If you like reading then you know the power of a good book. The joy and satisfaction that can come from losing yourself in the pages of another’s story.

If you don’t like reading, then I’m well aware a book can be an arduous and seemingly impossible task to get through.

However, I’m a believer that there’s a book out there for everyone. You just need to find the right one.

Figure out if you like fiction or non-fiction? Autobiographies or novels? Books on specialised topics or ones with a broad brush of humour?

Either way, whether you’re an established bookworm or just dipping your toe in the world of literature, here’s some titles to take heed of.

Trisha’s 21-Day-Reset

By Trisha Lewis

Having previously appeared on the cover of Irish Country Living and also spoken at our Women & Ag Conference, many readers will be familiar with the name Trisha Lewis. A Limerick native, Trisha came to prominence through her Instagram page @Trishastransformation, where she documents her weight loss journey. On a mission to change her life and lose 13 stone, Trisha is already halfway there. Trisha’s 21-Day-Reset is her second book. Her first, Trisha’s Transformation, was released last year. The first part of this book focused on her story and the second contained recipes – Trisha was the head chef at Jacob’s on the Mall in Cork for years. Trisha’s 12-Day-Reset follows a similar hybrid format, in that the first half focuses on tools to help you get back on track with fat loss and the second half contains 60 recipes. The book is a guide to getting your mind back in the right space, as well as how to balance sleep, hydration, exercise and nutrition.

A Light That Never Goes out

By Keelin Shanley & Conor Ferguson

The late Keelin Shanley is another woman who featured on these pages, on more than one occasion. Keelin finished up her career as an award-winning journalist and documentary marker – most notably with Prime Time and as the co-anchor of RTÉ’s Six-One News. Passing away in February 2020, A Light that Never Goes Out – Keelin’s memoir – was finished posthumously by her husband Conor Ferguson. In it, Keelin charts her career as a journalist and her battle with cancer. She tells of the investigative stories she worked on, as well as carrying on with her job throughout her illness. The honesty with which Keelin tells her story and portrays her illness is both remarkable and striking. It’s a story of resilience and living life, no matter what you’re facing.

Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?

By Séamas O’Reilly

Just released in the last couple of weeks, Séamas O’Reilly’s first book, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? has been making waves. A juxtaposition, this memoir somehow perfectly marries two opposites; bereavement and humour. Séamas’s mother died when he was five, leaving him, his ten brothers and sisters and their beloved father Joe in rural Co Derry in the 1990s. What seems like a very sad tale, Séamas tells with absolute hilarity. His father Joe is a very loveable character and there’s a fondness within the sibling rivalry portrayed. The title comes from the question Séamas asked mourners at his mother’s funeral. In recent years Séamas has established himself as a presence online, while giving a sharp and witty take on politics.

The Return

By Nicolas Sparks

Look, when it comes to fiction, some people can be a bit presumptuous regarding Nicholas Sparks and romance. But without question, he has dominated the romance genre for years and years. This is due to his ability to pull at heartstrings, his readability and also his tendency to build many twists and turns into his plots. The Return was his 2020 release. His next novel, The Wish, is out at the end of September. The Return charts the story of Trevor Benson who never intended to return to North Carolina until an accident in Afghanistan drastically changed his plans. Here, while recovering, he meets a sullen teenager who might be able to shed light on the mysterious circumstances of his grandfather’s death. He also encounters Natalie, whom he falls for, but she remains frustratingly distant. For anyone looking to indulge in romance, this is the one.

Billy Summers

By Stephen King

With over 60 books published and now a well-established household name, Stephen King is undoubtedly one of the world’s most successful writers. That’s what makes his latest release, Billy Summers, so exciting. The crime-thriller just hit shelves this week. A decorated war veteran, Billy Summers is among the best snipers in the world. He’s a hitman and one of the best in the business, but he’ll only do a “job” if someone is a truly bad person. As he aims to get out of this tumultuous business, Billy has one last hit to do. But everything suddenly goes wrong. This novel is part war story, part love letter to small town America. It features one of the most compelling and surprising duos in Stephen King’s fictional repertoire, who set out to avenge the crimes of an extraordinarily evil man.

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