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

Order it online!

Stargazer, by Laurie Petrou

Stargazer is a book full of suspense and twists, and I was hooked from the opening chapter. 

From very different worlds, Aurelle and Diana are brought together by trauma, forming an unlikely bond. Their friendship is complex, intense, and unusual. When the girls join university together, you can feel their mutual desire to escape their past and try to forge new identities. 

The main themes running though the book are relationships, lust, loss, wealth, and status. The characters are beautifully crafted and as they developed throughout the book, I found myself wanting to know more about them and what is underneath the surface. The author brilliantly creates a sense of mystery and tension through clever description and characterisation.

Although this book is a slow burner, it kept me on my toes. 

I’d tell you all more, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers! If you like thrilling, suspense filled reads, this book is for you. If you were a fan of Big Little Lies or Little Fires Everywhere, I think you would love this!

- Lauren

Paperback, £9.99. Order now!

A Mansion for Murder, by Frances Brody

Frances Brody’s A Mansion for Murder is her latest Kate Shackleton novel, and it features a real place – Milner Field, near Saltaire in West Yorkshire.  Kate is a private investigator, working with Jim Sykes and her housekeeper, Mrs Sugden. In 1930, Kate receives a mysterious letter from Ronnie Creswell, addressed to Mrs Gerald Shackleton, inviting her to meet him. Not many people would address her using her late husband’s name so she’s intrigued enough to accept the invitation. However, when she arrives at his home, she learns that Ronnie drowned that day. Kate and her colleagues get drawn into investigating Ronnie’s death and some possible industrial espionage at the mill where he worked.

Once again, Brody’s nailed the narrative tone of an intelligent professional woman. Most of the book is narrated in the first person by Kate, but suddenly switches to third person when Brody needs to include a scene without her. This can be a little confusing, but I figure it’s a small price to pay for reading such good books.

The characters are well delineated and not so many that the reader gets confused. The plot is plausible and moves reasonably briskly. There are no laugh out loud moments and the tone is gentle and measured, primarily due to Kate’s narrative voice.  There were a few errors in the early proof copy that I was given for review, but I’m sure they will be fixed before publication. None of them distracted the reader very much as it was obvious what was meant.

I really enjoyed the book and I strongly recommend it if you enjoy British mysteries set between the wars. The plot was unusual, although I guessed whodunnit for once by a process of elimination.

- Colin

Paperback, £8.99. Published 20-10-22.

Pre-order with us now!

info@westbournebookshop.co.uk

info@gulliversbookshop.co.uk

Sun Damage, by Sabine Durrant

 Nine guests arrive at a remote villa in the South of France.

They know each other well. Or think they do.

At least one of them has plenty to hide and nowhere to run...

Sun Damage is quite a difficult book to explain without revealing any spoilers. What I can say is that we meet a couple of con artists at the beginning, who thrive on travelling the world and tricking people out of their money. Whilst on a job in France, a scam goes wrong and one of them flees, assuming the identity of another person. But they know the old partner will undoubtedly come after them one day.

The person who flees finds honest work as a live-in chef for a family staying at a remote villa in the south of France. But with family and friends coming to stay, can their identity be kept hidden? Especially when one of the guests seems to know them. 

The south of France is a great location to set a novel, the beauty, sights, sounds, and scents, all became part of the narrative.

The build-up of this story was very slow; the beginning was, in my opinion, far too long - I even questioned if the synopsis was right! But the tension was ever-present. I felt the torment of our main protagonist, longing for their old life, under the guise of their new identity; a supposed perfect escape.

I didn’t find Sun Damage to be one of Sabine Durrant’s best books. I loved all her previous novels! It is one that no doubt many people will enjoy. It’s a story that keeps you guessing, full of suspense and twists. Definitely an ideal summer holiday read, in a fabulous setting.

- Milly

Milly read the proof edition of "Sun Damage."

It's OUT NOW in Hardback, £16.99. Click to order!

Andreina Cordani's 5 Upcoming Young Adult Titles to Look Forward to This Year!

Local author of "Dead Lucky," Andreina Cordani previews some hotly anticipated fiction for young adults.

Since my first book was published last year, I’ve probably spent every penny I’ve earned from sales buying young adult fiction. I’m completely hooked – YA books are provocative, diverse, imaginative, and the stories often shift the way you see the world. I also love watching the characters grow and figure out who they are and what they want from life – often while fighting monsters, solving crimes, or dealing with horrendous family issues. I’ve been lucky enough to get an early glimpse at some of the releases lined up for Summer and Autumn 2022 and there’s some amazing stories coming our way – time to get your pre-orders in!

