Mukesh has lost his wife and is struggling to get back to normality. 17 year old Aleshia has issues at home, she’s drifted from friends and needs a safe space. Through her summer job in the library Aleshia crosses paths with Mukesh, or Mr P as she likes to call him. She has stumbled across a reading list which she uses to recommend books to Mr P and a very unique and quite beautiful friendship forms. But who wrote this list? Who compiled a list of books that leave both Aleshia and Mukesh realising that the world of books is far more than just flicking through pages?

To put it quite simply, this is a hug in book format. It’s a book about books. It’s a book about reading books, befriending characters, and finding comfort and solace between the pages.

Books have a superpower. Each of us can read the same words, meet the same characters, experience the same tales, and yet we all have a unique experience. Your visualisation of characters will differ from mine, the lesson you take away from a book might be different from mine. I think it’s fair to say that what we read can help us, heal us, and ultimately connect us. By reading we develop compassion and empathy, and through the magic of books we are never truly alone. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams explores every ounce of this and I absolutely loved how reading unites people; even the most unlikely of pairings can bond over a book.

The list has made me consider my own “Reading List” and think about what books I consider to be meaningful to me, what books came along at the right time. I’ve thought about the books that helped me to understand the world, the ones that help me grieve, the ones that helped me to cope, love, and feel. And so, I present to you, my own reading list:
📚Anne of Green Gables
📚I’ll Give You the Sun
📚There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather
📚Room
📚Bear Town
📚The House In The Cerulean Sea
📚Take My Hand

What books are on your Reading List?

This book was read as an e-ARC from netgalley and Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.
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Read: Kindle
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend: Yes, heartwarming & endearing

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for the ARC.

I apologise for the lateness in my review, but I am so sorry to inform that I just couldn't connect with this book, its story nor any of the characters.

I have managed to read until 75% but, neither Mukesh nor Aleisha's threads kept my interest. I did love the idea behind the reading list and how it seems to bring everyone together, but I think this got overly repetitive through out the book.

The addition of POVs from random characters felt all over the place & I really couldn't seem to see the point behind it.

Especially Aleisha's mother's character was so strongly repulsive for me, that it just sucked out all the fun & pleasure I was hoping to get from the book. I understand it was required, but sadly I just couldn't bear it.

I did like the Indian references of food, culture of Gujarat, but somehow I didn't think there was anything at all in the writing.

Highly unfortunate that it had to end up like this for me, but I always like to be honest about my opinions.

As a booklover how can you not love a read centred around books?!
This proves every booklovers perception: books can help heal, can help you escape and help you connect. They are a special, powerful thing and The Reading List is no exception.
This is a beautiful story of 2 humans in different stages of life, connected by the feelings of sadness and exposure to books. The way each book impacts and speaks to them- I felt that to my core.
Phenomenal concept, extremely well executed. I highly recommend it.

The Reading List mainly centres around two characters, a 17 year old who is spending her summer working in a library and an 80 year old who is new to reading novels and how a found reading list brings them together and has an impact on their lives. This is an emotional book of what we can learn from stories and how libraries can bring communities together. I absolutely loved it. The reading list in this book not only touches the lives of the character in it but transcends through into reality as I now want to read the books on the list I have yet to consume.

The Reading List is a beautifully crafted read about the importance of reading, why people read and the power of words. It could read as deeply as the reader and is highly versatile. This story would make an ideal book club read, as this is incredibly thought-provoking.

This plot focuses on the friendship of two people, of different generations, with a recently discovered reading list and no idea about the other's existence until this happens.

A wonderfully emotional, relatable read about new beginnings and a perfect read for all book lovers! The writing style absorbed me, and I read this within 24 hours - extremely addictive and enjoyable.

The dual points of view were intriguing, and although the conclusion was somewhat predictable, this is still a five-star read, in my opinion! Highly entertaining and, undoubtedly, my favourite read with a bookish theme for a while!

