All the books recommended by The Boost Book Club

Daphne has never left her love life to chance. The truth is, she can't... Every time she meets a man, a note will arrive. So, when a note arrives with only a name on it, "Jake", she is sure this is her happy ever after. But is fate really on Daphne's side at last? An emotional read.

Millie Masters sets up a hotline for women who feel unsafe walking home alone at night. But she quickly realises there's more to be done to help the women who call in, because the men just do it again. When her own sister is assaulted, the temptation to take the law into her own hands becomes too much to resist. We loved the dark humour in this new thriller.

For Stella, Deputy Editor of The Globe, there is no stone she will leave unturned in her pursuit of the best story. For Jess, The Globe's rookie reporter, the story stops when the truth does. But she knows that the dirty tricks of the tabloids will be hard to overturn. And when the subject of the story Jess is working on pays the ultimate price, she suspects the paper may have had more to do with it than they're letting on... One of Sandie Jones' best books yet.

Ruthlessly ambitious Olivia, anxious perfectionist Laura and free-spirited risk-taker Anjali couldn't be more different. Yet they'd do anything for one another, including burying one night they have never spoken about: a drug-fuelled university party that forced them to make a deadly choice that could still destroy them. When an eerily similar tragedy strikes involving their teenage children, everything the three women have built threatens to shatter around them... Gripping.

When 63-year-old Sylvia finds her husband in bed with another woman, she's furious and enlists the help of her best friend, glamorous 70-year-old widow Edie.
The pair flee to Manhattan to start a new life and, before long, Sylvia finds herself back in the dating game! She's determined that in this glorious second act, the best is yet to come. A feel-good read - we adore Sylvia!

Iris and Gabriel have just got home from a make-or-break holiday - and while they were away, one of their dearest friends, Laure, moved herself in after walking out on her husband over his confession of an affair. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive, but as Laure's mood becomes more unpredictable, her presence begins to unravel secrets in all their pasts - until things reach breaking point... We always drop everything for a B.A.Paris novel!

Lucy has never met another leapling - someone born on leap day, 29 February - until she encounters Noah, who is also spending his one-in-four-years birthday on a disappointing day trip to Calais. There's a spark between them, but they're both with other people. Over the next 20 years, they're at each other's side through all of life's big moments - weddings, babies, new jobs, family illness - but Lucy can never shake the feeling that they were meant to meet... A heart-warming read.

The morning after the night before couldn't get any worse for Molly Monroe - she has the feeling something terrible has happened... There is a stranger in her bedroom, an obscene clip of her on socials and after being sent home from work, she discovers her flatmate is dead... A fast-paced thriller where Molly wants to die from shame but is determined to find a killer. With clever twists, it's totally gripping.

Since leaving school, Hera is unsure what she wants from life. Then she meets Arthur at work. He is older than her - and married. But Hera soon falls headlong into a workplace romance that will quickly consume her life... Green Dot, while funny, is also a deeply moving read about struggling to find out who we are and what we want to be.

Max and Annie have left the London rat race to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. They invite old university friends - TV star Dominic, doctor and new mum Kira, and free-spirited Jim and Suze - and their children for a trial weekend but the reunion quickly veers off course... Who is lying in hospital, who has gone missing and who is the body on the beach below the cliffs? Gripping.

In 2002 Danny arrives at Manchester University determined not to hide from the world any longer. He locks eyes with a handsome stranger across the hall at the Freshers' Fair, and soon Danny and Guy are best friends.
In 2022, now both single for the first time in years, Danny and Guy return for Manchester Pride - and Danny confesses that he's always been in love with Guy. Could it be the start of a 20-year friendship? Or the start of something new and even more beautiful? A joy of a read.

When Erin and Will start having couples' therapy, they hope it will fix the rift that has appeared out of nowhere in their marriage. But their therapist Maggie can't work out whose version of the truth she can trust. Then Erin is brought into hospital in a critical condition following a hit-and-run accident. Now everyone is desperate to unravel the truth. Because if this isn't an accident, then someone close to Erin must be responsible... We were gripped from the start.

After over 800 days without murdering anyone, the woman formerly known as the Sweetpea Killer, Rhiannon Lewis, thinks she might have finally turned over a new leaf. Thanks to the pandemic she's had to keep a much lower profile but has found happiness with her fiancé Rafael and his family. That is until her soon-to-be sister-in-law has a run in with her abusive ex, and Rhiannon rediscovers her taste for revenge. You can never keep a good serial killer down... A very dark, funny read.

Five years ago, Alex met the man of her dreams on New Year's Eve - but he never called. Years later, she's given up on men and accepted that "New Year's Eve Guy" will always be the one who got away. Until the day he turns up in her office - a management consultant tasked with "streamlining", Gihan is just as gorgeous as Alex remembers, but will she get her happy ever after? A fun read!

