These are our Editor approved books to add to your reading list this year
There’s nothing better than a good book, so the saying goes. And in times of uncertainty, we often find relaxation in escaping our own lives and delving into somebody else’s. This has never been more true than in 2020, a tough year in which getting some time to ourselves for a good read has never […]
The post These are our Editor approved books to add to your reading list this year appeared first on Marie Claire.
There’s nothing better than a good book, so the saying goes. And in times of uncertainty, we often find relaxation in escaping our own lives and delving into somebody else’s.
This has never been more true than in 2020, a tough year in which getting some time to ourselves for a good read has never been more important or restorative.
In an attempt to reap the benefits, our Features Editor Jenny Proudfoot committed to a year of books, setting aside quality time for a good read each day and launching the Marie Claire Book Club.
The Marie Claire Book Club aims to help you curate your own 2020 reading lists, from editor recommendations to readers’ disclaimers on the hottest releases of the year.
From Delia Owen’s Where The Crawdads Sing and Women and Power by Mary Beard to Bernadine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other and Before the Coffee gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, there’s something for everyone. And with classics, beach reads and new bestsellers being published on the regular, our Editor-approved book list is growing by the week.
My most recent was a particular favourite, Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – it’s really different, but such a warm, comforting read – I devoured it in two lazy mornings 
. . #books #bookstack #reading #read #garden #morning #goodmorning #excitingtimes #womendontoweyoupretty #jogon #beekeeperofaleppo #swingtime #outoflove #beforethecoffeegetscold
Our Features Editor talks us through all the books she has read this year…
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
BUY NOW: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
What’s it about? Where the Crawdads Sing is set in Barkley Cove, North Carolina, following the life of Kya, known to locals as the ‘Marsh Girl’. Set in two different time periods, the book chapters alternate between Kya’s childhood fending for herself alone in the marshes, and Kya’s adulthood, where she is made a suspect in the murder investigation of Chase Andrews.
Our Editor’s verdict: ‘This was one of my favourite books I’ve ever read. It is a stunning story, and I was extremely invested from the first chapter. It’s impossible not to warm to Kya or fall madly in love with Tate and I was kept guessing plot-wise until the final page. I can’t say enough good things about Where the Crawdads Sing and it is one of the few books that I would honestly recommend to anyone.’
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
BUY NOW: Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
What’s it about? Exciting Times is Naoise Dolan’s debut novel following Ava, a millennial Irish expat living in Hong Kong, teaching English to rich children. She inevitably finds herself in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyer – both work obsessed and extremely intelligent – and is forced to choose between them.
Our Editor’s verdict: ‘I bought this book after reading a review dubbing it a mix between Sally Rooney and Crazy Rich Asians, both of which I’m a huge fan of. I personally think that review misled me as I was expecting a light and easy beach read and it was actually very intellectual. While the only element linking it to Crazy Rich Asians was its Hong Kong setting, it was very Sally Rooney-esque, from the complex female protagonist to the highbrow and politically alert banter – I had to look up a lot of overly complex words and political references, and I’m a writer! I struggled to bond with the characters in section 1 but by section 2, I was completely captivated, and while it took me a while to get into, I would definitely recommend it.’
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
BUY NOW: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
What’s it about? The Japanese bestseller is set in a time travelling café in Tokyo, following four visitors as they travel back in time to perform an act. Whether it’s to see a sister one last time, confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband who has since lost his memory, or meet the daughter they never got the chance to know. Time travelling however comes with a lot of rules, namely to return to the present before the coffee gets cold.
Our Editor’s verdict: ‘I loved this book. It was an extremely relaxing read – short, warm and feel-good. I finished it in two lazy mornings in bed. I’ve read that some people found the translation jarring, something I didn’t pick up on at all. And after recommending it to friends, I can already tell that this book is like marmite. It is strange and fairly predictable, but it’s sweet, comforting and leaves you wanting to cherish the people around you.’
Grown Ups by Marian Keyes
I’ve heard great GREAT things BUY NOW: Grown Ups by Marian Keyes
What’s it about? Grown Ups follows the Casey family, three Irish brothers and their big extended family. The book focuses especially on the three Casey wives, Jessie, Cara and Nell. While perfect on the surface, all three couples are struggling behind closed doors. And when sweet and likeable Cara gets concussion and can’t stop telling Casey family secrets, everything unravels.
Our Editor’s verdict: ‘This is the most addictive book I’ve ever read. I immediately connected to all three key female characters – especially Jessie – and despite physically being the thickest book I’ve read this year, it was also the one I read the quickest. I was quite literally hooked by the second page and lost a whole weekend. A word of warning though – there’s a family tree in the front of the paper copy that you will need to refer back to (the Casey are an extremely large family). So, if you’re listening to the audiobook or using a kindle, source a family tree to make your life easier. This was my first every Marian Keyes book and it definitely will not be my last.’
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
#girlwomanother . . . . #bernadineevaristo #reading #educateyourself #education #lockdown #goodmorningBUY NOW: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
What’s it about? Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives of 12 women in the United Kingdom over the course of several decades. Divided into four parts, each section focuses on a trio of women whose lives are woven together, looking at how race, sexuality and gender among other themes intersect to shape their experiences.
Our Editor’s verdict: ‘Girl, Woman, Other is a very important (and educational) read and one that I have recommended to countless people this year. Raising questions around feminism and race, it is extremely insightful in portraying the casual racism and prejudice that comes with being a black woman living in Britain. I also found this book particularly astute in its take on female relationships – particularly between mothers and daughters – with Evaristo portraying them in an empathetic way I have rarely seen accomplished. If you find page breaks jarring you might struggle at first, but don’t be dissuaded – it’s clever, insightful and easy to read.’