Some of us are slowly getting back to work, and are determined to maintain a realistic work/life balance. Apart from Netfixing, reading is one of the best forms of escapism and entertainment. Check out some of the book series I would definitely recommend to keep your mind entertained.

THE HARRY POTTER SERIES BY JK ROWLING

Pretty self-explanatory. When JK Rowling’s series was first published in 1997, it was a instant hit, capturing the imaginations of children and adults around the world. The series follows a young boy, Harry Potter, who was orphaned as a baby by a wicked, power-hungry wizard that stopped anyone who would get in his way. Sounds grim? It’s not, I promise you. It’s a incredibly well-written series, with many fans claiming they were hooked from the first few pages. Throughout the series, you follow Potter’s journey into adulthood through various exciting and thrilling adventures – and eventually the successful overcoming of his arch nemesis.

THE COMPLETE STORIES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

There are four novels in the collections with a total of 56 stories starring the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes and his trusted partner, Dr Watson. Written more than a century ago, they are truly literary classics fill of suspense and plot twists that will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat and fascinated with the Holme’s unique ways of solving cases.

THE MILLENNIUM SERIES BY STIEG LARSSON

Has anyone watched the movie, ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’? Yes? Well, it’s readaptation of the first book from this series by Stieg Larsson. The series contains three novels: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest and is truly some of the best psychological thrillers out there. To get an idea of what themes you’ll encounter, Larsson’s original Swedish title for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was Men Who Hate Women.

THE LAST KINGDOM BY BERNARD CORNWELL

I’ve not read this series personally, but I’ve heard amazing things about it. This series is the basis for Netflix’s The Last Kingdom and tells the embellished real-world history of the Danes and the Saxons in the late 9th century through the lens of the fictional Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon of noble blood who is kidnapped and raised as a Dane. The series explores how Uhtred has to make peace with his conflicting identities, while maneuvering political situations and surviving the constant barrage of battles. There are 12 books in the series.

GAME OF THRONES BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN

One of the most popular tv series of all time bearing the same name came from George R.R. Martin’s series, Game of Thrones. A reviewer on Goodreads said, “As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experience.” Okay. I don’t think I need to say more. Definitely worth reading.