Best Reads for Self-Isolation

If you’re finding yourself with a lot of spare time on your hands? Then now is the perfect time to finally read all those ‘essential’ books you’ve been meaning to. In these strange and uncertain times, we all need a source of comfort in self-isolation. We’ve rounded up seven of the best books to read in self-isolation.

1. All the light we cannot see

About - If you’re a lover of World War I books then this beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller is about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War I.

Author - Anthony Doerr

Rating - 4/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Good Reads

2. 1984

About - Written more than 70 years ago, 1984 was George Orwell’s chilling prophecy about the future. And while 1984 has come and gone, his dystopian vision of a government that will do anything to control the narrative is timelier than ever…

Author - George Orwell

Rating - 4/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Good Reads

3. The Martian

About - Now a blockbuster starring Matt Damon, The Martian follows astronaut Mark Watney as he’s stranded on Mars. He’s completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive – and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive!

Author - Andy Weir

Rating - 4/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Good Reads

4. Hollow Kingdom

About - When it comes to books to read in self isolation, this ticks all the boxes. What happens when a global pandemic leaves only the animals behind? One pet crow fight to save humanity from an apocalypse in this uniquely hilarious debut from a genre-bending literary author.

Author - Kira Jane Buxton

Rating - 4/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Good Reads

5. The Favourite 

About - Field explores the history of Sarah, duchess of Marlborough, and her relationship with Queen Anne, with surprising sophistication. The author’s delicate treatment of their intimate bond is a refreshing change from the usual tendency of biographers to read female friendship in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Author - Ophelia Field

Rating - 5/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Waterstones

6. Becoming 

About - The memoir of the former United States first lady, ‘Becoming’ offers a truthful account of Michelle Obama’s life both inside and out of the White House. From her upbringing on the South Side of Chicago to her experiences at the inauguration of Barack Obama’s presidential success. It provides insight into the life of 21st Century’s most important women.

Author - Michelle Obama

Rating - 5/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Good Reads

7. Last couple standing 

About - If you’re into a bit of romance, then this is for you! Four couples have been friends since college, getting married and having kids around the same time, as well. Now the divorces have started: Jessica and Mitch are the last ones standing. To ensure that their marriage lasts, they decide to embark on an experiment that involves seeing other people. Spoiler alert: The experiment doesn’t go well.

Author - Matthew Norman

Rating - 4/5

Where to get it online - Good Reads and Amazon

8. The Blaze

About - Army veteran Matthew Rose has been called back home to settle his father’s affairs after his death. He doesn’t remember much about his past; a traumatic brain injury sustained in Iraq wiped out much of his memory. On his first night back in town, he witnesses a house fire, and it turns out a young man was inside. The incident brings back memories of a different fire — and an important part of his past.

Author - Chad Dundas

Rating - 5/5

Where to get it online - Good Reads and Amazon

9. My Dark Vanessa

About - Jacob Strane, a high-school English teacher, has just been accused of sexual abuse by a former student. It isn’t the first time. The student reaches out to Vanessa Wye, a young woman with a similar experience with Strane when she was 15. When she gets the message, Vanessa has to make a choice: Stay silent — she believes their relationship was consensual — or take a painful look at her past. One of the biggest releases of the season.

Author - Kate Elizabeth Russell

Rating - 4/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Good Reads

10. Long bright river

About - Kacey and Mickey are once-inseparable sisters living in a Philadelphia neighbourhood ravaged by the opioid crisis. Kacey is an addict who lives on the streets; Mickey is a beat cop. When Kacey disappears while a string of murders terrorizes the area, Mickey becomes desperate to find her sister — and the culprit.

Author - Liz Moore

Rating - 4/5

Where to get it online - Amazon and Good Reads