‘The story is an absolute joy. I loved the way Aleisha and Mukesh found their lives entwined thanks to the power of books . . . A captivating and exquisitely crafted debut’ Sunday Times bestseller, Heidi Swain

‘A real heart-lifter . . . . A joyful, uplifting read’ Good Housekeeping

‘A gorgeous debut novel about the power reading has to bring people together, no matter the barriers of age, culture and class’ Red

‘Wonderful… This novel is touching, nourishing, and real, and I think readers will adore it. It’s a perfect escape for anyone who wants to be reminded (if we need to be reminded) of the power of stories’ Stephanie Butland

‘A beautiful and very special read, which reminded me why I love books so much and it made me miss the library even more’ Emily Koch

‘If you love books, read this. If you love people, read this. If you love crying with sadness, crying with happiness, and feeling like you have been wrapped in the blanket of someone else's life, read this’ Debbie Johnson

‘The Reading List absolutely captures the magic of reading and of libraries. I felt a part of Mukesh and Aleisha's book club, revisiting some of my favourite novels alongside these new friends’ Louise Hare

‘This story utterly stole my heart, it’s a love letter to book lovers everywhere and I for one have become entirely smitten by Sara’s words’ Emma Cooper

‘A spellbinding novel about friendship, loss, community and the power of reading. A stunning debut that broke my heart and put it back together again’ Radiya Hafiza

‘A wonderful read . . . showcases quite beautifully the fundamental power of books to lift our lives from the mundane and transform them into something truly magical’ Imogen Clark

‘Compassion, humour and intelligence shine through on every page of this wonderful novel . . . Sara Adams finds hope in abundance, and in the most wonderful, unexpected of places’ Rosie Price

Emotional and uplifting, the most heartwarming debut fiction novel of 2021