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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby

Published September 10th, 2026 by Mountain Leopard Press
Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

YOU TOLD HER YOUR DARKEST SECRETS.

NOW MILLIONS WILL READ THEM . . .

‘A gripping thriller that plumbs the dark depths of our closest relationships’ CLAIRE MCGOWAN

‘Brilliant and chilling . . . I tore through the pages’ – SARAH EASTER COLLINS

‘What a unique premise and so well executed. Tight plotting, and great characters. THE BESTSELLER is set to fly. I loved it!’ – LOUISE SWANSON

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Therapist Helena Salve knows that client confidentiality is the number one unbreakable rule of her job. But the constant stories of coercive control and threat she hears from her client Belle about her dangerous husband have been wearing her down. One night over too many glasses of wine, she tells her best friend Tala everything that Belle has told her.

The problem is, Tala is a down-on-her-luck novelist who is looking for an idea for her new thriller.

Months later, Tala is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher is saying this is going to be her biggest book ever. The story is Belle’s story. Not only is Helena’s job on the line, but if Belle’s husband is as dangerous as she says, her life is too…

Why would Tala do this to Helena? She knows what’s at stake.

Your friends are meant to protect you… aren’t they?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Therapist Helena Salve knows client confidentiality is the most important rule in her profession. But, after a few too many glasses of wine, she finds herself telling her best friend Tala all about her new client Belle’s abusive relationship. A year later, struggling novelist Tala tells her she’s written her best thriller yet. One that her publishers are sure will send her into the stratosphere. But she’s being cagey about it and won’t say what it’s about. When she finally reads it, Helena is horrified to learn Tala has written Belle’s story. Now her job is at risk and she’s worried Belle’s dangerous husband will come after her. Why would her best friend do this to her?

A compelling, tense and twisty debut about love, friendship, coercive control, secrets and betrayal, The Bestseller is a page-turning debut. A thought-provoking read, it poses some important questions about human behaviour, morality and toxic relationships. Jenny Knight explores coercive control and toxic relationships throughout the story, writing with honesty but also compassion. She makes sure we understand why Belle might not be able to see that she’s being abused and is reluctant to leave, something I appreciate as a survivor. She also expertly showcases how kindness, charm and protection are used by abusers to explain away their control and make the victim feel loved. 

This is a book about relationships and at the heart of the story is the friendship between Helena and Tala. It’s a well-written relationship that is full of all the complexities and nuance that you’d expect from a decades-long friendship. They have a strong bond but there is something from their past they won’t ever discuss. Something that still haunts both of them decades later. Clues are dropped like breadcrumbs for us to follow, while a past timeline slowly reveals their secret and helps us to understand them and their friendship. 

I did guess most of the twists but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book as Jenny was skilled at making me second-guess my predictions. And that ending! Talk about leaving me reeling. 

A gripping debut that all thriller lovers should have on their TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Mountain Leopard Press for sening me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenny Knightsby is a hospital doctor based in West London. The Bestseller was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize 2024 and is Knightsby’s debut novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Spy and the Snake by M. J. Robotham

Published July 9th, 2026 by Aria Books
Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Spy Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE NEW TRAILBLAZING NOVEL FROM INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR, MANDY ROBOTHAM

One mission. One fake husband. One very real problem.

Maggie Flynn has finally earned her place at of MI5-but with promotion comes paperwork. No more disguises, no more danger, just meetings, memos, and the quiet realisation that life feels a little too safe.

With her daughter away at university and her spirited mother pursuing her own adventures, Maggie’s days in London are starting to feel decidedly ordinary. So when the chance arises to return to the field, she doesn’t hesitate.

The assignment: fly to Budapest and pose as the wife of a notorious British defector in order to smuggle him back to the UK. It should be a straightforward operation. But Maggie Flynn has never done straightforward-and what’s waiting in Budapest is anything but routine.

