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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

Published March 12th, 2026 by Hodder & Stoughton
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A MYSTERY WRAPPED INSIDE A LOVE STORY. A STUNNING DEBUT’ ALICE FEENEY

‘THIS IS THE THRILLER I NEEDED TO FILL THAT GONE GIRL-SHAPED HOLE’ RUTH MANCINI

‘Absolutely addictive. This story might keep you up at night’
‘THIS AMAZING THRILLER MIGHT JUST SAVE YOUR LIFE’

Benny and Joy like to say that they’ve been saving each other since the moment they met.

Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is accused of her murder.

Best friends Benny and Joy host a beloved ‘comedy survival’ podcast, gleefully finding life-affirming humour in near-death experiences.

When Benny arrives at Joy and her husband’s home one morning to record, he finds shattered glass and an empty house.

With Joy missing and the hours ticking by, not even their most devoted fans could guess the terrible secrets they have hidden from the world – and from each other.

If Benny wants to find Joy in time, and clear his own name, he’ll have to solve the highest stakes survival story yet.

BUY THE BOOK

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MY REVIEW:

We have a strong contender for my favourite book of the year. 

Best friends Benny and Joy co-host a popular comedy survival podcast, finding life-affirming humour in near death experiences. But when Benny arrives at Joy’s house one morning to record, he discovers the house empty and in disarray. Joy and Xander are missing. There are few clues and as the police search for the couple, Benny is trying to decipher them in an attempt to find Joy and clear his own name before it’s too late.

What a rollercoaster! Funny, vibrant, and heart-poundingly tense, This Story Might Save Your Life is a  love story cloaked inside a compelling mystery. Tiffany Crum has crafted a truly original debut. Beautifully written, perfectly paced, meticulously choreographed and layered with intimacy, humour and suspense, Crum had me in her thrall from start to finish. This feels like a very modern story and I loved the podcast element, especially 

how clips from actual episodes were included. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators elevated every facet of the story, which also meant I often found myself forgetting I wasn’t listening to a real podcast. I also loved  trying to piece together the clues alongside Benny but it was hard to predict and my jaw dropped with every revelation. Totally unputdownable, it kept me on the edge of my seat and up well past my bedtime. And that ending! I’d never have guessed it.

The book is filled with a cast of characters that were likeable, charismatic and real, especially Benny and Joy, whose friendship felt genuine. I loved their easy, witty banter and the way they supported each other. And then there’s the undercurrent of love and longing, which creates a will they/won’t they tension. It’s obvious from the start that they have feelings for each other, but there is always a reason not to confront it, whether that’s other relationships or fear of ruining their friendship. I was screaming at them that they were meant for each other and that none of this would have happened if they’d just been together all this time.

A magnificent and unforgettable debut, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tiffany Crum grew up on a dairy farm just down the road from a maximum-security prison. A longtime Californian, she now lives in Atlanta with her husband, two sons, and dogs, and spends her free time trying to keep her vegetable garden alive. Her debut novel, This Story Might Save Your Life, is a New York Times bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of March, a Book of the Month selection, and a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick. It will be published in nineteen languages and is under option for television.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

Published March 5th, 2026 by Orion
Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale, Feminist Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK!

‘Feminist, fierce, and wildly fresh. Lady Tremaine is destined to be one of the biggest books of the year’ GLENNON DOYLE

‘A reimagining of Cinderella’s stepmother that explores motherhood, family, and the pressure to be perfect’ REESE WITHERSPOON

Everyone said she was wicked.
Now Cinderella’s stepmother tells her own story…

After the death of her second husband, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is solely responsible for her two daughters, Rosamund and Mathilde, her simpering stepdaughter Elin, a razor-taloned peregrine falcon, and a crumbling manor buried in the woods.

When a royal ball offers the chance to change their fortunes, Ethel risks her pride in pursuit of an invitation for all three of girls – only for her hopes to be fulfilled by the wrong one: Elin.

Yet as her stepdaughter’s engagement to the future king unfolds, Ethel discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she craves and the feckless stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn…

Bridgerton meets Circein this breathtaking reimagining of one of the world’s most iconic fairytales, Cinderella.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

We all know Lady Tremaine as the infamous wicked stepmother to poor Cinderella. But what is her story? How did she become the symbol of cruel mothers? In her magnificent debut Rachel Hochhauser answers those questions, exploring the life of Lady Tremaine and turning the well-known fairytale on its head in a fierce and feminist reimagining. 

