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!

The Story of a Nobody, by Anton Chekhov

This novella is part of the 101 Page Classics series. It follows a young man, a "nobody" who has infiltrated the household of a government official's son on behalf of a secret terrorist group. His purpose is to spy on the father and, ultimately, assassinate him. But our "nobody" narrator gradually becomes disillusioned with his purpose and chooses a new path, which leads him to a tragedy.

This was my first Chekhov, but not my first piece of classic Russian literature, and I think it is the perfect introduction to the genre! It's a great way to discover some new authors or discover a forgotten classic. Who doesn't a love character-driven psychological story? And Chekhov's writing is stunning!

At only 101 pages, it's definitely worth trying something new. And despite its short length, by the end you fully know the characters and will have formed your opinions of them. 

- Jenny, @budgetbooklover 

Paperback, £5.99. Find this in the Classics section!