Tag: February books

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Paper Sisters by Rachel Canwell

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Catherine by Essie Fox

Published February 12th, 2026 by Orenda Books
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Gothic Romance, Dark Romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The greatest tragic love story ever told – but this time, Catherine tells it herself. In Catherine, Essie Fox breathes new life into Wuthering Heights, transforming a gothic masterpiece into a haunting confession of obsession, madness and love that even death cannot end.

With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow – until Mr Earnshaw’s death leaves Hindley, Catherine’s brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.

Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty – but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.

Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and seek redemption.

Essie Fox’s Catherine reimagines Wuthering Heights with beauty and intensity – a haunting, atmospheric retelling that brings new life to a timeless classic and lays bare the dark heart of an immortal love.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

We’ve all heard of Wuthering Heights, especially at the moment with the new movie adaptation being released. And we all think we know Catherine and Heathcliffe’s story. But we’ve never actually heard from either of the tragic lovers. This book changes all that, telling their story from the perspective of heroine Catherine Earnshaw for the first time. 

Evocative, compelling and immersive, Essie Fox had me in her thrall from start to finish. In anticipation of reading this book I had recently read Wuthering Heights for the first time. And I wasn’t a fan. But I absolutely loved this retelling and inhaled it in just two sittings. Exquisitely written and evocatively told, Essie’s imagery and prose brings the characters and moors to life in vivid detail, making me feel like I’d been transported to Haworth and was walking the windswept moors myself.

In her author’s note at the end of the book, Essie talks about wondering what Catherine would tell us that Nellie couldn’t. And for me that is where this book excels over the original story. In the original, I couldn’t stand Cathy and Heathcliffe, and it was impossible for me to care about their story. But Essie made me care about them by giving us a glimpse into Cathy’s true feelings, including about her own behaviour. Adult Heathcliffe is still an awful character that I despised, but seeing young Heathcliffe from Cathy’s perspective made me understand how they fell in love. Even so, I still don’t see this as a love story. For me it is a character study and an exploration of grief, trauma and mental health. 

A magnificent retelling that swept me away completely, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and to Orenda for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Essie Fox was born and raised in Herefordshire. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London and began a career in publishing – from there becoming self-employed in commercial art design. Always an avid reader, she now writes historical novels.

Essie’s debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. Other novels have been selected as The Times as Historical Books of the Month. The Fascination was an instant Sunday Times best seller. And now, Dangerous, a Regency gothic crime thriller featuring Lord Byron in Venice, has again been selected as a Times Book of the Month.

Essie has appeared at many literary events, has lectured at the V&A, the Westminster Library, and National Gallery in London. She also hosts a podcast: Talking the Gothic.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

Audiobook Review: In Bloom by Liz Allan

Published March 12th, 2026 by Sceptre
Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An Observer Best Debut Novelist 2026

The Bastards aren’t afraid of anything.

It’s the mid-nineties, and in the small, shitty coastal town of Vincent, four girls – each hailing from single-mother, multi-sibling families, form a band: The Bastards. Friends since they were children, they consider themselves ‘forgettable girls’ – distracted, disillusioned, and desperate to escape the fates of their mothers.

Winning the Battle of the Bands is their ticket out – they might not have talent, but they can play three chords and scream until their vocal folds burst out of their throats – and nobody wants it more than them.

But when lead singer Lily Lucid quits, and accuses their idolized music teacher of sexual assault, the three remaining girls are left with nothing. They’ll do anything to keep their dream alive, even if it means sacrificing school, Lily and their mothers. But how far out of control can they spin before there’s no turning back?

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

1994. Vincent, Australia is a small, shitty coastal town that is the capital of teen pregnancies and absent fathers. Four girls from single-mother families looking for a way to be noticed and get out, decide to form a band. And if they can win the Battle of the Bands then they will get their dream. But when their lead singer, Lily, quits the band and accuses their music teacher of sexual assault, everything falls apart. The three remaining girls have nothing left but a desperate dream they are trying to keep alive. But just how far are they prepared to go to do that?