This story is so much more than a fairytale reimagining. It is also an exploration of marriage, misogyny, motherhood, the pressure to be perfect, violence against women and domestic abuse. With beautiful, evocative and razor-sharp storytelling, Hochhauser reclaims the fairytale, peeling back the layers of dysfunction to reveal the truth about this famous blended family. Nothing is what it seems. Instead of the wicked stepmother and ugly stepsisters, she reveals a loving family who have no idea how to reach their lazy and entitled stepdaughter/stepsister and are pushed to the end of their patience. It’s honest, nuanced, insightful and filled with understanding that ensures you will never look at Cinderella the same way again.

The eponymous Lady Tremaine is a fascinating and unforgettable character. She’s feisty, strong, determined and will do anything for her children. When we meet her she has been left penniless by her late husband but is trying to keep up appearances, scrimping on meat to buy sugar to maintain the protective cloak of respectability for herself and her daughters. She knows that this is vital if she wants them to make good marriages and secure themselves a better future. I loved her relationship with her daughters and my heart broke as she tried to connect with her stepdaughter. It was a surprise to find myself empathising with those I’d traditionally thought of as the villains in this fairytale but I appreciated how Hochhauser fostered an understanding of everyone’s behaviour in this version, providing nuance, showing us that nothing is ever black and white and reminding us to look to the shades of grey for the truth.

A spectacular and unforgettable debut, it’s easy to see why this was a recent Reese’s Book Club pick. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Hochhauser is a writer and co-founder of Piecework, 
a cult-favorite puzzle brand. Raised in Santa Barbara, she studied at New York University and earned her master’s in fiction from the University of Southern California. She now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two young daughters.

Her debut novel, Lady Tremaine, will be published by St. Martin’s Press (U.S.), Orion (U.K.), and Fleuve-Éditions 
(France) in March 2026.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: A Poisoner’s Tale by Cathryn Kemp

Published July 11th, 2024 by Bantam
Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Fairy Tale, Adventure Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Biographical Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A dark and powerful feminist retelling of the best serial killer you’ve never heard of . Inspired by the true story of Giulia Tofana.

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Rome, 1656

In Rome’s shadowy backstreets lies an apothecary’s shop – a place for women to take their heartbreaks and troubles. Herbs for childbirth. Tarot readings to tell their fortunes. An undetectable poison that can kill in four drops.

Alongside her circle of female poisoners, Giulia Tofana dispenses her deadly potion to free the downtrodden women of the city from their abusive husbands. A path she’s determined to follow after a harrowing childhood in Palermo.

But even in a time of plague, it does not go unnoticed when the men begin to fall like flies.

With the Holy Office of the Inquisition on her tail, Giulia is in more danger than ever. . How far will she go for the women who need her help?

MURDERER OR SAVIOUR? YOU DECIDE.

A POISONER’S TALE explores the realities of what it is like to be a woman who rebels against society and takes the reader on a tense, challenging but spellbinding journey.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Rome, 1656. Five women stand on a scaffold about to be executed. They are accused of selling poison to the women of Rome so that they could poison their husbands, killing hundreds, maybe even thousands. One of those women is Giulia Tofana. And this is her story.

Giulia Tofana. The first female serial killer. I’d never heard of her and I imagine not many of you have either. But you’ll not forget her after reading this magnificent debut. Atmospheric, dark, powerful and immersive, this captivating story is brimming with female rage, power and revenge. Cathryn Kemp showcases herself as an author to watch with this skillfully written tale and I’m now even more excited to read her second book soon. Exquisitely researched, it is rich in historic detail, transporting you to the 17th Century so vividly you can smell the stench of the jail and feel yourself walking Rome’s cobbled streets. I was hooked, on the edge of my seat and unable to put this one down once I’d started reading. 

I consider myself a true crime and history buff, but somehow Giulia’s story had escaped me until I read this book. Now I want to know more! Feisty and independent, she is a strong woman who went through some terrible things and had to fend for herself from a young age. Giulia came from a long line of healers and poison makers, the recipe for her deadly cocktail passed down through the generations in order to help women escape their abusive or cruel husbands. This was a time where women had no rights and were the property of men, so murder was seen as their only way to escape abuse and women like Giulia, who lived free of the ownership of any man, were looked upon with suspicion and hatred. Despite her deadly deeds, I linked Giulia and her circle of poisoners. And I didn’t blame the women who came to her for desperately trying to escape a life of hell. I’ve been there and am so thankful I could leave without having to resort to murderous measures. 

