I am a born traveler. My very first photo, snapped at the hospital shortly after my birth, became my first passport photo. I boarded my first international flight shortly thereafter, and I have been traveling ever since. To date, I have visited 4 continents, 24 countries outside of the USA, and 31 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. My very patient husband jokes that I always start planning the next trip on the flight home (sometimes I actually start before that!). I think the planning is half the fun. Some of my favorite travel memories include family trips with my daughter and husband to Aspen, our honeymoon in Rome, Christmas with my parents in London, our little family's favorite beach trip to Puerto Rico, and my first solo adventure to Big Sky, Montana. I am also an avid reader, reading more than 100 books every year and currently working my way through the Boxall 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list. I come by my love of books naturally. I was raised by a librar...
My parents were living in London
when I was born, and my mom flew home shortly before my due date to ensure she had
a proper epidural, which wasn’t available in London at the time. No dual citizenry
for me, but after experiencing childbirth, I can’t fault my mom for that. We
were back in London shortly thereafter where I spent my very early years taking
daily strolls through the London parks rain or shine.
Over the years, we went back on
family trips, renting a flat, going to the theater, and exploring the city
together. I have so many wonderful London memories – being there for World Cup
soccer and being part of the intense excitement and watching the sun come up
over Hampstead Heath with my brother and friends the next morning, seeing the
ballet and leaving with sore cheeks because I couldn’t stop smiling, singing
Christmas carols with the cast of a Cole Porter musical one Christmas Eve after
the show, and discovering Indian food and the freshest Italian food.
In college and in graduate school I went back, spending a semester boondoggle in London both times, saving my pennies for the theater, enjoying the free museums, and traveling on the weekends. When I got married, I took my husband for a few days on our honeymoon because I couldn’t wait to share the city with him. Through the years I have returned again and again to the city both through travel but also through my reading journey. I’m excited to share my top 20 books set in London.
20. One Day by David Nicholls – I confess, chick lit is not my favorite genre. I often find myself supremely annoyed by the main characters, admonishing them and making snarky comments as I read (does anyone else do this?), and generally rolling my eyes. But this was a fun one. In July 1988 Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the eve of graduation. This book follows where they are on the same day each year in the years that follow. This is a solid light and flighty entry, good for a vacation or a breezy read. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: One Day by David Nicholls | Goodreads.
19. The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch – Bradley Pearson is an unsuccessful writer whose best friend, Arnold, is his literary rival. Bradley may or may not be in love with his ex-wife or Arnold’s wife or maybe Arnold or maybe someone else. Bradley is attempting to retire to the country to write his next book but he keeps getting delayed by various characters and circumstances. Often funny, and expertly written, this was my first, but not my last, Iris Murdoch novel. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch | Goodreads.
18. Into the Darkest Corner
by Elizabeth Haynes – This is a fast-paced thriller. The story switches
viewpoints from the same character several years apart. Catherine in the before
was falling in love with a charming, handsome man only to be met with brutality
by the man she thought she loved. The Catherine in the latter times is a strong
survivor, but she is waiting (along with the reader) for the day when her
terrorizer will return. This is an absolute page turner. I don’t recommend this
one for the squeamish.
17. Atonement by Ian McEwan – Set in England in the 1930s, during World War II, and in present day, this book begins with a childhood mistake and follows the ways that mistake impacts the lives of three characters. This book explores the concept of atoning for our wrongs, and it is beautifully written. I am a big fan of McEwan, and this is my favorite of his novels. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: Atonement by Ian McEwan | Goodreads.
16. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells – This early sci fi classic holds up remarkably well over 120+ years after it was first published. An army of invading aliens lands in the English countryside, setting the citizenry in a panic. The aliens storm the countryside and move towards the capital city in three-legged machines raining fire down on everything in their paths. Wells examines the potential end of human history, and it doesn’t come off as dated. If you like this one, I also recommend checking out The Time Machine, also by H.G. Wells, which is less of a “London book” but still an interesting and fun sci fi read. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells | Goodreads.
15. Lethal White by
Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) – This is the fourth (and my favorite) book
in the Cormoran Strike mystery series. Cormoran Strike is a gritty, slightly
out of shape private detective who mostly sleeps in his office and is kind of
an idiot in his personal life. But he’s brilliant at solving crimes, and he has
a charming and smart female sidekick who isn’t just a Money Penny. It’s probably
better to read these in order, but not absolutely critical, and you can
certainly read any of these in the series as a standalone. I love a troubled
detective, and a good mystery. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here:
14. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle – This is a terrific collection of detective stories and perfect for the busy reader who needs something to duck in and out of periodically. If you are new to Sherlock Holmes this is a fun read and a perfect peek into the deductive reasoning that made this detective so famous. Join Watson and Holmes as they traipse through London and the adjoining countryside solving mysteries. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle | Goodreads.
13. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – A woman shoots her husband and then retreats within herself, and one criminal psychologist is on a mission to understand why. I finished this book in one day, reading into the night in the dark, hiding under the covers next to my sleeping husband. I literally couldn’t put this down. This is a fast-paced thriller, and even if you guess the ending, you will want to keep reading just to see how the author gets you there. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides | Goodreads.