Gritty, grungy, absorbing and immersive, this was a phenomenal debut. Liz Allan has been named one of the Observer’s Best Debut Novelist of 2026 and it’s easy to see why after reading this. Heartbreaking, haunting and raw, it is exquisitely written, richly observed and perfectly paced, the short chapters kept me turning the pages and I devoured the book in one sitting. An electric and emotional coming-of-age story,  it also explores a number of issues including friendship, family, class struggles and sexual assault. It is as mysterious as it is heartfelt, the tension keeping me on the edge of the seat as I overflowed with rage or devastation. I felt every emotion alongside these girls and felt wrecked when it was all over.

I was about the same age as these girls in 1994 and I loved the nostalgia of this story. Liz Allan perfectly captures the feeling of the era and made me feel like I’d stepped back in time to the 90s. I loved all of the small details that made it feel authentic, especially the music references. They were wonderfully written, real and easy to root for, taking me back to the uncertainty of my teenage years. The story moves between the present (1994) and flashbacks to when they were still a foursome and their friendship with Lily was intact, the truth about why Lily left their band slowly unfolding piece by piece.

An outstanding debut from an author who is one to watch, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thanks to Sceptre and Negtalley for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr Liz Allan is an Australian writer and teacher living and working in the United Kingdom. Her debut novel, IN BLOOM, will be published in the USA in January 2026 and in the UK March 2026.

Liz has a PhD in Creative Writing and a Masters in Teaching from The University of Adelaide. She will be the Elisabeth Maynard Writer in Residence at Frensham School, NSW Australia, April-June 2026.

Her short story, Solastalgia, won the Newcastle Short Story Award 2025 and her short story, Our Voices, Fierce won the Rachel Funari Prize for fiction in 2018. Her stories have been shortlisted and longlisted for numerous other awards. 

Liz is represented by Angelique Tran Van Sang at Felicity Bryan Associates in the UK, and Alison Lewis at Francis Goldin Literary Agency in the US.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Wonderful by Louise Beech

Published June 1st, 2026 by Pick Lock Publishing
Contemporary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Hollywood idol. The Virgin Mary. An everyday girl from Hull.

Three women, three eras, surprising things in common…

On 4th August 1962, the night she should have died, Marilyn Monroe – the biggest star in the world – receives a visitor who changes the course of her destiny. The Virgin Mary appears in her kitchen with a curious message. Inspired, Marilyn abandons her home, her life, her fame, and disappears into the night…

Fifty-four years later, in a Hull kitchen, Flora Baker finds Mary, bathed in light. She has a similar message for the working class woman who is on the poverty line and dreaming of a better life. Flora begins to make changes that impact not only her life but the lives of those around her…

Do Marilyn and Flora have more in common than just Mary’s visit? Are they somehow linked across time? And is Mary’s message for all the women of the world?

Wonderful is about the way women are portrayed in both history and the world of celebrity, about women not being quiet, and about women united by the shared stories that shape them.

pre-order

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MY REVIEW:

“Wonderful means full of wonder. It does not mean astonishing but to be full of astonishment.”

We all know the name Marilyn Monroe. The tragic blonde bombshell who died on August 4th 1962. But what if she didn’t die that night? What if instead she receives a  visit from The Virgin Mary and her message inspires her to disappear into the night and abandon her entire life. That is how Louise Beech’s new book begins. We then jump forward fifty four years, to a kitchen in Hull, where Flora Baker also receives a visit from The Virgin Mary and receives a similar message, causing her to make big changes in her life. The story then moves between Marilyn and Flora, following as they try to find new meaning in their lives and carry out the actions inspired by their visits from The Virgin Mary. But could there be another connection between the two women?

Wonderful. Simply, wonderful. 

I know when I read a book by Louise Beech it’s going to be great. But other than her amazing writing, I didn’t know what else to expect from this book. From the moment I first read the synopsis I was intrigued, and I know how much Louise adores Ms. Monroe, so I knew the story would honour her memory, but  I wasn’t prepared to also fall in love with this icon. The Marilyn on these pages isn’t the ditzy blonde bombshell persona we’re familiar with. She’s humble, kind, flawed, raw and real. The sort of person you can imagine becoming friends with. And I loved her. 

“Why was facing the world with feminine grace revered? Wouldn’t it be better if they screamed, broke down, swore?”

The story is exquisitely written, perfectly paced and meticulously researched, Louise’s love and knowledge about Marilyn  evident on every page. It is also intricately interwoven, the two storylines cleverly and skillfully woven together in unexpected ways. And then there’s the characters. Richly drawn, likeable and real, I cared about these women and desperately wished that this could have been Marilyn’s real fate. 

