My Summer Reading 2022

This summer I found an eclectic mix of books in some cute little bookshops in the UK. Most of these books had sticky notes taped under them with positive remarks from other readers, so I decided to give them a go. Hope you find a book here in my Summer Reading 2022 that you might like!

1. The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell

Genre: Non Fiction

I really loved this book! It made me re-think how animals connect with humans. Thanks to this true story, I also learned that there is a whole lot more to penguins than we might think!

The story plays off against the political backdrop of life in Argentina in the 1970’s. Tom rescues a penguin while on holiday in Uruguay and manages to smuggle the Penguin into Argentina. Soon the penguin becomes part of life at the boarding school where Tom works as a teacher.

Everyone at the boarding school benefits from the interaction they have with the penguin. In return the penguin seems to genuinely love everyone he meets.

I particularly loved how Tom Michell described the penguin’s personality with so much warmth and human like qualities and felt genuinely felt sad when the book ended!

My rating: 4.5/5

2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Genre: Fiction/drama/historical fiction

This book reminded me of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Perhaps because the characters and plot are so unforgettable! Where the Crawdads Sing has now made it to my top favorite 5 books ever:)

First let me begin with the unforgettable Kya Clark—a girl who triumphs in unforgiving circumstances. Abandoned by her siblings, mother and father, 7-year-old Kya miraculously learns to survive life in the marsh on her own in the 1950’s.

We meet Tate. The wonderful young man who looks past the prejudice against Kya whom the villagers call ‘Marsh Girl’. There’s Jumpin—a colored man who like a father, helps and supports Kya in any way he can. And there’s Chase Andrews the village’s ‘golden boy’ who is found dead.

The investigation turns to Kya. Will she be found guilty?

My rating: 5/5

3. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Genre: Fiction/ Fantasy

This feel good book makes you think about the question: ‘What if you could get the chance to try out every possible version of your life?’

Nora tries to commit suicide and ends up in the midnight library—an ‘in between’ place before death. Here Nora gets the chance to try out different versions of how her life could have been if she had made different choices.

I can’t write much more before giving the story away, so I’ll end it here with a positive 4/5 stars.

My rating: 4/5

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

Genre: Thriller/ Horror/Mystery

I picked up this book in a little bookshop in St Andrews over the summer holidays.

If you like psychological thrillers, let me just start off by saying: this book is on a whole other level! I would best describe it as ‘very very dark’. I don’t think I’ve ever read a thriller in such a creepy voice.

Though I enjoyed the book, I thought it was a bit too ‘all over the place’ and the ending didn’t quite convince me.

My rating: 3.75/5

The Clockwork Girl by Anna Mazzola

Genre: Historical fiction/ Fantasy/Gothic/Steampunk

I’ve never really been into historical novels, but after this book I might become a fan!

Madeleine works in her mother’s brothel in 1750 Paris, and her life is as miserable as it can be.  One day a police commissioner shows up with a strange opportunity for Madeleine to make enough money to her escape her life. She must take on a job as a chambermaid at a wealthy clockmaker’s home. In exchange she must report to the commissioner everything that is happening in the clockmaker’s home. In the meanwhile children are going missing on the streets of Paris and the guilty must be found!

This imaginative and deeply immersive story takes you through the gritty streets of Paris into the decadent palace life in Versailles. I thought it was a real treat!

My rating 4/5

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Genre: Thriller

Alex Michaelides (author of the fantastic The Silent Patient) meets Donna Tartt’s The Secret History! If you like thrillers set on campus, or dark academia vibes, then this books is for you!

A girl gets murdered at St Christopher College, Cambridge, so Mariana Andros goes to support her niece, Zoe, who is a student at the college.

Soon more girls are killed and Mariana begins to think a professor has something to do with it.

I liked this book, because I kept wondering who the killer was, right up to the end! Unfortunately it is not quite as good as The silent patient, so I will give this book a healthy 3.7.

My rating 3.7/5

More Books I’m currently reading

Beyond Order 12 More Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

The Other Mother by Michel Bussi

In case you are interested in similar book posts, check out 9 great holiday books or 10 psychological thrillers that will keep you hooked!

Sincerely,

Elaine