This worldwide, bestselling book was first published in 2002 but I didn’t pick it up until 2013. Once I did, I could not put it down, I was absolutely hooked and adored every page.

It is the heartbreaking story of a 14 year old girl, Susie Salmon (you always know how much a book means to you when you can remember character names without having to look them up!), who is raped and murdered by a neighbourhood man. She is watching the devasting repercussions on her friends and family from heaven whilst trying to come to terms with her own death.
Beautifully written, this compelling book had me in tears but was also hopeful and humorous which is surprising given the brutality of the subject matter.

The Lovely Bones was adapted to film in 2009 which I have never been tempted to see in case it ruins the magic of the book for me.