As Cold War tensions simmer and shadows linger on every corner, Maggie finds herself navigating a city steeped in secrets-and drawn to a mysterious stranger who may endanger the mission. or steal her heart.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Maggie Flynn is back. The MI5 agent has spent the last three years playing housemaid and babysitter. But now her boss is offering her a chance to finally go into the field. They want her to go to Budapest to spring former-MI6 agent-turned-defector Fitzroy Carver out from behind the Iron Curtain and back to London. What’s more, this job is off the books. Meaning she would be totally alone with no-one to back her up if things go wrong. Maggie isn’t sure she’s ready. But with the encouragement of her friend, fellow spy Bea, she decides to do it. What follows is a tense, twisty and entertaining espionage caper that will keep you on your toes. 

M. J. Robotham’s books are always a real treat and I loved being back with Maggie. Intelligent, witty, intriguing and addictive, I was immediately transported back to the sixties and into Maggie’s world of spies and secrets. Skillfully written, cleverly plotted and well researched, Ms. Robotham knows how to keep her reader hooked and I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story is rich in historic detail, nostalgia and counterintelligence that adds a layer of authenticity. Ms. Robotham manages to expertly make the story feel lighthearted whilst also making it nail-bitingly tense and addressing some darker themes such as war and grief. 

Maggie is a wonderful character. Fierce, smart, determined and upbeat, she is easy to like and root for at every turn. Isolated and unsure who to trust, Budapest is lonely for her, so I was extra thankful for my favourite Maggie character quirk: the cast of voices that talk to her in her head. Her banter with them is always fun to read and I love how they help her get out of scrapes, encourage her, or offer comfort when times are hard, which she certainly needed on this job. The other characters are just as richly drawn and compelling, and I had a real soft spot for cafe owner Zoltan, who was just a delight. However Fitzroy was a frustrating and difficult character, which I liked as it made things more interesting and added to the tension.

A delightful and intriguing mystery, I highly recommend this one. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thanks to Aria for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M J Robotham saw herself as an aspiring author from childhood, but was waylaid by journalism, birth, children and life. After twenty years as a midwife and a Creative Writing MA, she is a full-time author, writing historical fiction as Mandy Robotham. She lives in Gloucestershire with her partner.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Against the Tide by G. D. Wright

Published June 18th, 2026 by Avon Books
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Ficiton, Police Procedural, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

If the truth could destroy you, would you choose to know it?

DC Vinny Robson has spent his career seeking justice for others, but when an elderly couple are violently murdered in his hometown of Beachbrook, the investigation takes a devastating turn – one that cuts straight through his own family.

As Vinny dives deeper, the case becomes more than a pursuit of a killer – it’s a fight against the undertow of his own past. But in chasing the truth, will he finally find justice, or will he drown in the wreckage of everything he thought he knew?

Some truths should stay submerged. But once the tide turns, there’s no stopping what comes to light.

An emotional crime drama set on the south coast of England, perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Gillian McAllister and Ann Cleeves.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

G. D. Wright never misses. He’s three for three on the tense and emotional thrillers that you can’t put down. And this is his best yet!

An elderly couple are brutally murdered in their home in Beachbrook and DC Vinny Robson is on the case. But the case soon takes an unexpected and devastating turn that could turn Vinny’s world upside down. Now, this is more than the hunt for a killer; it’s the pursuit of a truth and justice that he never knew he needed to find.

Suspenseful, gripping, twisty and totally unpredictable, this sensational thriller was impossible to put down. I’m a big fan of Gaz’s books so I was thrilled when I heard that the SquadPod had got his latest novel as one of their July reads. And he has knocked it out of the park once again. He lulls us into a false sense of security, starting slowly by introducing us to the characters and the story. But the pace soon picked up, and before long I was holding on tight for dear life with no idea what shocking revelation would hit next. Expertly written, cleverly choreographed and intricately interwoven, this is a complex thriller filled with twists you’ll never see coming and characters you’ll love. And that ending! I was not prepared and it will stay with me for a very long time.

