Winter is here, and it's the perfect time to cosy up with a good book or escape the festive chaos. Meredith Moss and Sasha Kehoe from Today Radio have teamed up with Ernster Bookshop to bring you their top picks for the season.
If you missed the series' earlier summer recommendations, fret not – you can still find them here, here, and here! And be sure to check out the autumn recommendations here. After all, a good book is timeless – it’s always the right season for a great read.
This week, Meredith and Sasha from Today Radio have recommended five more great books for you to check out, this time for the cosy winter season. Grab your blanket, hot beverage, and start reading!
Read on for a roundup of the books that will (with good luck) occupy your time the whole winter season long. Also, stay tuned for a chance to win a €50 voucher from Ernster – details forthcoming, at the end of this article.
You can catch the ladies discussing all five books, their full conversation live from the Today Radio studio here:
...or read on to find their five picks!
The Women by Kristin Hannah
The first book Sasha is recommending is The Women by Kristin Hannah. She read it this summer, and since then, it’s become a bestseller and won multiple awards. This historical fiction novel follows Frankie McGrath, a young nurse in the Vietnam War, and explores themes of coming-of-age in the '60s, post-war struggles of veterans – especially women – and the generation gap between youth and their parents. It also highlights the often-overlooked role of women in the Vietnam War, with vivid descriptions and a focus on veterans' mental health challenges.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
Meredith highly recommends Dolly Alderton’s Good Material, a hilarious and sharp look at gender dynamics through a breakup story told from the perspective of the guy who's been dumped. With a style reminiscent of Nora Ephron and Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, the book is both funny and cringe-worthy. Alderton's humor shines, particularly when the protagonist lists his ex’s quirks, like her tiny jade spoon. While Meredith reflects that she’s grateful not to be navigating relationships in her 30s anymore, she praises the book and would definitely buy it for her girlfriends. If you loved Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love, Good Material is a must-read.
Good Material on Ernster Online
My Dear Kabul
Sasha's second recommendation is My Dear Kabul, a powerful collection of WhatsApp messages from 21 Afghan women in a writing group during the first year after Kabul fell to the Taliban. These messages, collected, deleted, and translated, offer a moving insight into the lives of highly educated women living under a gender-based apartheid. The book reveals their struggles and hopes, with some women seeking help and managing to escape. It’s a rare, personal account of life under extremist rule, and she highly recommends reading it.
My Dear Kabul on Ernster Online
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Meredith is buying Intermezzo, Sally Rooney's newest book, for everyone she knows. It's going to be her gift to her pack of lady friends, and she's really excited about it. If you loved Normal People, you'll definitely want to check this one out. She wasn't sure at first, but after hearing great reviews from friends, she's convinced it’s really good.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Lastly, Sasha recommends The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese which she suggests for anyone with plenty of time over the holidays. Though it's over 700 pages long, it’s an epic tale set in Kerala, southern India, a place Sasha visited over 20 years ago. The story spans three generations, beginning in 1900 with a 12-year-old girl sent to marry a 40-year-old man, who becomes the matriarch. The novel offers a fascinating look at the social, medical, and transport changes in India over time and is quickly becoming a classic.
The Covenant of Water on Ernster Online
All books are available at Ernster Bookshop – you can find any of this month's edition of exciting reads in person or order them online. Happy reading and enjoy your winter holidays with these fantastic books!
Win a €50 Ernster voucher
Let us know what you're reading this Christmas holiday season! Send a text or WhatsApp to +352 61 52 5000, and you could win a €50 Ernster voucher as a little Christmas bonus.