12. Bleak House by Charles Dickens – This is a fantastic novel, and I’m guessing it’s a Dickens classic you didn’t read in school. The main character and narrator, Esther, is, in my opinion, very likeable; though, for some she may be too good and too naïve. Either way, this is a novel that is all about the supporting characters. You will fall in love with the Bagnets who have the most endearing relationship and embody true love, and you will scream at Mrs. Jellybelly who obsesses over her “mission” in Africa to the neglect of herself and her children. This is a lesser-known classic that should be on your list. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: Bleak House by Charles Dickens | Goodreads.
11. Slow Horses by Mick Herron – I discovered this series after watching the terrific Apple TV series with the masterful Gary Oldman (true must-see TV), and I am so excited about this series of 8 books. Admittedly, I have only read the first book in the series as of this writing, but this is such clever writing and such a fun concept. This is a book about spies who have messed up so badly, they have been relegated to a separate building and a separate dead-end unit. Their leader is crass and disgusting, but he’s an expert spy. The mystery here is great, and the writing is clever and funny. If you have watched the series, the first book follows the first season of the show exactly. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: Slow Horses (Slough House, #1) by Mick Herron | Goodreads.
10. The Erotic Stories of
Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal – I know, the title! But, stick
with me here. Nikki lives a cosmopolitan life in West London tending bar at a
local pub and relishing her Western life. But when her father dies, her family
is left in financial trouble, so Nikki takes a job teaching a creative writing
course at the community center near her childhood home and inside the
close-knit Punjabi community in London. This is a story about community, our
need to connect, and our need for love. Yes, there are some semi-erotic
stories, but this isn’t overly smutty. I really enjoyed this book.
9. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde – Perfect if you need a good laugh and something wildly silly. Wilde’s short play is full of mistaken identities and some of the best one-liners in the English language – “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.” Or “To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.” I’m giggling just writing this, and it may be time for a re-read. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde | Goodreads.
8. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams – A lonely widower and a struggling teenage girl who is working at the local public library for the summer come together and forge an unlikely friendship through a shared reading list. The books they read help them form connections both with each other and with others, and the books help them to heal. This is sweet without being sappy and was also on my 2023 Summer Reading List as well. I would say if you like #10 on this list, then you will like #8 and vice versa. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams | Goodreads.
7. The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst – Nick Guest is a middle-class small town young man who befriends the wealthy children of a conservative member of Parliament and later becomes the family’s lodger. Set in 1980s London, Nick struggles to fit in with the wealthy elite, and he struggles through love affairs, hiding his relationships with different men from the family. Nick is naïve and ultimately finds himself in a tragic situation. Beautifully written and a compelling story. If you are up for diving into something a little weightier, I recommend this novel. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst | Goodreads.
6. Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie – I am absolutely cuckoo for this detective series starring Scotland Yard’s finest detectives, Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, who solve mysteries all over London and who have a ‘will they’ or ‘won’t they’ relationship that evolves beyond the tiresome. This is the fifth and the very best in the series. Installment #19 is new out this year, so there’s a lot of reading material here. I do recommend that you read these in order, though you could read this as a standalone. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie | Goodreads.
5. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré – This is the spy novel against which to measure all other spy novels. It’s the third in the George Smiley series, but I have read these out of order and don’t think that matters much. British intelligence vs. East German intelligence, what more can you want from a spy novel? I mean, the end of the Cold War was undoubtedly a good thing in all respects with the exception of its influence on spy fiction. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carré | Goodreads.
4. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – I know, I know, more Dickens, but two entries were warranted here. If you have jumped on the Demon Copperhead bandwagon this year (and if you haven’t, you should), I highly encourage you to check out this, the inspiration for that novel. As I said above, Dickens is an absolute master at characters, so don’t approach this like you might one of those classics that you feel like you “really should read” but aren’t likely to enjoy. This is truly entertaining and often funny. Dickens said this was his favorite of his novels, so if you are up for branching out this year, I suggest tackling one of the two Dickens books on this list. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens | Goodreads.
3. Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse – This book is pure joy (see what I did there?) any time of day. This is the eighth novel in the Jeeves series, and you definitely don’t need to read these in order. If you haven’t read any of these books, Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves are about to become your new favorite comedic duo. Bertie is such a hot mess, but he fancies himself the reliable friend who can solve any problem, and Jeeves is always there to clean things up. This is laugh out loud funny and a very quick read. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: Joy in the Morning (Jeeves, #8) by P.G. Wodehouse | Goodreads.
2. Land of the Living by Nicci French – The cover blurb on this book really sums it up – “You wake up in the dark, gagged and bound. He says he will kill you – just like all the rest.” Yikes! Husband and wife duo, Nicci French, kept me on the edge of my seat with this thriller. After reading this, I handed it to a friend with the instructions not to read it unless they had an open evening. She reported later that she ignored her husband all evening and was late for a dinner reservation to finish this. It’s just one of those books. If you read this and love it, I suggest the very creepy, Secret Smile, also by Nicci French. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: Land of the Living by Nicci French | Goodreads.
1. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding – Rarely have I laughed this hard with a book. I read this once upon a time on a trip to London where we passed it around and laughed our heads off. Even if you have seen the movie, this is worth a read. Bridget is a different kind of hot mess than Bertie Wooster, but she is so endearing. It’s like Sex in the City without the shoes, perfect figures, confidence, and seemingly unlimited budget. I couldn’t get enough of this. Add this to your "Want to Read" list here: Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1) by Helen Fielding | Goodreads.
Did I miss any of your favorites? Or do you disagree with my rankings? Let me know!
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