Little Nothings, by Julie Mayhew

This gripping thriller had me hooked from the first few pages… If you’re looking for a happy book about the joys of female friendship and motherhood, then step away from this book!

Little Nothings is told from Liv’s viewpoint and tells the tale of Liv and her close friends, Beth and Binnie. This book is loaded with drama and tension, and it explores the different personality traits of the characters over the perfect summer holiday, with flashbacks to help build a real history of each relationship. We switch between a life changing trip to the idyllic Greek Isles, and how these group of friends came together…

The three ladies began their friendship whilst attending a baby and toddler group and bonded over a feeling of not belonging within the cliques of their group. Alongside their children and partners, these women form a tight friendship, riding the waves of the ups and downs of life together. 

Then, along comes Ange: a competitive, wealthy, and fascinating character who completely takes over as Queen Bee and really shakes the group up! Ange appears to have it all, yet somehow seems very insecure. As Beth and Binnie fight to keep up with Ange and her aspirations - like bigger houses, better restaurants, and expensive wardrobes - Liv is gradually edged out, unable to keep up with expensive habits. 

As we continue to follow the group’s holiday, orchestrated by Ange, we start to see just how true the saying ‘keep your friends close & your enemies closer’ can be.

I felt I could really relate to all of these women but Liv especially. She is very complex and has always struggled with making friends, but she feels ever so ‘normal’ to me as a reader and always says what a lot of us are thinking! Beth and Binnie, however, are more happy-go-lucky, and very likeable. I felt very sorry for Liv at times, and it was hard to read, but I couldn’t help but fly through this book!

Thrillers aren’t the normal genre I would pick; however, this story was intriguing, thought provoking, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only regret is that I wish I hadn’t raced to the end of the book. The ending was underwhelming and felt slightly rushed after all of the suspense and drama that continues to build throughout the book. Little Nothings is an ideal summer read but I imagine it would be just as enjoyable in the winter months, dreaming of the summer sun in Corfu.

Julie Mayhew has written several other books, plays, and TV dramas, and I will certainly be looking forward to trying another one.

- Kate @kate.silverton / @the.lockdown.mumma

Hardback, £14.99

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The Paper Palace, by Miranda Cowley Heller

This is such a beautiful book; a remarkable debut by Miranda Cowley Heller. It tells the story of Elle Bishop and the many secrets she has been forced to keep throughout her life.

The novel is set in Cape Cod, where the Paper Palace is found. The Paper Palace is in fact, a group of ramshackle buildings, built decades earlier by Elle's grandfather. It is so named as the walls are covered in paper.  It is a place that Elle and her family escape to each year; a sanctuary that offers beauty, peace, and tranquillity to Elle. It serves as her retreat from the deepest, darkest secrets she keeps.

I was immediately drawn into the plot line. I wanted to know more about Elle, whose turbulent life history will unfold before our very eyes over 24 hours and fifty years. We meet Elle as a child, a teen and as an adult, and slowly, Miranda Heller's exquisite writing uncovers a story of a troubled family, peeling back the layers, revealing devastating and dark secrets. 

When we first meet Elle, she rises early one morning to take a swim in the pond, upon which the Paper Palace sits. She has done this swim many times before, both alone and with family and friends. But this morning she's preoccupied. As Elle dives into the water, she is recalling the events of the night before - her passionate encounter with Jonas, her oldest friend and confidant, even though her husband Peter and family were just inside. 

The author takes us on an amazing journey through time, contrasting the present day with memories of the past, and the love that exists between childhood friends, Elle and Jonas.  Spanning decades, this book takes us all the way back to Elle’s grandmother, her troubled relationships, and the impact it had upon Elle's mother, and how she consequently parented her daughters, Elle and Anna.

The book is simply brilliant. The writing is extraordinary, demonstrating a quiet authority and power, which completely penetrated my soul.  It elegantly builds a picture of Elle’s life, and allows us to completely understand her. I can't recall a character that as compelling; one I felt I got to know.

This book is definitely amongst the best I have read so far this year.  It is stunning, and will appeal to those who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing.  Dive right in and you'll be mesmerised by the spell this book casts.  It is a masterpiece.

