It’s no secret that I’m a reader. Wherever I go, take a look in my bag and you’ll find a well-thumbed book (or four). For me, reading is comfort. Expansion. Escapism. Constant entertainment. I will never tire of how reading opens my eyes to worlds and opinions beyond my own experiences. And its power to bring people together.
That’s exactly why I started the Service95 Book Club in 2023: to share the books that have shaped and challenged my worldview; to delve beyond their pages into the minds of those who wrote them; and to build a community around these conversations. That community is bigger and more engaged than we could have dreamed, and for that we want to say thank you.
I can’t believe it’s been three whole years since we launched. That first live interview with Douglas Stuart on his novel Shuggie Bain at Hay Festival feels like it was just yesterday, setting the tone for my love of a dark read (I can’t help it) and for the series of thought-provoking conversations to follow.
36 months, 34 books, by authors spanning 16 countries, across six continents and an ever-growing Instagram community of more than 500,000 – and we’re only just getting started. While I can’t wait to share what’s still to come (keep your eye out for more announcements), I do want to take a moment to appreciate this milestone. That’s why we’ve created this one-off newsletter: to carve out space to celebrate. And if you know me, you know I love any excuse for a celebration.
I’ve been fortunate to sit down with authors of all ages, who have been through virtually every experience life can throw your way. What I’ve taken away from each of those conversations is just how much books can guide you through life’s curveballs, and how much you can learn from someone else’s (fictional or otherwise) perspective.
That’s why we’ve asked some notable writers and avid readers across five decades of life to share the books that capture those specific time periods: from the emotional rollercoaster that is your twenties, all the way to the, well, the emotional rollercoaster of your sixties.
I couldn’t resist adding a few of my own recommendations to this collection. I turned 30 last summer and have already resonated with so many stories along the way. A huge thank you to Nelio Biedermann, Anton Hur, Lola Shoneyin and Belinda Becker for sharing their own thoughtful, deeply personal picks. I can’t wait to be guided by these books (and no doubt many others) for decades to come.
And an even bigger thank you to you, our Service95 Book Club community. Thank you for joining us over the past three years to read the world differently. Here’s to many more years of reading together.
Love always,
Dua x
