Some books are made for reading slowly and savouring every word but some are so addictive you can't help yourself but race through them, gobbling up the story. If you're struggling to stay focused on a book, these 12 page-turners are so absorbing you'll find them hard to put down.
The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Ageing and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life - including her seven husbands - in this riveting read full of glamour and secrets.
Simon & Schuster The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This campus-set literary thriller became an instant bestseller and regularly appears on most-loved books lists - for good reason, it's the very definition of compelling. Under the guidance of their charismatic classics professor, a group of eccentric students at a New England College step outside the boundaries of morality, and then have to deal with the consequences.
Paperback The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Paperback The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Room by Emma Donoghue
Keep the tissues close for this heartbreaking story about a woman held captive with her five-year-old son in a single room for seven years. After the pair escape, the boy’s eyes are opened as he finally gets to see the outside world for the first time. Inspired by the Josef Fritzl case (the Austrian who imprisoned his own daughter for 24 years in the cellar of his house), this book is the perfect mix of moving and pacy.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
This thriller has more twists than a mountain pass and is guaranteed to keep you guessing until the very end. When Nick’s wife goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, he’s the prime suspect. But is it all part of an elaborate game?
Weidenfeld & Nicolson Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Not many can beat Highsmith for moody, dark thrillers. This novel about a scammer, the titular Tom Ripley, who is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy and convince his son to return home is sharply plotted and fast-paced.
Vintage The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A haunting tale that follows a young bride who marries an older man and moves into his home, the famous Manderley. Although set in a beautiful location, she finds it a disturbing place: the staff all seem to hate her and the more she finds out about his first wife’s death, the more suspicious it seems. A creepy, completely addictive read.
Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
This book's main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a fantastic and memorable creation. As this feisty chemist turned TV cookery show host teaches the nation's women to cook, she's also empowering them to find their voices - and not everyone's happy about it... I savoured every page!
Generic Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Chicago librarian Henry De Tamble suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes him to travel through time. On one of his trips he meets Clare who becomes the love of his life. But how can their relationship cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences? A proper tearjerker that will keep you gripped from beginning to end. A sequel is coming in Autumn 2026!
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
This fantastic thriller, set in the underbelly of Victorian England, has crime, passion, drama… and one of the best plot twist of any book ever. It comes so brilliantly out of the blue that you can’t believe what you’re reading!
Notes On A Scandal by Zoe Heller
When history teacher Barbara Covett meets Sheba Hart who joins the staff of St George's, she's convinced she has found a friend. As an affair between Sheba and a pupil is revealed, Barbara becomes her defender - but loyalty does always get the reward it deserves in this deliciously sinister and addictive thriller.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Book one in Ferrante's globally successful Neopolitan series introduces readers to the story of Elena and Lila, growing up in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples. The relationship between the two is the beating heart of the novel and pulls through the story.
One Day by David Nicholls
If you're one of the very few people on the planet who haven't yet read One Day, this modern classic is a hard recommend. Nicholls’s story of love lost and found over decades is a tear-jerker full of charm and heart. It's the story of Emma and Dexter, who meet on their last night at university, and charts the course of their rollercoaster relationship.