1. Twice Hexed, by Julia Tuffs 

In this sequel to Hexed, newbie witch Jessie Jones is feeling hopeful – she’s settled on the Isle of Wight, made friends, and challenged the toxic masculinity culture in her class – but then a new witchy pupil joins her school, and stirs up trouble. The blend of supernatural strangeness and teenage reality (exams, annoying boys, periods) is spot-on. The story is fast-paced, and the comic timing is impeccable.
(Orion Children’s Books – out 23rd June)

2. The King Is Dead, by Benjamin Dean 

What better way to celebrate this Jubilee year than with this twisty tale of royal intrigue? When Prince James’ father dies suddenly, he becomes the first Black king at 17 years old, with all the privilege and problems that entails. Then his boyfriend goes missing, and when royal gossip is leaked to the public, James starts to suspect he can’t trust anyone around him…

(Simon & Schuster – out 7th July)

3. Tag, You’re Dead, by Kathryn Foxfield 

A teen celebrity challenges his followers to an overnight city-wide game of tag – the prize is instant fame as one of his live-in crew. Fans rush out into the night to track each other down – some are in it for the fun, but a few are driven by something darker: obsession and revenge… Chilling, gripping, full of creepy moments and jump-scares, this is one of those up-all-night reads.
(Scholastic – out 7th July)

4. Infamous, by Lex Croucher 

Take Bridgerton and add in a big dash of Sex Education and you’ll have Lex Croucher’s irresistible Regency story. Edith ‘Eddie’ Miller and her friend Rose are both debutantes – Rose is set on finding an eligible husband, but all Eddie wants to do is blossom as a writer. And a trip to a debauched poet’s country house could provide the inspiration she needs… A great reminder that the process of growing up, making mistakes, and figuring out who we are really hasn’t changed much over the centuries.

(Zaffre – out 21st July)

5. Big Bad Me, by Aislinn O’Loughlinn (Cover in progress!)

Evie thinks life is pretty dull, living with her mum and sister Kate, taking home-made medication for her ‘rare form of diabetes.’ But then her mother vanishes, and Evie discovers that her diabetes is actually a more lunar-related, wolf-based condition. Plunged into the supernatural world Evie tries to track down her mum while hiding at a small-town B&B – where the owners have secrets of their own. This book is so much fun – the author twists the supernatural tropes we all know and love, creating tense action and laugh-out-loud moments.
(Little Island Books – out 13th October)

Andreina Cordani's YA novel is a thriller set in the world of influencers.
A gripping and shocking read! Order it now!

Pre-order any of these books through us!

The Girls I've Been, by Tess Sharpe

Oooooh, I'm glad I impulse bought this one!

Ever since she was old enough to say her name, Nora has been given a new one by her mother. She created a new person for Nora to become five times throughout the first sixteen years of her life. First, there was Rebecca. Then Samantha. And then Haley. Katie. And finally Ashley.

Her mother took on new names too. Why? Because she was a con artist. She targeted dangerous men, forced her way into their hearts, made her child do her bidding, and when they just started to get comfortable, her mother stole their mark's fortune and ran off into the night, dragging along whichever daughter she had created that day... month... year...

But that's all in the past. Her mother is in prison, Nora chose this name herself, and she's safe with her sister. Well, almost. But what are the odds of being held at gun point at a bank robbery with your new girlfriend and ex-boyfriend?

Surely zero, right?

Wrong.

This is a gripping read. I love when a narrative plays with timelines, and we get multiples of stories progressing side-by-side, building just the right amount of tension and suspense. Each of Nora's past selves builds a deeper and more desperate picture of who she is, and to see her in so much danger in the present tense, even when she's away from a life of swindling and deception, feels tragic. I felt a distinct urge to protect her, and to hurt any person who threatened her safety.

Our narrator is a criminal, but a reluctant one. A manipulated one. But not naïve. Oh, no. Nora knows her way around a man with a gun. We get to see how Nora uses her dangerous past; her different identities to get through this harrowing experience. And it's dark to see someone who has experienced so much pain, utilise the skills that she never should have learned in the first place. 

Just a fabulous and innovative story. Incredible characters with nuanced and beautiful connections. A true testament to the strength that comes with trauma, and that you shouldn't mess with savvy teenagers!

- Sian

CW: abuse, violence, manipulation, CPTSD, anxiety

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