Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I absolutely LOVED this book! What a truly unique, impactful story. I am gifting this to my friends, because it is just wonderful. Thanks for the opportunity to read it!

I loved The Reading List so much! This is one of my favorites. The friendship between Widower Mukesh and Aleisha was heartwarming. It made me want to leave notes in my favorite books in my public library. I would read this one again.

What a great book! I always love books about books and this one was especially endearing. I loved how the main characters found each other despite the unlikely circumstances. I, personally, have found so much comfort from reading when I'm in a time of grieving and it was nice to see these characters experience the same growth and comfort. There were portions that felt a little slow and a few characters that didn't really need to be included, but overall I found this a special read that any book lover and library fan would enjoy.

I found this book somewhat confusing at first, but gradually as I got to know the characters, it became more interesting. I especially enjoyed the chapters about the books that I have read and I must admit i skim/read the other sections just for the story. I do believe Ms. Adams captured Aleisha perfectly--from the pouty teenager just putting in time to the young adult enjoying reading--a transformation I have seen in my library!!

I wanted to love this book. A book for book lovers about people that love books? What else could a reader like me ask for? However, this book did not pull me in. The characters did not capture my interest and I found myself not wanting to pick this book up. I would love to pick this book up sometime in the future and hopefully finish it. But unfortunately at this time the author did not catch my interest even with the amazing story idea.

If you put A Man Called Ove, The Authenticity Project, and any book that purports to tell you about the books you must read before you die into a quantum accelerator and spun them until they became a single book, The Reading List is what you would get. Except I would definitely recommend just reading the individual books instead.

I can't fault Adams for her book list, as it includes some of my favorites, and I do appreciate how the characters used what they found in the books to improve their own lives and relationships. But the pace of the book is too slow for the premise, and some of the text-to-life connections to the books seemed a bit forced.

I read some good reviews on this book but thought it was just okay.I found it a little slow and predictable.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams is a story for book lovers about book lovers. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an eArc! This is a beautiful story about Mukesh who has just lost his wife and has discovered that there is a library book that has yet to be returned. This book represented a part of his wife and he was hesitant to let it go. When he decides it’s time to move forward in his life, he plans to return the book to the library. As he is learning to navigate the library, he meets Aleisha, who is also struggling with challenges in her person life and they form a friendship through the love of books. A reading list is discovered that changes lives and connects those that find it. This book will stay with you for a long time. 5 stars!

This book has been on my “Reading List” since I heard about it but unfortunately didn’t have the time to read it. Finally got to get lost in the wonderful story of how books can shape your life and how they can help you through difficult times. Loved it and will be reading the books listed in the book!

It's been a long time since I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish a book. Along came THE READING LIST, which left me silently sobbing into my pillow at 2am so as not to wake my partner. But not because it's a super sad book, just because it's a beautiful, heartwarming book that absolutely MOVED me. Can't wait to see what else Sara Nisha Adams writes!

Aleisha works at the library, but she isn’t really a reader. Then she finds the list of novels, the reading list. Mukesh is a widower. Although he is also not a reader, his wife and granddaughter loved reading together. When Mukesh comes to the library, a place his wife had loved, he asks for a book recommendation. When Aleisha recommends a title from the list, they both begin to read the books. What a wonderful story of how books can bring people together! This is a touching story of friendship, growth, sorrow, and reading. This will make a great book club book.

I do think it should have been made clear that Aleisha is a library assistant rather than a librarian. I do like how her character developed.

This was a great read. I really enjoyed how the characters came to life inside my mind by the exquisite character development. I think most everyone would enjoy reading this book!

This quote “Sometimes, books just take us away for a little while, and return us to our place with a new perspective” is from The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams and will be released in paperback on August 9, 2022. This book centers around a reading list of eight books with the title: Just in case you need it. Throughout the story, many diverse characters will find the list in various places throughout their community. As each person reads a book on the list, this novel explores how the book affects and gives meaning to each person. This book was really unique and continues to resonate with me.

How many books from the list have you read? To Kill a Mockingbird, Rebecca, The Kite Runner, Life of Pi, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, Beloved, A Suitable Boy

Put this on your TBR list! #TheReadingList #NetGalley

What a lovely story! A book lover’s book! I loved Mukesh and his relationship with Aleisha, his teenage librarian. I also loved his family relationships. There were difficult subjects throughout, but everything was handled with care. I had not read all of the books on “The Reading List,” but I have read enough of the list for me to enjoy this book. Highly recommend!

The Reading List is primiarly told through two different points of view: Mukesh, an 80ish year old widow and Aleisha, a 17-year-old clerk at the library. While it seems unlikely that these two would be able to connect, they do through books.

The Reading List is essentially a love letter to books and reading. Characters throughout the book find a list "In case you need it" of 8 titles of "classic" novels. These characters all are intrigued and start to pick up some of the books, finding connections to the characters or the storyline in the book that match with their own life.

While I love the message that a book can certainly find its way to you at any point in life, I think this book missed the mark. I wasn't a fan of the writing style and to me, that was a drawback. There were also WAY too many characters introduced (all of the characters in the 2017 timeline had one chapter devoted to them and that was it, and while they were semi-connected, it was just too much). If this had just been Mukesh and Aleisha's story, it would have been better.

Second, the book tries to tackle mental illness, but I"m not sure it succeeds. Aleisha's mom is clearly struggling, but at no point do Aleisha or her 25-year-old brother try to get her any help. Instead they have to essentially baby-sit her and hope for good days.

I enjoyed the connection between Mukesh and his children and I do like how the characters lives intersected, but I think the point of how books can change your life is overshadowed by too many characters, clunky writing and side storylines.

This one starts very slow and it took me a long time to get into it. I went back to the story several times just because the other reviews were so good for it.
A list of books brings an unlikely group of people together. It is a story of sadness though and the sadness flows throughout all of it. There is hope in some parts but I caution anyone to read the trigger warnings about this novel before reading it.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own

A list of book recommendations is found by multiple individuals over the course of two years. As the people begin to read the books, they learn more about themselves and the world, giving meaning and purpose to their lives. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adam's is a sweet, poignant novel that I highly recommend.
I received an ARC of The Reading List by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#thereadinglist
#sarahnishaadams
#netgalley
#libraries

I love a meta reading experience, and that's what you will find in this book of comfort food literature, perfect for escaping the pandemic craziness.

A local library has a reading list that can be found tucked in books that encourage readers to read certain books if they need them. Within the list are several modern-day classics (Kite Runner, Life of Pi, Time Traveler's Wife) and older classics (Little Women, To Kill a Mockingbird) that are sure to bring so much to the reader's life.

One librarian has struggled with reading until she discovers this list, and now she's got the perfect reading recommendations for a frequent patron of the library.

Widower Mukesh remembers how much his wife loved reading, although he can't remember what she read. Aleisha, the librarian, uses this list to make her recommendations and beautiful friendship blossoms between the two.

The mystery is, who has made this list that brings so much joy and vibrance to the library community?

If you love hearing about other people experiencing the books you love, you will adore this story.

There is something so comforting about how books bring us together, and I think this book really showcases the magic of that experience in a memorable way.

The Reading List
This story has been sitting on my kindle for a while now. I am so glad I finally picked it up. I loved the characters and how they became connected through the library and a book list that was discovered. It is a book about loss and heartache, but also, friendship and healing. The power books can have to help foster relationships and guide us through different times in our lives. This book made me want to read every book on “The Reading List”, because I don’t have enough books to read.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.