Team Bookends’ Reads of the Summer

On a beach lounger or on public transport – which books had us hooked this Summer?

I’m going away in September so I’m saving some big reads for then (including The Memory Chamber by Holly Cave which comes out next year and everyone here is so excited about!), but so far I’ve LOVED Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – I kept seeing this book everywhere and it really lived up to my expectations! Eleanor is such peculiarly loveable character and I feel completely bereft now that I’ve finished it. I’m currently reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang which is a very poetic read, bristling with sensual, visceral imagery. It’s really unusual but I’m very engrossed so far. I definitely mentioned these in our Desert Island Books but I’m also a big fan of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and I’ll Eat When I’m Dead by Barbara Bourland (who is coming over to the UK next week, so get reading people!) Hannah

My summer reads aren’t what you’d call your typical beach reads. I absolutely devoured Elmet by Fiona Mozley, which I found to be a quietly profound novel about the wildness in us all. And I spent much of July sobbing on public transport reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Set aside a good two weeks of your life (it’s a really long book!) and keep a bottle of water handy (you’ll get dehydrated from all the crying. Trust me!) Aimee

I read both The Couple Next Door and The Stranger in My House within one week of each other. I was HOOKED. Great psychological thrillers that keep you guessing all the way to the end with so many different plot twists. If you need a thriller to sink your teeth into then get yourself one of these. Helena

A few of my summer favourites: Tin Man by Sarah Winman; Did You See Melody? by Sophie Hannah and The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. All thoroughly engrossing in very different ways! Alice