I think this is a book that is best discovered for yourself, so I won’t say more about the plot. But I will say that this is an absolute must-read for anyone with an interest in history, true crime or feminist stories. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you Bantam for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my hoenst reivew.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cathryn Kemp’s first novel, bestselling  A Poisoner’s Tale, won the HWA Debut Crown Award 2025 and has been published internationally in the U.S., Canada, Italy, France, Brazil and Portuguese speaking territories, Vietnam and globally.

Cathryn’s second novel, They Can’t Burn Us All, is published with Penguin Random House in August 2026.

Her personal memoir, Coming Clean (2012), won the Big Red Read Prize for Non-Fiction. Cathryn co-founded charity, The Painkiller Addiction Information Network (PAIN), which has successfully lobbied Government, including the House of Lords and the APPG for dependency on prescribed medicines. 

Cathryn is a Sunday Times and Amazon Number 1 (in four categories) bestselling ghostwriter, with a prolific career writing celebrity, inspirational, true crime, addiction and nostalgia titles.

She has written across the full spectrum of the British and international press, and has appeared on television and radio, including ITV’s This Morning, Lorraine and Panorama, BBC’s Women’s Hour and regional BBC radio stations across the UK.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB REVIEW: Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall

Published March 5th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan
Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

YOUR SECRETS AREN’T SAFE.

Ten years ago, Hope left Somerset with a fatal secret and a broken heart. She has spent a decade in the shadows, living a quiet life of penance to protect the man she once loved – the world-famous author Ambrose Glencourt.

YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN.

Then, she opens his latest bestseller. To the world, it’s a brilliant work of fiction. To Hope, it’s a betrayal. Every private moment, every dark truth, and every ‘fatal disaster’ from that summer is laid bare on the page.

YOUR TRUTH IS A LIE.

But Ambrose has changed the ending. In his version of the story, Hope isn’t the victim. She’s the villain.

Now, Hope must step out of the shadows to reclaim her narrative. But in a world of glamorous elites and whispered secrets, who will believe the word of an unreliable woman against the word of a literary icon?

Two narrators. One truth. And a secret worth killing for.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

For the last decade Hope has lived a reclusive life in penance for the tragic events that happened at Shadowlands. She swore to protect those she cared about and has taken that promise seriously. Then she sees author Ambrose Glencourt on TV promoting his new book. When she opens it she discovers he has taken not only every private moment from that summer at Shadowlands, but their shared secret, and turned it into a novel. And when she gets to the end and discovers that in Ambrose’s version she is no longer the victim but the villain. Angry and betrayed, Hope decides she has only one choice. To step out of the shadows and tell the world the truth about what happened. But who will they believe?

The first part of the book takes us back to Hope’s summer at Shadowlands, when she worked as Ambrose’s assistant. It’s a summer of self-discovery and falling in love. But it is also one of tragedy and we know something terrible happened that summer that Hope has been keeping secret ever since, creating an atmosphere of tension and foreboding that lingers over every word. By part two the secret has been revealed to the reader, but only from Hope’s perspective. And after DI Natalie Evans goes to the Glencourts for their version of events, they tell her that Hope’s mental health problems and obsession with Ambrose make her an unreliable narrator. Natalie must decide who is telling the truth, beginning an investigation that peels back the layers of lies and misdirection to expose shocking truths that pull the rug out from under you. 

Unreliable narrators are my favourite trope, especially in thrillers. So the title of this book alone was enough to add it to my TBR, but when I read the synopsis I was even more intrigued. Razor-sharp, suspenseful, forbidding, twisty and thought-provoking, Unreliable Narrator is a heart-stopping thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Skillfully written, cleverly choreographed and filled with twists I never saw coming, this book is like a can of pringles and I couldn’t stop reading once I’d started. Araminta Hall had me in the palm of her hand as she spun her tangled web of secrets, lies, betrayal and murder. But this book also makes you think as Ms. Hall asks how much we can really trust our own memories and explores themes of misogyny and abuse. The characters are richly drawn and hold your attention. Hope is a fascinating protagonist and I enjoyed trying to figure out if she was telling us the truth. The others are harder to figure out as for much of the story we only see them through Hope’s lens and I enjoyed how part two made me question everything I thought I knew. 

