Tag: Book Recommendations

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis

Published August 15th, 2024 by The Borough Press
Greek Mythology, Historical Fiction, LGBT Literature

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

WINNER OF THE 2024 GOLDEN POPPY OCTAVIA E. BUTLER AWARD

‘A brilliant and luminous writer’ Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe

‘Riveting, sublime, magical, and wildly subversive’ Cristina García, author of Dreaming in Cuban

‘A natural storyteller’ Washington Post

Theirs was a love that defied the gods…

Young, headstrong Psyche has captured the eye of every suitor with her beauty – but also, unfortunately, the jealous gaze of the goddess Aphrodite. As punishment, Psyche is tied to a rock to be sacrificed to a ‘monstrous husband’. And yet, no monster arrives: instead, she is spirited away by Aphrodite’s daughter Eros.

Eros, goddess of desire, can change gender at will. And in her hidden palace, she visits her bride under the cloak of darkness: Psyche is forbidden to gaze upon the face of her lover. But as they explore each other’s bodies and discover new pleasures, Psyche is tempted to break her vow… even if it brings down the wrath of the gods.

A gloriously anarchic and seductive retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros, groundbreaking, gender-fluid and hugely enjoyable, this is a masterpiece from Caro De Robertis, a writer described by Madeline Miller as ‘brilliant and luminous’.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

“Theirs was a love that defied the gods…”

Psyche, the headstrong mortal princess, has a beauty that has captured the attention of every suitor. But it has also captured the jealous gaze of the goddess Aphrodite who orders Psyche be tied to a rock and sacrificed to a ‘monstrous husband’. But no monster arrives. Instead she is taken away by Eros, Aphrodite’s daughter and goddess of desire, who has also fallen head over heels for Psyche’s beauty. She secretes Psyche in her hidden palace and visits her under a veil of darkness, forbidding Psyche to gaze on her face. But as their passion grows, so does Psyche’s curiosity, and she is tempted to look upon her lover’s face, even if it means facing the wrath of the gods…

Sensuous, seductive, emotional and chaotic, The Palace of Eros is a beautiful retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros. In her mesmerising debut, Caro Di Robertis writes with poetic prose, holding her reader captive as she spins her ancient tale. I’ve read a number of Greek mythology retellings over the last few years and this was one of the best. The characters felt real and I lived every moment alongside them, losing myself in their worlds of gods and mortals. Then there is the heart-pounding romance and sizzling chemistry that made me root for their love to defy the gods and succeed. I was utterly entranced and listened to this in just two sittings. 

A must-read for anyone who enjoys mythology.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you to The Borough Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A writer of Uruguayan origins, Caro De Robertis is the author of So Many Stars: an Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color, as well as The Palace of Eros, which won the Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award; The President and the Frog, a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award; Cantoras, winner of a Stonewall Book Award and a Reading Women Award, a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and a Lambda Literary Award, and a New York Times Editors’ Choice; The Gods of Tango, winner of a Stonewall Book Award; Perla; and the international bestseller The Invisible Mountain, which received Italy’s Rhegium Julii Prize. They are also an award-winning translator of Latin American literature, and editor of the anthology Radical Hope: Letters of Love and Dissent in Dangerous Times.

Their books have been translated into seventeen languages and have received numerous other honors, including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John Dos Passos Prize for Literature, which they were the first openly nonbinary person to receive.

De Robertis is also co-curator, with Tina V. Aguirre, of “Conjuring Power: Roots & Futures of Queer & Trans Movements,” an exhibition on view at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts from March to August, 2026. A professor at San Francisco State University, they live in Oakland, California with their two children.

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Thanks for reading, Bilbliophiles xxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: Deception by Jack Jordan

Published June 4th, 2026 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A deadly game. The ultimate price. The Chain meets Squid Game meets Emily the Criminal in this pulse-pounding new thriller from the master of the moral dilemma, Jack Jordan. 

SOON TO BE ADAPTED FOR TV!

