All The Books On My Physical TBR
Sunny Side Up #28
I know this is a safe space. Here I am, climbing the truth tree: this isn’t the post I had planned for today.
In fact, it was meant to come out last night, but the piece I had lined up for you was so incredibly dull I couldn’t face putting it out there. It was another week in bullet points, because so many of you told me you enjoyed it last time, but I couldn’t have chosen a more boring week to document, it was more boring than average, so apologies for that. A week in bullet points will be heading your way next week!
Instead, I’m opting for something a little bit different, so I hope you don’t mind! I don’t normally write pieces like this, but they are among some of my absolute favourite to read, so I thought what’s the harm in doing one myself? Today, we’re rummaging through my (reasonably long) physical TBR.
So far this year I’ve read How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie, Heartburn by Nora Ephron and Orbital by Samantha Harvey, and I’m currently re-reading A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.
Starting with non-fiction!
Paris The Memoir by Paris Hilton | I have heard really great things about this memoir, and find Paris as a person (and a character) absolutely fascinating.
What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci | I don’t know why there aren’t more books documenting our meals?
Conversations On Love by Natasha Lunn | I got most of the way through this book a few years ago but put it down to finish reading King Lear for my degree. Wish I hadn’t.
A Bit of A Stretch by Chris Atkins | This book really intrigues me — it’s by a journalist who went to prison for fraud (I believe) reflecting on his time there.
A Voyage Around The Queen by Craig Brown | I read Ma’am Darling by Craig Brown and found it hilarious, I love his satirical writing. Very excited to read this!
What Writers Read by Pandora Sykes | I’m nothing if not nosy and have already begun flicking through this one. Also, what a stunning cover!
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron | I recently read Heartburn and I’m a big Nora Ephron fan.
In Writing by Hattie Crisell | If you’re a writer and you don’t listen to Hattie Crisell’s podcast, you ought to.
Selection entitled: Books I Bought At St Pancras Station
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff | This book is currently perched on my bedside table and it’s an epistolary novel which I LOVE.
Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang | About a million people have recommended this to me.
The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon | I saw this as a play when I was at school and loved it, but can’t for the life of me remember the story and I’ve never read the book. Every time I see it on the shelf I remember I need to read it but never do, so this needs to change!
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak | Exactly the same - have been meaning to read this for what feels like my entire lifetime.
Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi |
is always talking about how beautiful this book is. I can’t wait to curl up with it.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry | I wasn’t paying attention when I bought this. Substack friends told me if I was going to read one of Emily Henry’s books, I should start with Beach Read. I think I just looked at the cover, thought ‘that looks about right’ and bought it and then realised it was Book Lovers. Yes, I do realise the title is impossible to miss. But never mind, apparently you can’t lose with her books anyway!
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary | Beth O’Leary is one of few authors that I will automatically buy from, but I get really sad when I finish her books so I always save one until I know there’s another one coming out. She does have a new one coming this year, so I can finally get to this.
Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane | I listened to Mhairi McFarlane on the Writer’s Routine podcast (another one I strongly recommend!) and I felt obliged to buy one of her books because I love the way she spoke about her process and her love of the craft.
Love Struck by Laura Jane Williams | I have such a soft spot for Laura Jane Williams because I read her novel Our Stop (which I also highly recommend) when I was locked down in my university room in my first year for weeks on end. It was very sad and uncomfortable, and one of the things I will never forget is the distinct lack of air in an accommodation building when you have coronavirus. Not fond memories, but very happy memories of escaping into her writing — she was a real source of comfort to me at that time.
(my fave genre)
Murder on Lake Garda by Tom Hindle | Another writer I have become obsessed with through the Writer’s Routine podcast!! There’s a few of those, so buckle in.
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin | A cosy crime novel set in one of my favourite places — it’s a no-brainer!
The Downstairs Neighbour by Helen Cooper | This is a thriller novel, and I’ve never actually read a proper gritty thriller before but the premise of this really intrigues me.
Think Twice by Harlan Coben | Picked this up in Waterstones after watching Missing You, because I’m obsessed with the Netflix adaptations but have never read one of his books which feels…criminal.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley | Another victim of my Writer’s Routine obsession. Lucy Foley is a name I hear over and over again, and I’ve not read her books. Super excited for this!
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman | A Man Called Ove is one of my favourite books, I gave it five stars. I’m so looking forward to reading more from Fredrik Backman, although it says this is a Netflix series too? If you’ve seen it let me know, I’ve never heard about it before!
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín | One of my favourite movies, never read the book! With the sequel recently coming out I thought it was about time I read the novel.
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason | I see this all over Substack and YouTube. I bought this purely out of curiosity to see whether I like it too.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh | One of my best friends gave me this after she’d finished it on the train with a rave review!
The Cactus by Sarah Haywood | My Mum recommended this to me in 2020. Five years later, I need to see what she was talking about.
The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan | I got this book for Christmas! Sounds like a really wholesome story which I’m excited to get to once the season rolls around again.
One Day by David Nicholls | I’m mixed about this one. I absolutely adore listening to David Nicholls talk about his work, but his stories shatter my heart into tiny pieces. I’ve seen the movie of One Day but couldn’t stomach the Netflix series. Hopefully because I’m mentally prepared I’ll enjoy the book.
Jane Austen… just everything | I don’t know how I got through an English Literature degree without having read a single Austen book. I feel guilty.
BOOKS CURRENTLY AT MY SISTER’S HOUSE THAT I WILL STEAL:
The Examiner by Janice Hallett
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
PRE-ORDERS:
Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins (so excited for this I could WEEP)
MY FAVOURITE SUBSTACK LIBRARIANS:
I would LOVE to know which books are on your TBR or if you’ve read any of the novels on mine. I had the longest reading slump when I came back from uni and I’m so happy I’ve got back into it again. What’s a life without stories?
Normal Sunny Side Up content will resume next Tuesday. See you then?
Lots of love! Xxx
I've BEEN wanting to read 84 Charing Cross Road and just haven't gotten around to it 😞 You'll have to let me know what you think of it!
Right now, I'm trying to finish Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors. It was hard to get into when I first started it a couple months ago but I'm trying again!
Such an exciting list! I just finished my first Jane Austen book (Pride & Prejudice) yesterday. It's the year of classics for me, I think! I absolutely adored Conversations on Love. I read it right before my wedding last year and had our celebrant read a passage from it!