Gaz is the King of the emotional thriller and this story had me fighting back tears quite a few times. Vinny’s mum has dementia in the story, something I know was inspired by a member of Gaz’s own family. And his experience of this terrible illness is evident in the care, sensitivity and honesty with which it was written. Another thing I love about Gaz’s books is the authenticity that shines through from his time as a Police Officer. Those small details really make a difference and allow you to have confidence in the accuracy of what you are reading.

A must-read for any thriller lover.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Avon for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From his website: Hi, and thanks so much for visiting my website. My name is Gary (pen name G.D. Wright) and I live in Kent with my wife and two young children.

I joined Kent Police at the age of 18, working on the front line in a variety of uniformed roles until the age of 29 when, completely out of the blue, I suffered two cardiac ‘events’, and was subsequently diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy if you’re being fussy!). As a result, I had an internal defibrillator implanted in me, and I had to retire from the police aged 30.

One door closed, but another opened, and my wife and I bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour. We spent eight of the happiest years of our lives there but, when the kiddies came along, it just wasn’t sustainable. Family comes first, every single time (a theme in my books…), and the simple fact was that we knew our summers should be spent with the kids, not working seven days a week. In 2022, we sold our ‘third baby’ (the coffee shop, not an actual baby – although… what a plot line for the future… making a mental note…), and I took to writing full time.

Fast forward to now. I’ve signed a two book deal with Avon UK (part of the Harper Collins family), and my debut was released in August 2024. It’s called AFTER THE STORM, and it’s a police procedural with a twisty, emotional hook. My second novel, INTO THE FIRE, was released in June 2025.

As a screenwriter, my feature film BREATHE DEEP is scheduled to shoot in September 2025.

I’m always up for chatting, so find me on my socials (below) and I’ll happily answer any questions you might have!

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Smallie by Eden McKenzie-Goddard

Publlished May 7th, 2026 by Viking
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Smallie adj. |smal·lie|
Definition: Caribbean (informal). Describing or relating a person from a small island; a small islander.

In 1961, nineteen-year-old Lucinda Brown travels to England in search of her son’s father, Clarence Braithwaite, who left Barbados to join the British army. But aboard the ship to Southampton she meets a man named Raldo who offers her a glimpse of a new life, a freer life. Bound by the memory of her son waiting at home, she chooses Clarence – realizing too late that war has made a stranger out of him.

Nearly fifty years later, Lucinda receives a letter from the Home Office that threatens to tear her world apart. Her children rally together to prove her legal arrival, and to do so they must track down an elusive man from her past, a man she wanted to love but instead lost, a man who now holds the key to her family’s future. Raldo . . .

An exhilarating and expansive tale of a family thrown into collision with the Windrush scandal, Smallie shows just how easily the past can spill into our lives, even when – especially when – we think we’ve closed the door on it.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Though I love historical fiction, I had never heard of the Windrush Scandal, which was the result of changes to government policy that led to people from the Caribbean who had been invited to emigrate to England decades earlier were left fighting for the right to stay. People were wrongly detained, denied legal rights and threatened with deportation. It tore families apart and devastated lives. 

Debut novelist Eden McKenzie Goddard explores this scandal through the eyes of one family, telling the story in dual timelines. In 1961 nineteen-year-old Lucinda Brown travelled to England from Barbados to join Clarence Braithwaite, her son’s father. But while on board the ship she meets a man named Raldo and the pair have an instant connection. Raldo offers her a different life, but Lucinda chooses Clarence. In 2017 Lucinda receives a letter from the Home Office that tears her whole world apart. They claim she came here illegally and will be deported in six weeks time. Her son, Patrick, narrates this timeline as he and his three siblings come together to try and prove her legal arrival, leading them to try and track down Raldo, who could be her last hope.

Ambitious, tender, affecting and totally immersive, Smallie is an impressive debut. Richly told, lyrical and emotionally nuanced, I was in Eden’s thrall. A story of love, longing, family, community, second-chances and justice, it explores important moments in British and West Indian history through multiple generations of one family. The characters are compelling, flawed and real and I cared about them. Having different narrators for each timeline was a good choice as  it gave them distinct voices and avoided confusion when moving between them. I loved Lulu. She’s warm, brave, kind and determined but also painfully human. Raldo, Patrick and Sheila were also particularly vivid characters that I enjoyed reading. The love story between Lulu and Raldo had me on tenterhooks and in the present timeline I loved seeing the siblings come together for their mum even though they didn’t all have the best relationships. 

