Captures the magic of reading and how we can be joined and connected by stories. I'd read this without reading any reviews to be honest as you find all the surprises that way and they are a joy!

This is a book about the healing power of reading and the importance of libraries ,based around a mysterious reading list which is found by various characters who all find solace and comfort in the books on the list ,and whose lives are all changed in some way by reading and by going to the local library.
The main characters are Mukesh ,trying to rebuild his life after the death of his wife, and Aleisha, whose home life is difficult because of her mother’s mental illness.Both are positively changed because of the books on the reading list and the book ends on an uplifting note.
It’s quite slowly paced and tends to labour some of the points a bit,but it’s a lovely message to convey and made me want to go back and re read some of the books on the list!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

What an amazing debut novel by Sara Nisha Adams! I absolutely adored it and highly recommend it!
Lovers of books and libraries will be enchanted by this narrative that follows mostly 2 characters discovering the beauty and universality of books. Mukesh is retired and newly widowed. His wife loved books and he decides to start reading books to feel closer to her and search for what she saw in them. He meets our second main protagonist, Aleisha, a teenager working at the local library. She's a bit apathetic and hiding from the reality of her mother who is unwell. They form a peculiar friendship built on books, opening up their own relationships with others. Grief is a theme that comes back a few times and it is so well expressed throughout this book.
There is so much to say about this novel, but frankly, just go and read it!

This was another truly wonderful read. I absolutely loved it. It is a book about a reading list, a library and some wonderful people. We learn about each book, and also the characters that appear in each one. It covers a vast array of topics and emotions, from friendships, love, heart break, and family. It really focused on the importance of libraries to our communities. I love ours. They're an absolute necessity.

I loved this book - the characters, the story, the writing - I devoured it. Widower Mukesh was a delight, and I loved his relationship with library assistant Aleisha. The bond they formed helped both of them and demonstrates how sharing a love of reading can bring people together. I will admit to be horrified at the beginning of the book, when surly teen Aleisha had headphones in as she worked behind the library desk! That just wouldn't happen, but I'll forgive the author as the book was so good.
It's a heart-warming tale of friendship, belonging, the power of reading, the plight of libraries. But it also tackled tougher subjects like grief, loss and mental health. It's one of those books that I'll recommend the friends, colleagues and library customers! Brilliant.

Aleisha discovers a reading list tucked into a library book at the library she works at. Despite not really wanting to work there at first and not even being very interested in reading, she forms a close bond with Mukesh who comes into the library after the death of his wife. Together they form an unexpected bond as they work their way through the reading list.

I thought the exploration of grief and starting again after loss was so well written and moving. It was a heartwarming bond between Aleisha and Mukesh reaching across the generations. Even with a lot of narratives and different characters I never lost track of who they were. All of the characters were well rounded even though there were lots of them which is some achievement.

Should be one of the novels of the year.

Initially, having looked at the contents page, I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the multiple narratives, and at first I did get a little lost, but very quickly you do get to know the characters’ individual voices which makes it pleasant to read. All the characters were so different, but I can identify myself in all of them - and I’m sure every person who reads this book can also.

Unless you’re w proficient reader, it is hard to explain to someone just what books can do for you. In fact, no matter how much I read, I find it difficult to tell people why reading means so much to me and what it can do for me, but Sara manages to describe it perfectly without simply saying “reading makes me feel XYZ”. The way it’s written just speaks to your very soul and you end up totally within her world.

The books on the reading list in this book were:
- To Kill a Mockingbird (read)
- Rebecca (currently reading)
- Life of Pi (not read)
- The Kite Runner (read) - my favourite on this list
- Pride and Prejudice (read)
- Little Women (not read)
- Beloved (not read)
- A Suitable Boy (not read)

Reading this book as made me think about what books I would recommend to someone to read. I’ve got titles that mean so much to me and feel very personal that they feel like they were written just for me and I’d find it difficult explaining to someone why I like it.

The ending was so unexpected but heartwarming and lovely and fuzzy. It is a beautiful homage to our much needed libraries and show us how they can really help us during the bad times. This isn’t just a book about reading. It is a book about loss, grief, anger, growing up, sadness, loneliness, happiness, and above all else, love.

A good novel of community and the power of reading, which does pack a big emotional punch near the end which I wasn't expecting - there's certainly a strong theme on mental health here which might be triggering for some. I enjoyed the gentle humour and seeing Mukesh blossom and those bossy daughters find out he's not yet a lost cause.

