Our Editors Share The Best Book They’ve Ever Read
Being chronically online means we’re often inundated with TV show, film, and book recommendations, which can be slightly overwhelming. So what if you were given a short and considered list from a team of avid bookworms, each sharing their single best read? To help cut through the noise, our editors and staffers share the top book they’ve ever read.
I have recommended this book to everyone who has asked me for suggestions on what to read next. Set in Pune, India, Burnt Sugar is about a highly volatile and unconventional mother-daughter relationship. It throws shockers at you every few pages, and it’s one of those stories that captures the ugliest parts of the human mind in a way that makes you almost want to stop reading – but you can’t because you have to know more. Motherhood, memory and some madness – not the kind of book you want to gift your mum, but definitely one for book club. – Andrea, Contributing Food, Culture & Lifestyle Editor
I read this book quite a few years ago and remember closing it thinking ‘that’s the best book I’ve ever read’. Following the lives of four sisters, each with different aspirations, it taught me a lot about girlhood and grappling with the realities of life’s twists and turns. In addition to being the only ‘classic’ I’ve honestly enjoyed – so far, might I add – it’s a really powerful and beautiful story that completely transports you to another time. – Natasha, Digital Editor
I’m sure a lot of people will say this, but Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life. From the moment I opened it, I was hooked – I used to get the bus the long way home just to get more pages in. It’s an intense read full of devastating heartbreak (there were A LOT of tears), but also a beautiful story of friendship, hope and love. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted for a character as much as I did for Jude. It, without a doubt, lives up to the accolades it’s received. – Astrid, Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor
A book that gripped me in university and has stayed at the top of my list after multiple re-reads – A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. It’s a collection of thirteen interconnected short stories revolving around a large cast of characters, and covering four continents and five decades. If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry, it all comes together. I love it because it absolutely goes for it; it’s non-stop invention. There are chapters about a group on safari, a man searching for his lost niece in Naples, and an up-coming punk-rock band in 70s San Francisco – there’s even one told entirely through PowerPoint. Egan’s shining strength, though, is ending almost every chapter with an absolute punch to the gut.
My favourite book I’ve read recently is definitely The Body Keeps the Score. It’s the first book in a long time that’s genuinely helped me learn about myself, offering new insight into how trauma shapes both body and mind. It encourages self-awareness and understanding in a very approachable way. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about themselves and how to move forward positively; for me, it’s an exceptional read. – Beth, Social Media Assistant
“Happy fifty third birthday, Doctor. Welcome to the first day of your death.” When Dr. Frederick Starks, a NYC psychoanalyst, receives a letter on his 53rd birthday, the least he expects is to find a death threat and 3 alternative choices: find out who the mastermind behind the letter is, kill himself or watch 52 of his loved ones die. This was the first proper thriller novel I read, and it became the beginning of a love story with the genre. The book is a page turner, where the main character is tormented by the constant menace of a very powerful enemy who gives him no choice but to participate in the macabre game he carefully designed for Starks to lose. – Nicole, Senior Graphic Designer
I picked up The Woman Destroyed in a kooky bookshop on a road trip around Canada without any clue that Simone de Beauvoir was an iconic feminist writer and agent of change for her time. A collection of three short stories, the connecting theme is the exploration of the female psyche, both its fragility and its strength. Written from the perspectives of three different women, it explores the devastating impact of losing youth, family and love. But most of all the element of control. De Beauvoir is a skilled storyteller and this book has captivated my imagination. – Robyn, Managing Director
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