A powerful and moving story full of heart and hope, I highly recommend pre-ordering this book, which is out June 1st, on what would have been Marilyn’s 100th birthday. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Louise Beech is the author of nine novels and a memoir, Eighteen Seconds (2023). Her debut, How to be Brave, was a Guardian Readers’ Pick; The Lion Tamer Who Lost shortlisted for the Romantic Novel Awards 2019 and longlisted for the Polari Prize that same year; Call Me Star Girl was Best magazine’s Book of the Year; This Is How We Are Human was a Clare Mackintosh Book Club pick; and audiobook Daffodils shortlisted for the Audies23. Her dystopian thriller, End of Story, is written as Louise Swanson. Swanson’s next was released in spring 2024. The novel she’s always wanted to write, Wonderful, is released June 1st 2026/

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

Published July 18th, 2013 by Cornerstone
Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An unforgettable story about a family with a terrible secret. From the #1 bestselling author of The Family Upstairs and None of This is True comes a new edition of The House We Grew Up In, with a brand new introduction from Lisa Jewell!

‘Unputdownable’ RED
‘Simply stunning’ Daily Mail
‘Fantastically gripping’ HELLO!
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When a tragedy breaks a family apart, what can bring it back together?

The Birds seem to be the perfect family: mother, father, four children, a charming cottage in the country.

But one Easter weekend, something happens – something so unexpected, so devastating, that no one can bring themselves to talk about it.

The family shatters, seemingly for good.

Until, years later, they are forced to return to the house they grew up in, and to confront what really broke the family apart . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

One of my 2026 goals is to read more of my TBR. Specifically, the backlist books by authors that have languished on my shelves for far too long. Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite thriller authors, but I’m ashamed to say I didn’t start reading her books until 2019, which means I have her huge backlist of books still to enjoy. So, when I was looking for a mood read I decided it was time to dive into that backlist, and finally read The House We Grew Up In.

The Birds seem like the perfect family: mum, dad, four children and a charming country cottage. But all of that changes one Easter weekend when tragedy strikes. And instead of coming together, it fractures them completely; each family member retreating into their own, private grief and torment over what happened. Now, the family is being forced back together for the first time in years after the death of matriarch Lorelei, and must confront the tragedy that tore them apart.

My heart is totally destroyed after this book. Compelling, tense and twisty, I was not prepared for the heartrending emotion that is woven into this story. I expected a fast-paced thriller and heart-stopping twists, but instead Lisa delivers a steadily paced, moving story where the twists are teased out slowly. It is expertly written, cleverly plotted and perfectly paced, moving seamlessly between dual timelines with extracts  from emails from Lorelei and her online sweetheart, Jim, peppered throughout. I was on tenterhooks from start to finish, eager to discover whatever dark secrets this family held.

So, let’s talk about the Birds. This is a very character-driven story so having captivating and richly drawn characters is vital. Obviously, we know Lisa writes fantastic characters, but her talent for writing characters really shines in this book. We get to know each member of the Bird family in detail over the course of the book, all of their imperfections and fears exposed as we peel away the fractured layers of this family. They are all complex, flawed, real. Lorelei isn’t your typical matriarch. She loves her children and being a mother, but she’s also very quirky. And after the tragedy she spirals, her ‘quirks’ of keeping objects because she feels they have sentimental value becoming a full-blown hoarding disorder that ends up with her house being uninhabitable. Each member of the family deals with both the tragedy and Lorelei in their own way, but it is eldest daughter, Megan, who challenges it most and I really felt for her. She was probably my favourite character and my heart hurt for all that she went through. 

A must-read for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968.

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

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner

Published February 13th, 2025 by Aria
Historical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this heart-wrenching and moving story. Thanks to Aria for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A sumptuous and gripping read… [Nicola] writes with humour, heart and humanity’ – Kate Thompson

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A heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of courage, friendship and resistance, inspired by the incredible true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during WWII, perfect for fans of The Paris Library.

Paris, 1938. Annie Mayer arrives in France with dreams of becoming a ballerina. But when the war reaches Paris, she’s forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Then a fellow dancer offers her a lifeline: a ballroom partnership that gives her a new identity. Together, Annie and her partner captivate audiences across occupied Europe, using her newfound fame and alias to aid the Resistance.

