. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
It explains that if a child creates an imaginary friend then it becomes a real being, watching over the child for as long as it is believed in. The imaginary friend has its own independent thoughts and feelings but can only be seen and heard by the child and other imaginary friends.
The story is told from the viewpoint of one such imaginary friend, Budo. He introduces us to his child, Max and all the people in Max’s life including his parents and teachers. I loved reading how Budo innocently tries to make sense of human behaviour from his unique perspective and there are some genuinely funny moments early on.
However things swiftly take a sinister turn. Budo has to find a way to save Max but can’t communicate with anyone ‘real’ to let them know what has happened to him. I spent most of the book with my heart in my mouth and cried more than once from both happiness and sadness.
This is a beautifully written series that captivated me from start to finish. The books are based upon 14th Century Russian folklore and bring to life a fantastical but dangerous world full of demons, spirits, monsters and magic.
The story begins with Book 1, The Bear and the Nightingale. We are introduced to Vasilisa, a headstrong young girl who struggles with the restrictions and expectations placed upon her by family and society. Her duty in life is to marry but she craves freedom and adventure.
She can also see and talk to the house spirits, a dangerous gift at a time when old traditions and beliefs are being forced out and deemed ‘the work of witches’ by Russia’s newly adopted religion Christianity.
One day Vasylisa encounters Frost, the blue eyed winter demon and her life is set on a new, extraordinary path.
I quickly became attached to the characters which made some of the things that happen in the series truly heartbreaking. However I was gripped from start to finish and the series left me feeling empowered and full of hope. It’s a tale of courage and strength over adversity and staying true to yourself.
As page turners go, this is a classic. I couldn’t put this down as I just had to know what was going on!
There are two main stories which unfold throughout the book. The first occurs in the present day. When a new boss arrives, rifts and paranoia begin to spread amongst the previously friendly office coworkers. The second story takes us back to an earlier point in time when a child phychiatrist is assessing a child rescued from a ‘house of horrors’.
You know pretty much from the get go that these stories are going to intertwine at some point with the actions of the past leading to a gruesome murder in the present. The fun part is trying to work out exactly what links the stories and who’s going to die.
I found this book unsettling, creepy and thrilling all at the same time. Although I like to credit myself on guessing ‘whodunnit’, this book kept me guessing right until the big reveal. The ending didn’t disappoint either, it was really satisfying.
If you thought ‘Gone Girl’ or ‘The Girl On The Train’ were page turners then this book will keep you hooked.
The story begins with two strangers on a plane. By the end of their flight they’ve planned a murder but each is left wondering: Were they joking? Or deadly serious?
I thought I knew where the story was going. Then less than a third of the way through there was a massive twist that I didn’t see coming. From there on in I knew I was going to be kept in suspense until the very end. I loved the unpredictability of the plot which kept it original and fresh.
What I also liked about this book was that it wasn’t unneccessarily gruesome. Instead it honed in on the characters and explored their motivations, cunning and, ultimately, their weaknesses too.
Which of these page turners appeals to you? What books would you recommend to help someone get back into reading?
