Five brilliant reads, as recommended by you
From a funny family saga to a heart-shattering thriller
It’s Well Read’s second birthday! I sent out my first ever email on the first weekend of October 2021, and now this newsletter is a fully-formed toddler, excitedly tottering around, learning on the go.
To mark the birthday last year, I invited four wonderful authors to share their book recommendations. This year, I decided to ask you - and I can’t tell you how glad I am that I did. It has been so lovely reading all of your emails and finding out the kind of books you’ve been enjoying (though my own book pile is suffering for it).
So, without further ado, here are five Well Read subscribers on the reads they’d love to recommend….
The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean
“Or, anything written by Will Dean. I first read The Last Thing to Burn and I was shattered and moved. It's an amazing book. I next read First Born which is a psychologically intense story (which I also greatly enjoyed); and finally, I read The Last One. I know that this last one (see the pun?) gets mixed reviews, but it's so original and interesting, it's difficult not to enjoy the book even if it's simply for the ingenuity of it.” Maryam Wagner
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
“I just finished Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson and will be raving about it to EVERYONE, as it is such a beautiful book. Not surprisingly as his debut novel was just the same and I know this one is popping up on reading lists here, there and everywhere!” Emily Sporik
All Adults Here by Emma Straub
“A grandmother witnesses a tragedy that makes her look at the way she’s lived her life. This is a book about family dynamics, single motherhood, nostalgia, trans joy, sibling tension, and love.” Kate Leaver, who writes the newsletter Enthusiasm
Blood Count by Robert Goddard
“We’re moving house sometime soon (I hope), and when packing I found six different Robert Goddards. A friend gave them to me a few years ago but in the flush of buying new books regularly, I had overlooked them – repeatedly. I’ve really been enjoying them. I’ve read three of his more modern works: Blood Count, Long Time Coming and Found Wanting. All of them have original, one-off plots, that keep you turning the pages.” Jude Jackson
The Instant by Amy Liptrot
“Her observations on dating and heartbreak were so vivid I read massive sections twice.” Sally England
And finally…
Fancy reading a new book? Head this way, where I’ve rounded up October’s best new releases.