A wonderful debut from an author who is a talent to watch, I recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Viking for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eden McKenzie-Goddard is a writer with Barbadian-Jamaican roots. Smallie is his first novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: Waiting on a Friend by Natalie Adler

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Published May 26, 2026 by Riverrun
Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story, Lesbian Fiction, LGBTQ Litertature

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

East Village, summer of 1984. Renata is a young dyke-about-town who has the ability to see ghosts, which has been happening more and more frequently as her friends have started dying of what has recently been named AIDS.

So, when her best friend Mark dies, she assumes she’ll see him again. There’s no way Mark wouldn’t give her a chance to say goodbye, would he? But to her disappointment – and increasingly, her concern – Mark doesn’t appear.

Renata has other problems, too. A mysterious, police-like force has begun ridding their East Village neighbourhood of anything abnormal or inexplicable. At first, she’s sure they’re scam artists, but it becomes clear they’re actually trapping ghosts. With her band of lovably eccentric pals and lovers, Renata is determined to fight back against the erasure of her friends’ memories and the sanitizing of her beloved New York.

Both heartbreaking and healing, tragic and triumphant, Waiting on a Friend is a magical retelling of queer history and a celebration of youth and camaraderie. With pathos and humour, empathy and an edge, Natalie Adler freshly reimagines the past for a new generation, reclaiming the spirit of resistance and determination that would become one of the era’s defining legacies.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

East Village, New York, summer of 1984. Young lesbian Renata has an unusual ability – she can see ghosts. And with her friends dying of AIDS it has been happening more frequently. And it’s been happening more and more frequently lately as her friends have died from AIDS. So, when her best friend Mark dies, she assumes she’ll see him again. But he doesn’t appear. And a missing ghost isn’t Renata’s only problem. There is a mysterious, police-like force trying to rid the neighbourhood of anything inexplicable. At first, she is sure they are con artists, but it’s soon clear they are trapping ghosts. So, Renata and her motley crew of friends and lovers all band together to fight back against them. 

Sometimes you just know you’re going to love a book from the first page. This was one of those books for me. Heartfelt, moving, funny and deeply human, this innovative debut is one you won’t forget. A story of tragedy, grief, youth and friendship, Natalie Adler had me in the palm of her hand from start to finish. Skillfully written and original, Adler reimagines a dark time in queer history and the bleak reality of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, giving it a supernatural twist and showcasing the community’s strength to overcome seemingly insurmountable prejudice and odds. She also transports us to New York, bringing it to life so vividly that I could see the gritty streets, smell the car exhausts and hear the cacophony of people and traffic. I was totally hooked and read the whole book in just two sittings. 

Renata and the motley crew of other characters are richly drawn, relatable and real. I liked these people and was drawn into their world. I believed in these friendships, romances and dalliances. The 1980s were a terrifying time for the queer community. So little was known and it was a game of Russian Roulette that so many people lost. Adler does a great job of threading that undercurrent of fear into every facet of their lives whilst also making them feel normal. Unfortunately I know the pain of losing friends and could relate to the heartbreak they were feeling. I also thought how comforting it could have been for Renata to see some of those friends again as ghosts. I loved how the supernatural aspect never felt unreal and I was rooting for the ghosts as much as the other characters. 

Quirky, emotional and enthralling, this remarkable debut is one I’ll think about for years to come. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Ms. Adler. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Rivverun for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest reivew.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Natalie Adler has an MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College and a PhD in Comparative Literature from Brown University. She was a Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellow at the Center for Fiction. She is an editor at Lux magazine and an instructor at Sackett Street Writers. She is from New Jersey and lives in New York City.

