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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: West of Wicked by Nikki St. Crowe

Published April 16th, 2026 by Tor Bramble
Fantasy Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

💚 A dark, sexy, and twisted reimagining of The Wizard of Oz from USA Today bestselling author Nikki St. Crowe 💚

No one is safe on the yellow brick road.

Dorothy Gale doesn’t know where she came from. At the age of five, she was dropped on Em and Henry’s doorstep while a terrible storm rolled across the Kansas prairie. Now as an adult, Dorothy has made the most of her life on the farm. But when a cyclone tears through the night, ripping her, her dog, and the farmhouse away, Dorothy wakes to find herself far from home in the strange, cursed land of Oz.

Desperate to find her way back, Dorothy takes the advice of the Witch of the North and sets off on the yellow brick road to find a wizard . . . with a warning to avoid forest monsters, heartless mercenaries, and wicked witches. It isn’t long before Dorothy encounters the dark side of Oz, stumbling on a man beaten and bloody, tied to a pole in a cornfield. Not unlike the scarecrows on the Kansas farm.

With no memories, the mysterious stranger joins Dorothy. Rook is ridiculously handsome, endlessly charming, and somehow understands Dorothy in a way no one ever has. But when they cross paths with the infamous Tinman and his axe, Rook proves he may be hiding his own secrets.

Nothing and no one is what they seem in the cursed land of Oz . . . maybe even Dorothy herself.

Tropes:

Wizard of Oz Retelling 💚
Forbidden Love ❤️‍🔥
Rambunctious Dog 🐕
Journey of Self Discovery 👩
Hidden Identity 🫣
Witchy 🧙 ‍
Villain gets the girl 🖤
Cyclone Shenanigans 🌀
Murder 🔪
Morally Grey Characters 🩶
Hot and Equally Evil Brothers 👬

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MY REVIEW:

I am a life-long Ozian. I have loved and been obsessed with The Wizard of Oz ever since I first saw the film when I was three years old. I love the book, too, and collect anything and everything I can to do with Oz. So, when I saw that a new reimagining of the book was being released, I immediately added it to my TBR. And then when I saw the US version with those beautiful, intricate Emerald City spredges, I knew it was worth the extra cost to have it in my collection. 

We all know the basic story: a girl trapped inside a house gets caught in a cyclone and wakes up in the land of Oz, and on top of the Witch of the East. She then follows the yellowbrick road all the way to the Emerald City where she sees the Wizard of Oz and asks to be sent home. But her return journey has a price: she must kill the Wicked Witch of the West. I’ll admit, being such a fan of the original, part of me was apprehensive about actually reading a version that was bound to be very different. But I couldn’t resist. 

This retelling has a similar premise to the original. Except Dorothy is a teenager not a little girl, she has a boyfriend who she has sex with and smokes pot. The story once she’s in Oz follows a similar trajectory to the original, with minor changes that bring it up to date, make it a little more edgy or make it a little different. It did take me a little bit of time to get used to the more grown up version of Dorothy and some of the changes, but I was quickly immersed in the story and loved being in this version of Oz. But it was over far too quickly and I’m now left waiting impatiently for the second installment in the series. 

A dark, gritty and sexy reimagining that Oz and fantasy fans will enjoy, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nikki St. Crowe is a USA Today Bestselling Author of several romantasy novels, including the #1 Amazon Bestselling Series, Vicious Lost Boys.

When not writing about villains getting the girl, and the girl getting the power, Nikki can be found with her husband and daughter on the shores of Lake Michigan hunting for the perfect sunset.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

Published 1967 by Vintage
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The classic, atmospheric Australian thriller about the mysterious disappearance of a group of young girls.

A cloudless summer day in the year nineteen hundred…

Everyone at Appleyard College for Young Ladies agreed it was just right for a picnic at Hanging Rock. After lunch, a group of three girls climbed into the blaze of the afternoon sun, pressing on through the scrub into the shadows of Hanging Rock. Further, higher, till at last they disappeared.

They never returned.

