Here are just a few of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year!
“Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
A quick read and the first of a series, this book tells the story of a simple cafe in Tokyo that allows you to travel back in time, but under a very specific and interesting set of rules. The most important rule is to return to the present before the coffee gets cold. The book highlights different patrons’ experiences traveling back in time to visit the people they love. I really loved the concept of this book and its simplicity. I read it in one sitting and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
“My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante
I saw this book while scrolling through TikTok, and I have to admit I did only buy it because the cover was pretty. The story inside did not disappoint! Set in 1950s Italy, this coming-of-age story narrates the experience of Elena growing up with her friend Lila in a poor neighborhood in Naples. This is also the first of a series, each book detailing different periods of Elena and Lila’s lives. I’m excited to read the rest of the series!
“Film for Her” by Orion Carloto
This is more of a photography book, but the story portrayed on the pages is a truly beautiful one. Orion Carloto’s arrangement of photographs, poems and other special mementos like song lyrics, tells her life story through the eyes of her film cameras. I loved this one so much, the writing is lovely along with the photography!
“The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks
This one was a reread, but it is one of my favorites of all time. Of course, we all love Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in the film adaptation, but the book is so beautifully written. I’ve read (and watched) The Notebook too many times to count, and it ends in me sobbing every single time. I really suggest you read this book even if you’ve seen the movie already. Nicholas Sparks has such a way with words.