Full review at https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2021/08/22/book-review-sara-nisha-adams-the-reading-list/

THIS BOOK!! ❤️ Do you love reading books about books? I do!🙋🏼‍♀️

This is probably one of my favourite books of the year so far. I KNOW 🤩 I bloody loved every minute of The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams so all the stars (if I did star ratings!)🥰
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When Aleisha discovers a crumpled reading list tucked into a tattered library book, it sparks an extraordinary journey. Great timing as Aleisha needs an escape from her troubles at home.
And when widower Mukesh arrives at the library, Aleisha introduces him to the magic of the reading list.
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✨ What I loved:

~ the characters were heartwarming, realistic and well developed. Mukesh - who goes to the library to try and connect with his bookworm granddaughter Priya - has my heart!❤️
~ the storyline was engaging and just bloody lovely. Who doesn’t love reading about books, libraries, communities rallying together and old people who discover they may actually be bookworms. 😆 Save the libraries!✊🏻
~ it didn’t shy away from more heavy topics such as grief, death, loneliness and loss. It was really touching and yes there were tears 😭 Such talented writing!
~ some of my favourite moments were when Mukesh and Aleisha were together in their ‘mini bookclub’ just chatting about characters in books and how certain themes resonated with them. Books brought this unlikely duo together. Also it features so many of my fave books including The Time Travellers Wife and Little Women. 😍
~ the book left me feeling happy, inspired and just lifted me so much. All the feel good vibes.

The Reading List is an absolute delight and reinforced why I love reading so much. Books can transport us, teach us, connect us and show us the world. It will be a book I read again FOR SURE!

Get on it and check out this incredible debut. Highly recommend folks 👏🏻

Give me all the books about books. Seriously, I need them all. 🧡

When I first read the blurb of The Reading List, I didn't even think that the book would touch me in such an incredible manner. I loved reading this gem of a novel, and I'll keep thinking about the characters for a long, long time. From the very beginning of the story, I was hooked. A mysterious reading list ties different people together - how enchanting is that! Books have the power to change emotions, and this book described that feeling perfectly. I have been clinging to books for strength and support while seeing the world around me change for a deadly pandemic. Feeling lonely has been such a constant and unwanted friend lately - so finding a book that showed how books can break the barriers of isolation was everything.

Sometimes fictional characters can teach us lessons for leading our real lives. We get to live that lesson through Aleisha and her widowed grandfather become friends through books. It was just so heart-warming to see the duo, and the other readers who stumbled upon the reading list become inspired to live their lives in a new manner after finding a story that resonated with them. I loved every moment of reading The Reading List. Such a beautiful story. Can't wait for more people to read it so that I can fangirl over the characters!

5/5 stars! Many thanks to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest review. <3

Widower Mukesh lives alone in Wembley after loosing his beloved wife Naina two years ago. Very much set in a routine, he spends his days avoiding people and generally just letting life slip him by - although his three daughters are constantly checking up on him. While spending time in the local library to return one of Naina's loans, he meets troubled teen Aleisha and together the pair embark on a literary journey on the back of an old reading list.

This is a story of self discovery and enlightenment through reading, and how to live again after loss and it is beautifully told. It's subtle in its wisdom, as the read becomes engrossed in Mukesh's life and his journey, learning as he does about the knowledge we gain from reading. There's also a heavy feeling if community, with the library and surrounding area buzzing with life and colour. It's a great atmosphere to set the book, enclosing the reader in this safe environment. Mukesh and Aleisha have such a special friendship too. It's one that feels very genuine, affectionate and supportive without being overbearing. Each allows the other to seek out what they need at the time from the books on the reading list, encouraging the other. It was lovely to read about.

Heartwarming, cosy yet this tackles some hard issues in a sensitive and respectful way. Books can be powerful tools in the right hands, and this books demonstrates that and more. A great read.

This is such a lovely read. Librarian Aleisha and widowed pensioner Mukesh form an unlikely friendship over their love of books and a shared reading list. As an avid reader, I love reading books about the passion of reading!! Add in a beautiful friendship, and this is a great feel good read.

What a beautiful story! I have just finished reading this book and have already recommended it to several friends and family members - it's definitely on my shopping list for upcoming birthday presents for fellow book lovers. This book would make a fantastic publicity piece for libraries all over that are under threat of cuts and closure. It is a love story for books and libraries. It is also a love story to the power of reading, whether alone or with or to others. The story was inspired by the author's relationship with her grandfather who had a major impact on her as a reader. Such an intergenerational relationship is at the heart of the novel, with Aleisha, a 17 year old mixed race girl in London meeting Mukesh, a Hindi widower, through the library where a bored Aleisha is working during her school holidays. Both characters have their own sadnesses and difficulties and bond over a reading list of novels which Aleisha finds in the library. This library is under threat of closure and over the course of the story its importance as a community resource becomes apparent. The titular reading list contains many of the author's favourite books and in a postscript she mentions other books which have had an impact on her. I had actually read all of the books on the list and am inspired by the book to return to them. I did while reading the book start compiling my own list of favourites, one of which is on the Reading List in the book. I highly recommend this book not only to book lovers but to people who would say they don't enjoy fiction, to community activists and to people feeling isolated. Thank you to the publisher via Net Galley for sending me a complimentary ARC of this title in return for an honest review.

