Dear Reader

Celebrates reading as a means of connection and a vehicle for escapism . . . a heartfelt reminder that, for all the wholesome effects that reading arguably has, the first reason to do it is for pleasure. Fittingly, Dear Reader is a pleasure to readI will never, ever forget the way Dear Reader made me feel: it is profoundly tender, generous, joy-filled, love-filled and compassionate. I have read so many wonderful books this year but this is the one I would buy and give away to everyone in the world if I couldIf you love books or if you need companionship during a difficult patch in your life or if you simply want to be taken by the hand by a writer who is kind, wise, funny, generous, insightful and profound, then this is the book for youExquisite. Dear Reader is touching, beautiful and contains countless excellent book recommendations!Cathy Rentzenbrink’s exploration of reading books and the comfort they bring in Dear Reader feels like art in your handsJoyful, poignant and essential reading for people who love books . . . it is a book to cherishBeautifully written and a joy to read, Dear Reader is a best friend of a bookThis love letter to reading, which is packed with recommendations, is pure joyDear Reader restored my soulA companion for readers everywhere . . . intimate, kind and self-effacing, it feels like someone is sitting right next to you, holding your hand and sharing their secrets. I loved itA warm, unpretentious manifesto for why books matterDear Reader is the best thing I’ve read for ages and it will stay with me foreverYour first port of call if you’re looking for a book to recommend or just a bit stuck on what to choose next. But it’s more than a reference book; it’s a personal account of how books have comforted the author and what they can do for the soulA wonderful warm bath of a book. Perfect for all bookworms to sink intoThis is a book that shows what can happen when reading becomes one of the foundation stones in someone’s life, how it miraculously reveals a map when you’ve lost your path and how it will always provide a connection to the world when we feel alone . . . Cathy, prepare for adulationDear Reader is a comfort, an inspiration and a gift of a book for readers, reluctant readers and anyone who wants to feel better about themselves and the world. I applaud Cathy Rentzenbrink, she is a truly brilliant writerYour first port of call if you’re looking for a book to recommend or just a bit stuck on what to choose next. But it’s more than a reference book; it’s a personal account of how books have comforted the author and what they can do for the soulComfort reading has been to the fore lately, and you'll find it in abundance in this joyous memoir of a life immersed in the pleasures and consolations of books by the author of The Last Act of Love . . . It's chock-full of Rentzenbrink's splendid reading recommendations, from "Children's Books I Love to Reread" and books about "Bad Love", to "Posh People Behaving Badly" and "Helpful Non-Fiction", which her own book most certainly isA memoir of a life spent immersed in the comfort and joy of books, from Sunday Times bestselling author Cathy Rentzenbrink.

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Act of Love, Cathy Rentzenbrink's Dear Reader is the ultimate love letter to reading and to finding the comfort and joy in stories.

'Exquisite' - Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups
'A warm, unpretentious manifesto for why books matter’ - Sunday Express

Growing up, Cathy Rentzenbrink was rarely seen without her nose in a book and read in secret long after lights out. When tragedy struck, it was books that kept her afloat. Eventually they lit the way to a new path, first as a bookseller and then as a writer. No matter what the future holds, reading will always help.

A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how books can change the course of your life, packed with recommendations from one reader to another.

Cathy Rentzenbrink is the author of The Last Act of Love, Dear Reader, and A Manual for Heartache. She lives in Cornwall with her family.