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Kiss Marry Kill by Yemi Dipelou

Published April 23rd, 2026 by Faber & Faber
Psychological Thriller, Crime Ficiton, Suspense, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s Ife’s dream wedding – until her new husband Ade is arrested for murder.

His missing ex, Cynthia, has been found dead on the Dorset coast.

Case closed: it’s always the ex, right?

But did Ade kiss, marry – and kill? One person hopes the truth never comes out.

‘Fast-paced, wickedly witty, and brimming with Nollywood-level drama. An unforgettable story that pulls you in and refuses to let go.’ LIZZIE DAMILOLA BLACKBURN
‘Rich in character, smart and pacy. Yemi Dipeolu brings a brilliant new voice to the thriller genre.’ L. V. MATTHEWS
‘A deliciously twisty debut thriller that adeptly explores the lethal margins of love, with compelling characters and a fiendish ending.’ ISABELLE GREY

A pulse-racing, bingeable thriller about love, marriage and obsessions that fans of Adele Parks and The List will LOVE

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Ife and Ade’s wedding day is the day she’s always dreamed of. Until her groom is arrested on suspicion of murder at the reception. Ade’s ex, Cynthia, has been missing for months and now her body has turned up on the Dorset coast. Ade is their prime suspect. But did Ade really kiss, marry and kill?

What a wild ride! I did not expect the crazy, messy and heart-stopping rollercoaster that this story took me on when I opened the book. Well written, cleverly plotted, witty and fast-paced, Yemi Dipeolu has crafted a debut that had me hooked from start to finish. It sizzles with tension and I suspected them all, though there were times my suspicions about certain characters was stronger and I did have a strong primary suspect at the end. But I was never sure who did it and Yemi Dipelou kept me guessing until that final page. And when the truth was revealed my jaw dropped! It was the kind of ending you don’t see coming and I am still reeling!

The characters are dynamic, relatable, chaotic and deeply flawed. The story is narrated by Ife and Cynthia, the two women in suspect Ade’s life. His new wife, Ife, narrates the current timeline while his deceased ex, Cynthia, tells her story leading up to her disappearance. Moving between these narrators and timelines kept the tension high and helped create suspicion on many of the characters. I loved how I could never be sure who had killed her or what really happened between her and Ade at the end of their relationship. From the start Ife reveals she has a secret, making her an unreliable narrator who we second-guess the whole time. I loved this as it increased the suspense and made her as much of a suspect as everyone else. The character I really couldn’t stand though was Mama, She is the mother-in-law from hell and a vile woman. I was raging every time she was on the page and she made their family one that is toxic, dysfunctional and full of drama.

Unpredictable, mysterious and totally bingeable, this is a debut you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thanks to Faber for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yemi Dipeolu is a British-Nigerian writer from South East London. She studied English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Surrey and has an MFA from Kingston University. By day, Yemi works as a copywriter, using her passion for storytelling to help businesses connect with their customers.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Sisterhood Rules by Kathy Lette

Published April 9th, 2026 by Aria
Mystery, Humorous Fiction, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Sisterhood Rules:

1. Never let a man come between you
2. Share all your secrets
3. Live life to the fullest – girls just wanna have fun

For twin sisters Isabel and Verity, the sisterhood rules were shattered when Verity had an affair with Izzy’s husband. Unforgivable, right? Devastated by her sister’s betrayal, Izzy casts Verity into social Siberia.

But when their mother goes missing, Verity and Izzy are forced to come together again to find her. And then the estranged sisters’ problems only get bigger. Their mother has a new younger lover and where there’s a will. he’d clearly like to be in it.

Can they stop their mother making a dreadful mistake? And in doing so find a way to bury the pain of the past?