- Milly

Paperback, £8.99. Find it in the Fiction section.

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Acts of Service, by Lilian Fishman

 Acts of Service is a novel set in Brooklyn, New York, centring around Eve, a New Yorker in her twenties who is finding her own sense of sexual freedom and queer identity. This was a fascinating book, exploring a variety of somewhat philosophical themes, from sexual identity and exploration to the ideas surrounding personal freedom. Amid a landscape of polyamory, Fishman unpicks the intricacies of sexuality and the interplay of power and dominance – does one need to be dominant to feel powerful? 

Being on the autistic spectrum myself, I find human sexual behaviour both foreign and intriguing. Hence the decision to pick up this book – a unique genre/ topic to me. I did enjoy the book, as my interest was sustained by the slightly unusual narrative style where the story unfolds within a very small geographical space, namely a few bedrooms and coffee shops. Yet Fishman purposefully uses this set-up to create room for the human physical intimacies to inspire the very story itself. Thus, reinforcing the power of body language as a powerful method of communication.

A further question Fishman explores is the definition of love. Juxtaposing romantic love and its accompanying emotions, many of which we may see in the public sphere, with intimate love, a more private affair, where hidden desires and sexual fires are unearthed, along with emotions of passion, desire, and lust. Fishman prompts the reader to consider if both romance and intimacy can be considered under this umbrella of love. 

By featuring such weighty topics, Fishman creates a subtly philosophical landscape, using the central characters of Eve, Nathan and Olivia as a vehicle from which to consider wider ideas such as dual identity and the varying personas people portray within public and personal spaces. As someone who finds vulnerability and human behaviour challenging, it was even more interesting to read about how the trio of main characters each deciphered their partners’ attitudes and level of confidence through the feeling of their body. 

My one criticism is that the ending felt a little rushed and disconnected to the main story line. I felt Fishman was trying to increase the tempo near the end by including a slight plot twist and subversion of expectations, yet I don’t feel she fully integrated this into the prior storyline, resulting in a slightly disjointed ending. Regardless, this was certainly not a regrettable read, since it is important to bring to light the topic of vulnerability, as I believe it is a gift to find someone with whom you can feel free with and take down all personal defences. This may be easier said than done, but not out of the realm of possibility…

- Scarlett

Paperback, £13.99.

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Not Exactly What I Had in Mind, by Kate Brook

When reading this book, you will get to know Hazel, a hugely relatable character for anyone single in their 30s. Her story will have you laughing with her; wanting to hug her and, at some points, wanting to scream at her that she can’t see what is right there in front of her! But most of all, due to the beautiful way that Kate Brook has portrayed her lead character, you will find yourself just wanting to meet Hazel for a coffee and talk days away like she’s your best friend.

Along with Hazel, you meet one of her housemates, Alfie, and Hazel’s sister and her wife. This delightful blend of characters are all on their own journeys, and it’s fascinating to see them intertwine throughout the story. Between the four of them they manage to navigate themselves into and out of situations that are portrayed by the author very gently and honestly, exposing some of the challenges of modern relationships, as well as the sheer joy that can be found in them!

While reading this book, I thought I knew where the story was heading, but as soon as I settled into the ebb and flow of it all, along came a plot twist to head it in a different direction (‘well... that wasn’t what I had in mind’ ... I kept saying to myself!)

Some quite challenging subjects are taken on in this book: sexuality, fertility issues, abusive relationships, modern family set ups, and the financial burden that is adulthood. Each of these topics is addressed in a very real, honest, and careful way, sprinkling over them the right amount of humour to capture the journey of the characters in a way that you can’t help but love them. 

The blurb on the back of the book says it is ‘painfully relatable’ and I can’t tell you how true this is. It is a real eyeopener to adulthood in 2022 and I think I would struggle to find anyone in their 20s, 30s, or 40s who couldn’t relate to an element in this book.

I absolutely devoured this book in a matter of days, and I have now begun the grieving process that you go through when you read a great book and you start to miss it. Missing the characters, wishing the story was real, and wanting to read it all over again just so you can remain in Hazel’s world for a little bit longer.  