A must-read for all thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From her website: I live by the sea in Brighton, on the south coast of England, with my husband and three children who come and go between universities and flat shares. Most of my time is spent in my writing cabin battling words, but I also love walking my dog on the beach, doing a bit of very amateur gardening, seeing friends and reading, reading, reading.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce

Published February 26th, 2026 by Wildfire
Thriller, Legal Thriller, Supernatural Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

TWO TEENAGE GIRLS. ONE MURDERED CLASSMATE.
AND A MODERN-DAY WITCH TRIAL THAT WILL DIVIDE THE NATION . . .

‘Mind-bending and brilliant’ LISA JEWELL
‘Deliciously twisted. . . Genius’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS
‘An utter masterpiece’ SOPHIE HANNAH
‘Impeccable plotting’ FINANCIAL TIMES
_______________________________

When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, the city reels – and the shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with her murder.

As their trial begins and headlines scream for justice, rumours of bullying spiral into something darker: whispers of rituals, obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong.

But then the girls take the stand – revealing a chilling defence no one saw coming – and the jury must question everything: the motives, the evidence, even their own judgement.

Who’s telling the truth? Who can be trusted?
And what really happened to Christian Shaw?

Let the Witch Trial begin . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REIVEW:

Schoolgirls Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth are accused of murdering their friend Christian Shaw. This book follows their trial. But it isn’t told through the eyes of the accused, their lawyers or even the victim’s loved ones. This story is primarily told by a juror, heart surgeon Matthew Phillips, who sees the trial as the perfect chance to escape from his troubled life. But he becomes increasingly obsessed with the case and begins to unravel, making us question if we can really believe what he’s telling us. Add in the connections to witchcraft and the historic witch trials, and you’ve got an addictive and heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

From its dark and intriguing prologue to one of the best endings I’ve ever read, Witch Trial had me completely hooked. With her exquisite prose, clever plotting and stunning revelations, Harriet Tyce held me in her thrall. I love it when a book takes you in a different direction than you were expecting, and Harriet did that time and again with this story. I enjoyed the glimpse into what it is like to be a juror in a trial and some of my favourite parts of the book were the scenes between the jurors when they are alone together or trying to navigate the legalities of being a juror when they go against their personal instincts or needs. I also liked that we were never given any information that they didn’t know, putting us in Matthew’s shoes and making us question everything the way he did. 

I love a thriller that keeps you guessing so I loved how although we know the identity of the accused killers they remain elusive and we only have the same evidence as the jurors to decide if they are guilty, raising the suspense and keeping me on tenterhooks. I also loved the supernatural element that is intricately woven into the story. Eliza and Isobel are accused of practicing witchcraft and there are references and parallels with the historic witch trials that took place in Edinburgh, the city the book is set in. These elements helped to create the dark atmosphere and sense of danger that permeated the story. It also made us question not only the sanity of the accused, but also of Matthew, as he’s drawn deeper into the occult as the case goes on.  But the part that elevated this book from great to sensational was that surprise triple twist ending that Harriet pulls off with such finesse. It is truly one of my favourite endings of all time and changed how I perceived the entire story. Well played, Ms. Tyce.

An outstanding thriller that will have your heart racing and mind whirling, add this to your TBR now! 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Harriet Tyce was born and grew up in Edinburgh. She graduated in English from Oxford University in 1994, and after gaining legal qualifications worked as a criminal barrister for nearly ten years. After leaving the law she started writing, gaining a distinction in an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from the University of East Anglia in 2017.

Harriet has written four novels, Blood Orange, The Lies You Told, It Ends At Midnight and A Lesson in Cruelty. She lives in north London with her husband, children, and two dogs.

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Thanks for reaidng, Bibliophiles xxxx

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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.
​
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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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026 Squadpod Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Featured Books

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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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: Blank Canvas by Grace Murray

Published January 15th, 2026 by Fig Tree
Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Introducing an outstanding new voice in literary fiction: a sensual, sharp, and utterly compelling campus novel about grief, reinvention, and the ripple effects of telling lies

If I ever woke up with an ungodly dread ― that I could change it all now, turn around, and confess ― I ignored it. I had never been good, and there was no point in trying now.

On a small liberal arts campus in upstate New York, Charlotte begins her final year with a lie. Her father died over the summer, she says. Heart attack. Very sudden.

Charlotte had never been close with her classmates but as she repeats her tale, their expressions soften into kindness. And so she learns there are things worth lying for: attention, affection, and, as she embarks on a relationship with fellow student Katarina, even love. All she needs to do is keep control of the threads that hold her lie – and her life – together.