Minnie and Bert are over the moon to have their three grown-up children, Lizzie, Jess and Owen, home for the first time in a decade. But Owen has the power to throw a grenade into everything. It all stems from an incident that happened years ago involving Nora Skelly - a name you don't mention in front of Minnie. And with Nora also back in town, the past is about to come crashing into the present. We read this brilliant book in one sitting.

When struggling influencer couple Adele and Jack post a crowdfunding video online, they're amazed when a mysterious benefactor offers to buy them a crumbling French chateau. It's the lifeline they need to leave all their troubles behind. But the chateau is not all it seems and the local community is far from welcoming - then the couple disappear. And Adele's sister Erin must unravel the shocking truth about what happened. Gripping.

Luke loves Christmas, but summer girl Laura doesn't think there's anything magical about December. Then, at a gig, the couple meet, and under the twinkling lights something magical begins. But will Luke and Laura still feel the same way about each other on this day next Christmas - and the one after that? Romantic and emotional, this festive treat of a novel digs deep into the lives of its characters to deliver a touching story.

Rani has always felt like an outsider. First growing up among her white, wealthy peers. And now next to her successful, child-free friends. From her tiny rented flat, she imagines being the kind of woman who owns the beautiful house across the street. Then Natalie moves in. With her expensive clothes, adoring husband and high-powered job, she has everything Rani wants. But as the two women strike up a friendship, Rani wonders - is Natalie's life too good to be true? A book to cancel plans for!

Twelves years ago, eight friends ran an exclusive group at university: The Murder Masquerade Society. The mysteries were always fictional - until their final Christmas puzzle, when one of the group disappeared, never to be seen again. Now, the remaining members receive an invitation to a reunion, to be held in a remote country house in Scotland. The game begins, and the next morning Lady Partridge is found hanging from a pear tree. It becomes clear that long-hidden secrets will come to the surface.

When Abbie and Tom cross paths traveling home after a night out, their eyes meet across a crowded carriage and their connection is unmistakable. What they don't know is that moments later they will both be caught up in an event that will change them forever. An event that will bring them together - but it will also tear them apart. Can they find their way back to each other? A book to cancel plans for.

When a promising young dancer collapses just prior to a prestigious competition, Lily Richmond - dance legend and teacher - is convinced it's murder. But only one person can help solve the mystery: her former student, now turned private detective, Susie Cooper. Can this unlikely crime-fighting duo unravel the murderer's identity before they strike again? A thrilling read from the queen of Strictly Come Dancing, set in a world where the most ambitious will stop at nothing to win.

Lucy Young is only 26, but she's exhausted. She's tired of bad dates, being on the bottom rung at work, and living off Rice Krispies. She's ready to skip to the good part. The part where she's happily married, running the office, and never even thinking about her overdraft. But you should be careful what you wish for... A fun, brilliant read.

Sasha is well and truly over it all: work (all-consuming), friendships (on the back burner), sex-life (non-existent). Armed with good intentions to drink kale smoothies and find solitude, she heads to the Devon resort she loved as a child. But it's off-season, the hotel is falling apart and she has to share the beach with a grumpy, stressed-out guy called Finn. When curious messages start appearing on the beach, Sasha and Finn are forced to begin talking - and they might discover that they have more in common than they think...

Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. Sworn enemies Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel's front desk, and they have no choice but to put their differences aside and make sure the hotel stays afloat. As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, they begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future... Heartwarming.

In the midst of WWII, musician Norah Chambers and sister Nesta James are brought together when they are captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. Can they survive as they fight side by side? From the multimillion-copy bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is a brilliant book about courage and determination.

Jo Sorsby is hiding from her past when she agrees to run her uncle's beloved stationery shop - which she is hoping will distract her from her bruised heart. When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian still finding himself, she suddenly realises she isn't alone. They each have a story that can transform Jo's life... if only she can let them in. We loved this uplifting read.

Despite the raging war, spirited 18-year-old Nellie Morris lives a quiet life in her tight-knit East End community. Her family and friends all tease that she will marry air raid warden Billy, the boy next door who's always been sweet on her.
The arrival of Ray, a handsome American airman stationed nearby, causes Nellie to question everything she thought she knew about her future...
A brilliant debut novel inspired by the true events of Millie Bobby Brown's family history.

Daisy would give anything to leave the shabbiest house on the street and be more like the Kelleways next door. Winnie Kelleway is proud of the beautiful family she's built, and celebrating her golden wedding anniversary is truly proof of their happiness. But as the festivities get underway, are the cracks beginning to show? As events start to spiral out of control, Daisy and Winnie are about to discover that things aren't always what they seem... We adored this brilliant book.

