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4.0 

The Reading List

By Sara Nisha Adams
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description


A BEST OF SUMMER READ ACCORDING TO NEWSWEEK, PARADE MAGAZINE, NBC NEWS, LITHUB, AND POPSUGAR!

"The most heartfelt read of the summer...a surprising delight of a novel."--Shondaland

An unforgettable and heartwarming debut about how a chance encounter with a list of library books helps forge an unlikely friendship between two very different people in a London suburb.

Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in Wembley, in West London after losing his beloved wife. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading while he spends his evenings watching nature documentaries.

Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. Intrigued, and a little bored with her slow job at the checkout desk, she impulsively decides to read every book on the list, one after the other. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport Aleisha from the painful realities she’s facing at home.

When Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list…hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again. 

2211 Reviews

4.0
Slightly Smiling Face“The Reading List is one of the most heartwarming books I’ve read in a while. Though it started a bit slow, it wasn’t dull—just a lot of characters and moving pieces that made me wonder, "Where is this all going?" The idea of these characters connecting through the same reading list intrigued me, and I was curious if it would tie together in a way that felt meaningful. As the story unfolded, the author’s ability to create such raw, relatable characters made me care about them like real people. Watching how they each reacted to the books they read—how it influenced their moods, choices, and relationships—was truly engaging. The friendships, the bonds, and the personal growth that came from their shared and individual experiences really struck a chord with me. As they navigated joy, pain, grief, and love, the books they read helped them (and us as readers) understand the world and themselves better. It beautifully shows how literature can open us up to new perspectives and emotions. This novel stayed with me, and it was the perfect choice for our focus on the heart chakra for my Leafing Through Chakras bookclub”
Believable charactersCharacters change and growDiverse charactersLikable charactersBeautifully writtenDescriptive writingEasy to readComing of ageHeartbreakingThought-provoking
Slightly Smiling Face“Such a sweet story of community and found family. Connection through books and a carefully curated booklist by a surprising character link in the end. A sweet, sweet story that I didn’t want to end!”
Characters change and growBeautifully writtenComing of ageHeartbreakingThought-provoking

About 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.

Other books by Sara Nisha Adams

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