If you love books, you must read this book. The characters are rich and well -written. The storyline progresses and ties up beautifully at the end. A book for book lovers. What a delightful plot.

I loved this book! The characters are wonderful, the premise is intriguing, the plot moves along at a suitable pace, and (0f course) the books! Mukesh is a widower who sorely misses his wife. When he finds her copy of The Time Traveler's Wife and decides to read it, he feels even closer to her than ever. During a trip to the local library he meets Aleisha, a young woman reluctantly working in a library and caring for her invalid mother. Their connection deepens through the books they share -- books that appear on a list that mysteriously appeared in the library.

There's a lot to love here if you are a literature buff. The books are likely to be familiar titles and maybe even favorites. There were two on the list I have not read, but now I intend to do so. The themes here are unlikely friendships, unrealistic familial expectations, grief, mental illness, and the power of literature to cross barriers and bring people together. All the characters are fully formed, and I felt like I knew and understood each of them. There are a couple of plot twists that both warmed my heart and broke it in pieces. This is Adams' first novel! I can't wait to see what else she can do. Highly recommended!! Book clubs are going to love it!

In Sara Nisha Adams’ The Reading List, Mukesh is a widower outside London in mourning for the loss of his beloved wife a year ago. He is lonely, only seeing people at his local temple and neighborhood grocery store.



When his young granddaughter Priya asks him about the books her grandmother loved, Mukesh decides to visit the small local library that his wife frequented to get some books for Priya.


Mukesh meets Aleisha, a young librarian who lives with her seriously depressed mother and her older brother. Aleisha doesn’t like to read, but when she finds a paper in a library book that reads “Just in case you need it:” followed by a list of novels, she suggests one of these books to Mukesh.


Aleisha and Mukesh bond over these books, and it brings them both out of their shells. They become friends, and share their lives with each other. Mukesh and Aleisha work together to save the library from closure.


I enjoyed learning about Mukesh’s Indian customs, especially the food his family enjoys. If reading and libraries are something you enjoy, The Reading List should be on your To-Be-Read pile. The way they tie the Reading List to characters at the end is sweet. (A warning though- there are some sad events in this book as well.)



The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams- A-

Published by William Morrow

Hardcover, $27.99, 384 pages

Loved the reference to all the books on the “reading list”. I now want to go read these books. A good story you can relate to.

"The Reading List" by Sara Nisha Adams is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were so likable and I felt myself walking along with each one of them as the story progressed.

I hope any lover of books will love this as much as I did. It demonstrates the power of the "story" to bring even the most unlikely people, as is the case with Mukesh, an elderly man, and Aleisha, a teenager. What begins as recommendations for books becomes a connection and friendship that each gains so much more from. Through the shared stories, our stories are all connected. I'll recommend this again and again.

These characters and their struggles were very well developed and believably. The book's premise was wonderful and inviting. I found it to be a little slow going in the beginning and had trouble connecting to the characters, but the beautiful ending more than made up for that. I'm glad I stuck it out.

I’m having trouble reviewing The Reading List. Not that I didn’t like it. The problem is that I liked it so much I don’t think I can adequately review it. Let’s just say it’s about a list of books and a group of people who don’t necessarily know each other, a library that’s about to go under, and, well, life. The author brings all these together in such a fantastic way. I love the characters and can empathize with many of them and their problems. Also, I like the list of books so much, I want to read those books I haven’t read and re-read the ones I have. They now have a deeper or unique meaning. If any of this has piqued your interest, I would suggest you give this book a try.

Thank you #netgalley, #saranishaadams, and #customhouse for an advanced copy of #thereadinglist.

Aleisha is a teenage girl working at a local library one summer when she finds a list of novels written on a crumpled up paper in the back of a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. As she makes her way through every book on the list, she finds these books help her escape from painful things happening in her life. When widower Mukesh wanders into the library trying to connect with his book loving granddaughter, Aleisha passes the list on to him, hoping it will help him as well. The two of them connect and bond over the books as they help them escape their loneliness.