‘The most tense book I’ve ever read. Instantly gripping, utterly addictive’ ANDREA MARA
‘A blistering, nerve shredding thriller … Electrifying’ JOHN MARRS
‘A top-tier thriller. High-concept and brilliantly written … I could not stop turning the pages!’ C. M. EWAN
‘A thriller that reads like the plot of an action movie but with a thumping emotional heart’ NIKKI SMITH

Emma and Miles are out of options. Their son needs life-saving transplant surgery, but in a world of privatised healthcare and impossible costs, they can’t afford it.

Then comes the offer: a shadowy syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.

The catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.

But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game. As the competition intensifies and they struggle under the weight of their choices, they’re faced with the ultimate question:

How far would you go to save the one you love?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

The king of the moral-dilemma thriller is back with another hit to keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Emma and Miles’ nine-year-old son, Ryan, needs a heart and lung transplant to save his life. But they live in the USA, where the cost of his healthcare is financially crippling. They are out of options and have no way to pay for the surgery he needs. But hope then comes in the form of an offer from a shadowy syndicate known as The Levels. They say they will give them the exact amount of money they need in return for them completing a series of tasks. The catch? The tasks are all crimes. With no other option, Emma and Miles decide they have no choice but to play. As they move up the levels the stakes increase, as does the payout. and they quickly find that the line between what’s right and wrong blurs. Then they find themselves faced with the ultimate question: how far will they go to save their son’s life?

Jack Jordan has done it again! This man seriously never misses and I feel like his books just get better and better. Jaw-dropping, propulsive and unbelievably tense, Deception is an action-packed thriller with an emotional heartbeat. It’s an impossible dilemma. And that’s what makes it so addictive. It will shatter your nerves, have your jaw on the floor and break your heart all at the same time. And I loved every minute, binging it in just two sittings.

Exquisitely written, expertly choreographed and perfectly paced, Jack had me in his thrall from start to finish. Emma and Miles are great protagonists. They are the everyman and woman, people we can see ourselves in and relate to.  My heart shattered as Emma sat by Ryan’s bedside trying to find ways to save his life and for Miles as he worked to breaking point to try and pay for it all. Jack asks the questions I was thinking about private healthcare, exploring how a civilised country can treat their most vulnerable that way and prioritise profit over human life. By the time the offer from The Levels comes, you’re as beaten down and desperate as Emma and Miles and totally understand why they are considering it. After all, what parent wouldn’t do whatever it took to save their child? These are good people in a dire situation and it is easy to understand how they end up doing bad things. It is a reminder that things aren’t always black and white and that so much of life lives in the grey.

An astonishing masterpiece that will leave you breathless, this is a must-read for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to The Likely Suspects for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018), Night by Night (2019), Do No Harm (2022), Conviction (2023), and Redemption (2024).

His thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards, coined the thriller of the summer for 2022.  The idea for Do No Harm came to Jack after undergoing a minor medical procedure where he had to be sedated and trust strangers with his welfare. After the anaesthesia wore off, Jack began scribbling his notes, wondering to himself just how iron-clad a surgeon’s oath is, and what it would take to break it…

Jack’s book Redemption, was longlisted for Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year in 2024 and 2025, and shortlisted for the 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, both Thriller of the Year and Crime Audiobook of the Year at London’s Capital Crime Fingerprint Awards, and the Most Recommended Book in the De.ad Good Reader Awards.

Jack’s upcoming thriller Deception is publishing with Simon & Schuster in June 2026

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

BOOK REVIEW: A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

Published August 31st, 2023 by Harper Fiction
Historial Fiction, Romance Novel, Regency Romance

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A lifetime of duty

Widowed at just seven-and-twenty from her marriage of convenience, Eliza, now Countess of Somerset, is bequeathed a fortune, hers to keep – provided she can steer clear of scandal.

The promise of love

The last thing she expects is to be torn between two very different men – a face from the past, whose loss she’s always mourned, and a roguish poet, who scorns convention.

A taste of freedom

But a lady’s reputation is fragile and with jealous eyes on Eliza’s fortune, it will only take one whisper of gossip for her to lose it all…

Escape with the most delightful, historical romance of the year from the Sunday Times bestselling author Sophie Irwin!

