Dani's Faves <3

A Solitary Walk on the Moon by Hilde Hinton

'Evelyn went to the third drawer down in her dresser. It was her drawer of things past . . . she had an item from each of her previous lives. Evelyn was good at reinventing herself, becoming who she was going to be next, but she still kept one thing from each life. Never two.'

An eccentric and covert human, Evelyn notices what most don’t. Evelyn knows what is going on in her community because she pays attention. The community might not notice Evelyn, because it is easy to overlook the seemingly ordinary. But Evelyn is far from ordinary. She’s not afraid to put things right, and is always ready to find lost property or lost people - even if that means breaking the rules.

‘A Solitary Walk on the Moon’ is a rich and detailed journey about the things we miss, the connections we make, and what comes from loving others. Evelyn and her companion characters show us what can happen when we pay attention, or stop and say hello. From the author of ‘The Loudness of Unsaid Things’, this beautifully written novel has heart, and is a definite must read for other emotional beings who don't mind a slow paced book where not that much actually happens (in the best way).

A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown

“Always remember the acronym for ‘FEAR’ can mean one of two things: Fuck Everything and Run or Face Everything and Recover”

There are shelves of memoirs about overcoming the death of a parent, childhood abuse, rape, drug addiction, miscarriage, alcoholism, hustling, gangbanging, near-death injuries, drug dealing, prostitution and homelessness…Cupcake Brown survived all these things before she’d even turned twenty. ‘A Piece of Cake’ is the heart-wrenching true story of Cupcake Brown that will take you through unimaginable tragedy and gives a unique perspective on a resilient spirit who took on the worst of contemporary urban life and survived it.

Unlike any memoir I’ve ever read, this raw and honest journey can be hard to read at times as you’re told about the confronting experiences of Cupcake. She shares how, even though it seems impossible at times, the hopes and dreams of anyone really can come true. So while this memoir can be challenging for its reader, there are moments of unexpected humour and positivity, and it is ultimately a story of strength, resilience and the power of faith. One of my favourite books of all time.

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo

“For the sisters & the sistas & the sistahs & the sistren & the women & the womxn & the wimmin & the womyn & our brethren & our bredrin & our brothers & our bruvs & our men & our mandem & the LGBTQI+ members of the human family”

Teeming with life and crackling with energy - a love song to modern Britain and black womanhood. ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ follows the lives and experiences of twelve very different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years. Highlighting womanhood, race and becoming an adult, they’re each looking for something - a shared past, an unexpected future, a place to call home, somewhere to fit in, a lover, a missed mother, a lost father, even just a touch of hope.
[Winner of the Booker Prize 2019]

A beautiful novel that flows like poetry and provides many unique perspectives around similar themes of identity, race, womanhood and insights on modern Britain. You get to experience strong and vivid characters on their individual journeys. You’ll begin to question how well you truly know the people you meet, and consider that while we’re the main character in our own lives we also make appearances, large and small, in the lives of those around us.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

“Being forgotten, she thinks, is a bit like going mad. You begin to wonder what is real, if you are real. After all, how can a thing be real if it cannot be remembered?”

A young woman makes a deal with the Gods and can live forever, but be remembered by none. For Addie LaRue who will live across continents, across centuries, across history and art, living is not the hard part. The challenge is finding meaning where nobody knows she exists, as she is forgotten by family, friends, lovers and loved. Nearly 300 years pass with Addie's only consistent visitor the one who cursed her, until one day she enters a bookshop - and the young man remembers her name.

Not a fantasy reader? That's okay, I wasn't either until I read this. This urban romantasy/magical realism vibe novel brought out so many emotions as we travel with Addie over hundreds of years, watch her move through the lives of everyone around her seemingly unnoticed, except in their art or their music. You get attached to the characters, even secretly rooting for the ones you know you're not meant to, and the ending is an emotional rollercoaster shambles. Be warned, this will send you down the romantasy rabbithole.

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

"I was always hungry for love. Just once, I wanted to know what it was like to get my fill of it - to be fed so much love I couldn't take it anymore. Just once."

Toru, a quiet and serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable. As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.

A melancholic coming-of-age tale of love, loss and memory. Set in 1960's Japan we follow Turu through his grief and romance. The writing is beautiful, haunting and creates a nostalgic atmosphere, making this novel an unforgettable exploration of longing and isolation. If you're wanting to dip a toe in the pond that is Murakami's writing, this is a great place to start.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

“Nearly everything I know about love, I've learnt from my long-term friendships with women.”

A funny, heart-warming (and heart-breaking) memoir by Dolly Alderton, that explores love, friends, jobs, getting older and everything in-between. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends and—above all else— realizing that you are enough.

Anotherrrr emotional read following Dolly as she experiences the challenges of early adulthood. Think questionable decisions, morally grey behaviour, sometimes frustrating but always entertaining. An extremely relatable book highlighting the importance of the love found in friends. One of my fave books turned tv series, so if you love the book you can enjoy it all over again by watching the show!