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

- Nicola

Hardback, £14.99. Find it in the fiction section or order here!

The Swimmers, by Julia Otsuka

This is the first novel of Julie Otsuka’s that I have read, and it won't be the last. It is a stunning masterpiece about ageing, memory, and the experiences that shape a life.

The story begins with a group of swimmers who all belong to the same community pool. Each member of the group has their own story to tell, but it's Alice who becomes obsessed with a mysterious crack that appears at the bottom of the swimming pool. Some of the group are curious; others start to panic, believing this could be the end of the swimming adventures they all so enjoy.

It's towards the end of this story that Julia Otsuka's writing takes on such beauty, tenderness, and heartbreak, as Alice struggles to hold onto her sense of self. She feels she is still here, but she's viewed differently by her husband, her daughter, her friends.

Dive in and read this wonderfully heartbreaking but life-affirming book. We can all learn about the importance and value of life, being who we are meant to be. Otsuka's writing is a delight to discover, and one should savour every poetic word. You will not be disappointed.

- Milly

Hardback, £12.99. Find it in the Fiction section!

Worn, by Sofi Thanhauser

This book confronts us with the awful realities of the textile industry, uncovering a world where the people who make our clothes now are seldom paid what they deserve and are often harmed by the industry. The book has sections on linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, and wool. As Sofi explains, “… the history and reportage [this book] contains is weighted towards understanding the U.S.’s role in building a global garment trade that touches every corner of the world.” Although it's definitely U.S.-centric, part of the section on wool describes the author’s visit to Woolfest in Cumbria one year.

This is not a light read. Although the narrative is mostly about Thanhauser’s visits to factories; people’s homes; and workplaces, it is very fact-heavy and depressing reading. Cotton uses 8,500 litres of water to make 1Kg but wheat only needs 900 litres. About 24 per cent of the world’s insecticide is used for cotton farming, polluting water supplies. A pair of jeans uses 20,000 litres of water – the amount that could be used to grow the wheat needed to bake a loaf of bread every week for a year.

It's unlikely that anyone looking for cheap clothing on the UK high streets has any idea of the human activity (and suffering and exploitation). It might also be unlikely that they care.

- Colin

Hardback, £20. Find it in the History section!

Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel

From her position on stage, eight-year-old Kirsten witnesses the death of a Hollywood icon during his performance as King Lear at a Toronto theatre. That same evening a deadly flu virus arrives in the city, and within days the world as we know it has collapsed. Twenty years later, Kirsten is herself an actor, touring Shakespeare with the Travelling Symphony, crossing dangerous territory to bring theatre and music to communities of survivors.

This could easily have been written during the first lockdown of 2020 but was actually published six years earlier, and other than the virulence of the disease and the vast death toll, nothing in here feels exaggerated. The reactions of the protagonists and the world around them feel very real, even down to the bulk-buying of toilet paper in an early chapter.

But this isn’t really a book about a virus, or even about the end of the world. It’s a book about human connection, even where that connection is tangential, and about the importance of the things ‘beyond survival’ that bind us together. While the narrative arcs back and forth between characters, times and places both pre- and post-pandemic, the connections are subtly and sometimes surprisingly revealed.

It's a tribute to the quality of the storytelling here that I have continued to think about elements of the story in the weeks since reading it. This is not a happy book, but it is gently reassuring, and it repeatedly reminds us that ‘Survival is Insufficient’. Being human is not merely about existing and procreating, but also, and more importantly, it’s about memory, connection, the things we carry with us and the things we leave behind.

- Paul

Paperback, £9.99. Find it in the fiction section!

Tipping the Velvet, by Sarah Waters

Purchased from Gay's the Word; the most fantastic all-LGBTQIA+ bookshop in Bloomsbury, London. Upon standing in front of the storefront, I declared to my friend: "I am in search of historical gays!" I wanted a story of incognito queers from decades; heck, CENTURIES passed. I wanted androgyny and bravery and a total disregard for strict social codes.

Oooooh boy, did Sarah Waters come THROUGH!