Is Picnic at Hanging Rock fact or fiction? Only you can truly decide.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Australia, 14th February 1900. On a sweltering summer’s day an idyllic picnic for the students at an exclusive ladies boarding school turns into a nightmare when three girls and their governess go missing at Hanging Rock. Eight days later, one of the girls is found, but she has no memories of what happened. The other two girls and their governess are never seen again. 

Atmospheric, mysterious, hypnotic and ambiguous, Picnic at Hanging Rock is a mesmerising story. This 1967 classic has been on my TBR for many years. I became fascinated with the story after seeing the movie as a teenager and for many years I believed it was based on a true story. When I learned that it was actually a work of fiction, I knew I needed to read it. This month I finally decided to pick it up and listened to it on audiobook, which was a great choice as not only did the Australian accent of the narrator make it feel authentic, but the pipe music between each chapter adds to the haunting and unsettling vibe. 

A sunny but sinister story, the book transports us back to 1900. A gorgeously gothic and melancholy Edwardian tale, Joan Lindsey’s evocative storytelling vividly sets the scene from the start. There is a hazy, dreamlike quality. A fever-dream where you are never quite sure what is real and what is fiction. I was enthralled and completely lost in the world Lindsay had created. It’s a story that captures the imagination. A puzzle steeped in the supernatural and unexplained that is waiting to be solved. But it ultimately remains without resolution. And that unending mystery is part of what makes this story so haunting and eerie.

Hanging Rock itself is an important part of this story, almost feeling like a character in its own right. An ancient place infused with mystery that is an indigenous sacred site, the book capitalises on that atmosphere to create a modern myth. It leaves us wondering if the rock really can devour people and make them vanish into thin air. And how did three people manage to disappear without a single trace? 

Beautiful, languorous, obscure and unnerving, this is a perfect summer read that will linger long after reading.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joan Lindsay was born Joan à Beckett Weigall in Melbourne, Australia, in 1896. She attended Clyde Girls Grammar School, the model for Appleyard College in Picnic at Hanging Rock, and the National Gallery of Victoria Art School, where she studied painting. On Valentine’s Day 1922 she married Daryl Lindsay in London. She chose Valentine’s Day 1900 as the setting for Picnic at Hanging Rock, her best-known work, which was first published in 1967 and is the basis for the 1975 film of the same name by Peter Weir. She died in Melbourne in 1984.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Love Library by Sarra Manning

Published June 25th, 2026 by Orion
Romance Novel, Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

What if you could date your favourite book boyfriend?

“All loans are at the borrower’s own risk…”

After a series of dating disasters, Tess Hardy wonders if she’ll ever find the man of her dreams – or if he only exists on the pages of her favourite novels. So when she’s invited to visit The Love Library, a 200-hundred-year-old institution which promises dates with her favourite romantic heroes in real life, Tess can’t resist!

But handsome head librarian Gabe Sharma seems grumpily determined to keep the library under lock and key. And as soon as Tess steps into the beautiful building crammed full of books, she realises why – it’s not just dust in the air… it’s magic. Here she really can grab drinks with Heathcliff, dine with Rochester and cosy up to her one true literary love, Darcy.

There’s just one problem: Gabe. He’s determined to sabotage all of Tess’s dates! And why is it that she has more fun fighting with Gabe than flirting with any of her book-bound suitors…?

Heartwarming, hot and hilarious, The Love Library is a must-read for anyone who wishes they could step into the pages of their favourite book. Perfect for fans of Ashley Poston, Lucy Jane Wood and Kirsty Greenwood.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Being able to go on a date with one of your bookish romantic heroes sounds like a great idea. But would it really live up to your dreams? That’s what writer Tess Hardy is about to find out in The Love Library. Tess wants to find her happy-ever-after, but the only decent men she can find are the ones in the books at Waterstones. So when she receives an email from The Love Library, offering her the chance of a real-life date with one of her favourite literary love interests, she is intrigued. After all, her book boyfriends never let her down. But Tess doesn’t count on Gabe, the handsome Gabe and Tess immediately clash and, as she embarks on yet more disastrous dates, the pair keep fighting – seemingly oblivious to the sparks that are flying between them.

