Reading in the Time of Covid: the lifeline offered by #reading #books – List 1

Books, Books, Books

I don’t know about you, but one of the main things that’s getting me through this time of social isolation is reading. Reading has always been one of my main leisure activities, but now it’s become more of a sanity saver, escape pod, and huge source of comfort.

Reads to escape into

So, as I said in a previous post, I’m suspending my Book of the Month post for the foreseeable, and instead I’m aiming to do an occasional round-up of books I’ve recently read and enjoyed, and that I think you might enjoy too. As you’ll see my main go-to genre remains contemporary romance – which with its themes of love, hope and happy-ever-after provides just what I need at the moment .

Recommendations – not reviews

As I want to include several books per post, the round-up won’t include reviews, but if a book’s included it will be because I consider it to be a good read and one that provides some much-needed escapism.

Six Good Ones

Contemporary Romance:

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

The New Guy by Kathryn Freeman

The Life She Wants by Maggie Christensen

My One True North by Milly Johnson

Romantic Suspense:

Cold & Deadly by Toni Anderson

Psychological/historical/literary:

Hidden by Linda Gillard

Previously read and recommended authors

Other authors who I’ve not read so recently, but who are definitely worth checking out include:

for contemporary romance – Heidi Swain, Jo Lambert, Marie Laval, Kate Field, Kate Blackadder Emma Davies, Miranda Dickinson

for historical romance – Anne Stenhouse

for alternative history/romance/suspense – Alison Morton

for contemporary/ crime thriller/romance – JJ Marsh

Availability

All the books by the above authors are available as paperbacks and/or ebooks and can be purchased from online stores and from bookshops offering online/phone ordering and postal delivery.

Over to you

Are you finding some solace in reading at the moment? If so what book(s) would you recommend? What is your go-to genre and has it changed during this challenging time? Are you looking for comfort, escapism, thrills or challenges in the books you’re reading? Maybe you’re more into non-fiction? Do share your thoughts below.