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

“Isn’t now the time to break the rules “

Eliza, Countess of Somerset, is newly widowed at just seven and twenty. To her surprise, her late husband has bequeathed her a fortune – offering her the chance to finally grasp the freedom she’s longed for. But there is one condition: she must steer clear of scandal. So, she heads off to Bath to begin her new life, only to find herself caught between two very different suitors – a past love who she’s always carried a torch for, and a roguish poet who spurns convention. But as jealous eyes have their eyes on Eliza’s fortune, it only takes a little gossip to ruin a lady’s reputation…

Scandal. Gossip. Art. Romance. Breaking the rules. This rousing regency romp had all this and more. Witty, warm, flirty, fun, uplifting and unpredictable, it was a delight from beginning to end. I adored Sophie Irwin’s debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to a Fortune, so I had no doubt I’d also love her sophomore novel. Beautifully written, richly drawn and full of yet more ebullient and colourful characters, I lost myself in the story. 

Likeable and easy to root for, Eliza is a fabulous heroine. When we meet her she’s compliant and scared to break the rules and I loved watching as she became more daring, bold and spirited/plucky. Her relationship with her cousin/companion, Margaret, was fun to read and I liked how Margaret encouraged her to live life more fully. Oliver and Melville, Eliza’s suitors, were well written and often very frustrating to read. Oliver is quite pompous and particular while Melville is free-spirited and mischievous. Melville’s feelings for Eliza were obvious from the start but she was clueless and totally caught up on Oliver, which made me want to scream at her. Despite his shortcomings, I was team Melville all the way. You’ll need to read the book to find out who won Eliza’s affections in the end.

A delicious and zesty romp that will lift your spirits, this is perfect for fans of historical romance, especially fans of Bridgerton.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sophie Irwin grew up in Dorset. She spent years immersed in historical fiction, first as a student when she wrote her undergraduate thesis on Georgette Heyer, and then as an editor, before she began writing her own. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, was a Sunday Times bestseller, and has been translated into twenty languages worldwide.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Published Steptember 22nd, 2016 by Picodor
Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Religious Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Eleven-year-old Anna O’Donnell stops eating, but remains miraculously alive and well. A nurse, sent to investigate whether she is a fraud, meets a journalist hungry for a story . . .

Set in the Irish Midlands in the 1850s, Emma Donoghue’s The Wonder is inspired by numerous European and North American cases of ‘fasting girls’ between the sixteenth century and the twentieth. A psychological thriller about a child’s murder threatening to happen in slow motion before our eyes.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, intense, heartbreaking, intriguing and transcendent, The Wonder is a powerful gothic tale that will linger long after reading. The story is told by Lib Wright, who travels to Ireland to work as a private nurse for the O’Donnell family for two weeks. She is there to observe their eleven-year-old daughter, Anna, who claims not to have eaten a morsel of food for four months. But the girl isn’t emaciated or bed-ridden. She’s a little thin but otherwise healthy and seems full of energy. Anna’s family is certain she’s been blessed by God. A wonder. Lib is sure it’s all a hoax. As is the journalist she meets who has been sent to report on the strange case. But who is right?

A story steeped in folklore, religion, trauma and suspicion, this one will keep you guessing. Try as I might, I just couldn’t figure this one out. Emma Donoghue has been one of my favourite authors ever since I read Room many years ago. This book had languished on my shelf for years. And now that I’ve read it I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Exquisitely written, skillfully plotted and intricately interwoven, Ms. Donoghue hides her clues in plain sight, weaving them into the narrative so expertly that we never notice they are there. When the shocking truth was revealed I was left looking back at the story in awe of how cleverly she’d disguised her clues so that I never even noticed they were there. And the story’s bleak and remote setting adds to the isolated, claustrophobic and suspenseful atmosphere. It is a  masterpiece and one of my favourite books by this author to date. It is a  masterpiece and one of my favourite books by this author to date.

Lib, a nurse from England who trained under Florence Nightingale and served in the Crimean War is our narrator. She is a great character who was likeable and easy to root for. I loved her skeptical and scathing internal monologue and how she put her patient’s care above anything else, even the orders of the church and other powerful people who had hired her to decide if this whole affair is a hoax or truly heaven-sent.  One of the things I loved was the bond that slowly developed between Lib and Anna. I was so thankful for it and happy that the little girl had someone in her corner who wasn’t influenced by religious fervour, especially as the story went on. Anna was a difficult character to figure out but I did get the impression that she truly believed what she was saying, which made the situation even stranger and more perplexing. I was unprepared for the truth, though, and was left reeling when it was finally revealed. 

