As the nights continue to be cold and dark it’s very tempting to curl up with a new book from the library. So here are a few book recommendations from one of our Enfield Libraries volunteers to help you give into temptation and get some serious reading done:
‘I Capture the Castle’ by Dodie Smith
Can you believe this charming YA novel turns 75 years old this year? ‘I Capture the Castle’ is the classic comfort read for any age group. A coming-of-age story about Cassandra, the protagonist, living in a run-down castle with her family whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of some new neighbours. Set in the 1930’s, Smith’s story is both whimsical and warm, perfect to read (or re-read) on a cold winters night.
‘How To Kill Your Family’ by Bella Mackie
Or perhaps you would prefer something a little bit darker? Mackie’s dark comedic novel comes highly recommended as a Sunday Times Best Seller as well as being on the shortlist for the Debut Book of the Year in the 2022 British Book Awards. The plot follows a woman who murders her family for revenge but then is imprisoned for one murder she actually didn’t commit. This humorous book promises stifled giggles and unexpected plot twists to keep you on your toes…
‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Next up, trending on TikTok, ‘Before the Coffee gets Cold’ has a winning combination of time-travel and coffee which has hooked readers over the globe. Set in a coffee shop in Tokyo this book focuses on themes of loss and love, making a perfect bittersweet read. Plus, if your coffee cup isn’t cold once you have finished reading this, Kawaguchi’s other books from the series ‘Tales from the Café’ and ‘Before Your Memory Fades’ follow the same time-travelling coffee shop. Once you have read all of those, stay tuned for this November when the fourth book of the series, ‘Last Chance to Say Goodbye’, is released.
‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Technically a summer holiday beach-read, this is another book-gone-viral and is wonderful for anyone dreaming of sunnier climes. From the author of ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’, ‘Malibu Rising’ is set among the glitzy celebrity party scene in 1980’s California, at a party that is spiralling desperately out of control. The combination of glitter and family drama in this book is everything you could possibly want from a bit of warm weather escapism.
‘This is Happiness’ by Niall Williams
Lastly, Williams’ novel, This is Happiness, is exactly what it says on the tin. This heart-warming story about an isolated Irish village being hooked up to mains electricity for the very first time is the perfect company for a cold winter’s night. The simple novel encourages its readers to appreciate the little things in life and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling in your stomach once you have finished reading it.
If any of these books pique your interest, make sure to head down to your local library to scout them out!
ENFIELD LIBRARIES 