New York, 2012. Miriam, haunted by her past, travels from London to New York to settle her great-aunt Esther’s estate. Among Esther’s belongings, she discovers notebooks detailing a secret family history and the story of a brave dancer who risked everything to help Jewish families during the war.

As Miriam uncovers Esther’s life in Europe, she realises the story has been left for her to finish. Grappling with loss and the possibility of new love, Miriam must find the strength to reconcile her past and embrace her future.

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MY REVIEW:

Historical Fiction is my favourite genre, and I have always been drawn to stories about World War II, so when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read The Paris Dancer I didn’t hesitate to sign up. The story follows Mim, who has flown to New York to sort through her late Aunt Esther’s belongings, including notebooks that tell the long-hidden story of what happened to their family during World War II and of Annie, a brave Jewish dancer who risked everything to help other Jews during the war. Moving between timelines, we follow their stories as Esther navigates the brutality while Mim tries to come to terms with not only the heartbreaking revelations in the diaries, but also her own trauma. And when a Swing Dancer named Lucky offers her the chance at a new beginning, Mim must decide if she’s brave enough to take it. 

Beautiful, moving, heart-wrenching and hopeful, Nicola Rayner brought history to life with her skillful storytelling, meticulous research and evocative imagery. A story of love, loss, courage and resistance, Rayner also explored the importance of family and friendship, especially when we are at our lowest ebb. Trauma and grief are themes throughout the story, with Rayner examining how they can affect us differently and how trauma can sometimes impact those around us for generations. 

The characters were fascinating, likeable and easy to root for. Esther and Mim were great narrators who pulled you into their stories, making you invested in their lives and what happened to them. I loved the friendship between Esther and Annie and her sweet relationship with her youngest sister. In Mim’s timeline, my heart broke for her over the loss of her best friend and found her fear of what she’d possibly found with Lucky very relatable. I was rooting for her to heal and to take a chance at happiness. One of my favourite characters was Bibi, Esther’s neighbour, who was so wise and entertaining. I loved her story arc, which showed that the small background characters can often be some of the most interesting ones you will read.

Powerful, tender and immersive, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicola Rayner is the author of The Girl Before You, which was described as “the new Girl on the Train” by the Observer, picked by the same newspaper as a debut to look out for in 2019 and translated into multiple languages. Her second novel, You and Me, another psychological thriller, was published by Avon, HarperCollins in October 2020. A work of historical fiction, The Paris Dancer, will be published by Aria, Head of Zeus in February 2025. In her day job as a journalist, Nicola writes about dance and travel and her articles have appeared in a number of publications including the Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Stage, Dancing Times and easyJet Traveller.

Nicola is active on social media, where you can find her pondering important issues such as Strictly Come Dancing, musical theatre and her new favourite books. She promises she won’t talk about herself in the third person there.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025

BLOG TOUR: Small Fires by Ronnie Turner

Published February 27th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Gothic Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Horror Fiction, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the haunting and hypnotic Small Fires. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Orenda for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Suspected of murdering their parents, sisters Lily and Della flee to a strange, unnamed island in Scotland, and their arrival puts in motion a horrifying series of events… Literary suspense meets folk horror in 2025’s most original, mesmerising modern gothic masterpiece…

‘A deeply unsettling and thought-provoking tale of survival and storytelling, mixing elements of gothic and folk horror with literary suspense. Beautifully woven and eerily atmospheric’ Anna Mazzola
 
‘Rarely will you meet a story as unsettling, nor one as bewitchingly told. With its roots snaking into folk horror, Small Fires plays with the contemporary gothic vibe reminiscent of Midsommar and The Wicker Man … I challenge you to pick it up and when you do, to put it down’ Janice Hallett
 
‘Ronnie Turner has a way of weaving words into a spell – the darkest of spells. Mesmerising, sinister … this modern folklore gothic will chill you to the bone’ Essie Fox
 
‘Crackles with menace and authenticity. Kept me up late and crept into my dreams’ Sarah Hilary
 
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Evil runs through this cursed island
And these wicked sisters are about to make it burn…

When sisters Lily and Della Pedley are persecuted for the shocking murder of their parents, they flee from their home in Cornwall to a remote and unnamed island in Scotland – an island known for its strange happenings, but far away from the whispers and prying eyes of strangers.
 
Lily is terrified of what her sister will might do next, and she soon realises that they have arrived at a place where nothing is as it seems. A bitterness runs through the land like poison, and the stories told by the islanders seem to be far more than folklore.
 
