We deeply, deeply wish we were sharing a list of the best honeymoon reads of 2021 today, but, unfortunately, for most couples, that particular treat is still a speck on the horizon. That said, we imagine (and hope!) that engaged couples and newlyweds will all get a chance to enjoy a luxurious staycation or mini moon this Summer (boy do you deserve it after the year you've had!) and for that, you're gonna need some Grade A reading material! Without further ado, here are some of the One Fab Day team's current favourite reads, featuring moving memoirs and plenty of blissful escapism.
Note: We haven't provided shoppable links in this feature. Instead, we ask that you seek out the below titles from a local bookseller.
Poolside Gossip by Victoria Kinsella
The engrossing debut of Wexford-based accountant-turned-author Victoria Kinsella, Poolside Gossip is just the book to transport you to a glamorous sun holiday resort, which, if you ask us, is the next best thing to actually being there! Set in a boutique hotel in the Canaries, it invites the reader to peek inside the personal lives - and the deepest, darkest secrets! - of its many guests, including four female friends from Ireland.
Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan
Although hardly a breezy beach read, the debut novel from Waterford writer Megan Nolan will render you hooked from the very first chapter. A gripping and often startling tale of a deeply flawed relationship, it's set in Dublin, where its protagonist meets and falls in love with an aloof Danish artist.
The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey and Michaela Angela Davis
Celebrity memoirs don't get much more fabulous, or, indeed, more moving than this, the long-awaited and artfully-written autobiography of pop superstar Mariah Carey. It finds Mariah reflecting on her impossibly difficult childhood and her explosive relationship with first husband Tommy Mottola with unprecedented candour. Lighthearted, it ain't, but with Carey's deliciously dry sense of humour employed on every page, it still manages to be an absolute hoot.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Fans of Dolly Alderton's best-selling non-fiction book, Everything I Know About Love, will be glad to hear that her first novel employs the same sharp, confessional style. A smart, heartfelt romantic comedy, it follows food writer Nina as she falls madly in love with Max, a ruggedly handsome accountant she meets on a dating app. She's devastated when, a few weeks into their fast-moving relationship, he suddenly stops responding to her calls and messages.
A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
The winner of 2020's An Post Irish Book of the Year award, Doireann Ní Ghríofa's critically-acclaimed debut is part essay, part fictionalised autobiography. It weaves together two stories, that of 18th Century poet Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, and that of the book's narrator, a young mother in modern Ireland, who becomes obsessed with Ní Chonaill's poem, Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire. Unconventional in both subject and structure, it's a strange, beautiful and compelling read.
What White People Can Do Next by Emma Dabiri
In the wake of George Floyd's murder in May 2020, countless readers recommended Emma Dabiri's 2019 book Don't Touch my Hair to friends who were keen to learn more about the themes echoed in the Black Lives Matter movement. The Irish-Nigerian author, meanwhile, was hard at work penning this practical guide to converting white guilt to action. Witty and insightful, it's an essential addition to any 2021 reading list.
Corpsing by Sophie White
Vivid, honest and thoroughly unputdownable, Corpsing is a collection of personal essays by Dublin writer Sophie White. It finds the author opening up about her experiences with alcoholism, mental illness, and death, but, despite the dark subject matter, it's a surprisingly funny read. If you're looking for something lighter, we highly recommend Sophie's novels, Filter This and Unfiltered, which are set in the irresistible world of Instagram influencer culture.
Rememberings by Sinéad O'Connor
Although not released until June 1st, 2021, Sinéad O'Connor's memoir Rememberings already has us gripped, thanks to striking and elegantly-written extract recently published in The Irish Times. We'd expect nothing less from the boldly-talented musician, who has promised her book will cover her "fraught childhood, musical triumphs, struggles with illness and the enduring power of song.”
Home Stretch by Graham Norton
Instantly transportive and bearing a delightfully twisty plot, Norton's third novel is every bit as addictive as preceding bestsellers Holding and A Keeper. It follows Connor, a young Corkonian who leaves his small home town in the wake of a terrible accident, moving to Liverpool, London, and, finally, New York, with the sole intention of never being seen again by his friends or family members.
Looking for staycation inspo? Check out our favourite romantic getaways in Ireland here and our favourite spa hotels here.
