The books getting me through lockdown 3.0

I’m going to preface this article by saying that I definitely went on a bit of a Danielle Steel-A-Thon over the lockdown period. I had never read any of her books before, however, as it appears, I have now begun overcompensating.

Reading may not be everyone’s cup of tea but for those of you out there who enjoy cosying up in bed with a story, now is a better time than ever. Among my university work, running an online journal and part-time jobs, I usually don’t have much spare time for reading. My TBR (To-Be-Read) pile has started growing, including copies of Julia Quinn’s original Bridgerton series and Jay Asher’s 13 Reasons Why, and it’s awesome! Having a stack of unread adventures is exciting.

Here are the ones which Lockdown 3.0 has led me to embark on so far.

1. Past Perfect by Danielle Steel (2017)

Past Perfect is one of the best books that I’ve read in a while. It tells the story of a modern-day family who purchase an old fashioned mansion filled with ghosts of the tenants before. The ghosts live in a world one-hundred years behind their time and go on to teach them a lot about the world as well as themselves.

I admire the way that the author handled the communication of two sets of people with a clear generational divide, as well as a divide of period. Outstanding!

2. Shadows of Winterspell by Amy Wilson (2019)

S.O.W, admittedly, isn’t the kind of book that I tend to gravitate towards. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the occasional dose of fantasy and mystical creatures, but it has to be in moderation. That being said, there was something about this book which was undeniably captivating. The main character, Stella, was human enough to be relatable yet magical enough to be incredibly fascinating. If you like books in a school setting with a bit of an extraordinary twist, then this book is for you!

3. 44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel (2011)

44 Charles Street follows the life of Francesca Thayer, a home-owner and cultivator of gallery shows. She adores her up-and-coming artists and refuses to give up on their dreams - or her own. 

When relationship issues break her life apart, Francesca has to figure out how to keep her finances on track. She chooses to rent out her home’s spare rooms to make money, but in the end, she makes so much more than that.

This is a story of friendship, chosen family and hope. The characters are engaging and hard to forget about upon putting the book down. Even though I finished this novel quite some time ago I still feel attached to some of them, particularly Eileen!

4. The Right Time by Danielle Steel (2017)

As I write this I have two chapters of The Right Time remaining, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every page so far. Alexandra Winslow is a remarkable young girl silently making her mark upon the world. Orphaned as a child, she grew up among a convent of loving nuns and spent her spare time writing crime thrillers.

I’ve loved following her journey and seeing her grow up, reaching success as an author. Writing under the male pseudonym, Alexander Green, I always believed would be tough for her though. Will the world ever know her true identity or will she remain anonymous forever?

Happy World Book Day 2021!



This blog and imagery were created by Ciéra, check out her Instagram and Website!