Magical, heartwarming, hot, witty and uplifting, this charming enemies-to-lovers romcom is the perfect read for book lovers. I think most of us have daydreamed about stepping into the pages of our favourite book or wished a romantic hero was real so I was intrigued by the premise of this one. Wonderfully written and cleverly plotted, Sarra Manning brings those daydreams to life perfectly while making them a cautionary tale. I loved all the bookish references and the varied cast of characters that Sarra selected for Tess’s dates. And I can’t share this review without mentioning the wonderful narrator, Imogen Wilde, who brought the story to life in vivid technicolour with her fantastic performance.

Tess and Gabe are the perfect example of the grumpy/sunshine trope and I loved their contrasting characters. Their attraction was obvious from the start so I was shouting at them to just realise they were meant for each other from early on. And then there’s their sizzling chemistry.  Talk about sizzling. I listened to the audiobook and just as it got really steamy my son and his girlfriend came downstairs and I was so embarrassed I had to stop the book! It will certainly make you blush. I also liked that Sarra doesn’t give her readers their romantic payoff easily and takes things in unexpected directions that were so much fun to read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you NetGalley and Orion for my audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sarra Manning has been a voracious reader for over forty years and a prolific author and journalist for thirty.

Her many novels, which have been translated into numerous languages, include Unsticky, London With Love and The Last Days Of Summer, which publishes in the US in May 2026 and The Love Library, which publishes in the UK in June 2026.. Sarra has also written a number of YA novels, and several light-hearted romantic comedies under a pseudonym.

She started her writing career on the iconic Melody Maker and Just Seventeen and has written for The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, ELLE, Grazia, Stylist, You Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and was most recently, Literary Editor of Red.

Sarra lives in London surrounded by piles and piles of books.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Published July 2nd, 2026 by Century
Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

PREPARE TO BE HOOKED by the brand new thriller from Lisa Jewell, author of the Sunday Times bestselling novels None of This Is True and Don’t Let Him In.

‘A deliciously twisted gem of a thriller and her best yet’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS
‘A true masterpiece’ ANDREA MARA
‘Superbly written, entertaining and twisty’ LIZ NUGENT
‘Dark, intense, brilliant’ SHARI LAPENA
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It was the night she almost died.

Jane Trevally, newly divorced and feeling a little lost, agrees to accompany a man she doesn’t know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath. She’s offered a drink, goes in, and then – a scream and the sound of something falling upstairs – Jane senses she’s in a bad place. She runs.

Twenty five years later, Jane finds herself outside the same house, this time to return a small white dog who’s been found near her home in the country; a dog whose owner has just been reported missing.

A fleeting glimpse of a haunted looking woman through the window sends Jane on a mission to uncover the house’s secrets – secrets more terrifying than she could have ever imagined, especially when she realises it could have been her. . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

If there is one thing I can rely on, it’s that Lisa Jewelll will always write a first-class thriller. And she’s done it again with her latest book. At its heart, this is the story of a missing woman. But it is also so much more: a story of a dysfunctional family, trauma, tragedy and dark, festering secrets. 

June, 2005. Newly divorced and feeling adrift, Jane Trevally agrees to go home with a man she meets on a night out. When she’s there he offers her a drink, but before she can take a sip she hears a scream. So Jane runs. Twenty-five years later, Jane has never forgotten the night she almost died. She never expected to be back at that house but after going to return a lost dog, she finds herself standing outside the same house that has haunted her nightmares. And, in an even stranger twist, the dog’s owner has just been reported missing. Jane can’t shake the feeling something sinister is going on inside that house. So she sets out  to find the missing woman and uncover the house’s secrets, unprepared for the dark depths that her investigation will take her. 

