I’ve always been a big reader – I love being part of book groups and its very rare that I don’t have a book on the go and a spare one in my bag … and probably another spare in the boot of the car.
I started documenting my reads a few years ago using good old fashioned pen & paper. Then I discovered Good Reads – Feel free to join up if you are a member there too. I frequently get asked how I find good books to read – there’s your answer. I can spend hours scouring book reviews (cannot abide spoilers though)
When I turned 40, I set myself the challenge of reading and documenting 500 books by the time I am 50. I know that the first few years of my 40’s are likely to be the slowest as the children as still very young – I’m thinking I may have more time when I am nearer to 50. (Its scary how quickly it is flying by though!)
Follow the journey as I read my way through the 500 – Who knows, I might finally get to read Pride & Prejudice as part of the challenge! I will try to do reviews every month – exceptional books may even get their own post.
1. The Secret Keeper – Kate Morton
2. The Midwife’s Confession – Diane Chamberlain
3. The Buddha In The Attic – Julie Otsuka
4. May We Be Forgiven – A.M. Holmes
5. The Son-In-Law – Charity Norman
6. Sisterland – Curtis Sittenfeld
7. The Shock Of The Fall – Nathan Filer
8. The Fault In Our Stars – John Green
9. How To Be A Woman – Caitlin Moran
10. The Rosie Project – Graeme Simsion
11. The One Plus One – Jojo Moyes
12. The Forgotten Daughter – Renita D’Silva
13. Soldier’s Wives – Fiona Field
14. Above All Things – Tanis Rideout
15. Gypsy Princess – Violet Cannon
16. Philomena – Martin Sixsmith
17. Stolen Child – Laura Elliot
18. Becoming Johnny Vegas – Johnny Vegas
19. Promises To Keep – Jane Green
20. Summer’s Child – Diane Chamberlain
21. A Song For Issy Bradley – Carys Bray
22. Eleanor & Park – Rainbow Rowell
23. The Twins – Saskia Sarginson
24. A Sister’s Gift – Giselle Green
25. No Holding Back – Amanda Holden – 4*
26. Too Close To Home – Linwood Barclay
27. One In A Million – Steve Prescott MBE
28. Sealed With A Christmas Kiss – Rachael Lucas – 5*
29. Daughter – Jane Shemilt
30. Blood, Sweat & Tears – Tom Reynolds
31. The Miniaturist – Jessie Burton
32. The Good Girl – Mary Kubica
33. Beautiful Day – Kate Anthony
34. Beautiful Day – Elin Hilderbrand
35. The Woman Who Stole My Life – Marian Keyes
36. The Book Of You – Claire Kendal
37. The Farm – Tom Rob Smith
38. Six Little Miracles – Janet Walton
39. I Am Pilgrim – Terry Hayes
40. Oliver’s Story – Erich Segal
41. The Man Who Watched Women – Michael Hjorth
42. Coming Up Roses – Rachael Lucas
43. The Silent Hours – Cesca Major (5 stars)
44. Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell
45. The Book Thief – Marcus Zusak
46. The Road to Rouen – Ben Hatch
47. The Girl On The Train – Paula Hawkins
48. All The Light We Cannot See – Anthony Duerr
49. The Lifeboat – Charlotte Rogan
50. The Sea Sisters – Lucy Clarke
51. All Together Now – Gill Hornby
52. I Let You Go – Clare Mackintosh 5*
53. The Postmistress – Sarah Blake
54. The Photographer’s Wife – Nick Alexander
55. A Little Life – Hanya Yanigihara
56. Not My Father’s Son – Alan Cumming
57. The Quaker Cafe – Brenda Bevan Remmes
58. The Tea Planter’s Wife – Dinah Jefferies
59. How to Stuff up Christmas – Rosie Blake
60. My Name is Leon – Kit de Waal
61. The Finding of Martha Lost – Caroline Wallace
62. Moving – Jenny Eclair
63. Sleep Tight – Rachel Abbott
64. Hot Milk – Deborah Levy
65. The Year of the Flood – Margaret Atwood
66. Fix You – Carrie Elks
67. Kill Me Again – Rachel Abbott
68. Only the Innocent – Rachel Abbott
69. The Accident – C.L. Taylor
70. Another Night, Another Day – Sarah Rayner
71. Viral – Helen Fitzgerald
72. The Prisoner of Heaven – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
73. The Girls – Emma Cline
74. How To Find Your First Husband – Rosie Blake
75. Eligible – Curtis Sittenfeld
76. Jacky Ha-Ha – James Patterson
77. Full House – Maeve Binchy
78. Lessons in Laughing Out Loud – Rowan Coleman
79. The Wish List – Jane Costello
80. I See You – Clare Mackintosh
81. The Tumbling Turner Sisters – Juliette Fay
82. A House for Happy Mothers – Amelia Malladi
83. The Tidal Zone – Sarah Moss
84. Between Sisters – Cathy Kelly
85. A Boy Made of Blocks – Keith Stuart
86. Wildflower Bay – Rachael Lucas
87. Truly Madly Guilty – Liane Moriarty
88. The Back Road – Rachel Abbott
89. Holding – Graham Norton
90. Don’t You Cry – Mary Kubrica
91. The Animators – Kayla Rae Whitaker
92. The Last Night – Cesca Major
93. All I Ever Wanted – Lucy Dillon
94. The Love of the Game – Mark Chapman
95. The Yellow Envelope – Kim Dinan
96. Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
97. The Year of Living Danishly – Helen Russell
98. Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty
99. Swimming Lessons – Claire Fuller
100. Stay With Me – Adebayo Ayobami
101. The Sixth Window – Rachel Abbott
102. While You Were Sleeping – Kathryn Croft
103. The Dead Wife’s Handbook – Hannah Beckerman
104. The People At Number 9 – Felicity Everett
105. Lie To Me – Jess Ryder
106. The Second Sister – Claire Kendal