Delph has kept herself small and quiet as a form of self-protection, ever since the love of her life Sol's untimely death left her pregnant and alone at the age of 24. Years on, Delph's protective bubble bursts when her daughter Roche moves out of the flat Delph shares with her partner Itsy and in with her estranged nan, Moon. Now that it's just the two of them, the cracks in Delph and Itsy's relationship begin to grow. Is her life with Itsy all it seems? A powerful mother-daughter tale.

PR guru Lola Lovett's client has gone missing, but that's not the problem. It's the fact that he's meant to be at home - already dead. Lola hasn't come this far in life to let an inconvenience like an undead actor stop her from getting what she wants. In the glitzy, glamorous world of showbiz, it's not a matter of discovering who might be keeping secrets, but rather, determining who is willing to kill to keep them. We read this brilliant thriller in one sitting.

Agatha Doyle is 50 and fed up. Her grown-up children are refusing to leave home, her husband has employed a gorgeous waitress in his cafe, writer's block has stalled her novel and, to top it off, her new GP suggests she keeps a diary of menopause symptoms. When a moment of madness seizes Agatha while speaking at a local festival, and her public rant blows up on TikTok, she unwittingly becomes a heroine to women everywhere. But can she become the heroine of her own life? Very witty!

Sisters Eleanor and Charlie are very different. Responsible Eleanor is fiercely independent, while younger sister Charlie is charming and impulsive. After Eleanor's long-term relationship breaks down, Charlie invites her to a party where she meets Helen. Eleanor is immediately drawn to her, but she knows that Charlie is already head over heels. Through out the summer, Eleanor and Charlie's relationship is tested like never before. Which comes first - those you love or those you want? Superb.

Janet Pimm is in her seventies and spends most of her days alone, tending to her beloved allotment with the care and love she doesn't receive from people. But she's compelled to join forces with neighbour Bev when the council threatens to close the allotments. As the bulldozers roll in and they fight to save Janet's treasured piece of land, both women find their voice again. And no one can silence them now... A lovely read about the power of friendship.

Ben Church has never done anything extraordinary in his life. Vita Ambrose's life of parties and fabulous clothes looks wildly glamorous but, in reality, it has no meaning. Ben and Vita's connection is immediate, spontaneous and passionate. But the clock is ticking. Can they find a way to make their love live forever? Because every moment matters when it might be your last... An incredibly moving read.

On honeymoon in Bali, Erin and Jamie hit it off with another newlywed couple, Sophia and Mark. They celebrate their last night at a fancy cliff-side restaurant. No one predicted the evening would end with a dead body. But it was an accident... or was it? Many marriages can survive anything - but when it starts on a lie is it really till death do us part? Secrets and lies make for a very addictive read!

When Finn gets a call from his sister, Jess, to say their father Jimmy has died, neither is heartbroken as they've had little contact with the man living a bohemian lifestyle in Mallorca. Ownership of his farmhouse now passes to them - the only problem is that Jimmy recently remarried and his wife Ruensa is still living there with her daughter Role. The Spanish police, meanwhile, are asking questions about Jimmy's death. Are Ruensa and Rose victims of circumstance? Or will they stop at nothing to get Finca Siquia for themselves? Gripping.

Greetings card copywriter Phoebe Chapman knows a good romantic line or two - and it makes her a fantastic Cupid. When she lands in the Hollywood Hills - a place that proves film stars, golden beaches and secret waterfalls don't just exist in the movies - she can't resist playing matchmaker for her handsome neighbour, carpenter Ren. But isn't there something a little bit hot about Ren, her own leading man next door? A perfect summer read!

Tess and Gus are strangers when their lives collide one sun-drenched morning in Florence, but it feels as if fate has brought them together. On their return to rainy London, will their love be strong enough to survive the challenges of their complicated lives? Is it even possible for two such different people to live happily ever after? We have been waiting excitedly for this follow-up to Miss You - and it didn't disappoint. We read in one sitting.

Swedish-born Sam first meets Lucy as a teenager - and years later, he becomes the perfect distraction during her work placement. But their bubble only lasts so long. This debut explores first love - and what happens when life's big milestones unravel it. With dreamy descriptions and a Sally Rooney-esque vibe, Okay Days is an ode to figuring life out as you go.

Gwen Turner has just discovered that her latest match on a dating app is actually a serial killer. They say romance is dead, but if Gwen can't catch the mystery killer who's targeting every man she's ever dated, her love life is destined to get a whole lot more deadly... A dark comedy that'll make you think twice about using Hinge, we laughed our way through this brilliant book.

Iris had the home, the husband and the promise of a family. But now she's divorced and renting out her spare room to make ends meet. And it's all Maddy's fault. Social influencer Maddy is quickly becoming famous for her wholesome videos of life with her husband and adorable twins. Iris is convinced it's all fake, and she's going to prove it. Jane Fallon has done it again! We couldn't put this brilliant read down.