Deliciously dark, tense, unnerving and completely addictive, this book had me in a chokehold from start to finish. A shrewd and superb page-turning thriller, I stayed up until the early hours to finish this one as I had to know what dark secrets were being hidden. Lisa is a master of her craft and this story gives her the chance to flex her thriller-writer muscles perfectly. Masterfully written, expertly crafted and intricately interwoven, there’s a quietly chilling unease that bubbles under the surface and permeates every page. Meanwhile, she slowly unveils the layers of dark secrets and mystery with a tension that will keep you on the edge of your seat.. It is a masterpiece of malevolence and misdirection, the many twists subverting what I thought I knew. Labyrinthine, comprehensive and complex, there are many different strands, multiple characters and timelines, but it never gets confusing. Though I have no idea how she kept up with it all to write it. And that ending! I finished this book days ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. 

The story is told by multiple flawed, fractured and compelling characters. There are ones you’ll like, ones you’ll root for, ones you’ll feel sorry for, morally ambiguous ones you won’t know how to feel about and devilishly good villains you’ll hate or will make your skin crawl. There is one particular family that oozes darkness and dysfunction as their family ties are made monstrous and tangled. But all the characters are painfully human and show us the ripple effect of trauma and tragedy. I had a real soft spot for Jane and was rooting for her to solve the mystery. 

A heart-stopping thriller that will linger long after reading, this is a must-read for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Published July 9th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Mystery, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Mad Mabel was an instant New York Times bestseller and a No. 1 bestseller in Australia. Discover why readers across the globe have fallen for this twisty, surprising and charming novel.

‘Funny, twisty and suspenseful’ – Harlan Coben

‘A twisty page-turning triumph, packed with wit, warmth, nuance and mystery. Brilliant’ – Jane Harper

YOU CAN CHANGE
YOUR NAME.
BUT YOU CAN’T
CHANGE YOUR PAST . . .

Eighty-one-year-old Elsie Fitzpatrick lives a quiet life in the suburbs. Few would guess that Elsie, aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else’s business, harbours a secret she’s worked hard to bury.

Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick – once a little girl and now an old lady – has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When an elderly neighbour is found dead, no one suspects a thing – until they uncover Elsie’s true identity: Mad Mabel, the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder, more than sixty years ago.

The police are asking questions. The media is circling. Has the past finally caught up with Mad Mabel? Or is it time for her to set the record straight?

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

81-year-old Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is not someone who blends in with the crowd. At 6ft tall with broad shoulders, she’s used to standing out. And don’t mistake her for a sweet old lady. She’s more likely to call you ‘dipshit’ than ‘dear’. Elsie has lived on Kenny Lane for over sixty years. But she has a secret. As a child, Elsie was known as ‘Mad Mabel’ and became Australia’s most notorious child killer. And there were rumours it wasn’t the first time she’d killed. Now, after decades of keeping her dark past a secret, the truth threatens to be exposed after she finds her neighbour dead and is questioned by police. Maybe now is the time for Mabel to finally tell her side of the story. But is she mad? And is she guilty?

Two of my favourite tropes are anti-heroes and elderly protagonists, plus I’m a sucker for a story with black humour, so this book had my name written all over it. And it did not disappoint. Darkly funny, quirky, crazy, cryptic, tense and utterly compelling, I devoured it in two sittings. Expertly written, hilarious, cleverly plotted and filled with charismatic characters, this is the definition of an unputdownable page-turner. The story seems simple, but there is so much more to it. Layered, nuanced, warm and richly drawn, this is a twisty tale that will keep you guessing right up until the final page. Sally drips intrigue and foreboding like breadcrumbs for us to follow out of the woods and teases Mabel’s story, revealing pieces slowly in flashbacks to her childhood leading up to the murder. It is also more than a murder mystery. It’s a story about loneliness, identity, trauma, and the power of female friendship.

I love an unlikely heroine and an elderly protagonist, so I was excited to get to know Mabel. And this unforgettable woman is now one of my favourite characters of all time. Quirky, eccentric, feisty and secretive, she comes across as curmudgeonly at first but we soon learn there is more hiding beneath her spiky surface. Underneath her strong, no-nonsense veneer, there is a vulnerability from her past traumas that made me feel protective of this fabulous octogenarian. And it made me love her even more. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Bookbreak and Pan Macmillan for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, most recently Mad Mabel. Sally’s novels have been called “darkly charming” and praised by authors Emily Giffin and Liane Moriarty as “totally absorbing” and “fiction at its finest.”

