Description
*A finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards for Fiction, discover this year's most uplifting and heart-warming debut*
'Absolutely gorgeous' RUTH WARE
'A joyful, uplifting read!' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'A captivating debut' HEIDI SWAIN
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A faded list.
Nine favourite stories.
For two strangers, friendship is only a page away . . .
When Mukesh Patel pops to the local library, forgoing his routine of grocery shopping and David Attenborough documentaries, he has no idea his life's about to change.
He meets Aleisha, a reluctant librarian and the keeper of a curious reading list - just a scrappy piece of paper with the names of 9 stories. It doesn't seem anything special. Yet something tells her to keep it close . . .
Story by story, Mukesh and Aleisha work their way through the list - their worries slipping away with every encounter, with every world discovered in their unlikely book club of two.
A fresh chance at life, at friendship, wasn't on the cards for these lonely souls - but every story starts somewhere . . .
Everyone's getting swept away with The Reading List:
'Oh this book - what a glorious, emotional, powerful and uplifting read' Netgalley reviewer
'A lovely story about the power of books and libraries' Libby Page
'A gorgeous debut novel about the power reading has to bring people together' Red
'If you love books, read this. If you love crying with sadness, crying with happiness, and feeling like you have been wrapped in the blanket of someone else's life, read this' Debbie Johnson
'Joyous, uplifting and reminds us what it feels like to find a book we connect with' Netgalley reviewer
'It's a perfect escape for anyone who wants to be reminded of the power of stories' Stephanie Butland
'A beautiful book about the joys of reading and connecting with people' Netgalley reviewer
'A stunning debut that broke my heart and put it back together again' Radiya Hafiza
Emotional and uplifting, escape in 2023 with the most heartwarming debut fiction novel
About the Author
Sara Nisha Adams is a writer and editor. She lives in London and was born in Hertfordshire to Indian and English parents. Her debut novel The Reading List is partly inspired by her grandfather, who lived in Wembley and immediately found a connection with his granddaughter through books.
Reviews
'A love letter to books, reading and the power of connection - absolutely gorgeous' Ruth Ware
'A gorgeous, life-affirming novel full of moments of tenderness that will fill readers' hearts with joy. Sara writes so beautifully about family love, loneliness and loss' Huma Qureshi
'The story is an absolute joy. I loved the way Aleisha and Mukesh found their lives entwined thanks to the power of books . . . A captivating and exquisitely crafted debut' Sunday Times bestseller, Heidi Swain
'A real heart-lifter . . . . A joyful, uplifting read' Good Housekeeping
'A gorgeous debut novel about the power reading has to bring people together, no matter the barriers of age, culture and class' Red
'This is an uplifting and life-affirming novel [...] it oozes charm' Platinum
'Wonderful...It's a perfect escape for anyone who wants to be reminded (if we need to be reminded) of the power of stories' Stephanie Butland
'A beautiful and very special read, which reminded me why I love books so much and it made me miss the library even more' Emily Koch
'If you love books, read this. If you love people, read this. If you love crying with sadness, crying with happiness, and feeling like you have been wrapped in the blanket of someone else's life, read this' Debbie Johnson
'The Reading List absolutely captures the magic of reading and of libraries' Louise Hare
'This story utterly stole my heart, it's a love letter to book lovers everywhere and I for one have become entirely smitten by Sara's words' Emma Cooper
'A spellbinding novel about friendship, loss, community and the power of reading. A stunning debut that broke my heart and put it back together again' Radiya Hafiza
'Compassion, humour and intelligence shine through on every page of this wonderful novel . . . Sara Adams finds hope in abundance, and in the most wonderful, unexpected of places' Rosie Price
Book Information
ISBN 9780008391362
Author Sara Nisha Adams
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint HarperCollins
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 290g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 26mm