Tipping the Velvet follows Nancy Astley, as she falls in love with a performer at the music halls, Kitty Butler. Kitty dresses as a man in her act, and Nancy is completely enthralled by it all. Things escalate quickly and, after moving to London with Kitty, she finds that things aren't as simple as falling in love and building a life when you're both women. Nancy finds herself tumbling all over London, trying to find herself with one foot in one world, and one in another.

Nancy sees it all: cross-dressing, prostitution, rags and riches, sex, androgyny, homophobia, ostracisation, heartbreak, familial bonds - both blood and chosen - acceptance, social change... her world is a chaotic blur of over ground and underground cultures battling it out. Not once does Nancy even consider re-joining the straight-laced (pardon the pun) life she was born into, and she is heroic in her efforts to stand proudly and independently in her resolve. I admire her courage and tenacity; though I cringe at her greed and shallowness.

She is by no means a diamond in the rough, but is as scuffed and filthy as the rest of the world. And that's how she gripped me! She didn't necessarily deserve stability, sanctuary, and security any more than any other character in this book, so I just had to know whether or not she found it!

This book has a message of forgiveness; of personal growth, and understanding when to let go. It reminds us that we can build communities around us that make us feel whole and safe. As a queer individual, this is especially powerful, and I implore anyone who identifies under the LGBT+ umbrella to read this book! But no one under 18... it's a little graphic at times!

A new firm favourite; one of the best books I've read in YEARS!

- Sian

Paperback, £8.99. Find it in the fiction section!

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie

In this Agatha Christie masterpiece, first published in 1926, the great detective Poirot has retired to King's Abbot, home of an old friend of his, the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. Despite hoping to remain anonymous, Poirot's peace is shattered when Ackroyd is murdered.

Dr Sheppard was at Ackroyd's house the night of the murder, and over the course of the investigation, he appears as Poirot's sidekick, since Hastings has married and is now living in Argentina.

The narrative is told from Dr Sheppard’s point of view as he documents the investigation, the sparks of genius from Poirot, and his famous little grey cells. As Hastings did before him, Sheppard gives insight into the workings of Poirot's analytical mind, as well as throwing light on the nuances of the suspects. Whilst Poirot sees them as pieces of the puzzle, Sheppard reveals them as people who are as flawed, as they are good.

Between the murder and the big reveal, the plot contains Agatha Christie's famous twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings and many interpretations of the facts presented. This book is famous for its unusual and, at the time, innovative, ground-breaking ending. It is the kind of book you want to go back and read again once the killer has been revealed, to see if the clues do in fact, fit the revelation.

Christie's book are timeless, satisfying the need for a great whodunnit, as successfully as they did on first publication. Her ability to write twisting plots and multi-layered characters still captures the imagination of generation after generation.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was voted the best novel ever by the British Crime Writers Association in 2013. It would be a crime not to read it! It is my favourite of all the brilliant novels Agatha Christie wrote and is a treat for fans of this genre.

- Milly

The Georgians, by Penelope J. Corfield

This book left me stunned. How can one person, even an Emeritus Professor like Corfield, know so much about so many topics – and have the skill to fit them together in this highly, highly readable Rubik’s cube? She admits in the introduction that the book has taken many years to complete and I can believe it. I have seldom read a book that covers so much so well.

The book comprises five parts:
I. The Georgian Debating an Age of Change
II. The Georgians Experiencing Change in Daily Life
III. The Georgians Ruling and Resisting
IV. The Georgians in Social Ferment
V. The Georgians Viewed Long

Oh, and approximately sixty pages of erudite endnotes.

 As can be deduced from that structure, Corfield shows us how things changed over the long eighteenth century, illustrating points with the stories of individuals; citing books; and at the end of each chapter, suggesting further reading; a list of places to visit in person or online; and even a Youtube performance of The Rivals. She makes the point that Georgians were aware of change, and were keen to share their views about it, for better or worse. Corfield goes back to sources and debunks several myths.