Sally’s novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into over 30 languages.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

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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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025

BOOK REVIEW: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published June 3rd, 2025 by Hutchinson Heinman
Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An epic novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

In the summer of 1980, astrophysics professor Joan Goodwin begins training to be an astronaut at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond; mission specialists John Griffin and Lydia Danes; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer. As the new astronauts prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined and begins to question everything she believes about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.

Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love – this time among the stars.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Atmosphere was my 100th read this year and it is certainly one I’ll not forget. It’s been a few weeks since I finished this magnificent book and I still haven’t recovered. Epic, illuminating, transporting, heart-stopping and emotional, this glorious love story is a must for your summer TBR. 

Joan Goodwin has always loved space. But as a girl she never dreamed of being an astronaut. After all, that’s something only boys could do. So when she hears that NASA is advertising for female scientists and astronauts she applies and is thrilled to be successful. So, in the summer of 1980, Joan begins her training as an astronaut at Houston’s Johnson Space Centre alongside a group of exceptional candidates. Joan expected to find adventure, but what she didn’t expect was to find a love, but that all changes as she and Vanessa, one of the other candidates get closer, leading to a passion she never thought was meant for her. Then, in December 1984, disaster strikes on mission  STS-LR9 and Joan must find a way to help get Vanessa and any other survivors home to safety.

Atmosphere is my third time reading a Taylor Jenkins Reid book and she just gets better and better. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think she could top The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for me, but this spectacular story soared into the top spot. Beautifully written, evocatively told and cleverly choreographed, TJR had me in a chokehold from her opening author’s note to the last sentence. I thought I knew what to expect from a TJR read, but I was totally unprepared for this book. At its heart this is a love story about breaking down barriers. Joan and Vanessa are strong, brilliant and determined women who were easy to root for at every step. The story explores topics including sexism, prejudice, inequality, vulnerability and resilience. It broke my heart, made me smile and enraged me – often all on the same page. 

The story is set against the backdrop of the American Space Race of the 1980s. As someone who has never been that into space I honestly didn’t expect to be that into the setting. But I loved it. The combination of the meticulous details, compelling characters and heart-pounding tension had me completely hooked. This was an era when men still ruled the Space Programme and it was rare for a woman to be accepted. This instantly makes Joan and Vanessa’s life at the Space Centre more difficult as they battle for equality in a misogynistic industry. Then there was the added complication of them being LGBTQ. Homophobia and stigmatisation was still rife and the couple knew their jobs would be at risk if anyone found out about them, so they are forced to keep their love a secret. 

A mesmerising and unputdownable love story, I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Rating: 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels Atmosphere, Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, GMA Book Club, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel, Daisy Jones and The Six, is now a limited series on Amazon Prime. She lives in Los Angeles.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliiophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

Published October 30th, 2025 by Sourcebooks
Historical Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Bildungsroman, Domestic Fiction

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From bestselling author Meagan Church comes a haunting exploration of identity, motherhood, and the suffocating grip of societal expectations that will leave you questioning the lives we build―and the lies we live.

They called it hysteria. She called it survival.

Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five years molding herself into the perfect 1950s housewife. Despite the tragic memories that haunt her and the weight of exhausting expectations, she keeps her husband happy, her household running, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But after she gives birth to her second child, Lulu’s carefully crafted life begins to unravel.

When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu suspects that something darker lurks behind the woman’s constant smile. As her fixation on Bitsy deepens, Lulu is drawn into a web of unsettling truths that threaten to expose the cracks in her own life. The more she uncovers about Bitsy, the more she questions everything she thought she knew―and soon, others begin questioning her sanity. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering a reality too terrifying to accept?

In the vein of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife weaves domestic drama with psychological suspense, so poignant and immersive, you won’t want to put it down.

