The books you’ll want to get lost in on those long, slow days by the fire
Heartburn
Seven months into her pregnancy, cookbook writer Rachel Samstat discovers that her husband, Mark, is in love with another woman. We join her story in the aftermath, where she is in between trying to win Mark back and simultaneously wishing him dead. Heartburn is from the iconic writer Nora Ephron, creator of such gems as Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally. The Audible version is read by none other than Meryl Streep. This is food for your soul and a feast for your ear-pods. It is my comfort listen and I’d highly recommend.
Atomic Habits
For many of us, this time of year is a time for reflection and goal-setting in terms of what we hope the new year will bring. This book is an oldie but a golden one that I find myself reaching for time and time again. Atomic Habits offers a science-backed framework for improving every day. Its author, James Clear, is one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation and in this he shares practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break any bad ones, and take control of all those tiny behaviours that lead to remarkable results. The audible version is narrated by the author too and I find him easy to listen to.
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing
We couldn’t close off 2023 without mention Matthew Perry’s beautiful book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. The Friends star who tragically passed away earlier this year has left behind a poignant autobiography and memoir that chronicles his efforts to “keep the show on the road” while navigating addiction. There are painful revelations but there is also great heart and strength within these pages. I read that Matthew wrote it for the many sufferers out there. A last legacy and a book to have on every shelf, the Audible version is read by Matthew as well and adds an extra layer of poignancy to this superb read.
Good Material
From the bestselling author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton wows yet again in her most recent release. Good Material is a story of heartbreak and friendship and how to survive both. In this book, we follow Andy whose life has been utterly upended. At 35, he is living out of a suitcase in his best friends’ spare room, waiting for his career as a stand-up comedian to finally take off, and struggling to understand the end of a relationship with the only woman he has ever loved. Warm, funny and endearingly relatable, it’s one to add to your list for cosy days on the couch.
Aisling Ever After…
In the final instalment in the iconic OMGWACA series, we meet Aisling in New York. Her life at this point feels like a movie, especially when Aisling finds her ex-boyfriend John on her doorstep. She is then faced with some tough decisions – finding herself pulled between head, heart and home. You will find yourself rooting for her as she strives to finally create her own happy-ever-after. While there is no audiobook available yet, there is chatter of an upcoming TV series, so for now enjoy this beautiful book and we can all wait excitedly for the televised version to come to fruition.