A mesmerising and unforgettable page-turner, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Emma’s Website: Born in Dublin, Ireland, in October 1969, I am the youngest of eight children of Frances and Denis Donoghue (the literary critic). I attended Catholic convent schools in Dublin, apart from one eye-opening year in New York at the age of ten. In 1990 I earned a first-class honours BA in English and French from University College Dublin (unfortunately, without learning to actually speak French). I moved to England, and in 1997 received my PhD (on the concept of friendship between men and women in eighteenth-century English fiction) from the University of Cambridge. From the age of 23, I have earned my living as a writer, and have been lucky enough to never have an ‘honest job’ since I was sacked after a single summer month as a chambermaid. After years of commuting between England, Ireland, and Canada, in 1998 I settled in London, Ontario, where I live with Chris Roulston and our son Finn and daughter Una.

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: The Midnight Train by Matt Haig

Published May 21st, 2026 by Canongate
Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Time Travel Fiction, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When your life flashes before your eyes, what will matter most?

For Wilbur it was his time with Maggie, the love of his life. Their honeymoon in Venice. Before he threw it all away.

Years later, on the brink of his own death, a train arrives. It can take Wilbur back in time. To relive his most important moments. Soon he realises just how much he would have changed.

An adventure through time, The Midnight Train is a story of love and second chances, from the world of The Midnight Library.

PRE-ORDER

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MY REVIEW:

A love letter to books, bookshops and the joy of reading, this is the perfect read for any bibliophile. And this highly anticipated follow-up to The Midnight Library is also full of a tsunami of emotions. Atmospheric, poignant, powerful and achingly human, this is a story about love, life, grief and second-chances A true gem of a book, I never wanted it to end. But when it did it left me with my heart full and the biggest smile on my face.

The story follows Wilbur, who after his death finds himself on a train platform. At a minute after midnight a train arrives: the Midnight Train. Wilbur gets on board and finds himself on a journey through his entire life: from his impoverished childhood where he found an escape in books to awkward first dates with the love of his life, Maggie, to their honeymoon in Venice and him throwing it all away. He relives all his most important moments and realises how much of his life he wished he could change. 

Matt Haig is one of my favourite authors. An exceptional storyteller, he has a style all his own and both are showcased in this book. Exquisitely told, skillfully crafted and full of evocative imagery that brings the whole book to life, I was in his thrall from start to finish. Matt is also skilled at writing about a wide range of difficult subjects with honesty, depth, nuance and sensitivity while also never feeling triggering and that combination of real life and magical realism lends the story a dreamlike vibe that I adored. 

I loved Wilbur. He’s likeable but also deeply flawed, and I think we can all relate to wishing we’d done something differently in our lives. I loved his love of books and the big role they play throughout his life. The other characters are as richly drawn, compelling and real and I particularly enjoyed reading Agnes, former bookshop owner and his guide on his journey. And I want to say a big thank you to Matt for all of the Sheffield representation in this book. As a life-long Sheffielder myself, this was so great to see. Thank you.

A truly mesmerising story that will linger long after you close that final page, this is a must-read.

Rating: 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Haig is the internationally bestselling author of the novels The Midnight Library, The Life Impossible,  How to Stop Time, The Humans and The Radleys. His work has been translated into over fifty languages.

The Midnight Library was an instant bestseller and winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction. It has become a worldwide phenomenon and sold over ten million copies worldwide spending 52 weeks in the New York Times bestseller list. The audiobook is read by Carey Mulligan. 

His memoir Reasons to Stay Alive was a number one bestseller, staying in the British top ten for 46 weeks. His award-winning children’s book A Boy Called Christmas was a runaway hit and is translated in over 40 languages. It was made into a film starring Maggie Smith, Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent and The Guardian called it an ‘instant classic’. 

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Last One Out by Jane Harper

Published April 23rd, 2026 by Bantam Press
Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An unforgettable and deeply atmospheric small town mystery about a devastating unsolved disappearance from International No. 1 bestselling author Jane Harper. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Chris Whitaker and Elly Griffiths.

He had been here, that was clear from the marks in the dust. And he had been alone.

In a dying town, Ro Crowley waits for her son on the evening of his twenty-first birthday.

Sam never comes home. His footprints in the dust of three abandoned houses offer the only clue to his final movements. One set in. One set out.

Five long years later, Ro returns to Carralon Ridge for the annual memorial of Sam’s disappearance. The skeletal community is now an echo of itself, having fractured under the pressure of the coal mine operating on its outskirts.

But Ro still wants answers. Only a few people remain. If the truth is to be found in that town, does it lie among them?

Last One Out is a hugely atmospheric mystery from the author of The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man, The Survivors and Exiles.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

On his 21st birthday, Sam doesn’t come home. The only traces that are found of him are his abandoned car and his footprints in the dust of three abandoned houses. Five years later, his mother, Ro, heads back to Carralon Ridge for the family’s annual memorial of Sam’s disappearance. Ro still wants answers. But only a few residents remain in this dying town so can she get them?

Emotional, intriguing and reflective, this slow-burning mystery is at its heart an exploration of grief. This was my first time reading a book by Jane Harper and I was struck by her powerful storytelling and clever plotting that kept me guessing right up until the reveal. The story moves between timelines, allowing us to get to know Sam in the past, feel the fear alongside Ro as he disappears, and then feel the utter heartbreak of five years of questions that have never been answered. I admit, I’m usually a fast-paced thriller girl and at first I did struggle with the slower pace and there were times I found my attention wandering. But things soon picked up and my interest was locked in on the need for answers about Sam’s disappearance. 

The characters in this story are likeable, relatable and compelling. From the start I felt a strong connection with Ro. Her pain is palpable and my heart broke for her. Not only is she grieving her son, she is also grieving her marriage, which fell apart under the weight of their grief. I was rooting for Ro to finally find the answers she’s searching for even if it wasn’t a happy ending. Because the pain of not knowing must be even harder than getting bad news. 

The town of Carralon Bridge also feels like a character in its own right and Harper has perfectly captured the atmosphere of a skeletal small town. From the opening pages you can feel the desolate emptiness of Carralon Bridge and the struggle of those who remain there. This atmosphere feels like a metaphor for Ro’s emotions upon her annual return for Sam’s anniversary; the emptiness a void in both her heart and the town itself. 

Dark and poignant, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a slow-burn mystery. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jane Harper is the author of The Dry, winner of various awards including the 2015 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, the 2017 Indie Award Book of the Year, the 2017 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year Award and the CWA Gold Dagger Award for the best crime novel of 2017. Rights have been sold in 27 territories worldwide, and film rights optioned to Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea. Jane worked as a print journalist for thirteen years both in Australia and the UK and lives in Melbourne.

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

BOOK REVIEW: Prize Women by Caroline Lea

Published April 27th, 2023 by Michael Joseph
Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Based on the incredible true story of The Great Stork Derby, Prize Women is the profoundly moving novel that sheds light on a scandalous moment in history just as relevant today
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Toronto, 1926.

A childless millionaire leaves behind an astonishing will: the recipient of his fortune will be decided in a contest known as ‘The Great Stork Derby’. His money will go to the winner: the woman who bears the most children in the ten years after his death.

Lily di Marco is young, pregnant, and terrified of her husband. Fleeing to Toronto, she arrives on the doorstep of glamorous free spirit Mae Thebault. At a time when men hold all the power, Lily and Mae look out for each other. But as their friendship grows, Lily wonders if there’s more to Mae – and her past – than she has been told . . .

And as the Great Depression bites, the Stork Derby contest – with its alluring prize – proves too good to ignore for Lily and Mae, each living hand to mouth.

These best friends are now fierce rivals. But if only one woman can win, what will the contest cost the other?

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Toronto, 1926. When eccentric millionaire Charles Vance Miller dies aged 82, he plays a final joke in his will and leaves his fortune to the woman who has the most babies over the next ten years. It was known as ‘The Great Stalk Derby’. The story follows two women – Lily and Mae – who take part in the derby, following their lives over the decade of the race through all of their trials, tribulations and celebrations. 