But six thousand miles away, alone in the grey two-up-two-down Staffordshire terrace she grew up in, her father is very much alive, watching television and drinking beer. Charlotte has always kept difficult truths at arm’s length, but his resolve to visit his distant daughter might just be the one thing she can’t control.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Charlotte is in her final year at a small liberal arts school in upstate New York. And she begins it by telling a lie: that her father died suddenly over the summer. 

Charlotte has never really fit in with her classmates and she doesn’t feel things the way others do. Lying is second nature to her.  She sees herself as predestined to lie while others are predestined to be good, so what’s the point in trying. But then she embarks on a relationship with fellow student Katarina. Suddenly she’s starting to understand the emotions that have eluded her and she wants to be good. But how can she admit she lied about her father’s death?

Sensual, emotional, witty, assured and original, Blank Canvas is a small book that makes a big impact. An extraordinary debut, Grace Murray showcases herself as an outstanding literary talent to watch. Exquisitely written, multi-layered and acutely observed, this book oozes malaise, heartache and dysfunction. It will consume you, Murray holding you in her thrall from the first page to the last. 

Protagonist Charlotte is a fractured, flawed and xx character. Her inner monologue hypnotises you as Murray slowly lays bare her grief, trauma and dysfunction. It is impossible to turn away, even as you see the car crash heading her way. Her relationship with Katarina is full of the intensity and transformation of first love while also being complicated by her lies. It’s beautiful, raw and real, humanising Charlotte when she starts out as someone pretty hard to relate to. This is also where we begin to see Charlotte really crave some kind of bond, something she has never wanted before, highlighting the human need for connection in even the most solitary of souls.

A magnificent debut that will leave you breathless, this is a must-read. I can’t wait for whatever Murray writes next.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Grace Murray was born in 2003 and grew up in Norwich. She has recently graduated from Edinburgh University, where she read English Literature and found time to write between her studies and two part-time jobs. Her short fiction has been published in The London Magazine.

In writing Blank Canvas, Grace set out to explore themes of Catholic guilt and queer identity, clashing moral codes and lies, and the opportunity for reinvention presented by moving between countries and settings.

Blank Canvas was written over the course of a year as part of WriteNow, Penguin Random House’s flagship mentorship scheme for emerging talent. Grace Murray won one of nine places on the scheme on the exceptional strength of her writing, selected from a pool of over 1,300 applicants.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

Published January 22nd, 2026 by Aria
Domestic Fiction, Romance Novel, Dark Romance, Gothic Romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE NEW ROMANCE NOVEL FROM TIKTOK SENSATION ASHLEY WINSTEAD.

‘The Future Saints is not to be missed.’ Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

A band on the brink. A love worth playing for.

When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral and Theo has been dispatched to coax a new – and successful – album out of them, or else let them go.

Theo is struck right away by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who has gone off script in debuting a new song-and, in fact, a whole new sound. Theo’s supposed to get the band back on track, but when their new music garners an even wider fan base than before, the plans begin to change-new tour, new record, new start.

But Hannah’s descent into grief has larger consequences for the group, and she’s not willing to let go yet. not for fame or love.

For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years, this is a love story – just not the one you’re expecting.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

The Future Saints is a band in freefall. They have been struggling since the death of their manager almost a year earlier. The night that record executive Theo Ford meets them they are playing a gig at a dive bar in their hometown and bombing. The record label doesn’t hold out much hope and has sent Theo to ensure the band deliver their obligated next album and then cut them loose. Theo is immediately captivated by lead singer Hannah Cortland, the impetuous broken beauty who is falling apart both behind the scenes and on stage. But that brokenness turns out to be a secret weapon when the band goes off script and debuts not only a new song, but a whole new sound. It goes viral and suddenly the band are thrust into the spotlight. The pressure is on to cash in on their new fame and make that new album a runaway hit. Will Hannah’s grief derail their dreams? Or will she find a way to let go?

This book was nothing like I expected but it was also everything I didn’t know I wanted. Ashley Winstead is a magnificent storyteller who has crafted a mesmerising, raw and poignant story about grief, sisterhood, friendship and love that also gives us a glimpse into the crazy truth of the music industry.