Della settles in too easily, the island folk drawn to her strangeness, but Lily is plagued by odd and unsettling dreams, and as an annual festival draws nigh, she discovers that she has far more to fear than she could ever have imagined. Or does she…?
 
Chilling, atmospheric and utterly hypnotic, Small Fires is a contemporary gothic novel that examines possession, generational trauma, female rage, and the perilous bonds of family – an unsettling reminder that the stories we tell can be deadly…

Midsommar meets Midnight Mass in a folk horror, modern gothic masterpiece.

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MY REVIEW:

“They say the Devil came here. He fell to the earth long ago and he never left.”

Murderesses. Witches. Pariahs. These are the names that were used to describe Lily and Della Pedley. Suspected of murdering their parents, their gruesome history precedes them everywhere they go. Even on an isolated and unnamed Scottish Island where the Devil is said to have fallen and made his home beneath the soil. As the sisters try to start anew on the island, whispers and judgement surround them as they unknowingly set in motion a nightmarish chain of events. 

Atmospheric, haunting and hypnotic, Small Fires reads like a dark and twisted fairytale. Mired in darkness from its opening pages, malevolence drips from every word of this magnificent gothic mystery. A masterful sinister storyteller, Ronnie Turner merges gorgeous literary fiction with nail-biting horror and suspense to create her own unique fiction recipe. Her choreography is exquisite; a sense of dread permeating the pages as she hides the poison in plain sight, coiled like a viper waiting to strike. She is adept at putting her reader off-kilter with red herrings until she’s ready to floor you with one of her shocking revelations. Elements of Scottish and Cornish folklore are woven throughout as Turner explores the role stories play in our lives, asking how they inspire and shape us, and how they shape our perception of others. She also explores themes of identity, examining how each of us can have many different identities, some that are thrust upon us and others we might hide behind. 

Told by multiple characters in dual timelines, the story is filled with richly drawn characters who are also deeply unnerving. At the heart of the story is sisters Lily and Della, one bitter and one sweet, with a harrowing and notorious past. Though part of their story is known, there is a lot of mystery that surrounds them. Our other narrator is Silas, a strange and curious individual with an equally mysterious history. Flashbacks allow us glimpses inside the pasts of all three characters, slowly revealing disturbing truths that they’ve tried to keep hidden. And then there was the island itself, which felt alive and like a character in its own right thanks to the myths and folklore about the devil dwelling below ground that surround it. 

A dark and unsettling gothic thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, Small Fires is a must read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ronnie Turner grew up in Cornwall, the youngest in a large family. At an early age, she discovered a love of literature. She now works as a Senior Waterstones Bookseller and barista. Ronnie lives in the South West with her family and three dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and taking long walks on the coast.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

Categories
Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin (Kitty Collins Book 2) by Katy Brent

Published January 30th, 2025 by HQ
Thriller, Dark Comedy, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Satire, Contemporary Romance, Humorous Fiction

Welcome to my bookish thoughts on this darkly funny and deadly thriller. Thanks to HQ for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Your favourite anti-heroine, Kitty Collins, is back! Expect more wit, sass, and, of course, murder…

‘I was rooting for Kitty even as she killed more men (oops!). Funny and twisty in the best of ways’ Tasha Coryell

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My name is Kitty Collins and I’m a serial killer.

I don’t want to kill. It’s just so hard to resist. Some men really, really deserve it.

Men like Blaze Bundy, an anonymous influencer spreading misogyny online. He’s making it very hard for me to control my murderous urges.

Meanwhile I’m in the South of France to watch my mother marry a man I’ve never met. I should be drinking cocktails and focusing on my tan, not plotting a murder.

But a woman’s work is never done. Surely one more teensy little kill wouldn’t hurt, would it?

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MY REVIEW:

“But it’s never enough, is it. As long as men exist, I’m going to have to be out there protecting women.”

Kitty Collins is back! I loved Katy Brent’s wickedly funny debut How To Kill Men and Get Away With It, and I was thrilled to see that Kitty was back. Deliciously dark, devious and deadly, I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin is every bit as good as its predecessor. I listened to this on audiobook and couldn’t turn it off once I’d started, devouring it in just a few hours. 