Based upon Corfield’s book, my belief is that the reason it’s so interesting to look back and study the Georgian Age was because, as she states, the numbers of both men and women who were literate and numerate overtook – for the first time in Britain’s history – the numbers of the illiterate and innumerate. That increase in people who COULD write, translated into an increase in the numbers who DID write – and hence we have so much more evidence of contemporary thoughts and beliefs than we do for previous ages.

But it is such a comprehensive book and so well argued that you might have a different view – and so might I, the next time I read it. And I shall re-read it, probably several times – and certainly keep it as my “go to” reference book for ALL aspects of life from the 1690s to the 1830s.

- Colin

Hardback, £25. Find it in the history section!

The Eye of The World, by Robert Jordan

Before I start this review, let me give you a piece of advice: don't read the blurb on the back of this book. It didn't completely ruin my reading experience, but it does give a spoiler that does not actually occur until the very last page of the book. So! Here’s a blurb that does not include that spoiler....

“The Eye of The World” is the first book in the “Wheel of Time” series, which is an epic high fantasy series of 14 books – yes, fourteen books. We start in a small village in Two Rivers where Moraine meets 3 young men who are being hunted by evil agents of the Shadow. She must guide them through lands of myth and legend to Tar Valon, where they will be safe.

And that is all you really need to know - the rest is best left untold until you discover it in your reading.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. If you haven’t read fantasy before, this would not be a good one to start with. The world is very complex, and Jordan does not take the time to explain it. When the story starts, it's like you’re expected to know all the terminology and the history of this world already. Thankfully there’s a glossary at the back, which I used extensively to understand what’s being referred to. But it does get easier as the book goes on.

Something worth noting about the glossary: it doesn't tell you anything that the characters do not already know or will be explained to them. For instance, “The Eye of The World” is not in the glossary; whilst one of the characters knows what it is, the rest do not. The glossary doesn’t spoil anything: when it’s revealed, you find out with the rest of the characters.

I did find that about midway through I started to struggle. The entire book is told in the third person, mainly from Rand's perspective. Around the middle, however, there is a narrative change, and after seeing so much from Rand's perspective, I really found it difficult to adapt to that change. Eventually I did appreciate it and found it actually gave me a more rounded out experience of what was happening.

One of my biggest "complaints" about this book is its similarities to “The Lord of the Rings” series. There is a journey, there is a magical person guiding a group of seemingly hapless people, there are even species similar to Orcs and Nazgul. However - Tolkien was the father of epic fantasy series and it's inevitable that high fantasy books written after “The Lord of The Rings” will have been influenced by them.

So, the big question is: Will I continue with this series? The answer is yes. I found this to be a real page turner, and the writing very accessible. I loved the cast of characters and I want to know what will happen to them. Despite similarities with “The Lord of Rings”, this series still has enough original storyline to keep me excited and invested.

- Jenny (@budgetbooklover)

Paperback, £9.99. Find it in the Sci-fi & Fantasy section!

Widowland, by CJ Carey

It’s 1953 and Britain is on the eve of the second coronation of Edward VIII, thirteen years after a pact with Nazi Germany. Rose Ransom is in an elite class of women and works for the Ministry of Culture, bringing works of literature into line with Nazi ideals. Meanwhile, acts of vandalism involving lines of text from forbidden books are being blamed on women who are forced to live in the run-down ghetto known as Widowland. As an expert in the works the rebellious women are quoting, Rose is tasked to uncover the source before The Leader arrives in England…

I love good speculative and dystopian fiction, especially those set in a believable alternate reality. The reality portrayed here is all too believable, with well-rounded characters and a sense of the early 1950s in our reality with an Orwellian overlay of suspicion and paranoia. The result is a feminist thriller, with elements of Robert Harris' Fatherland and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

This could be a good book club read, as there’s a lot to discuss, but it’s also written with a style that makes it enjoyable despite the dystopian setting.

- Paul

Hardback, £14.99 - paperback released April 2022. Find it in the fiction 

Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters

Two girls, who know nothing of each other, are thrown together in their teenage years.  Sue has been raised by villains and thieves in what amounts to a "den" in the backstreets of London. She knows poverty and hardship, but, despite losing her own mother as a baby, knows she is loved by Mrs Suckersby, the brains of the criminal operation.