Cute book perfect for bookworms! The characters and their growth will melt your heart and it shows the importance books have for people. Really recommend!

I found it a charming read. I loved how the characters interacted with each other and the importance of books mean to other people.
It is heartwarming and tender and shows that we really do not know what goes on in other peoples lives that we come across.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

Aleisha, a 17 year old with a difficult home life, is working in the local library when she discovers a reading list in a book. Mukesh, struggling to connect with his bookworm granddaughter Priya since his wife's death, is looking for reading recommendations. They embark on a reading journey that has incredible effects on their lives and those of their loved ones.

I have no words.... this is a BEAUTIFUL book and everyone should read it! I've read some amazing books this year but this is my favourite by far - the characters, the story, the way it makes you feel..... all incredible! Thank you to the author for writing such a wonderful book - it is now on my own all time favourites reading list. I'll be buying this for all my friends and re-reading it myself!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

A book about books, what more could a book lover possibly want to read?

Aleisha is a reluctant employee at the local library and not that much of a reader, this is a job that her brother previously did and is a stop gap until the next part of her education.

She ventures no further than the library and home, her world is very small but she discovers a list of books to read that allow her world to expand and perhaps allow her to connect with other people, with her mother, with library patrons.

Mukesh, a widower misses his wife terribly, the gap she has left behind can never be filled and the stifling protection of his daughters means he has yet to find a new way to live being a widow. He wants to connect somehow to his granddaughter and through her love of books he finds himself at the library that Aleisha works at. He finds a list of book that broaden his horizons and he finds new worlds to share with everyone.

The list of books, covers a wide range of different books, which if you are familiar with will make perfect sense into how they fit into the story and their own stories they tell to help both Aleisha, Mukesh and us as readers. If you are not familiar with then you have just gained a whole list for to enjoy at your leisure.

This is a powerful and emotional book and I was caught out by one particular plot thread, so swept away was I with the story and the characters, it felt that I was suffering my own loss. The comfort was the familiarity of books, the comfort that they can give and the way they help and heal. The message which this debut novel has conveyed with sensitivity, across cultures, across ages and across book shelves.

Without doubt, one of the best books I have read and one that I would recommend for anyone who has a passion about books.

Books about books are one of my favourite things so I couldn’t resist The Reading List. As well as being sad at times and dealing with issues of mental health and grief, it was heartwarming and showed the power of reading – and possibly more importantly how vital libraries are to local communities. It also showcased some of my favourite books of all time! What’s not to like?
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

he Reading List is an endearing book about the power of books to change lives. It had me in floods of tears at times but mostly it was a heart-warming testament to the transformative power of reading.

The Reading List is a love letter to libraries designed to remind the reader of the importance of libraries for local communities.

Throughout the book several characters find a mystery reading list titled ‘In case you need it’

The reading list in question comprised of the following books:

. To Kill a Mockingbird

. Rebecca

. Kite Runner

. Life of Pi

. Pride and Prejudice

. Little Women

. Beloved

. A Suitable Boy

I would recommend The Reading List to anyone in a reading slump or who enjoys reading books about the joys of reading.

The characters are endearing and the relationship between Mukesh and Aleisha is sweet and believable. They, and the list, come into each other’s lives when it is most needed.

Aleisha works in the library as a part time job to escape home and the effects of her mum’s poor mental health. She doesn’t understand the joy of reading and the job is just a means to an end.

Mukesh is still reeling from the death of his wife and venturing into the library is a big deal to him. He has never read widely, and he just wants a recommendation, but Aleisha is rude to him.

Later Aleisha discovers the list and decides to make amends she will recommend the books to Mukesh. She realises though that she can’t recommend them if she hasn’t read them herself.

“She noticed how the book was allowing her to step into two worlds – the world she was in right now, besides her mum, in her house, the air muggy from the heat of the day – and another world.”

This book was a real feel-good read.

Such a beautiful heartfelt story! This book revolves around the people who work in/visit the Harrow Road library, and a reading list discovered there. We meet their families gaining an insight into their lives. Lives which are sometimes sad, and often lonely, and generally challenging in some way- but the reading list seems to work magic and draws them into the library. And the characters within are so real! Beautifully written, the reader can imagine meeting them in real life.
Referencing both classic and current bestsellers, the reading list will appeal to all who enjoy reading themselves. With libraries, classic and best-selling books and a heartwarming story- this is a must read!