Are you looking for the perfect book to get lost in this fall? Look no further than Waterstones’ top bestsellers! Whether you’re after a gripping thriller, a captivating romance, or a thought-provoking memoir, Waterstones has the perfect book to keep you entertained this season. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing some of Waterstones’ most popular books and why they should be at the top of your reading list. Read on to discover our top picks!
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo is a gripping, thought-provoking novel about identity and womanhood. In this narrative, we follow the lives of twelve unforgettable characters as they navigate through love, family, politics, and culture. Through each of their stories, we get a glimpse into different aspects of life in Britain today and what it means to be a woman in the 21st century.
The novel follows Amma, a successful playwright in her mid-thirties, who has dedicated her life to her career. We also meet Carole, an elderly Black British woman; Bummi, a Nigerian teenager with an obsession with Instagram; and Yazz, a young girl with a passion for drag. Each character is fiercely independent and determined to be heard, yet they all are connected in some way through the powerful bonds of friendship and family.
Evaristo’s writing is vivid and compelling and she brings each of these characters to life with captivating detail and emotion. Her prose is powerful and full of wisdom and insight into the struggles of womanhood. With Girl, Woman, Other, Evaristo offers readers an honest and illuminating look at the many complexities of modern womanhood. It is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring what it means to be a woman today.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is a renowned Canadian novelist and poet. She is the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, one of the most widely acclaimed dystopian novels of all time. Her 2019 novel The Testaments continues the story of the oppressive Gilead regime as seen in The Handmaid’s Tale.
The Testaments is set fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale. It tells the story from the perspective of three different women: Aunt Lydia, Agnes, and Daisy. Each woman has her own unique story to tell, and together they build up a picture of the horrific conditions of Gilead and its inner workings.
Atwood writes with depth and insight, exploring themes such as power and control, religious extremism, and gender roles. Her characters are realistic and memorable, and their struggles are both heartbreaking and inspiring. Throughout the novel, Atwood shows us how resilience and courage can help people survive even in the worst of circumstances.
The Testaments is a powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you finish it. It is no surprise that this gripping and timely novel has been nominated for the 2019 Man Booker Prize. Whether you’ve read The Handmaid’s Tale or not, The Testaments is definitely worth reading.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Normal People is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of two people from vastly different backgrounds, Marianne and Connell, and their intense relationship. The novel follows them from their hometown of Sligo in Ireland to college in Dublin as they face challenges of class, family, and social norms.
Normal People is a unique look at young love and how it can both bring joy and suffering. Rooney captures the beauty and fragility of first love through her lyrical writing and insightful storytelling. As Marianne and Connell’s relationship progresses and shifts, the reader is taken on an emotional journey that is both heartbreaking and tender.
The characters in Normal People are incredibly real and relatable, making the novel an engaging and touching read. Rooney skillfully captures the nuances of relationships and human behavior, making the novel an unforgettable experience. From the small moments of joy to the moments of sorrow, Normal People will stay with readers long after they have finished it.
Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts
Dolly Alderton’s debut novel, Ghosts, has been hailed as a modern classic. The book takes readers on a journey of self-discovery with its complex and relatable characters. With its witty and poignant prose, Alderton’s Ghosts is a captivating read.
The novel follows Nina Dean, a thirty-something single woman living in London. Struggling with loneliness and feeling lost, Nina begins to examine her past relationships and the role they have played in her current state. As she unravels her own story, Nina discovers that she needs to face up to the ghosts of her past to move forward.
Ghosts is a deeply personal exploration of identity, love, and loss. Its raw and honest writing makes it an emotionally charged and powerful novel that readers can relate to. Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts is a must-read for anyone looking for an inspiring story about resilience and finding your way in life.
We Must be Brave by Frances Liardet
If you’re looking for a heartwarming, life-affirming story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it, look no further than Frances Liardet’s We Must be Brave. A story of love, family, and loss, this novel centers around Ellen Trawton and her relationship with nine-year-old Sylvie, a young girl who arrives at Ellen’s door with nowhere else to go. What follows is a powerful and moving narrative that follows both Ellen and Sylvie as they struggle to build a new life for themselves in the face of great hardship and adversity.
We Must be Brave is a tender and beautifully written story of resilience, courage and hope. Liardet’s skillful writing brings each character to life, creating an unforgettable portrait of love, friendship and the power of human connection. Liardet captures the complexities of relationships, exploring themes of abandonment, guilt and grief. But there is also beauty in this story, particularly in its exploration of the power of kindness, empathy and understanding. As the characters grow and evolve, so too does the reader, learning invaluable lessons along the way.
For those looking for an emotionally affecting read that will remain with them long after they’ve finished it, We Must be Brave by Frances Liardet is a must-read.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
The Giver of Stars is an enchanting and poignant novel by award-winning author Jojo Moyes. Set in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky in the 1930s, the story follows Alice Wright, a young woman who defies her family’s expectations to marry a mysterious American stranger. As part of her new life, Alice joins the Women’s Pack Horse Library of Kentucky, delivering books to isolated villages in the area. Along the way, she learns about the importance of friendship and community and finds strength in her newfound independence.
The Giver of Stars is an absorbing read that celebrates female friendship, freedom, and adventure. With compelling characters and an interesting setting, the story will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. It’s a timeless tale of finding yourself and discovering love, and readers everywhere are sure to fall in love with Moyes’s moving and inspiring story.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Enter a dream-like world of stories and secrets that will captivate your heart and mind in this magical fantasy novel. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is a breathtaking and ambitious tale of love, fate and the power of choice.
The story follows Zachary Ezra Rawlins as he discovers a mysterious book that leads him on an adventure he never expected. It brings him to The Starless Sea, an underground library full of wonders, where he discovers more than just books. He meets many intriguing characters, some mysterious and some who will become his companions, as they embark on a quest to save the secret sea.
As their journey takes them through enchanted gardens and dark labyrinths, they confront their fears and discover the power of their own imaginations. With sumptuous descriptions, intricate world-building and complex characters, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is a must-read for any fantasy lover. It will take you on an unforgettable journey to a place you’ll never want to leave.