Caroline Lea has been one of my favourite historical fiction authors ever since I read her debut and I will buy anything she writes. This book has languished on my shelves unread for a while but I’m glad I finally read it. Exquisitely written, cleverly crafted and meticulously researched, Caroline held me in her thrall and I lost myself in the story. I love a book based on real events but had never heard of The Great Stalk Derby before reading this and admit I found the idea quite horrifying. But this story peels back the complex layers of the lives of the women who took part, revealing an evocative, poignant, scandalous and unforgettable story of sisterhood, strength and survival. Caroline also explores misogyny, abuse, lack of bodily autonomy and poverty, showing how they inform the women’s lives and the number of children they had. It’s hard to read at times but Caroline created the perfect balance of honesty and sensitivity, making everything included feel crucial to understanding these women.

The story is told by Lily and Mae, two women who take part in the derby that were based on real women. I loved these ladies and their friendship, which is as real and raw as the rest of their story. Lily is an Italian immigrant who arrives in Toronto with her young son, Matteo, after fleeing her abusive husband. She is also pregnant. Through a family she meets on her journey she is introduced to Mae, a wealthy woman with five children and another on the way. Mae hires Lily as a nanny and we watch as they develop first a friendship and then something more. The story is told in dual timelines and when we meet them in court in 1937 they talk of a falling out and betrayal, leaving us wondering what shattered their strong bond. The truth unfolds slowly with the court scenes adding an extra layer of tension and keeping me guessing about past events. I was rooting for them at every step. It also made me thankful to live in this era and with a stronger sense of how important women’s rights, bodily autonomy and access to contraception reproductive healthcare really is. Lily and Mae had none of those resources and the result is devastating.

A gorgeous story that will stay with you long after reading, add this to your TBR now. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Caroline Lea grew up in Jersey and gained a First in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Warwick, where she has also taught on the Creative Writing degree. Her fiction and poetry have been longlisted for the BBC Short Story Prize and Sunday Times Short Story Award, and shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, the Fish Short Story Competition and various flash fiction prizes. Her novel, THE GLASS WOMAN, was published to critical acclaim and shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown. Her next novel, THE METAL HEART, was Scottish Waterstones Book of the Month. Her most recent novel, PRIZE WOMEN was featured and acclaimed on BBC Women’s Hour. Caroline is passionate about helping other writers to grow and succeed: she teaches creative writing both privately and, currently, for Writing West Midlands and is often recruited to give talks at literary festivals and events. She currently lives in Warwick with her partner and children and is working on her next novel about Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein. Her books often feature ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances.

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

Published March 26th, 2026 by Harper Fiction
Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Fiction

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 60 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.

She’s been here before.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST

When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can’t explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…

Jamie is dead.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Nadeeka is racing home, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach after what she thinks she heard while talking to her boyfriend Jamie on the phone. She’s sure he’s having an affair. After all, she’s been here before. But when she gets home Jamie can’t explain himself. He’s dead. Murdered. And her home is a crime scene. But this is not what you think…

Clare Mackintosh has done it again! I finished this book a few days ago now and I’m not over it. This book really should come with a warning because my heart couldn’t take it! Heart-stopping, propulsive, addictive and unguessable, it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This is a clear-your-schedule, lock out the world and read in one sitting kind of book and I did just that, devouring it in under a day.

Madly twisty, tense and unpredictable, this is everything you want a thriller to be. On the surface it’s a simple story and there’s a way you would expect it to unfold. But Clare doesn’t take that route. Expertly written, cleverly choreographed, tightly plotted and filled with charismatic characters, this is a book that keeps you on your toes. A sense of dread and unease pervades the whole story and you can’t shake the feeling that things are going to get so much worse for Nadeeka before they get better. I listened to this on Bookbeat and I have to mention the narrators. Not only did they bring the characters and story to life in vivid technicolour, they convey a feeling of urgency and suspense that has your heart pounding. At that point, I couldn’t have stopped listening even if I’d wanted to.

And we have to talk about the twists. Clare is known for them but this time she took things to another level, toying with the reader and carefully stitching misdirection into the narrative to make the reader look the wrong way and then pulling the rug out from under us. And she doesn’t do it just once. No. Every time I got comfortable and thought I knew where this was going she hit us with another jaw-dropping twist that changed everything I thought I knew. 