Full of laugh-out-loud humour and devastating pathos, Kathy Lette’s brilliant new novel takes us on a roller-coaster ride which proves that from pain comes healing, from honesty comes forgiveness, and that nothing is more important than your sisters.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Izzy hasn’t spoken to her twin sister Verity for five years. Not since she had an affair with her husband, breaking the cardinal Sisterhood Rule ‘Never Let A Penis Come Between Us’. But when Verity calls to say their mother, Nicole, is missing, Izzy reluctantly agrees to a ceasefire so they can work together to find her. And when they do find her things only get worse. Because their 69-year-old mother has a young, gold-digging lover and is giving up her job to go travelling with him. Can the sisters find a way to work together to stop their mother making a huge mistake? 

Hilarious, sassy, racy and outrageous, this was an absolute riot. I started laughing on the first page and didn’t stop until the last. There are so many memorable and quotable lines and I often stopped to read them out to my husband as they were just too good not to share. But this is so much more than a funny story. It is also a story that is full of heart, giving us scenes that had me all in my feelings as Kathy Lette explores themes of sisterhood, womanhood, complex family relationships, betrayal, forgiveness and healing. Lette has also added some jaw-dropping revelations and surprising twists that will keep you on your toes. It all comes together to create a propulsive novel that was impossible to put down once I’d started.

The book is filled with a cast of charismatic characters who were so much fun to read. I loved that Izzy and Verity may be twins but they were totally different people and even described themselves as ‘the classic odd couple’. Izzy is a pernickety single mum who has given up on life, whilst Verity is a glamorous bohemian who lives life to the full. And while their differences used to make them one perfect whole, they now solidify the chasm between them. I enjoyed watching them try to learn to work together as they searched for their mother and even began to hope they might find a way to reconcile. And speaking of their mother, Nicole is a fantastic character. She is an ebullient, vibrant and fabulous lady who is putting the sex into sextegenarian (I can’t take credit for that line, it’s in the book) and I was rooting for her as she rediscovered life and grabbed it with both hands. 

So if you’re looking for a book to lift your spirits and make you laugh out loud, this is for you. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Aria Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathy Lette is a celebrated and outspoken comic writer who has an imitable take on serious current issues. She is one of the pioneering voices of contemporary feminism, paving the way for Caitlin Moran and Lena Dunham.

She first achieved succès de scandale as a teenager with the novel Puberty Blues, which was made into a major film and a TV mini-series.

After several years as a singer with the Salami Sisters, a newspaper columnist in Sydney and New York, and as a television sitcom writer for Columbia Pictures in Los Angeles, Kathy wrote numerous international bestsellers including Mad Cows (which was made into a film starring Joanna Lumley and Anna Friel), How to Kill Your Husband and Other Handy Household Hints (recently staged by the Victorian Opera, Australia), To Love, Honour and Betray and The Boy Who Fell To Earth.

Her twenty novels have been published in nineteen languages around the world, and she is also an ambassador for The National Autistic Society, Their World and Ambitious about Autism.

In 2004 she was the London Savoy Hotel’s Writer in Residence, where a cocktail named after her can still be ordered.

Kathy is an autodidact (a word she obviously taught herself), but has three honorary doctorates.

Kathy recently completed a tour of her one-woman show, “Girls Night Out“, and is pleased to report that she didn’t fall out with the cast. She cites her career highlights as once teaching Stephen Fry a word, Salman Rushdie the limbo, and scripting Julian Assange’s cameo in the Simpsons 500th episode.

Kathy has two children and divides her time between Sydney and London.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Lottery Winner Widow’s Club by Elly Vine

Published March 26th, 2026 by Wildfire
Dark Comedy, Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Meet The Lottery Winner Widows Club – a fabulous, filthy-rich sisterhood whose husbands all hit the jackpot . . . and then mysteriously dropped dead.

Paula is having a surreal week. Having just lost her husband, in a freak car accident, she’s utterly gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery – with the ticket he bought.

That’s when Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women – also jackpot winners – with dead husbands, suspiciously large bank accounts . . . and a very specific interest in Paula.

They tell her that they’ve been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too. There’s just one problem: Paula didn’t kill her husband. She loved him, of course.

But something about their world – lavish, secretive, thrilling – is hard to resist. And when word of Paula’s jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she’s faced with the ultimate choice: hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.