When aspiring novelist Honor is invited to spend a summer in The Hamptons with her famous author father, she realises it could be the dream setting for a book - especially when a chance encounter provides her with the perfect leading man. But will writing her way to success come at the expense of her own happy ever after? A perfect escapist read.

Becca Calloway is ready for Mr Right, and she's ready now! She even goes as far as to hold a manifestation ceremony for him - and when she receives a text from her ex five minutes later, she takes it as a sign. The problem is, she's doesn't know which way it's pointing... Should Becca reply and reignite things with her old flame Mike? Or delete and block, moving forward with the new man in her life? Becca has one choice, with two ways this could go... Feel-good and funny, the perfect book to sit in the sun with.

Frankie secretly craves attention, but she is ashamed of that craving. And after a lifetime of comparison to her perfect sister, Bean, she has never felt more invisible. She only ever feels noticed when she uploads risqué photos to her small community of online fans. Then Bean is diagnosed with cancer - and Frankie's account is exposed. With her family no longer speaking to her, Frankie flounders in he newfound notoriety. How can she explain what she barely understands? A sensational read!

It's the turn of the millennium and, landing in London with nothing but her CD collection and demo tape, Orla Quinn moves into a squalid Kilburn house with her best mate and a band called Shiva. Orla wants to make music, but juggling two jobs and partying every night isn't helping. But while Orla's own dreams seem to be going nowhere, Shiva are on the brink of something big... The Mess We're In is a brilliant coming of age novel.

Gwen is lonely. When she's made redundant, she takes herself out for a fancy dinner and realises she has no one to tell about the best sticky toffee pudding she's had in her life. In that moment, she vows to begin living her life fully. She decides to start where all things get a second chance: her local charity shop. There, with the help of the weird and wonderful people and donated items bursting with untold stories, Gwen will find a way to move forward... A special book that will lift you up.

Seventy-nine-year-old Arthur Edwards gathers his family together to share some important news: he's gay and finally ready to come out. Arthur's 21-year-old grandson, Teddy, is also gay but doesn't feel ready to come out yet - especially when Arthur's announcement causes shockwaves in the family. Arthur and Teddy have always been close, now they must navigate a new path together. Can they - and their family - learn to accept who they truly are? We adored Arthur and Teddy, a true joy of a read.

Emma is having the worst day of her life. Frustrating. Chaotic. And the only person who could make it better is gone by the end of the day. Yet even worse than all of that... Emma keeps waking up to the same day, over and over again. But what if this is a sign that things could be different? Can Emma change the heartbreaking end to this love story? We can't rave about this book enough and were hooked from start to finish!

Bea has a husband and daughter. She also has an appointment for a termination. Her first child changed everything - her life, her relationship, her identity. This is a story about the women we (think we) know, the choices we make, the friends who stand by us and how the secrets we keep, and the words left unsaid, can be more dangerous than any lie we tell... A brutally honest account of motherhood, we've never read anything quite like it before. A must read!

Eoin is happy in his long-term relationship with his boyfriend, steady, sensible and dependable Rich. But then his world is turned upside down when Rich announces that he wants an open relationship. Terrified of losing the man he loves, Eoin reluctantly agrees to this new arrangement, and stumbles tentatively into the world of dating with no strings attached... A super-fun read - we finished it in one sitting!

Jessica Jackson has hit all the milestones for turning 30 - the career, the loving boyfriend and a cosy London flat they share with their cat. But a shock diagnosis of breast cancer turns Jess' world upside down. Then she meets Annabel who is only 27 and has incurable cancer. She understands much more about living than anyone Jess has ever met. And she's determined to show Jess how to make every day count... Have tissues at the ready!

After six years, Tara and Colin's marriage had started to crumble. Unable to recapture the spark they once had, it seems it's all over. Until they meet their 100% match on a controversial new dating app - Fling. And it seems that what they're looking for is closer than they think... We loved this book and didn't want it to end.

Scarlett dies on what should've been one of the most important days of her life. And now, wherever she is, she's watching the ripple effect her death has had on her loved ones. Her best friend Evie can't forgive Nate, the man she blames for Scarlett's death. But Nate keeps popping up and catapulting Evie's life in surprising directions. It poses the question - if you found out everything that happens after your death, would your change anything about your life? We read this brilliant book in one sitting.

Margo and Richard's love affair is the stuff of legends. But when Richard suddenly walks out, Margo shuts herself away from the world and leaves her three daughters, Rachel, Imogen and Sasha, to run wild. Ultimately her behaviour keeps the girls from finding their true happiness, especially as each has their own life drama to deal with. One day, Sasha finds out the truth about why Richard left and the effects are devastating. We loved it and couldn't turn the pages quick enough!