Maud has grown up under the care of her uncle, in a manor house in the countryside, totally isolated from the real world outside their estate. Maud has also lost her mum, but she is neither loved nor cherished by her uncle, who uses his niece to further his strange literary research.

Enter the handsome and enigmatic Gentleman.  He has a devilish plan to wheedle his way into Maud's life and heart, in pursuit of the family fortune which she will inherit on her eighteenth birthday, and Sue is a crucial part of his plan.

Sarah Waters is a master story-teller, and this tale is one of those rare books that I just couldn't wait to get back to, and was grateful for a long read (500 pages).  Bed-time got earlier and earlier as I was drawn deeper into the plot!  The relationship between the two girls is heart-warming, but at the same time that I was celebrating their friendship I was feeling Sue's guilt at being part of Maud's imminent downfall.

I really liked Sue, and I just wanted the Gentleman to disappear so that the girls could just settle into a quiet and peaceful existence together, giving and getting exactly what each deserved in their young but troubled lives.

But that wouldn't have made for much of a tale, would it?  Instead, Waters weaves a dramatic spider-web of deceit and betrayal, which leaves the reader heartbroken over the potential fate of both girls. And even though we learn early on in the story about Gentleman's dastardly deed, that's really just the start of the plot twists. 

- Jeanette

Paperback, £8.99. Find it in the Fiction section!

All the Things we Do in the Dark, by Saundra Mitchell

“Nooo! I forgot my book. What am I going to read while I eat my lunch?!”

“You’re in a book shop – just pick something!”

“Fine! This one!”


Ah, a love story for the ages: a human and their book, reluctantly meeting in a flurry of hunger and desperation. Alas, we did meet, and that’s what truly matters! So here we go…

Ava has been through enough. Like, from childhood, she’s been through enough pain and fear for a lifetime. She’s dealing with far more than what should have been her lot; anyone’s lot, for that matter. But there are bad people out there, and because of bad people, Ava knows how to protect herself. Her mother knows how to protect her. So does her best friend, her tattoo artist, her… well, that’s about it really. Those are all the people.

But Ava literally strays down the wrong path one day, and she finds a dead body. She names her Jane Doe, and she is her friend. Not the alive Jane Doe; the dead Jane Doe. Jane was hurt too, just like Ava was. Ava can tell. Jane Doe was lucky enough to die from her pain. Ava is left behind to live with the hers.

In protecting Jane from further humiliation, grief, and anguish, Ava doesn’t tell a soul about her. Not even her best friend or her mother or her tattoo artist.

And as if finding a dead body weren’t frightening enough for a trauma-riddled teenager, she also falls in love in the same week. The world is bonkers, and it keeps surprising Ava. And things only get more twisted from there.

A member of our book club describes certain books as “Soul Books”. I suppose that is a play on soulmate, and frankly, it is perfection. And in grabbing this book at random one day, I found my third Soul Book*.

There are short breaks in this story for poetry. The prose is its very own special poetry. It is lyrical, immeasurable, unemulated; it has clarity and irreverence and power that I have been needing to drink down like a thirsty peasant. At times, I just had to put the book down, shut my eyes, and think about nothing. Just to give myself a chance to catch up.

This book is deceptively powerful and an emotional ride. Approach with caution, and with open arms. I’ll certainly be keeping it close for a while.

*The other two are “The Fault in our Stars”, by John Green; and “I’ll Give You the Sun”, by Jandy Nelson.  

- Sian

Paperback, £7.99. Find it in the Young Adult section!

*Content warning: assault, sexual trauma, flashbacks

Take Me With You When You Go, by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven

This book is an epistolary - which in this case means it is formed entirely of emails - a fact which, initially, put me off picking up the book. I'm not necessarily sure why it put me off, since every epistolary I've read has been wildly successful and engaging. Alas, I gave in and I really enjoyed it.

The emails are between siblings Bea and Ezra, after Bea runs away from home. Being a few years older than Ezra, Bea feels she's ready to escape their disastrous and terrifying home life... and leaves Ezra behind. About which Ezra is livid. He's stuck behind with their dangerous step father and clueless mother; stuck with Bea's ex-boyfriend, the latter of whom believes Ezra knows more about Bea's whereabouts than he's letting on. 

