Hi everyone! When I asked whether you’d like another Arum Lilea Book Club post on my Instagram last week, I had an overwhelmingly positive response so your wish is my command. Here is a new Arum Lilea Book Club list of recommended reads that I hope you enjoy as much as I have. In today’s roundup, you will find suspensive thrillers, haunted house stories, a coming of age story, quick reads and some of the most beautiful storytelling I’ve come across in a while so there’s a little here for everyone. That being said, if your preference is non-fiction, I highly recommend taking at a look at my latest non-fiction recommends in this post.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
If you appreciate a good mystery, this one comes highly recommended. Alicia is very happily married to a gorgeous, successful photographer and a highly praised artist herself. One evening their neighbours hear gunshots. When the police arrive, they find Alicia standing with the gun in hand and covered in blood splatter. The question on everyone’s lips is why, but Alicia has been rendered speechless and hasn’t spoken a word since. Through her therapy in the psychiatric ward, however, brings out the truth, and it’s chilling.
I flew through this book. It was a real page-turner in every sense of the word. Once I got to the end, I felt like I needed to re-read it to try and pick up on any clues I had missed because I didn’t see the twist coming at all! That’s always a good thing in my book, though (excuse the pun).
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Zach, a post-graduate student that is on campus before classes begin, is enjoying his days filled with reading books that are not related to his classwork. One afternoon in the library, he finds a curious book and it captures his interest. After reading a few chapters, Zach is gobsmacked to discover a chapter about himself. It’s unclear how it came to be in the library because it isn’t barcoded and the librarian struggles to find any reference to it but Zach is determined to discover how his life story is tied to this book. A wild adventure ensues taking the reader into ancient underground libraries and a chase to find the starless sea.
To me, this book is storytelling at its absolute best. If you’re a fan of beautifully written books and all things whimsical, this one happened to earn 5/5 stars from me.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
When it comes to spooky house stories, I was really happy to discover this book. Set in Mexico back in the 1950s, Noemi’s father sends her off to check on her newly-wed cousin who has sent them a cryptic letter pleading for help. It’s uncertain whether her cousin needs psychiatric help or whether there is a domestic situation. When Noemi arrives at their home she is quite shocked to discover that, while once grand, it has fallen into disrepair. The family is odd, no music is permitted and no one is allowed to leave. While Noemi is visiting, stories emerge about those that have previously lived in the house and there are a few chilling tales. Something is not right, but Noemi can’t quite place her finger on what’s truly going on.
This book was so entertaining and it was another quick read that I couldn’t put down. Some parts were predictable, some completely shocking. I was a little bit disappointed that sometimes the dialogue didn’t particularly match the period in which it was set. All in all, though, it gave me a good thrill and I’d definitely recommend it!
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
January is raised in the home of her father’s employer and cared for by him while her father travels the world finding scarce and valuable items to be auctioned off to museums and collectors. She, herself, often felt like a rare collectable for her father’s employer to show off to friends and colleagues who oohed and aahed over her caramel skin. She always knew she wasn’t a great fit for this world and soon discovers that she can use words to transform scenarios and create doors to different places. After she discovers the true meaning behind her father’s search across the globe, she decides that she needs to find him and this leads her on to a wild and dangerous adventure that will leave you breathless.
This enchanting coming-of-age story had me captivated. The art of storytelling is very much perfected within this story. Woven within the storylines are tales of racism, gender inequality and acceptance of relationships. These themes are so important to everyday life but they are written in such a subtle way that makes you ponder on the things left unsaid which I loved. Honestly, this book was a true 5/5 for me.
The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
After an incest scandal has destroyed their reputation, Lydia and her family make a move to a new town where strange things begin to happen. Even stranger things begin to happen when Lydia is brought to hysterics during a family tragedy. Truth be told, this is not the first tragedy to occur at Willow Hall. When Lydia’s sister, Catherine, is a rival rather than an ally, Lydia needs to take care when navigating her own home. Twisted secrets and stories about the Salem witch trials beg the question – are there still witches among them?
This would probably make for an excellent Halloween read. I read it quickly and, while I enjoyed it, it was a little predictable. The romance within this book was a bit too “Pride and Prejudice” for me, but then I’m not a lover of romance novels. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it and still think it’s worth a read.
If you missed my most recent Arum Lilea Book Club recommendations, you can catch up on them over here. I’ve shared so many absolutely incredible books in these posts so I hope that you love them as much as I do. My husband and I recently did a roundup of some of the best books we’ve read in 2020 so far which you can watch here. In case you were wondering about The Night Circus in these pictures, I’ve only just started it this weekend so I’ll include it in my next Arum Lilea Book Club post. I’m also so excited to share an upcoming project with you, specifically designed for my book lovers so keep an eye out for that. It’s going to be so much fun to share!
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