The Reading List:
To Kill a Mockingbird
Rebecca
The Kite Runner
Life of Pi
Pride and Prejudice
Little Women
Beloved
Suitable Boy


Wow. This book made me feel all the feels. What a beautiful story about how books can change our lives and bring people together. This is a must read for all book lovers, as I’m sure most of us can relate to this idea of books being there for you during difficult times. And this one brings up how central and important libraries are to local communities and how books bring people together. Truly a stunning story, I can’t say enough good things about this one.


Thanks to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

The parts of the book that were the most enjoyable were the parts that discussed books I personally have already read. Since I haven’t read all 8 of the classics mentioned, it meant the book was spotty for me.

This is a beautiful book about books... how they can help enlighten, guide, heal, and become an escape. Where two unlikely troubled souls connect and become like family over a shared list of books that help them overcome the trouble in their lives. Where a small- town library brings people together into a community.
I loved this story. I love how books change Mukesh from a grieving old man, stuck in his routine, to a thriving confident man in his community. And how reading through the list brings Aleisha and her mother a connection that's been missing for years. I've read all but one of the books on their reading list (A Suitable Boy) and my experience with these books brought even more understanding and depth to the characters in this book.
I received an advance review copy of this book through NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers. My review is given voluntarily. See this and more of my reviews at mibookobsession.blogspot.com

When library worker Aleisha discovers a hand written list of books to read, she begins with the first one. She is desperately looking for something to distract her from the family hardships going on in her life. Widower Mukesh is feeling lost and wants to bond with his granddaughter Priya, a book lover like his wife. A visit to the library brings an unpleasant encounter with Aleisha. Aleisha feels guilty with how she spoke and treated Mukesh so she takes it upon herself to deliver a copy of the book she read from the list to his house. From there a friendship slowly blossoms as well as their shared bond of reading the same books. As Mukesh is finally feeling more alive and appreciating books like his wife did, Aleisha is dealt with a devastating blow that makes it difficult for her to move forward. Can Mukesh find a way to help Aleisha the way that she inadvertently helped him?

This is the first book I've read from this author and I thought it was a good and interesting read. I've only read a few books from the list but I like how the author integrated each book with what was going on in their lives. I love the friendship that was formed and how they were able to not only help each other, but help the community and their loved ones as well. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this book.

This story revolves around a few characters who become friends after their initial uncomfortable meeting at the library. It's a friendship you would not imagine taking place. Mukesh is a widow who is grieving the loss of his wife and has been living at home in isolation without a desire to live. He has existed since his wife passed away. Aleshia is in high school and working part time at the library for the summer. She has her exciting future ahead of her and a complicated home life. The two bond over books.

​I really enjoyed this book, I loved the conversations they had over the books. Some of the books I have read and a few I haven't but now want to read.

I've you are a bookworm you will definitely love this book.

While Adams’ book might sound like a light take on the impact a reading list has on different people, there really is weight to this story as it follows some serious events. Basically, a few people find a handwritten list of powerful novels and then find themselves enmeshed in reading the life-changing literature. Not only do the characters relish the act of reading the books, but the impact on their personal lives was something they never anticipated.

Set in a London suburb, the main character Mukesh is coping with the loss of his wife who was an avid reader. He takes a trip to the library that his wife frequented and approaches the young woman at the desk. She is curt in her dismissal of him when he asks her to recommend a good book. Aleisha is the library worker who later regrets her behavior. She has her own problems that threaten to overwhelm her. While the two start off with a rocky relationship, their lives change over time in ways they never expected. The reading list brings them together and they enjoy sharing comments on the books.

The families of Mukesh and Aleisha are crucial to the pair. Mukesh has daughters who look out for their father with their daily calls to check in. He also hears his beloved wife’s voice as he navigates his loss and tries to find a new life for himself as a widower. Aleisha’s brother is the one who has carried most of the burden of caring for their ill mother. He encourages Aleisha and is the one she looks up to. But with the family members all busy with their own lives, Mukesh and Aleisha are floundering and their growing friendship and the book connection, proves to be a sort of lifeline.