Picking up after the events of the first book, we meet a very different Kitty at the start of the book. Life is good. She’s happily loved up with her boyfriend, Charlie, and has sworn off killing. But she misses it. And – let’s face it – there are some men who just make it so hard not to murder them. One such man is Blaze Bundy, the anonymous and misogynistic influencer spreading his hate online and seeming to taunt Kitty in his posts. Can she keep her murderous urges under control? Or will she go back to doing what she knows best?

I have loved Kitty since the moment I met her in book one. Snarky, sassy, feisty and warped, she’s easy to root for and it is fun to live vicariously through her as she carries out her murderous missions. And while some of that is initially tamed this time around, it’s soon apparent Kitty isn’t enjoying murder sobriety and she’s still the same woman with a thirst for revenge underneath. Katy Brent skillfully portrays Kitty’s inner torment as she fights the urge to kill predatory men. I think all of us can relate to that battle inside as we try to resist the urge that is bad for us. Even if in my case it’s chocolate rather than murder. I also enjoyed seeing more of Kitty’s strained relationship with her mother. It humanised her and gave us greater insight into what makes her tick, especially as their estrangement is all wrapped up in Kitty’s deadly hobby. 

Darkly funny, outrageous, moving and addictive, Brent has once again crafted an unflinching commentary on misogyny, male violence against women and female rage that will have you hooked from start to finish. Perfect for fans of Sweetpea that are looking for a new female serial killer to stan, pick this up now! 

I just hope that this isn’t Kitty’s last outing. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen for 2 months for free*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katy is an author and award-winning journalist from the UK. She has worked on newspapers, magazines and websites since 2005, writing about popular culture. How To Kill Men and Get Away With It (HQ, 2022) is her first novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Watertones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson

Published February 27th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy

Today is my stop on the blog tour for the delightful romcom, Same Time Next Week. Thank you to SJV and Books and the City for the invitation to take part, and to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for the honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Milly is the most wonderful, life-affirming writer about women’s lives, love and friendship; her books are a joy.’ JENNY COLGAN

‘Real women, real life, real feeling, Milly brings it all.’ CATHY BRAMLEY

Welcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest venture, Ray’s Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week over a cup of something warming.
 
Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine?
 
Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners’ hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits.
 
Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again.
 
Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers once a week? 
 
Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk?
 
Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage, support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out…

‘Milly writes with a huge heart about the challenges women face, particularly in later life. Her wisdom shines through, as does her humour: no-one can bring you from tears to smiles more quickly. Her books are warm, funny and real, and her stories celebrate triumph over adversity, the power of love, and the importance of friendship. Her heroines are down to earth yet reach for the sky and are truly inspirational, like Milly herself. She makes the world a better place.’ VERONICA HENRY

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MY REVIEW:

Spring Hill is a thriving community in Yorkshire that is home to a square of independent shops and cafes. The newest one on the block is Ray’s Diner, where a group of women meet each week hoping to make connections and find friends. Each has their own challenges and reasons for being there, but over a warm cuppa their differences will disappear as they find their similarities, forge new friendships, and find the support they need. 

Heartwarming, funny, uplifting and life-affirming, Same Time Next Week is another winner about real people with real problems and real feelings. Milly Johnson never fails to deliver. She has a knack for writing heartfelt slice-of-life stories that feel relatable and real.. Her books are a go-to comfort read for me, so I was thrilled to be offered the chance to take part in this blog tour. I loved the sense of friendship and community that is on these pages; it is so much harder to make new friends as an adult, and I loved that Ms. Johnson has addressed that topic in this book, creating a story about a group of women brought together by loneliness and a desire to connect. 

The book is filled with an eclectic cast of characters who are richly drawn, relatable and real. Each of them are going through their own unique challenges that lead to them seeking out the friendship group: Amanda is primary carer to a disparaging mother, Mel is lost after the collapse of her thirty year marriage, Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss and is plagued by guilt, Erin patches up old teddy bears but can’t patch up her own heart, and Astrid is needing a new direction in life but feels scared to grab the opportunity when it arises. A friendship club is a fantastic idea for finding new friends as an adult and I enjoyed seeing these ladies all bravely taking that first step over the threshold and then finding the love and support they needed.