There is a dynamic cast of characters who are fun to read and easy to root for. It didn’t matter that their lives were a million miles away from anything I know, they still felt familiar and deeply human. However, my greatest takeaway from this story is the emotions that bleed from every page. I went through all the feelings my heart has still not recovered. It’s moving, heartbreakingly raw, compassionate and messy. And I couldn’t get enough.

A glorious and stirring story that will linger long after reading, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ashley Winstead is an academic turned bestselling novelist with a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature. She lives in Houston with her husband, three cats, and beloved wine fridge.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Room 706 by Ellie Levenson

Published January 15th, 2026 by Headline
Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Nobody knows she’s checked into Room 706.

Caught in the wrong place at precisely the worst time, Kate must face the most confronting situation of her life – and discover what matters most – in this deeply suspenseful and thought-provoking novel.

If she knew it would end this way, would it ever have begun?

‘I devoured it… I haven’t stopped thinking about it’ Jennie Godfrey
‘An ending that demands to be talked about’ Erin Kelly
‘Poignant, heart-breaking and utterly human’ Joanna Cannon

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Kate stretches her legs and turns on the TV while James washes away the traces of their morning. She watches in horror at the unfolding news: the hotel they are staying in has been taken under siege.

She should be making her way home, working on appearing normal, getting ready to re-enter family life with her loving husband Vic and their two adored children. Instead, she is trapped somewhere she shouldn’t be, with a man she definitely doesn’t love.

How will she begin to tell Vic what she is doing here? If her body is found, will it give up the secret of what she’s been up to? She’s been so careful hiding the evidence of her affair: write nothing down, leave no trace. Will he begin to understand why?

For now, Kate can only hide, take a deep breath, and reflect on the series of choices she’s made that have brought her to this moment.

What will her marriage and her life look like, if she makes it out?

Discover the most gripping and original novel you’ll read this year, from an incredible new talent in fiction.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Multi-layered, tender, tense and claustrophobic, Room 706 is an explosive debut. Morally ambiguous and thought provoking it follows Kate, who has just enjoyed a day of illicit love-making with her lover, James. As he showers she turns on the TV in the hotel room and the news is reporting a story about a siege under way at a hotel. Horrorstruck, Kate realises it is their hotel. Now, instead of making her way home and collecting her children from school, she’s stuck in a hotel room with her lover. How will she explain this to her husband? And will they make it out of there alive?

How on earth is this a debut? Ellie Levenson writes like a seasoned veteran. Her storytelling is nuanced, raw and sensitive, her characters achingly human and flawed, her plot cleverly choreographed and tightly paced, and her twists surprising. I’ll admit that I went into this expecting a thriller, but while it is full of fear and tension, it isn’t a thriller. Levenson describes it as ‘fiction for the clever but tired woman’, which is the perfect description. I was in Ellie’s thrall, glued to the pages as we moved between events in the hotel room and flashbacks that tell the story of both of Kate’s relationships. And that ending! I almost threw the book across the room and can see why so many people are talking about it.

The moral ambiguity of this story is at the heart of its charm. Kate loves her husband and her affair is simply self-care for her. An escape from the monotony of marriage and motherhood. She recognises how wrong it is but also isn’t willing to give it up. And whatever your thoughts on the morality of her choices, it’s impossible not to like and root for this lady and feel sad for her as she’s trapped in a terrifying situation totally unsupported. Something I loved about Kate was how even when she’s fearing for her life she still worries  about things like the food shopping, buying her son a costume for school and uploading family photos to the cloud. It’s definitely what I could imagine myself doing in her situation. 

A riveting and unforgettable debut by an author who is one to watch, Room 706 is a must for your TBR. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellie Levenson has worked as a journalist, writer and lecturer for many years. 

Her freelance work as a feature writer and columnist saw articles published across national newspapers, consumer magazines and specialist publications, with a special focus on writing accessibly about politics, language and social issues. 

Ellie has extensive experience as a lecturer in journalism at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and has been a guest lecturer at many other institutions. She has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at the London programmes of Boston University and Syracuse University. She is completing a PGCHE and is interested to hear about any guest lecturing opportunities in journalism, ideas generation and creative writing. 

Before becoming a novelist, Ellie wrote non-fiction books for adults and non-fiction and picture books for children. These include Politics in 100 words (Quarto, 2020), Creativity and Feature Writing: How to get hundreds of new ideas every day (Routledge, 2015), The Election (Fisherton Press, 2015) and The Noughtie Girl’s Guide to Feminism (Oneworld, 2009).

Ellie lives with her husband and children in East London. (Up the O’s!)

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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