And to be fair, he does. Nobody knows that Ezra is in touch with Bea, nor does anyone know that she has gone looking for their biological father. It's all a bit of a mess, really.

This story definitely had me on the edge of my seat at times, willing these helpless teenagers to find sanctuary, acceptance, and contentment, despite the awful adults surrounding them. It gets you thinking about connection and identity; about how distant those things may feel if you don't know where you came from, or who loves you. Who wants you. Who lied about those things.

A solid young adult drama, with a real depth and gripping plot development. There's a lot to learn from these young characters, even as an adult. 

- Sian

Paperback, £7.99. You can find this in the Young Adult section!

Stranger in the Shogun's City, by Amy Stanley

Stranger In The Shogun's City focuses on the daughter of a Buddhist priest, Tsuneno. Born in 1804 in Japan's snow country, she defied convention by running away from her family to Edo, which we now call Tokyo, following her third divorce. Through the letters she sent home, we see her forge her own path in life.

Woven around Tsuneno's story is the history of Edo and Japan at the time. The world was changing and soon Japan would also be changing. The people featured are also gone, which is a sobering thought, but I love that part of them now lives on through the pages of this book.

Overall this was a really interesting and compelling book. Whilst this is essentially a history book, the narrative following Tsuneno and her family added an additional human element. You become invested in her life and want to know how she fares. Considering all that is left of her are the few letters she sent home, and some of the replies, Stanley manages to build up a rounded picture of her personality and impulsive temperament. 

That being said sometimes I felt that Stanley overplayed the "she might have" narrative. The fact is that we don't know a lot of what Tsuneno was thinking, and whilst it is interesting to speculate, there were a few chapters where I felt we were given too many options of what she might have thought, and I found it grating.

But that is a minor grumble really. Overall, this was incredibly well researched, as demonstrated by the extensive notes and bibliography, and is a love letter to Edo, a place which no longer exists. 

I would like to read more from Stanley and would especially like to learn more about her research into Tsuneno and Edo.

- Jenny, @budgetbooklover on Instagram 

Paperback, £9.99. Find it in the History section!

Small Pleasures, by Clare Chambers

Living in London and working for a newspaper in the 50’s, Jean could have been the typically written assertive go-getter woman journalist. But instead the reader meets a gentle soul in Jean. Jean cares for her mother and has to fit in with her way of living, leaving her little freedom. Both the reader and Jean can quite easily see her life stretching into that dull horizon of servitude.

However, Jean grasps at the most intriguing story to investigate: a real-life immaculate conception. Through Jean we learn Gretchen’s story and meet her family. Gretchen seems to have it all: the nice home, a devoted and loving husband, and a wonderful - possibly Godsent - daughter. But things don’t seem to quite add up. 

This story captures the reader from the beginning, with a clip of a newspaper article, which, by the middle of this intriguing tale, I had all but forgotten. As I read, I grew more intrigued by Gretchen’s behaviour than the origins of her conception, although that thread of the story is interesting, and comes into play further down the line.

It’s Chambers's characters and their interactions that really clinch it for me. You become Jean's unseen best friend, and you root for her, and you feel divided over which outcome you want to see: her finding the truth or publishing a mind-blowing article.

- Anara

Paperback, £8.99. Find this in our Fiction section!

[This story does bring up some issues that people with particular triggers may wish to avoid however these instances I felt were dealt with very gently and not in great detail.]

The Shadows of London series, by Maureen Johnson

“The Name of the Star” starts with Rory’s move from the United States to a boarding school in London, just as a Jack the Ripper copy-cat starts committing murders around the city. It draws a media frenzy to her neighbourhood, and under the most unlikely circumstances, Rory finds herself in the middle of the chaos. The weirdest people start popping up, and danger seems to be as common as cottage pie in the school canteen.

