I got 26 books for my 26th birthday! I won’t bore you with blurbs. Instead, enjoy my rogue commentary and occasional coherent thought.
Enter Ghost, Isabella Hammad
The older I get the less I want to read about teenage angst. Adults should read about adult things, right? Right!
The Prisoner’s Throne, Holly Black
Well, maybe I don’t want to live completely free of teenage angst… Faeries, princes and a coup d’etat, yum yum.
Penguin’s Poems for Love, collected by Laura Barber
Because there are many ways to say I love you and I know far too few of them.
Tress of the Emerald Sea, Brandon Sanderson
I’m here for all the girl bosses, magical or not.
August Blue, Deborah Levy
Sometimes life isn’t magical… sometimes it’s sad (should I trademark that? Surely no one has ever been as profound??)
Prophet Song, Paul Lynch
Winner of last year’s Booker Prize - say no more sir, take my money.
The Bee Sting, Paul Murray
It’s important to read about crazy families to give you some much needed perspective on your own. As goldilocks would say, my family is juuussstt right.
Vicious, V.E. Schwab
A villain origin story, delicious. Sometimes I think life would be easier as a villain. Then I remember that Karma tracks you down… or so says Taylor Swift (and therefore so say I!).
Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier
I wish I stumbled upon this one on my own, and not because Taylor Swift mentioned it in an interview. Alas, some things can’t be helped.
Red Rising, Pierce Brown
If something is popular, it’s often popular for a reason.
Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller
It’s about time I had a good cry.
One Dark Window, Rachel Gillig
I’ve already inhaled this one and purchased the second. Oops.
I Hope This Finds You Well, Natalie Sue
There’s something funny to me about accidentally sending a rant filled private email to everyone in your organisation. Maybe because it could very well happen to me at any moment.
The Ministry of Time, Kaliane Bradley
I’ll always read about time travel, but I’ll never understand it.
As Young as This, Roxy Dunn
Ahh so angst DOES exist outside of teenagers.
Book that Broke the World, Mark Lawrence
The second in the series and I haven’t even read the first one. Hope it’s good.
Sunbringer, Hannah Kaner
This is also the second in a series and the first one WAS good.
You Are Here, David Nicholls
The man behind Netflix’s ‘One Day’. Another no brainer.
Monsters, Claire Dederer
How do we love and appreciate art by awful people?
The Iliad, Homer
Life’s too short to read the Iliad, but it looks great on my shelf.
I’ll be going now, I’ve got madwomen to research and all these books to consume, but before I do…
Here’s to 26! I’m grateful for all the fun & love, books & music, cups of tea & glasses of champagne, and most importantly all of you.
Thanks for reading.
Elle x
26 looks good on you ✨
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”. This line goes through my mind every time I see the title of this terrific book.
Rebecca a stand out for me and read more than once over the years. I really enjoyed The Bee Sting. Prophet Song was a challenge in writing style, which I really enjoyed. I am very partial to Irish writers.
Here’s to turning 26 and those wonderful books 🥂