Twisty, mischievous, and deliciously dark, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a story of luck, lies, and the dangerous appeal of starting over, from a fresh new voice in the crime world.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

I think most of us have thought about what it would be like to win the lottery. But I doubt any of us imagine it turning out how it does for Paula Sheldon, who wins big the same week her husband John is killed in a freak accident. Things only get worse when the loan sharks come calling and she finds John’s notebook full of dark secrets. Life can’t get any crazier. Or so she thinks. Enter The Lottery Winner Widow’s Club – a group of glamorous, feisty and filthy rich women who hit the jackpot before their husbands mysteriously died. She might not have killed John like they think she did, but she can’t help but be drawn to these fascinating women and their luxurious lifestyles. But as news of Paula’s win spreads and rumours about her husband’s death begin to circulate, she is faced with a choice. Will return to the life she knows or accept the unconventional help of her new friends?

Wonderfully witty, outrageous, mischievous and compelling Elly Vine’s first foray into comedic crime fiction is a roaring success. Expertly written, cleverly plotted and full of twists, this hilarious crime caper had me hooked from start to finish. It’s a fabulous blend of female rage, murder and dark comedy that skillfully blends humour with more serious topics such as domestic abuse. Elly has written this sensitive topic so well and as a survivor I really appreciated her bringing awareness to the insidious and devastating realities of coercive control in a way that was moving, powerful and hilarious. 

I loved the charismatic characters of The Lottery Winner Widow’s Club and their absurd antics. I love nothing more than seeing women come together to support and help one another, and this sisterhood does exactly that. Paula was a great protagonist who I related to on many levels (though sadly not the lottery win part lol) but my favourite character was Teddy, the American force of nature who lit up every page she was on. It truly felt like together there was nothing these women couldn’t do and I was cheering them on at every step, even if their way of doing things wasn’t exactly above board.

Entertaining and hilarious, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thanks to Wildfire for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elly Vine is thepseudonym of bestselling author, Lucy Vine. Lucy Vine is the author of novels Hot Mess, What Fresh Hell, Are We Nearly There Yet?, Bad Choices, Seven Exes, Date with Destiny and Book Boyfriend. Her eighth novel is Good For You. Her books have been published in seventeen territories, with Hot Mess optioned for a TV series in America. In a previous life, Lucy was a journalist, writing for publications including Grazia, Stylist, Heat, Fabulous, Marie Claire, Sugar and Cosmopolitan.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Paper Sisters by Rachel Canwell

Published February 12th, 2026 by Northodox Press
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemprory Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Lincolnshire, 1914. As the First World War approaches, three women are living, trapped between the unforgiving marsh, the wide, relentless river, and the isolation of the fen.

Their lives are held fast by profound grief, haunted by the spectres of the past. Trapped by the looming presence and eerie stillness of a hospital that has never admitted a single patient.  

Eleanor longs to escape. To make a life with the man she loves, leaving her sister, and all her ghosts behind. Clara’s marriage is crumbling and violent and she yearns for peace and security for both herself and her innocent children. Meanwhile, Lily, a formidable force of will, stands resolute against the relentless tide of change. She will stop at nothing, no matter the devastating cost, to ensure that life, and her family, remain frozen in an unyielding embrace of the past.

The author, Rachel Canwell, grew up with the story of this forgotten hospital. Isolated, stocked weekly and cleaned daily but never admitting a single patient. The hospital was real, tended by her family for over sixty years and set against the ethereal beauty and loneliness of the Fens, is the inspiration for her novel.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Captivating, tense and poignant, this remarkable debut is an unforgettable story of grief, trauma, isolation, love, family and sisterhood.  Set in Lincolnshire in 1914, it tells the story of three family members: sisters Eleanor and Lily and their sister-in-law, Clara. Each woman is trapped; by grief, duty or fear. And looming large in the background of it all is the unstoppable advance towards World War I, along with the additional tragedies and trauma that will bring. 

