By Purva Grover
Dubai, UAE- It’s always challenging to draw up a list of must-read books. Books, after all, find us when we need them most — and no two individuals feel the same about a book, or remain the same after reading one. Yes, books do change us. They can alter the rhythm of our thinking, soften our certainties, or strengthen our faith. Until you stumble upon the one that transforms you, you’ll have to rely on my wisdom and experience. And fair warning: just as we don’t agree on how to dress a falafel — some swear by tahini, others insist on hummus, a few campaign for pickled cucumbers, ketchup is controversial at best, and toum can spark devotion — we’re unlikely to crave the same books. Now that we’ve cleared that off the table, here’s a list for the blessed month of Ramadan — a month dedicated to patience, faith, kindness, gratitude, and quiet introspection. Many of these are available as e-books and audiobooks too, so you may ‘read’ in whichever way nourishes you best.
Here’s a list for the blessed month of Ramadan — a month dedicated to patience, faith, kindness, gratitude, and quiet introspection. Many of these are available as e-books and audiobooks too, so you may ‘read’ in whichever way nourishes you best.
The Midnight Library: Matt Haig
Here’s a book with a gentle but powerful life lesson: what is meant for you will be yours. It nudges you toward loving each day without the heavy burden of “what ifs.” An adorable, easy-flowing narrative — partly humorous, wholly heartfelt. As Matt Haig writes, “You don’t have to understand life. You just have to live it.” And perhaps Ramadan, too, is about living with trust rather than trying to understand every unfolding.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… and It’s All Small Stuff: Richard Carlson
Life coaches and Instagram therapists often ask: Will this problem even matter in 15 days, 15 months, or 15 years? The answer is usually no. This book, written in short, digestible nuggets, gently reminds us how much energy we waste worrying about insignificant things. Perfect for patience-challenged days, it moves swiftly between what deserves attention and what deserves surrender. Ramadan, after all, is an exercise in letting go of habits, impulses, and unnecessary anxieties.
Happier at Home: Gretchen Rubin
Can you be homesick while at home? Deeply personal and anecdotal, this is an easy yet thoughtful read filled with simple reminders: declutter gently, prioritise your health, nurture relationships. Rubin does not demand dramatic life changes. Instead, she encourages small experiments — moving a cabinet, adjusting routines, paying closer attention. Sometimes happiness is not a grand pilgrimage. Sometimes it is a small rearrangement of what already exists. And yes, anyone who is happy should read this one, too.
The Strays: Emily Bitto
A beautiful, soulful novel to consume in the month of reflection. The Strays gently gathers themes of female friendship, art, motherhood, parenting, and social difference into one immersive world. At its heart is the intense friendship between two young girls, Eva and Lily, shaped by the stark contrast in their upbringings. Eva’s bohemian home welcomes wandering artists — “strays” of every kind — and Lily is drawn to that freedom with longing and quiet envy. It’s a novel about belonging and desire, about the blurred lines between intimacy and independence. Lyrical and quietly haunting, it lingers long after the final page.
The Lost Bookshop: Evie Woods
Looking for a cutesy read that blends reality with magic realism, wrapped in a beautiful cover? This one’s for you. Set around a mysterious bookshop, this novel is filled with charming characters, unexpected twists, and quiet metaphors about bravery and belonging. For what reader doesn’t love spending time in a bookshop? As one line reminds us: “There was an old musician’s cliché, about how there were no wrong notes on a piano.” And perhaps that, too, is a Ramadan lesson.
About Purva Grover–
Purva Grover is an author, poet, playwright, stage director, TEDx speaker, and creative entrepreneur. She is the author of The Trees Told Me So, It Was the Year 2020, She (translated into seven languages), and #icouldhavebeenaninstapost. A journalist for over 19 years, she previously served as Associate Editor at Khaleej Times and has led multiple editorial and storytelling platforms across the region. In 2021, she was awarded the UAE Golden Visa under the People of Culture and Art—Writer category. Purva is the founder of The Reading Village, a Dubai-based community that nurtures, encourages, and shares stories. The group gathers once or twice a month to celebrate books and meaningful conversation. She has also founded and edited The Indian Trumpet (2013) and Once Upon A Table (2025), storytelling platforms centered on culture, memory, food, and human connection. She reads 52 books a year and is committed to building spaces that nurture stories.
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