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From modern-day classics and histories, to fantasies, romances and murder mysteries; a thirty-something British blogger reviews the best books to keep beside your bed this week.

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Someone told me to try Dorothy Koomson's novels. Thank you! You were right. . The Friend is a school-gate drama with a grisly twist. . The story is set in the friendly English seaside resort of Brighton. Normally, I'd recommend a visit but after reading this you'll suspect dangerous criminals are hiding behind every corner... . When the story starts, a woman has been attacked and left for dead in the grounds of her children's expensive, exclusive school. . This fun-to-read thriller is told from multiple points of view. It flips between likeable main character Cece and three mums who had been part of the victim's social circle. . Dorothy Koomson drip-feeds information, ramping up the suspense. The woman are all hiding secrets and, when pushed to breaking point, consider turning on each other. . The result is a brilliant book about friendship and its limits. It's packed with tension and mystery. . #Bookstagram #bookstagrammer #dorothykoomson #thefriend #booksbooksbooks #currentlyreading #bookdragon #brighton

So, the other week I read Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe for the second time. . It's not on my multiple rereads list yet but it's a strong contender. . The part that really blows my socks off is the protagonist's emotional journey. . Perhaps this is true of all coming of age stories (I only dip into the Young Adult genre now and again) but Benjamin Alire Saenz had me laughing and crying with the characters. . The writing is simple and unflashy. The author jumps straight into the mind of an isolated, unhappy teenager. . Aristotle, the 15-year-old narrator, is trying to make sense of the world. His Mexican-American family lives in Texas in the 1980s. . When he meets Dante at the local swimming pool one summer a shared joke about their classical names leads to his first close relationship with someone his own age. . The story follows the pair's increasing closeness and their steps towards adulthood. Together they look at cultural identities, sexuality, mental health and their places in their respective families. . This is a book that's crying out to be turned into a film. . #aristotleanddantediscoverthesecretsoftheuniverse #benjaminaliresaenz #Bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #bookdragon #amreading

I don’t like this book. I love it. The main character is brave, brilliant and ruthless. . Evelyn Hugo has more pizzazz that most real people (me included). How can a life this vibrant be fictional? . The world is enthralled by her glamorous performances and her life story - she was a Hollywood superstar who married seven times. . Evelyn breaks her years of silence and reaches out to talented but obscure journalist, Monique. She's finally ready to share her true history and reveal who was the love of her life. . What we’re left with is much more than a fictional memoir. Author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, shows the terrible pressure and discrimination faced by some Hollywood stars. . Evelyn steals every scene that she’s in, but her interactions with Monique sparkle. . It’s the growing respect between the two women that makes this story such a good read. They’ve both experienced tragedies but together they find a level of closure. . #TaylorJenkinsReid #TheSevenHusbandsOfEvelynHugo #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #currentlyreading

My parents are wonderful people. They're always supportive and (most importantly) allow their adult children to raid their bookshelves... . #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #readersofinsta #redbooks #bookdragon #booksbooksbooks

Have you heard of Marmite? This salty, yeast sandwich spread is famous in the UK. . It's a source of national division nearly on a par with Brexit: People either love it or hate it. . A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet is a Marmite book. Some readers say it's the best thing ever. Others want to spit it out. . I found this story, like Marmite, to be flavoursome and delicious. I'd be happy to spend the day reading it while eating spoonfuls of my favourite sticky condiment straight from the jar. . Twitter told me this is Becky Chambers' first novel. If it hadn't, I'd never have guessed. Small Angry Planet reads as if it's written by an experienced author. . Slow paced and character driven, this is a book about a journey, not a destination. . It begins with Rosemary, who is fleeing the colony of Mars (and a dodgy past) to take a job as a clerk. She'll be working on The Wayfarer, a deep-space ship that makes wormholes for use as interstellar roads. . The author does an amazing job of describing a multi-species crew. They all have their own customs and social norms. . Expect a wide range of opinions on sexuality, child-rearing, violence, the right-to-die, AI-sentience and cloning. . Yes, there's some action but the focus is on ethics and diversity. . #alongwaytoasmallangryplanet #beckychambers #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #amreading #bookdragon #currentlyreading

Do you ever finish a book and want to applaud? . WC Ryan has managed to squeeze at least four genres into a single story. . In A House of Ghosts he combines a spine-tingling supernatural tale with war-time espionage. Next comes a dash of romance, then the entire plot is plopped into a country house murder mystery. . Here comes the twist: World War One is raging but the story is far away from the fighting. . A group of upper class guests has gathered on a small, British island for a seance. Their wealthy hosts want to contact the spirits of their adult sons, who were killed in the trenches. . This is a fast-paced read with plenty of action and a few thoughtful moments. . #ahouseofghosts #wcryan #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #currentlyreading #amreading #ghoststory

Happy World Book Day! I'm celebrating with a sunshine stack. . #worldbookday2019 #booksbooksbooks #yellowbooks #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #readinginbed

One of the best books I've read this year. Colson Whitehead has created a fantastical mix of history and magical realism. . The Underground Railroad focuses on some of the terrible injustices heaped on slaves and former slaves in America. . I had a bit of an 'uh?' moment when the author describes the railroad as a real train running beneath the earth. I'd thought it was a network of places and brave people. . A quick Google showed me that this is true. The physical train isn't part of history. It's a clever creation by Colson Whitehead. . It's an allegory that takes Cora, a runaway slave, away from her brutal 'master'. . The railway blurs time and place to show the different but awful ways in which African-Americans were treated (and makes points that are still relevant today). . Cora is searching for safety and her missing mother. Despite the brutal impact of slavery she refuses to give up hope. . #theundergroundrailroad #colsonwhitehead #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #currentlyreading

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