There is an unexpected gravity to this tale. The two central characters are lonely, hurting individuals who are at a crossroads in their lives. The books from the reading list provide them with inspiration and hope. But life is not simple and problems can become compounded. Tragic events bring the harshness of reality home.

This story will hit hard as the characters find the books are not enough to sustain them and realize there are no simple answers. They have gained insights from the books they've read and the characters they have come to love. But the human connection has an unmistakable impact that can make a difference.

The Reading List is an interesting concept about how books effect our lives as well as those people whose lives intersect with ours. Unfortunately, the writing style wasn't my cup of tea. The book really dragged for me, no matter how much I wanted to love it. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest and voluntary opinion of #TheReadingList

This is a delightful, warming story about books and their power to connect us in more profound and surprising ways. Adams has an engaging narrative style and her own love for books shines through.

[Note: The author is going to be featured shortly on Desi Books at https://desibooks.co so there will be more details there.]

If you love books and libraries you will enjoy this book. Mukesh is a lonely man having lost the love of his live Naina 2 years ago. He has 3 daughters and grandchildren but they don't connect much without Naina. She used to read with Priya their granddaughter and Mukesh was always a little jealous of the bond they had together with books. Naina had a book The Time Traveler's Wife that she had borrowed from the Harrow Road Library. He decides to read it and really enjoys it. He found it brought him closer to his beloved Naina. He then decides he wants to read more and leaves the comfort of his home and finds the Harrow Road Library and meets 17 yr old Aleshia, who is not the most pleasant person on their first encounter. Aleshia has a mother, who is very mentally compromised since her divorce from Aleshia's father. Her brother, Aidan and her take care of their mother 24-7 and it is a very sad time for her. Mukesh was looking for another book to read and Aleshia remembers a mysterious crumpled up reading list that she found. The first book on the list is To Kill a Mockingbird and she suggests it to Mukesh. They develop a beautiful friendship over that reading list and read and discuss the many books on it. Other people have also found the reading list but no one knows where it originated. Through his trips to the library and reading Mukesh has become more outgoing. He has developed some friendships and has even started reading with his granddaughter Priya. There is more to this book but I do not want to spoil it for other readers. This is just a wonderful read and would highly recommend.

Thanks to @williammorrowbooks, @saranishaadamssbooks and #netgalley for an ARC of #TheReadingList

Thanks to Book Club Girl Early Reads, William Morrow, and NetGalley for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I loved this book! It's a heartwarming story about books, a library, friendship and families, loss, grief and healing, and how "some books change your life forever." This is the kind of book you tell everyone to read because it is so good!

I loved the characters and how their lives intersect to transform into this memorable novel: Mukesh is a lonely, elderly widower with three adult daughters who are too busy to spend time with him. He misses his wife, Naina, and wishes he could connect with his 11-year-old granddaughter Priya. Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the library for the summer. She discovers a list of eight novels she's never heard of written on a scrap of paper, and decides to read each book on the list as a challenge. Mukesh and Aleisha meet at the library when he asks her for a book recommendation. So she recommends the first book on the list. Their friendship begins with this connection and from there the novel blossoms.

Each book they read together ends up developing another strand of friendship between them, as well as kindling the relationship between Mukesh and his granddaughter. Various additional characters come across copies of the reading list in assorted places, and as each reads the books they make so many wonderful observations about communication, friendship, life, and the need for others, that I found myself using post-it notes to mark these "words of wisdom."

A truly delightful, moving, unforgettable story that is also a "love letter to some of our most cherished novels." I highly recommend!

This story is definitely for book lovers. A list of books is found and using it for recommendations a young librarian connects with an elderly patron. Different cultures and age may separate the two but books like To Kill a Mockingbird to name one bring them together over reading and through life events. Mental illness and death of loved ones as well as new loves are at the forefront and the role books play takes center stage. Some really good lines and ideas are in this somewhat predictable but satisfying read.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Now here is a different kind of story. One that most readers can appreciate and done can relate to. It revolves around two people that can be called lonely and unusual souls. Read this well written book and learn how a library and a list of books can bring people together. Very much recommended