If you need a therapeutic laugh during these times, look no further than Adrian Mole! This British modern classic about a teenager growing up in the ‘80s and worrying about zits, girls, and whether the BBC will ever publish his poetry is poignant and funny for anyone who’s survived adolescence.
This is a delightful read about an aspiring young journalist during the Blitz in London who finds herself writing for an advice column. Friendship, love and humour mingle among the darker side of war here. A really well told story.
Christina Haag writes movingly of the deep love she shared with John Kennedy, Jr. Her writing is exquisite. “Lyrically and precisely recaptures the frenetic ecstasy of early love,” the Washington Post review said of this memoir, and I wholeheartedly agree. But it’s tinged with sadness from the beginning: you know this joy won’t last, that it’s all the more precious for it, and that adds a beautiful poignancy to the book.
I loved this book's exploration of friendship, love, loyalty, and the path not taken. Have some tissues at the ready.
This delightful book is a collection of letters that Nina Stibbe wrote home when she nannied for a posh family in 1980s London. It’s a lovely, easy read, full of gentle British humour.
Set in the simpler time of 2012, this is the story of Roxy, who’s trying to find her way in life while fighting against the gentrification of her beloved Austin, Texas. It's the perfect book if you want an escape right now -- the epistolary format means that you don't have to concentrate for long (though you'll probably end up wanting to), plus it's fun and touching and just a little bonkers.
This story of interlinked lives and unintended consequences was a delight and the writing was beautiful — it had the feel of a fairytale for grownups, in all the best ways. Maybe the best book I’ve read in years.
This observation of marriage and family is written with insight, compassion, and elegance. It brings London to life very vividly, too, so that it's almost another character in the book. If you're a young mum struggling with the demands of motherhood, you will likely feel deeply understood, too.