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, thought-provoking, moving and powerful, The Mad Wife is a haunting and mesmerising portrait of identity, motherhood, silenced voices and societal expectations. It follows Lulu, an ordinary suburban woman who has spent the last five years becoming the perfect 1950s housewife that everyone expects her to be. But she never quite feels like she fits in and it all seems so much easier for the other women on her street. Then, after the birth of her second child, her carefully curated life begins to unravel and she develops a fixation on her new neighbour, Bitsy, who she is sure is hiding something. People soon notice something isn’t right. The doctor diagnoses hysteria. Is Lulu really losing her mind? Or is there another explanation?

What an amazing read! An easy five stars from me. This was my first time reading a Meagan Church novel, but now I can’t wait to devour her backlist. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed, intricately woven and meticulously researched, I felt like I’d stepped back in time when reading this book. 1950s America is brought to life in vivid technicolour and I could see the perfectly manicured lawns and smell the cigarette smoke. The characters are richly drawn and compelling while Lulu is a great protagonist who was likeable and easy to root for. I felt for her being trapped in a world where she has so many expectations on her while she’s in the trenches of motherhood. Men at the time were completely unhelpful so she was basically doing it all alone and it was expected that she do so with a smile on her face and without complaining. In terms of other characters, I really enjoyed Nora, her neighbour and friend, who seemed like a light in her life.

A haunting story with warm humanity at its heart, Meagan shines a light on some important issues including the silencing of women’s voices, medical misdiagnosis, and the dangerous consequences of doctors dismissing women, something that is sadly still all-too prevalent today. But I loved the dark humour that is woven into the story from the start and how such a complex story that explores some dark topics manages to remain enjoyable. And that twist! I did not see it coming and my heart broke in two as it was revealed, pulling the rug from under me and changing everything I thought I knew. Then there is the epilogue. I was fighting back tears and I swear, Meagan, that you were trying to break me. 

A riveting and surprising story that will have you hooked, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Meagan Church is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Mad Wife, The Girls We Sent Away, and The Last Carolina Girl. She writes emotionally-charged, thought-provoking, empathy-inducing stories that explore the complexity of human nature. Her historical fiction chronicles the plight and fight of unheard voices of the past. Meagan holds a B.A. in English from Indiana University and is an adjunct for Drexel University’s MFA in creative writing program. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets.

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Published July 10th, 2025 by Mantle
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Mystery, Suspense, Historical Romance

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

One of The Telegraph‘s greatest books of 2025

London, 1749

Hannah Cole’s world shatters following her husband’s brutal murder. Her confectionary shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, teeters on the brink of ruin. Just as she uncovers a hidden fortune―money her husband secretly possessed―a new nightmare begins.

Magistrate Henry Fielding, the renowned author, suspects illicit gains. To save her inheritance, her shop, and her very reputation, Hannah must delve into her late husband’s secret life. But as she unearths a labyrinth of lies and deceit, she finds herself entangled in a battle of wits far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.

From Sunday Times bestselling author Laura Shepherd-Robinson comes a twisty, immersive thriller where the truth is a luxury Hannah Cole can’t afford, and every secret is a step closer to her own undoing.

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MY REVIEW:

London, 1749. Following her husband’s brutal murder, Hannah Cole is left to run their confectionery  shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, alone but she is teetering on the brink of ruin. Then she discovers her husband, Jonas, had a secret hidden fortune and she thinks that finally her problems could be over. But they are in fact just beginning. Magistrate Henry Fielding has questions about how Jonas died and suspects the fortune was gained by illicit means forcing Hannah to delve into her husband’s secret life and step into a dangerous world in order to save her shop, her inheritance and her reputation. 

Darkly atmospheric, mysterious, seductive, tense and addictive, The Art of a Lie is a mesmerising tale you’ll not be able to put down. Set to a backdrop of the blazing summer sun, this labyrinthine tale of skullduggery, deception, lies and murder will have you glued to the pages. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed and full of shocking twists, it showcases why Laura Shepherd-Robinson is one of my auto-buy authors. She gets better with each book and this one is without a doubt her best yet. Laura’s meticulous research is evident on every page, taking me back to her event about the book last year when she talked about all the research she’d done for the book, including the Georgian art of ice-cream making as Hannah introduces the British public to this tasty dessert. Just be prepared to crave some yourself when reading. 