The Reading List-Review
Author: Sara Nisha Adams
Genre: Modern & Contemporary fiction
Tropes: Bookish themes
Age rating: Adult 16+
Page Count: 432 pages
A beautifully written book about how books can change people’s lives!!!
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with this e ARC before publication
Review;
If anything this book left me with every more books on my TBR. It told me that books aren’t always just a way to escape and can teach us valuable things too. Books can help open up the world more to use and not hide it from us.
If you read a lot or a little this is a beautiful book that lots of people can enjoy. Both heart-warming but also heart-breaking this book will stick with you. As a person who reads a lot manly for escapism I loved how this book showed that you can explore more about your own world through books of fiction. The story was written in such an uplifting and realist way that you can’t help but connect to the characters and feel what they feel.
I loved the character friendship which were built throughout the book, they were so pure of heart. The way Sara Nisha Adams creates a beautiful and gradual growth between character to an amazing friendship is so lovely to see. No drama just people being people. I also loved that there was a Hindu Indian-English main character it was so refreshing to have that representation in a book.
The overall idea of this book is about how people discover new books and share them with one another. It is about a list of books which is found in a public library, no one knows who wrote it but we see how the books from the list impact the characters in the book. While I did not cry at the end it was an emotion and lovely ending to the book. I read this book over 2 days and absolutely adored it, I honestly cannot recommend it enough. I have already pre-ordered a copy for a friend who I think will love it.
Rating;
4.5 stars
TRRIGGER WARNINGS/CONTENT WARNINGS
-Suicide
-Grief
-Depression
-Death of loved one
-Cancer
-Anxiety

Readers already know the power of reading so the moral of this story is not going to be a hard sell to any of us. The book revolves around a curated list of books that an unknown person has put together to help somebody. The list gets passed around between a series of broken souls, people in need of help and inspiration.

The two key characters are Aleisha, a teenager with a holiday job in the local library, and Mukesh Patel, an elderly widower who is trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife, the eternally in control Naina. When Aleisha and Mukesh first meet, it's far from a good start. She snaps at him; he walks off in a huff without checking out his book. Soon the two become friends, each needing something the other has and finding their way through the medium of the books on the list.

It's sweet, whimsical, and definitely, a book that carries more meaning if you've read most of the books. It addresses themes of modern loneliness and the redemptive power of reading.

Highly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy

This one was just ok for me. It didn’t really grab my attention and I was bored in some parts of it . A nice story but not much substance.

An unexpected delight.
What a cute superbly written book about books and how they bring the least expected benefits of friends and healing plus heartfelt joy.

I had no choice but to give this 5*. It’s cute, it’s thoughtful, it’s heartwarming and I felt emotions.

There are no age barriers in books, there are no class distinctions within booklovers, we are brought together by our passion.

This story though was just a tiny bit different.

Mukesh is an 80 year old man who doesn’t read books. His wife used used to. He’s been recently widowed and missing his wife.

Aleisha Is 17. She works at the front desk at her local library and she doesn’t read books either.

An odd thing happens. Aleisha finds a reading list tucked within the pages of a book.
She decides to start working her way through the list.
She then passes the list to Mukesh and there-in forms a lovely bond.

It melted my heart to see, read and feel how powerful books can be in our life, just like music.

Such a great book I’ll remember for a long time to come.

Mukesh is a lonely widower of two years. He lives in a London neighbourhood and encounters Aleisha, a 17 year old working in a small branch library. Aleisha has problems of her own and does not treat his request for help in finding a book kindly. Subsequently, a dressing down by her supervisor propels Aleisha to apologise to Mukesh and make a recommendation, opening the way for friendship and connection to each other and the wider community.

This is a beautiful little book that says so much about connecting with others, mental health and getting help, death and grieving, ageing and the moving dynamics of family relationships, and the power of books to change lives. I loved this book and can't find a single thing to fault in it.

This is a beautiful and enthralling read, totally riveting, paying homage to books, libraries, readers and communities, a life affirming novel amidst the grief, death, loneliness and challenging circumstances that the characters find themselves in.