I don’t normally read a lot of fantasy, so this good old fashioned ghost story is the most wonderful palette cleanser when I just want that perfect mix of the familiarity of studying for A Levels in dreary British weather, crossed with the unsettled world of the supernatural, and heart-stopping conflict. And Rory makes the most wonderful protagonist: curious, funny, intelligent, independent, reckless, and just a little bit odd. There is light and dark in every person you meet in this series, and it keeps things unpredictable and gripping the whole way through.

I’ve only described the first book in this series to you: “The Madness Underneath” and “The Shadow Cabinet” are just as thrilling, and prove that Maureen Johnson’s ability to add nuance, depth, and tension in a fantasy story world is, well, fantastic. Rory finds herself in dangerous company, dragged into things far beyond her expectation or comprehension, and we – ourselves – start to wonder where life ends and death begins. The end of the third book leaves us in such a state of high stakes, mystery, and genuine fear, the fact that we are still waiting for the fourth instalment is killing me.

If you’re looking for a quick but compelling series to power through, here is your sign to pick this up. You won’t be disappointed.

- Sian

Paperback, £7.99. You can find this in the Young Adult section!

The Song that Sings Us, by Nicola Davies

Imagine a world where people have lived in harmony with nature for so long that some humans are now able to listen to the thoughts of other animals, and some animals are able to communicate with humans. This is the world created by Nicola Davies, but it is a world threatened by the rise of the Automators, a group who view nature as the enemy and who want to exploit the planet’s resources and persecute Listeners.

This is a book written for children and teenagers, and is a hugely enjoyable adventure with a dark message of impending ecocide. The opening chapter is a breath-taking ride in itself, and there are moments throughout where I had to stop and take stock, with some challenging scenes and moments of peril which I wasn’t entirely expecting!

While this is clearly a children’s book, I was completely drawn into the world created and fully invested in the core characters – siblings Harlon and Ash are fantastic protagonists, and Skrimsli, the Ice Ship captain who just happens to be a tiger, is one of the best characters I’ve come across since Iorek Byrnison in Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights.

Featuring a cover, map, and chapter head illustrations by Jackie Morris, this is a thrilling eco-epic – I’ll definitely be recommending it as a gift for older children with a love of adventure stories, or an interest in environmental issues.

- Paul

Hardback, £14.99. Find this in the Children's section!

Agnes Grey, by Anne Brontë

A book club special!

This was the first book we read as a group, and as such, it was a very sombre start. We follow Agnes Grey as she tries to make her way into a career as a governess. Her family isn't keen on her plan, but she remains firm in her resolution to play her part in pulling her family through their sudden and unexpected poverty. She goes on to work for unpleasant families and downright hellish children. If you're expecting a charming, cosy family unit like Little Women (like I was) you will be sorely disappointed.

Agnes is a mild character. She likes to look for the best in others and in the worst circumstances; she trusts her faith in God to give her purpose and guidance. Even in moments of weakness, she is headstrong, kind, and has the best intentions. But... she's just a little meek for my taste. As much as I admire her determination, sometimes it feels like she could have put that energy towards something a little more fruitful. It is oh-so-noble to put aside your own happiness in order to care for others' needs, but at times it didn't feel as though anyone was benefiting from her efforts. At times, she was more stubborn than noble, and it was a little bit frustrating as a woman in the 21st Century. 

She came to life a little when she was falling in love. I mean, yes Mr Weston is a priest, and so is her father, but let's overlook the psychological discomfort there. He's a good man: generous, patient, and reliable. Unfortunately, Agnes decides to omit certain interactions they have, "for fear of boring the reader". She says that she finds such a thrill in the most mundane of interactions with Mr Weston, that we couldn't possibly be interested in hearing about them. Alas, Agnes, you were wrong: at times, I was simply gasping for something -- anything to happen! She finally had some spirit and some unencumbered positivity, and it was a joy to experience.

It is a bit of a dreary read in my opinion, but it has a soothing and comforting ending after all. I shan't spoil it too much, but here is my one note: don't worry about the dog, he'll be ok!

I don't think this was the best Brontë sister to start with, but I haven't been totally put off yet!

- Sian

Paperback, £7.99 - multiple editions available. Find this in the Classics section!