The characters in this book are richly drawn and achingly human. Each of the narrators felt so real and it was easy to connect with them from the start. The tension between Eleanor and Lily is immediately apparent, while poor Clara is trapped in a violent marriage. There’s a strong sense of fear, yearning and captivity that fills each of the women: Eleanor longs to leave and start a life with the man she loves, Lily is scared of being alone and will go to any lengths to keep Eleanor with her, and Clara is terrified of her violent husband and longs for a life that is peaceful and safe. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions as they wrestled with life and all its struggles and was rooting for each of them to have a happy ending.

Rachel Canwell has crafted a truly powerful and unforgettable debut novel. The story is based on a real abandoned hospital in the Fens that her family tended for sixty years, though her characters and their stories are fiction. Exquisitely written, she transports her reader back to 1914 and into the lives of these women. There are a number of difficult subjects in the story that Ms. Canwell writes with honesty and sensitivity, putting you firmly in the shoes of those affected by the issues. With evocative descriptions she creates a strong sense of place and there is a constant sense of foreboding that comes in part from the abandoned hospital and unforgiving marsh that loom over everyone and everything. The sense of claustrophobia is palpable, adding to that unnerving feeling and adding a foreboding that keeps you on the edge of your seat, flying through the pages as I approached the finale. 

An unforgettable debut that you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Rachel and Northodox Press for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Canwell is an author who, having grown up in the Fens, has lived and worked in Cumbria for over twenty years.
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Her short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies. Her collection of flash fiction Oh I Do Like to Be was published in 2022 and her novella-in-flash Magpie Moon in 2023.

She co-hosts The Northern Connection; a podcast that celebrates writers and words with links to The North.

Her debut novel Paper Sisters is published at Northodox Press in Feb 2026.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Published January 27th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

My Husband’s Wife was one of our SquadPod Featured Books in February.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Sunday Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ugly is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity and revenge.

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into – Spyglass, an enchanting old house in the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls – nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that this stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner named Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel and, as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Husband’s Wife weaves a tangled web of deception, obsession and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Alice Feeney has done it again! Heartsoppingly tense, unsettling, cryptic and immersive, My Husband’s Wife is an outstanding thriller and possibly her best book yet. 

It follows Eden Fox, who has recently moved to Spyglass, an enhancing old house in Hope Falls, Cornwall, with her husband, Harrison Woolf. They are hoping their move will be the fresh start they both need and it seems like life is starting to look up. But when she returns after her usual evening run nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t work and a woman who is eerily similar to her answers the door saying she lives there. Harrison insists the stranger is his wife and claims to have never seen Eden before. Eden desperately tries to prove her identity, sparking a chain of events that uncover long-buried secrets, deception and betrayal.

I always know when I pick up one of Alice’s books that I’m in for a treat. A thriller powerhouse, I know I’ll get an exquisitely written, twisty, layered and pacy thriller that will keep me on the edge of my seat. This was all that and more. It’s like Spaghetti Junction – the different storylines and threads interweave in unexpected ways, and it’s brimming with suspense, twists and turns. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives and moves seamlessly between timelines as Alice drops clues like breadcrumbs for us to follow. But nothing is what it seems in this book and everyone is possibly an unreliable narrator – keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. And that final line! I can’t get it out of my head.

One of the things that Alice always does well is writing charismatic, flawed and relatable characters who are fun to read whether we like them or not. The abundance of unreliable narrators means there are no clear heroes or villains, ramping up the tension and making me second guess everything they said and did. My favourite character was Birdy, a reclusive woman from London who returns to Hope Falls following life-changing diagnosis and unexpected inheritance. Birdy was the comedic relief in the book and although we know there are things she’s hiding, I did feel like I could trust her more than a lot of the other characters.

A must read for anyone who loves clever and riveting thrillers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Bookbreak for sending me a proof copy of the book and to Libro.fm for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author of novels including His & Hers, Sometimes I Lie, Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy Darker. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations, with His & Hers currently in production for Netflix, produced by Jessica Chastain, and starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal.

Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years. Her seventh novel, Beautiful Ugly, will be published around the world in January 2025.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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