And though this is a Georgian murder-mystery, it is also much more nuanced and complex. We learn the truth about Jonas’ murder early on and you will find yourself rooting for the crime not to be solved. It has some elements of an unhealthy love story but most of all this is a story about the art of telling lies; lies for survival, lies for profit and lies for love. The characters are flawed but likeable and compelling, and you will root for them despite all their schemes and deception. I didn’t want them to be brought to justice and behind them every step of the way.

A must-read for anyone who loves historical mysteries. Just make sure you’ve got some ice-cream in the freezer!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Shepherd-Robinson is the award-winning, Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of four historical novels. Her books have been featured on BBC 2’s Between the Covers and Radio 4’s Front Row and Open Book. Her fourth novel, The Art of a Lie, will be published in Summer 2025.

Laura was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. She worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband, Adrian.

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Five by Ilona Bannister

Published May 5th, 2026 by Juniper
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Five passengers. Five minutes until the next train … five minutes until someone dies.

‘Will have you glued to the page … guaranteed to shock and entertain’The Times

‘Ridiculously good … darkly thrilling and unforgettable’ Chris Whitaker

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Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station. It will happen in the next five minutes when the 7:06 to London Victoria arrives.

Take note of their positions. The child, the mother, the businessman, the old woman and the gambler.

One of them will die despite your attachment to them. There is probably one you want to get rid of. You don’t have to admit who. But perhaps you should ask yourself why.

The train has stopped.

Someone is dead.

Was it who you chose?

It wasn’t your fault …

So why, dear reader, do you feel so guilty?

Five stories. Five minutes until a life ends. Unfolding in real time, FIVE doesn’t just tell a story; it provokes, unsettles, and lingers. By weaving together the stories of those complex, flawed lives, Bannister creates a tapestry of human struggle, resilience, and hope. FIVE offers no easy answers, but rather a nuanced exploration of the human condition in all its messy complexity.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Five passengers are waiting for a train. Five minutes until it arrives…five minutes until one of them dies.

Atmospheric, intense, propulsive and gripping, this heart-stopping debut asks you to become the detective and try to predict which passenger will die. Most books will give you time to get to know the characters and grow attached to them before ticking down the clock to one’s impending doom. But in this book Ilona Bannister does things differently and starts the countdown on the first page. It means the tension is sky high and the reader is kept on the edge of their seat from the first page. And as the clock ticks down, we get to know the five passengers: mother Emma and her son, Gideon, businessman Liam, old Mrs Worth and gambler Sonny. Interspersed with events at the station are the character’s stories that allow us to learn their histories and what brought them to the station today. Skillfully written, razor-sharp, deftly plotted and fizzing with tension I was in Ilona’s thrall from start to finish. And as the jaw-dropping revelations kept coming I still couldn’t predict who would live and who would die.

The five passengers are an eclectic cast of characters who are all broken in some way. Each of them have said and done horrible or even despicable things and their histories are filled with tragedies that make every character a candidate for death. None of them are particularly likeable, but some are more unlikeable than the others. – Liam, I’m looking at you. To be honest, I felt like they all deserved to die in some way and it was more a case of ranking whose death felt most justified than wishing any of them would survive. Yes, even the child. But while I didn’t particularly like them, I was still very invested in them and their stories; each of them kept me glued to the pages of their chapters. This is a testament to the excellence of Ilona’s writing which was acutely observed, achingly human and emotionally resonant.

A jaw-dropping, darkly funny and urgent ticking-clock of tension, this is a must for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ilona Bannister was a dual qualified US attorney and UK immigration solicitor before she started writing fiction. Her first novel, When I Ran Away, was developed on Faber Academy’s Work in Progress course. Ilona’s experiences as a mother, lawyer, and an American transplant in Britain are reflected in her novels. Although she will always be a New Yorker at heart, Ilona’s home is in London with her husband and young sons.

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