“The Reading List” is a beautiful story about the importance of reading. As a life-long reader, I was very moved by this story which highlights impactful novels and ordinary people. “The Reading List” shows how reading fiction allows us to become closer to people, to embrace challenges, and to become more empathetic.

This is a remarkable novel in that it reminds us of why we love to read. This is a feel-good story that is clever and well written.
This is a exquisite debut from Sara Nisha Adams that will resonate with anyone who loves books, their power to impart wisdom, open our eyes to the world and the lives of others, and the priceless role played by libraries in our communities.
I highly recommend this incredible debut to any and every reader.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

An uplifting read where a love of reading and the importance of local libraries is central to the story. It has a wide range of different characters who remind you that everyone is just looking for a positive response and some friendly conversation. It also provides an excellent list of reading recommendations, useful to anyone, and also the vital key to the whole plot.

A stunning story about the magical, binding powers of books and the beauty of real friendship. Mukesh and Aleisha seem like the last people to ever be friends - but a curious scrap of paper found at the library with a list of books brings these two lonely people together in a strange new kind of personal book club that might not just help them tick off their reading list, but help them find everything they've been looking for.

A truly heartwarming story about fresh starts and new horizons, with relatable characters that feel warmly familiar - this definitely should be on your reading list.

I beg your pardon but I requested this book by mistake as I already read it.
This was my review:
A book about books and the pleasure of reading. It's compelling, heartwarming and it kept me hooked.
Great plot and character development, good storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a powerful story and had me in tears, a lot of tears, at points. The mysterious lists left around Wembley clearly worked their way into the right hands and it was lovely to see their finders tentatively explore the library and enter the world of books. For Aleisha and Mr P in particular it was gratifying to see their friendship develop and them both emerge out of their shells. They were both trapped in some way and books spelled the beginning of their freedom. The periphery characters were just as interesting and it was genuinely such a heart warming story. It has even made me go back and look to read some of the “classics” again. Highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed- thank you!

I was stunned when I found out that this was a debut. Sara's writing seems comforting and familiar and I know I'll be reading many more of their books in the future.

I've always loved reading, and books and libraries go hand in hand. Third person narrative has always been my favourite and I feel like this was the perfect use of it to allow us to get to know the multiple POVs. Aleisha and Mukesh felt natural and well fleshed out despite being entirely opposite in so many demographical aspects, and I loved their tentative friendship.

I have been lucky enough to have read the majority of the books included on the reading list but I feel readers will still get the same beautiful feeling even if they haven't as Sara gives enough of a plot summary for people to understand. I particularly loved her chapters on Rebecca and Life of Pi, but I did find that the books seemed to be put to the side a bit more as the novel progressed and the meaning of the books became more shallow - but I still loved the theme and the timeline of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my kind of book. A book about books and passing them around people to give them an uplift in their lives. The list in the book are books that I have read and loved so it wasn’t hard to smile when the characters discovered these books for themselves. This book was like a breath of fresh air and I throughly enjoyed it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I absolutely love this book. I love gentle Mukesh, at a loss following the death of his beloved wife, and anxious Aleisha, struggling with serious family issues. The relationship which develops between them as they read and reflect on the books featured in a mysterious hand-written reading list found in a library book, is delightful.

I love the way each of the books on the list gives something to one or both of them to draw on in the situations they face.

There are heart-rending moments, but the story is predominantly and ultimately delightfully heart-warming.

This is a satisfying read about how the power of the written language can help individuals and community?.
A list of books found in a library book by a bored library assistant is the changing point for several members of old and traditional library in the Harrow Road.
As the characters learn from the books, I realised that although I had read them all previously, and seen film and TV adaptations, they could still surprise and educate me.
I now have the list of books to re-read and the certainty that they will entertain and be refreshing all over again.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I requested this book because of the amount of great reviews it has and I'm so glad I did. This book completely surpassed my expectations in so many ways and I wish I already had the physical copy of it to put on my shelf!