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How We Disappeared

How We Disappeared is set during the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1942. When Japanese troops storm through the small village, only a few survivors remain, including a small child. In a nearby village, a seventeen year old named Wang Di is bundled into the back of a troop carrier and taken to a Japanese military brothel. In her old age, the trauma she experienced weighs heavy. When Kevin, a…

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Review: The Heart's Invisible Furies

A new review of The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne follows the story of Cyril Avery, born out of wedlock to a young Irish girl who is cast out of her rural Catholic community. Adopted by an eccentric pair of rather unloving parents, Cyril is adrift and finds fascination (and infatuation) in his charming and dangerous school friend, Julian Woodbead.  In the opening chapters, Cyril’s mother witnesses…

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Review: Exciting Times

Ava leaves Ireland aged 22. She takes a low paid teaching job in Hong Kong and becomes friends with an emotionally unavailable man named Julian, a wealthy banker spends lots of money on her and allows her to live in his spare room while he’s away on business. Ava soon meets Edith, a more emotionally intelligent new friend who takes an interest in her life. Thoughts on money, love, family, home…

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Long time, no blog...

Long time, no blog…

It has been a cool six months since I last posted a blog on here. I’m not sure quite where the time has gone or where I lost my blogging mojo, but somewhere in the bleak mid winter I simply fell out of the habit. I guess I needed a little hiatus. But, now the daffodils are sprouting and the evenings are getting lighter, I’m ready to leap back in. I’ve really missed chatting about my favourite…

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Review: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

I've posted a new review of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi on the blog - an amazing novel and future classic

Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi, begins with the story of Effia and Esi, two half sisters born in different villages in the eighteenth century Ghana. Effia is forced to marry a rich Englishman, while the sister she never knew is sold into the slave trade and boards a one-way ship to America.

The novel spans centuries, tracing the sisters’ lineage through the generations, beginning at the height of the…

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9 comforting books for down days

9 comforting books for down days

Some days, weeks (and months!) can feel trickier to wade through than others. If the weather feels a little bit grim, if you’re burnt out, or if life has decided to throw you a few curve balls, then escapism and time-out can really help!  

I find (unsurprisingly!) that reading brings me so much comfort. It’s that time when you jump into another world, take yourself away from everything that’s…

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Review: The Confession by Jessie Burton

Review: The Confession by Jessie Burton

While taking a wintery walk on Hampstead Heath in 1980, Elise Morceau meets the bold, successful writer, Constance (Connie) Holden. Falling in love fast, Elise soon becomes infatuated with this enigmatic, brilliant older woman. She is so drawn to Connie that she follows her to LA, where Connie’s first novel is being made into a major motion picture. But as time goes by, Elise feels increasingly…

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5 perfect books for cosy Autumn reading

5 perfect books for cosy Autumn reading

It’s that time of year when slowly but surely the evenings are drawing in, outside is a little chillier than before, and the leaves are turning that gorgeous burnt orange colour. For book lovers (or, for me at least!), it’s the season for curling up with a good book, a blanket, a hot beverage of choice…essentially Autumn is the best excuse to do what I wish I could do all year round!

If you’re…

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Everything I read in September

Everything I read in September

And just like that, September has come to an end! I’ve really enjoyed the last four weeks, trying to eke out as much of the summer as possible before the inevitably grey days of October set in. 

My trip up to the Northumberland coast gave me a chance to switch off and slowly read through a couple of really beautiful, lyrical books – I loved being able to mull them over, taking all the time in…

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Review: Dominicana by Angie Cruz

Review: Dominicana by Angie Cruz

Dominicana by Angie Cruz tells the story of fifteen year old Ana Canción, a young girl who lives with her family in the Dominican Republic in the mid 1960s. When Juan Ruiz, a man twice her age, proposes and offers to take her with him to New York, Ana’s mother insists she must say yes. Juan is the Canción family’s golden ticket to America. Miserably stranded in a dank New York apartment, Ana…

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Barter Books - a magical destination for book lovers

Barter Books – a magical destination for book lovers

Barter Books is a charming (quite huge!) second hand bookshop in Alnwick, Northumberland, England. It’s unique in that it is situated inside a disused railway station – complete with original fixtures and fittings that look wonderfully old fashioned and retro while surrounded by shelves upon shelves of pre-loved books. 

Thanks to Lauren & Luke Gibson for the photos!

Inside the bookshop, you…

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Review: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Review: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong is a breathtaking novel – short, but unendingly impactful. Vuong doesn’t waste a single word. He turns every line into something poetic and, in doing so, creates a unique and unforgettable piece of fiction. 

What’s it about?

The speaker, Little Dog, is writing a long letter to his mother, who cannot read. Through the words he knows will never…

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Review: Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

Review: Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

From the author of Everything I Know About Love and the presenter of the wildly popular podcast The High Low, comes Ghosts – a story about love, relationships and the growing pains of entering ‘real’ adulthood. The ‘single-girl’ in London narrative is nothing new, but Dolly Alderton’s debut novel is refreshingly honest, immediately relatable and thoroughly heart felt. 

What’s it about?

Nina…

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Review: The Dutch House

Review: The Dutch House

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett is a tender, earnest, sweeping family saga – my favourite kind of Ann Patchett novel. Published in 2019 and short listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Patchett’s latest novel has received a lot of well deserved attention. 

What’s it about?

Danny and Maeve Conroy are brother and sister. They grow up together in The Dutch House, an elegant and elaborate…

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Review: The Queen of Tuesday

Review: The Queen of Tuesday

Thank you to Town Crier Book Publicity for sending me an e-galley of Darin Strauss’ latest novel, The Queen of Tuesday. All thoughts are my own – hope you enjoy reading them!

What’s it about?

Award-winning author Darin Strauss’ new novel, The Queen of Tuesday, is based on the life of Lucille Ball, star of the silver screen and Hollywood’s first true female mogul. She acted in and produced…

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Weekly round-up: book reviews

Weekly round-up: book reviews

I’ve been enjoying read A LOT of reviews this week – for some reason I love pouring over reviews (on blogs, in newspapers, in magazines…you name it, I’ll read it!) Here are some of the great reviews I’ve read of books that I’ve reviewed too. I hope it gives you some weekend reading inspiration.

The Vanishing Half

The Vignes twins, Stella and Desiree, grow up together in a small, southern,…

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Review: The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Review: The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Christy Lefteri volunteered in a refugee camp in Athens where she witnessed hundreds of people struggling to reach safety overseas. Her memories, and her experience as the daughter of Cypriat refugees, inspired The Beekeeper of Aleppo, her second novel published in 2019.  

(more…)