Now that summer's here and sunny weekends are back on the calendar, conversations around the office have naturally turned to: What everyone's reading.
As a team of avid readers, I thought we’d share a few of our recent favourites and the books we'd recommend packing in your beach bag, throwing in your tote, or curling up with in the garden this summer.
Nina: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman.
I really enjoyed this one. It's short, only around 200 pages, which suited my shorter attention span for reading. It also has a great balance between my favourite genre, dystopian sci-fi, and very real female experiences.
Michele: Safekeep by Yeal van der Wouden
My friend Julia gave me the book Safekeep by Yeal van der Wouden - a Man Booker Prize shortlist in 2004. First things I'd say - slightly weird. It was one of those that is easy to read, and you just want to find out what happens next - lots of plot twists, a little unsettling and emotionally intense. It takes place post-World War in the Netherlands.
James: How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey
Its an amazing insight into the mind of the greatest F1 car design engineer. The book is a mix of an autobiography with technical detail showing how Adrian designed some of the greatest most successful F1 cars in history. A brilliant read for F1 fans, engineering nerds and people who want insight on what it takes to perform at the highest level.
Lizze: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
This is a book I have been meaning to read for ages and finally got round to this summer. I love how it tells the story of a complicated bond between two people that is never romantic, but you could say it's the greatest love story of both their lives. The majority of the book was based around two people who make video games (a topic I wouldn't naturally read), but you're so emotionally invested in these two individuals that it's a real page turner.
Jai: The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy
I wanted to read a book set in Nepal after my trip last year. The story follows a woman who travels to Nepal to uncover the truth about her family's past and search for relatives she never knew she had, while also revealing the experiences of an earlier generation.
I loved how beautifully the country was brought to life through the writing. I recognised so much of the scenery, culture and warmth of the people, which made the story feel even more special.
Maddy: Evening's & Weekends by Oisin McKenna
A last-minute pick recommended by my Kindle back in April ahead of a holiday. I didn't bother reading the blurb, just dove straight in. You become completely, almost unintentionally, invested in every character's life. It's full of relatable moments around friendship, love, sex, and loss, and I don't think I've ever highlighted a book so heavily (and I love a Kindle highlight). So many lines that hit home. A great wholesome read with real heart behind it.
Amelia: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
This book gave me such an insight into a time period I had never learned about. It's set in Depression-era Kentucky and follows a group of women who start delivering books on horseback to isolated mountain families despite it being heavily frowned upon. It is based on a real WPA library project. I enjoyed the book's strong female friendships, a bit of romance, the power of a relationship with a horse and the process of building a community.
Luke: Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord by Louis de Bernieres
The second book of a trilogy by Louis de Bernieres. Magical realism at its best. Feels like it gives you a vibrant and colourful insight into Latin American ancient history, politics and crime whilst also being shockingly bonkers, horrific, funny and heartbreaking.