The Reading List: A Novel

Written by Sara Nisha Adams

Narrated by Tara Divina, Sagar Arya and Paul Panting

The Reading List has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Aug 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063025356

Sara Nisha Adams

Sara Nisha Adams is a writer and editor. She lives in London and was born in Hertfordshire to Indian and English parents. Her first novel was The Reading List.

Reviews for The Reading List

[Nirasha Kannangara · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most beautiful books I have read. Love it.

[manahil · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly magical. Will make you feel loved and seen. The story has something so warm and intriguing about it. Must read for book lovers.

[Norma Millner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It started off kind of slow, but just got better the further you read. The ending put all the pieces together.

[donbyk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Touching and kind book of loss and friendship. And about loving good books! Marked now as one of my all time favorties

[Patricia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved the characters of this book. It is a story of two lonely souls who forge a friendship through books on the “reading list.” The books allow them to escape their grief and everyday troubles, and eventually help them heal.

[June Bug · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this one. It’s warm and engaging, and the audiobook really brings the characters to life with different voices and regional accents. Hearing that variety felt refreshing and added some depth to the story.

The emotional side hits hard. There’s a lot of grief and old wounds tucked into these pages, and the book handles those moments with care. My only hang up is the ending. It wasn’t especially surprising, and for me it didn’t match the weight of everything leading up to it. Still, I can see how some readers might fight it satisfying.

Overall, it’s a solid, light read with heart, and the audio version is definitely worth the listen.

[Ann G Miller-Sobel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The characters are so relatable. Ending a little disappointing. But this book brings reader and characters together as memories of texts share cascade through the pages.

[Ephraim Tsalik · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully written. Wasn’t sure what to expect but so glad I gave it a try.

[Aliaksei Usmanau · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With time many of us put aside reading. For me it happened after starting my studies, a couple of renovations, new studies, setting up at work... I forgot why I loved reading, and this book is a great reminder why. The power of reflection upon your life through lives of novel characters (double layered), the power to drift away from this world if you need an escape, and the power to find courage for facing the challenges of your own life when you are having a dip - that's why.

[Patty Walters Pitts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most beautiful books I have read in a long time!! Characters and story woven together in such a thoughtful and well-developed way!

[Dayna Bennett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an engaging and beautiful story! It grabs you immediately. So well narrated, and the story is touching. I love the hopeful message - no, everything doesn’t happen for a reason. It’s the meaning we find in what happens. Beautiful book.

[Alma Lanjouw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I want to read all the books I haven't read and reread!

[Ale H · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The power of books, to transport us to different lives, teach us and help us connect with other people (fictional or real) told through a beautiful story with many voices. Loved it ❤️

[April Calamaco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting read. A lovely story but a little sad at the same time.

[Pamela Stewart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh my god this has got to be one of my favorite books! I am a voracious reader but I think if you have any appreciation and understanding for books and how much they had to our lives and how much just reading can open our world, you will love this. So beautiful, so touching, so heartwarming.

[TinaMarie Baldwin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a lover of books, what a great way to weave the story of each book and connect to the lives of the characters.

[Laura Hamilton · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It lost me at the end. I almost quit reading.

[Gina Johnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent narration and lovely story about friendship and the power of books.

[sue1pritzker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully written; a tale of readers and why reading is a vital force in their lives. Magnificent narration.

[Vix Huda · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very bitter sweet! Very cuteeeee I love it very much nice hints

[Sunny Days · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Full of love and tears. Beautifully written. Really enjoyed this book

[Karen Randall · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very sweet, feel-good. A reminder of how much some "must read" books affect us forever after.

[Lenore Sullivan Trammell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read this as part of a book club and loved it! Characters were touching to me and each other and I loved the way the list was woven in.

[Mickayla Wheeler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lovely story about loss and community. When his wife of 50 years dies, Mr Patel is struggling to find a new way and he finds it at the library. A place his wife loved but he had never been. As he and several others read thru a list of mysterious origins, their lives are intwined and each regains a peace they lost. Rated G, there’s no bad language in every other sentence.

[Holly Rusch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a lovely story. The characters were warm and inviting and the story a joy.

[Gaby QS · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one the most heartwarming books in the last couple of years. The characters and how their lives connect throughout the story is all beautifully written, woven with humanity, friendship, family and love. Enjoy!

[Lesley Raymond · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was so very delightful! A great feel-good escape from realty.

[Mandi Emineth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was so beautiful. All of the characters were lovingly written and I genuinely liked them all.

This story is about the way books reach into you, touch you, and change you. It is about how the books in a particular reading list touch, change, and connect those who've found it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[siok-76276 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What books would be on your reading list? The books that you will want to recommend. I am proud to say that I have read all the books in this reading list. Love some of them and would put them on my list too. In any case, the books helped Mukesh and Aleisha come to love reading, overcome grief and loneliness and bring a community together.

[tibobi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Short of It:

Sweet and charming. Wholesome, even.

The Rest of It:

This is another winner. A book about books and reading. I’ve been loving these this year.

Mukesh is a widow. He lost his dear Naina but his three adult daughters keep him on his toes, as well as his young granddaughter, Priya. They are all a bit chatty over him. “Get out more, Papa. Eat better, Papa. Make more friends, Papa.” They mean well.

Aleisha is a young teen, only seventeen and a librarian at the local library. She lives at home with her older brother Aiden, whom she adores, and her mother who is suffering from an unnamed mental break that causes her to have fits, remain inside a buttoned up house, and requires constant care. Between Aleisha and Aiden, they do the best they can for her, but what she needs is professional care and she refuses it.

To get Aleisha out of the house, Aiden encourages her to take a librarian job. Aleisha doesn’t read and really isn’t an example of customer service because what Aleisha wants is to be left alone.

In walks Mukesh. He asks Aleisha for a book recommendation. His wife used to read so much, he’d like to see what all the fuss is about. Aleisha is initially very rude to him. Sarcastic even. Mukesh is confused by this but goes on his way.

But then a list is left behind at the library. A list with books on it. She’s curious who left the list but thinks that maybe these can be the books she can recommend in the future. Books like To Kill a Mockingbird, Rebecca, Beloved, Little Women.

Aleisha uses this list and a friendship is born between Mr. P (Mukesh) and Aleisha. Down the line, this friendship becomes very important as they learn about themselves through books.

This was a wonderful read. Full of reading goodness but also dealing with some heavy topics. Love, loss, mental illness. Woven between these bookish interactions is a lot of pain and trial but in the end, there is hope.

Highly recommend. It’s an older title, came out in 2022 but I missed it when it first came out and it was readily available from the library! Lovers of libraries, grab a copy and enjoy.

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.