A nail-biting thrill ride that you won’t be able to put down, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

With more than two million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and the fastest-selling title by a new UK crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016.

Both Clare’s second and third novels, I See You and Let Me Lie, were number one Sunday Times bestsellers and Richard & Judy Book Club picks. Clare’s novel After the End was published in June 2019 and spent seven weeks in the Sunday Times hardback bestseller chart, and in June 2021, Clare’s locked room thriller, Hostage, flew straight into the top ten.

In July 2022, Clare launched a crime series set on the border between England and Wales. It features Welsh detective DC Ffion Morgan and is currently being adapted for television. The first book in the series, The Last Party, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. The sequel, A Game of Lies, publishes in July 2023.

Together, Clare’s books have been published in more than forty countries and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller lists.

Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies. She lives in North Wales with her husband and their three children.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Recommends

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

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

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

Published June 19th, 2025 by Harper Fiction
Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction

*I listened to this audiobook on Bookbeat. Click here to get a free 60 day trial*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The greatest journey is the one you least expect…

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Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own unforgettable adventure much closer to home…

When news reaches Kansas that her beloved sister has tragically died, Emily Gale must become a mother overnight. Her sister’s orphaned child, Dorothy, desperately needs a home.

But Emily doubts her ability to fill her sister’s shoes; her life on the barren Kansas prairies is no place for a child.

On the unforgiving plains, Emily’s courage is endlessly tested. The prolonged drought and relentless dust storms threaten to destroy everything – including her home and her marriage.

Can Emily overcome her grief and let Dorothy heal her heart?

From the promise of Chicago in the 1920s to the harsh beauty of the Kansas prairie during the dust bowl of the 1930s, this is a story of family, duty and one woman’s journey of self-discovery.

BUY HERE

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MY REIVEW:

“We wouldn’t have had the wonderful if we’d never had the wicked. It’s all part of the same story, Henry. All connected.”

We all know the story of Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz. But what came before that? How did Dorothy come to live with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry? And who were they? Hazel Gaynor’s Before Dorothy answers all those questions and more. Transporting us back to the 1920s and 30s to discover who Emily Gale really was and how young Dorothy came to live in her care. 

As a life-long Ozian whose favourite genre is historical fiction, the moment I heard about this book I knew it was one I was going to love. But it was also one I was a little scared to read. Would it live up to the hype in my heart? The answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’ Imaginative, illuminating and utterly wonderful, this is a mesmerising tale. This book was an easy five stars for me and is my favourite book of the year so far. Exquisitely written, perfectly paced and meticulously researched, I love that not only was the historical detail intricate but Hazel has stitched Oz imagery into every facet of this story, making it read like a love letter to the original story. As someone who treasures the original so much, this was perfect. Her love for the story and characters is clear to see and I wasn’t surprised to read that Hazel is also an Ozian in the author’s note at the end of the book.

But this book is so much more than The Wizard of Oz. It stands strong as a story on its own merit, exploring topics such as motherhood and grief on its pages. Moving seamlessly between timelines we follow Emily Gale from her time in Chicago living with her sister, Annie to her collecting her young niece after her parents’ tragic death and then see her trying to learn how to be a mother. It’s a bumpy road filled with triumph and tragedy and Em’s emotions radiate from these pages, making it a very moving and emotional read at times. But most of all I loved getting to know this woman who has been a mystery to us for so long. Thank you Hazel for writing this story and bringing Auntie Em into the light after all this time. 

An absolute must-read for fans of historical fiction or Oz lovers. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author known for her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year award for her debut, The Girl Who Came Home, her work has since been shortlisted for multiple awards in the USA, UK, and Ireland, including the 2019 HWA Gold Crown for The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter. Her most recent novel, The Last Lifeboat, was selected as a Times of London historical novel of the month, was shortlisted for the 2023 Irish Book Awards, and won the 2024 Audie Award for Best Fiction Narrator. Hazel’s co-written novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim, and have been shortlisted for several international awards. Hazel’s work has been translated into twenty languages and is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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