A witty, warm and wonderful read, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 22 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (‘The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe’) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 22nd novel ‘Same Time Next Week’ out 27th Feb 2025 is about five women all negotiating big changes in their lives. Will coming together in a friendship group at the new Ray’s Diner help them overcome what fate throws at them? Full of blueberry pie and cookies (don’t blame me if you start craving them)

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin

Published February 13th, 2025 by Riverrun
Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review for this special, moving and heartfelt debut. Thank you to Riverrun for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Wise and playful and tender and beautiful’ Bobby Palmer
‘So brilliant, so original and lovely and funny, that it reminds you of the point of reading’ Rebecca Wait

Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Remarkably Bright Creatures, this is a charming, witty and moving novel about what it feels like to grow up neurodivergent.

‘Climb up here, Little Alien. Sit next to me. I will tell you about life on this planet. I will tell you how it goes’

From her first words to her first day at school, Little Alien can’t help but get things wrong. She doesn’t understand the world the way others seem to, and the world doesn’t seem to understand her either. Her anxious mum and meticulous dad, while well-intentioned, are of little help.

But when Little Alien sees a documentary about the Voynich Manuscript – a mediaeval codex written in an unknown language and script – she begins to suspect that there are other people who feel just like her. Convinced that translating this manuscript will offer the answers she needs, she sets out on a journey that will show her a delicious taste of freedom.

So begins this charming, witty, and profoundly moving novel about the power of language, the wonder of libraries – and how to find a path that fits, when you yourself do not.

‘Unique and thoroughly engaging. It is insightful and funny and gently poignant. By telling the story of one little alien, Alice Franklin has told the story of many’ Pip Williams, author of The Dictionary of Lost Words

‘Totally addictive and brilliant . . . Life Hacks for A Little Alien is sure to find its place as one of the best loved works of fiction’ Aimée Walsh, author of Exile

‘Immersive, moving, and fizzing with humour, I couldn’t put this book down and I still can’t let the character go’ Paula Lichtarowicz, author of The Snow Hare

‘A rare energy lights this wonderful book: a unique recipe of humour, heart, frankness, and an unstoppable fascination with language’ Han Smith, author of Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking

‘Witty, bold, heart-warming and entirely delicious. I devoured it’ Jyoti Patel, author of The Things that we Lost

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MY REVIEW:

“Climb up here, Little Alien. Sit next to me. I will tell you about life on this planet. I will tell you how it goes.”

Beautiful, tender, quirky and deeply human, Life Hacks For A Little Alien is a thought-provoking debut. It explores the world through the eyes of an unnamed protagonist referred to as Little Alien because she feels so different from everyone around her. Little Alien struggles to navigate life and doesn’t understand the world or the people around her. Nor do they understand her. She is seen as strange and distant; unable to look people in the eye and rarely speaking. School is a nightmare for Little Alien. She is overwhelmed, gullible and seems unable to stay out of trouble. They also label her as stupid because of her unusual ways and reluctance to talk, not realising she has a rich inner life and is actually quite clever. She makes one friend, but loses touch with him after she’s forced to move schools again. Then, after seeing a documentary about the Voynich Manuscript – a Medieval codex written in an unknown language and script – Little Alien begins to wonder if she isn’t the only one who feels different after all. She becomes obsessed with the manuscript and is convinced that translating it holds the key to all the answers she’s been searching for. 

Alice Franklin proves herself to be a talent to watch with this glorious debut. From its opening pages it is obvious that this is a book like nothing you’ve ever read before. And it is a story I will never forget. Masterfully written and full of heart and humour, Franklin has created something really special. Little Alien is a unique protagonist that it is impossible not to love. Endearing and sympathetic, her differences only made me feel more protective of her. I loved seeing the world through Little Alien’s eyes, although seeing how she was judged and dismissed broke my heart and made me wish for a kinder world. Franklin expertly shows us how things that make sense to us might be confusing for someone else and  I was glad Little Alien had the narrator to guide her through this confusing world as no-one else was doing it. This little girl fell through every crack possible in life and it was heartbreaking. Her teachers were ignorant and her parents deeply flawed, both so consumed by their own issues and challenges that they failed to help their daughter. But they weren’t bad people and I was rooting for them to get better and for the family to heal as a unit.

As the mother of two neurodivergent children, I wish I’d had this book to read years ago. Wonderful, moving and insightful, it is hard to put into words just how special, and unique this story is. Please read it and find out for yourself.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice Franklin lives and works in London. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Life Hacks for a Little Alien is her debut novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx