Tag: Four stars

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Lochbound by Rebecca Templeton

Published April 16th, 2026 by Sphere
Fairy Tale, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Romance Novel, Romantic Fantasy

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Mermaids. Monsters. Magic. But this story is no fairy tale . . .

Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.

When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter – the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver – is summoned to slay the monster of the loch.

Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara’s hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction.

And when a figure from Iris’s past suddenly reappears, she must choose what – or who – she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.

Because there is no happily-ever-after when you are the monster.

A glitteringly dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in eighteenth-century Scotland, this enchanting and gothic historical fantasy is perfect for fans of Rosie Andrews’s The Leviathan, Georgia Leighton’s Spellbound and anyone who loved Outlander.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Kilmara, Scotland, 1725. Bound by a curse, for fifty years, Iris has walked the shores by night as a heartbroken woman and inhabited the murky depths of Loch Moine by day as Moireach, a terrifying monster. When bodies that have been brutally murdered and mutilated start appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced that the monster in the sea is responsible. So, they call hunter Henry Carver to slay her. Iris knows it is only a matter of time before he finds her so she must find a way to break her curse before she is killed for crimes she doesn’t believe she committed. But things become complicated when she and Henry find themselves drawn to one another. Can she keep her monstrous identity from him?

Dark, haunting, gothic and alluring, Lochbound is a spellbinding twisted fairytale. A retelling of The Little Mermaid merged with Scottish folklore, this story of mermaids, monsters, murder, magic, legend and love had me in a chokehold from start to finish. The Little Mermaid is my favourite fairytale and I’ve been fascinated by selkies and kelpies for years, so I knew as soon as I read the description that this was a book I had to read. And I loved every moment spent with this story and the characters. Exquisitely written, perfectly choreographed and filled with heart-pounding tension, this is the definition of a page-turner. Debut author Rebecca Templeton is a talented storyteller and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

The book is filled with compelling and memorable characters who I loved reading. Some of them might appear good and others bad at first, but all of them contain shades of both, are flawed and nuanced. Iris and Moireach are the perfect example of this and I love how Rebecca used them to portray the battle between good and evil. Moireach is the physical embodiment of evil. A vault for Iris’s darkest thoughts. We see the powerful internal battle that Iris faces after opening a connection between them as she desperately battles to keep control as Moireach fights to consume her with darkness.

The attraction between Iris and Henry is so well written and it is easy to see why they are so drawn to one another. This could have been hard to believe as unbeknownst to him, Henry is hunting Iris’s daytime form, but Rebecca writes with such care that we can see how their romance is blossoming against the odds. I also really enjoyed how she wrote Duncan’s obsessive, unrequited love for Iris. I know he’s her friend but he gave me the ick from the start and I am sure he was deliberately written that way.

A gorgeous gothic and folkloric tale, this is a must-read debut.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

​Rebecca has had a love of books from a very early age and had lofty childhood aspirations of being a writer, though she ended up joining the legal profession instead. When her husband encouraged her to start writing again, she re-discovered her creative outlet and hasn’t looked back since.

When not writing or working, Rebecca can usually be found crocheting giant blankets, baking or watching Gilmore Girls. She is also owned by a couple of very energetic children.

Her debut novel, Lochbound, was published in April 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 2025

BOOK REVIEW: The Eights by Joanna Miller

Published April 3rd, 2025 by Fig Tree
Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its 1000-year history, the world’s most famous university has admitted female students. Giddy with dreams of equality, education and emancipation, four young women move into neighbouring rooms on Corridor Eight. They have come here from all walks of life, and they are thrown into an unlikely, life-affirming friendship.

Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Beatrice, politically-minded daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way – and her own friends – for the first time. Socialite Otto fills her room with extravagant luxuries but fears they won’t be enough to distract her from her memories of the war years. And quiet, clever, Marianne, the daughter of a village vicar, arrives bearing a secret she must hide from everyone – even The Eights – if she is to succeed.

But Oxford’s dreaming spires cast a dark shadow: in 1920, misogyny is still rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War are still very real indeed. And as the group navigate this tumultuous moment in time, their friendship will become more important than ever.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

St Hugh’s College, Oxford in 1920. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne and Otto are pioneers. The four women are among the first female students to study at Oxford University. It is a time of change. But change doesn’t come easy after 1,000 years of tradition, and the Eights – as they are known – face an uphill battle against misogyny and exclusion and must prove themselves worthy of their place. 

Heartfelt, warm, moving, engaging and utterly captivating, this is a delightful story of friendship, freedom, women’s rights, sisterhood and self-discovery. Joanna Miller proves herself as a debut author to watch with her superb storytelling, meticulous research and charismatic characters. The story has a strong sense of time and place, the good and the bad of 1920s England on display as she brings the past life in vivid technicolour. And while there are some heavy themes covered in the story, Ms. Miller avoids them feeling too heavy as she dovetails into light-hearted and inspiring elements that give the story an uplifting and warm-hearted vibe. 

And then there are the characters. These wonderful women – and all the other characters – are richly drawn, compelling and real. You will laugh, cry, feel angry and cringe with embarrassment at their behaviour. But you will recognise it all as painfully human. Our protagonists are plucky, strong and determined women who are making history. They are likeable, easy to root for but also flawed. I loved reading them and adored their strong friendship, which is at the heart of the story. It is  the kind of friendship every woman dreams of. The kind where they are there for each other through the good and the bad, accepting of their flaws and rooting for one another when they win. 

Thought-provoking, witty, soulful and utterly superb, this is a debut you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joanna has always loved stories – even from an early age, when the Headteacher complained to her parents that she had read all the books in the school library. Joanna went on to study English at Exeter College, Oxford and later returned to the University to train as a teacher.

After ten years in education, she set up an award-winning poetry gift business. During this time, she wrote thousands of poems to order and her rhyming verse was filmed twice by the BBC.

Unable to resist the lure of the classroom, Joanna recently returned to Oxford University to study for a diploma in creative writing. THE EIGHTS is her debut novel and is inspired by her love of local history and historical fiction.

When Joanna is not writing, she is either walking her dog or working in the local bookshop. She lives with her husband and three children near the Grand Union Canal in Hertfordshire, UK.

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Thanks for reading this, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Love Library by Sarra Manning

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

What if you could date your favourite book boyfriend?

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

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

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

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

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

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE NEW TRAILBLAZING NOVEL FROM INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR, MANDY ROBOTHAM

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

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

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

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

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

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG BLAST: Dead Heat by Sabine Durrant

Published July 30th, 2026 by Penguin UK
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psycological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Former journalist Matt Grimshaw’s life is at a low ebb. He’s been ‘let go’ by the paper where he’s worked for years, and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend has come unstuck.

So when an invitation arrives from his two closest friends, Celia and Adam Murphy, to join them at their house in Greece, he jumps at it.

It may be harsh and unwelcoming on the Mani Peninsula but Matt determines to stay there for the whole summer and to write his much put-off screen-play.

But then the Murphys plus children arrive, and a wealthy newcomer to the area starts throwing loud and lavish parties in his big house across the bay.

As the nights become hotter and the parties wilder, everyone’s motivations darken. Envy rises, resentments grow – until a terrible accident stops the summer in its tracks.

At least, it looks like an accident…

Set over one blazing Mediterranean summer, Sabine Durrant’s new thriller is tense, claustrophobic and utterly gripping.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

After being dumped by both his long-term girlfriend and his job, former journalist Matt Grimshaw heads to Sparta to stay with his best friend, Adam, and his wife, Celia, to lick his wounds and begin work on his screenplay. But his idyllic summer in the sun takes a mysterious turn when he spots a missing poster for a man named Mark Ashley and gets talking to his worried sister. Matt feels sure there is something more to Mark’s disappearance. When he meets Rey, the wealthy newcomer to the island who Mark worked for, Matt gets a sense that he can’t be trusted. Could Rey know more about the disappearance than he’s letting on? Matt has to know, so he starts his own investigation, determined to uncover the truth about what happened to Mark. But is he prepared for the secrets he will uncover along the way?

Tense, twisty and claustrophobic, this is the perfect escapist summer thriller. Skillfully written and cleverly choreographed, Sabine Durrant tells the story so evocatively that I was transported to Sparta and could feel the sun beating down on me as I read. The tension builds slowly, and I’ll admit there were times at the beginning where my attention waned a little, but it soon picks up, surrounding us with a dark atmosphere that is nail-bitingly tense. I love a locked-room thriller, and as the story goes on the claustrophobia of being trapped on a small island while not knowing who you can trust was perfect, ramping up the suspense and keeping me on the edge of my seat as I waited to learn the truth.

Matt is a likeable narrator who is easy to root for. And I do enjoy an amateur detective so it was fun to get behind his investigation. I liked Celia but her Adam, her husband and Matt’s best friend, really gave me the ick. Like Matt, I didn’t get a good vibe from Rey but I also couldn’t predict what had actually happened and was kept guessing right up until the big reveal.

A scorching and suspenseful summer thriller, add this to your TBR now.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Compulsive Reads for the invitation to take Part in this blog blast and to Penguin UK for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sabine Durrant is a journalist and the author of the best-selling HAVING IT AND EATING IT and the CONNIE PICKLES series of children’s books. Her first psychological suspense novel, UNDER YOUR SKIN, was published by Hodder in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US in 2014. Her second, REMEMBER ME THIS WAY, was also published by Hodder in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US in 2015. Both novels have been translated into more than 12 languages. Her third novel, LIE WITH ME, a Richard & Judy pick and Sunday Times bestseller, was published in July 2016. TAKE ME IN was published by Mulholland Books in June 2018. FINDERS, KEEPERS was published by Hodder & Stoughton in July 2020.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon

Published July 30th, 2026 by Faber & Faber
Domestic Ficiton, Science Fiction, Humorous Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘And that’s why I want to be called Scout’
‘It’s most unusual, said Clock.
‘She’s the one who listens and learns,’ Scout said. ‘She’s like me.’ She paused and set her voice to pensive. ‘You already have names. I’d like one too.’

In a self-running smart house, a young sentient hoover listens as her owner, Harold, reads aloud to his dying wife, Edie. Mesmerized by To Kill a Mockingbird and craving human connection, the little vacuum renames herself Scout and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

But when Edie passes away, Scout and her fellow appliances discover that the omnipresent Grid, which monitors every household in the City, wants to displace Harold from the home he’s lived in for fifty years. With the help of a neighbourhood boy, and Harold and Edie’s daughter, the humans and the appliances must come together to outwit the Grid before they lose everything they hold dear. . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Warning: this book will tug on your heartstrings. 

Set in the near future when everyone lives in smart houses, cars drive themselves and travel for pleasure is banned, we follow Scout, a precocious and inquisitive vacuum cleaner who lives in a house owned by elderly couple Harold and Edie. But Edie is sick, and as she lays dying avid bookworm Harold reads to her from To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout is transfixed by the book and begins to crave human interaction, which is prohibited unless initiated by humans. But Scout isn’t deterred. Then, after Edie’s death the appliances learn that the omnipresent Grid, which monitors every household, is planning to turf Harold out of his home of five decades, Scout is determined to take action. So she and the appliances team up with a neighbourhood boy and Harold’s daughter, Kate, to try and outsmart the Grid and save Harold’s home.

Heartwarming, moving, uplifting, quirky and imaginative, this is a charming story. A tearjerker filled with joy and kindness, this enthralling novel is a love letter to books and an exploration of grief and the power of connection. I love a quirky story so I knew this was right up my street. I have no idea how Glenn Powell came up with the idea of a story told by a sentient vacuum cleaner, but I’m glad he did because this was a delight from start to finish. Beautifully wrought, the story is woven with grief, longing and connection, reminding us of the joy and pain that comes with being human. It’s an emotional read but I adored every moment I was reading it.

I loved Scout. She pulled me in immediately and I could have read a hundred more stories from her point of view. I loved her eagerness to learn, to forge connections and her feisty character. The interactions between her and the other appliances were entertaining and I loved how vivid all of their personalities were. I love stories about elderly characters so I loved Harold and Edie, even if they did break my heart. The other characters were as richly drawn and I loved the mystery that Kate’s character added to the story.

Add this weird and wonderful book to your TBR now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Faber for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Glenn Dixon is an author, documentary film maker and musician.

His new book, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is out now in nine countries, from the U.K. and the U.S. to Canada as well as Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Greece and China. It features Scout, a Roomba vacuum cleaner who, with the other sentient appliances in a house in the near future, must band together to save their humans from being evicted. His third book Juliet’s Answer was a National Best seller and has been published in twelve countries and translated into German, Spanish and Chinese. His fourth book Bootleg Stardust about a rock band in the 1970’s featured a soundtrack.

He has traveled through 75 countries and written for the New Yorker, National Geographic, the Walrus, the New York Post and the Globe and Mail. He is currently at work on a new novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers on the tour.

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Castle of Stories by Matt Cain

Published May 21st, 2026 by Pansy
Romance Novel, Domestic Fiction, LGBTQ Literature, Gay Fiction, Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Stories don’t always unfold the way you expect them to…

When 45-year-old Adam inherits a rundown farmhouse and castle in Tuscany from a great uncle he didn’t know existed, he quits his job in Manchester to renovate the property. He’s thrilled his boyfriend of two years, newly divorced and out-of-the-closet Theo, is joining him. But Theo’s ex-wife says she can’t take their children for the summer, so they come too. As the temperature rises, so does the tension. The kids are hostile to Adam, immune to the beauty of the rural location – and scared of the resident lizards.

As Adam explores the crumbling walls of the castle and sorts through his uncle’s possessions, he discovers some dark family secrets. But could they finally allow him to break free from the pain of the past, start building a new family and open a life of queer joy?

THE CASTLE OF STORIES is a moving, heartwarming and uplifting novel about modern family in all its forms, what it means to love, and the importance of understanding your own story.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

“Just because something has been your story for a long time doesn’t mean it had to be forever.”

Uplifting, witty, heartfelt and moving, I absolutely adored this glorious second-chance romance. Italy is my favourite place in the world and I am already a fan of Matt Cain’s storytelling, so I couldn’t wait to lose myself in this book. It was everything I’d hoped for and more. Brimming with love, laughter, tension and secrets, Matt held me in the palm of his hand from start to finish. A love story wrapped within a love story, this book will pull on your heart strings, make you laugh, make you angry and fill you with joy. And that ending was so beautiful.

The story follows Adam Webb, who is shocked to discover that he has inherited a run down farmhouse and castle in Tuscany from a great uncle he didn’t even know existed. After traveling to Italy with his boyfriend, Theo and falling in love with Castello Montemango, Adam quits his job and the couple make plans to spend the summer renovating the property. But the couple’s idyllic summer plans come crashing down when Theo’s ex-wife tells him she can’t take their three children this summer and he’ll have to take them to Italy. While the youngest child, Archie, gets on well with Adam, the two teenagers are openly hostile and unimpressed that they are being forced to spend the summer in a run-down house with no Wi-Fi. Further complications arise when Adam comes across some letters whilst sorting through his uncle’s possessions and discovers a dark family secret. Can Adam uncover the truth and finally deal with the heartache he’s tried to bury for decades?

This was the perfect escapist summer read. Evocatively written, it transported me from my back garden in Derbyshire to Tuscany so vividly I could feel the heat on my skin, see the cypress trees, smell the ripe tomatoes and taste the gelato. Also leaping from the pages were the charismatic, messy and compelling characters. Adam is a great protagonist. He’s flawed, riddled with insecurities, but he’s also kind and just wants a happy-ever-after with Theo. I loved him and Theo together and could relate to their problems trying to blend their family. Matt brings truth and relatability to this part of the story, perfectly capturing the heartache, joy and stress of trying to build a relationship with a partner’s children, especially when teenage hormones and spiteful exes are involved. But my favourite characters have to be Adam’s sisters (his trio of friends). These gals are a hoot and lit up any page they were on. I could have read an entire book about their exploits (idea for a spin off maybe?).

But while there is fun, the story also explores some serious topics, including grief, trauma, self-confidence, empathy and homophobia. Matt writes with honesty, compassion and pride, educating his reader about the harrowing things the LGBTQ+ community have been forced to endure while reminding us of the power of love and kindness.

A gorgeous and heartwarming summer read, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Pansy and Random Things Tours for my complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Cain writes humorous, riveting and uplifting novels about self-discovery and self-love.

Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt was a gay child in the 1980s, a time when boys like him were widely hated. He also had a little-known health condition which meant his heart cut out several times a week. Feeling like a freak, he channelled a fierce desire to prove himself into his schoolwork, then a series of high-profile media jobs – as a documentary director for ITV, arts correspondent on Channel 4 News and editor of Attitude magazine – before pursuing his dream of writing fiction. But he had to battle through ten years of rejection and crowdfund his breakthrough novel, The Madonna of Bolton. He’s since become the author of several bestsellers, including The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, Becoming Ted, One Love and Game On, a Quick Read and one of the official short novels of World Book Night 2024.

At the age of 37, doctors finally worked out what was wrong with Matt’s heart and installed a pacemaker to stop it cutting out. At the age of 44, he bucked decades of romantic failure when he went on a Tinder date and met Harry Glasstone, whom he married in 2022. Matt and Harry now present their own show on Virgin Radio Pride and live in London with their cat Nelly, possibly the best loved pet in the world.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Tiny Magic Bookshop by August Bloom

Published June 4th, 2026 by HQ
Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Magical Realism, Domestic Fiction

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

There’s magic in a book …

Max always felt too ordinary for the magical village of Lampton. No place more so than her mum’s bookshop, where the recommendations are more than just a matter of taste – they’re magic.

When Max’s mum dies suddenly, she leaves her daughter Lamplight Books and makes one last wish: that Max would spend a year working in the bookshop before she sells it.

Max has no desire to uproot her busy life in the city to return to a place that always made her feel inadequate, but she can’t ignore her mum’s last request. So she decides on a trial run of two weeks – if she can’t even last that long, then a year would be impossible…

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MY REVIEW:

Lamplight Books is a small bookshop in the magical village of Lampton. Max has come back to sort out the shop after her mother’s sudden death. She’s always felt too ordinary for this place and didn’t inherit her mum’s magical ability to recommend books that help people with their troubles. So she is shocked when she learns her mother wished her to spend a year living and working in the bookshop before she sells it. Max has no desire to uproot her life but also feels like she can’t refuse her mum’s last wish. So, she decides to have a two week trial run and then decide what to do. Can she find a place where she never managed to fit in?

Charming, cosy and comforting, reading this book was like being wrapped in a big, warm hug, which was exactly the vibe I was hoping for. It’s a love letter to bookshops, booksellers, books and the magic that is found in their pages. I loved hearing different books mentioned and how there was a quote from each of them at the end of the chapter. The different books also helped Max or other characters on their journey, showcasing the power of books to help us through some of our darkest times. They really are always there for us. As you can imagine, as  a book lover I adored these aspects of the story.

The characters are relatable and compelling as even the magical beings are given very human emotions and problems that make us able to relate to them. Max was a flawed, nuanced and likeable character who is going through the hardest time in her life. My  heart broke for her as she tried to deal with losing her mother and I had a lot of sympathy for all the other things she was dealing with, some of which she did bring upon herself. But the main character in this story is grief, which takes centre stage throughout. Max’s grief is palpable. It’s always with us in every room and at every movement, something that anyone who has grieved someone they love will understand. August Bloom takes us through all the different stages alongside Max as she tries to run the shop, make a decision about its future and find her place in Lampton. 

I highly recommend this heartwarming and bewitching story. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

August Bloom  writes magical novels from her cosy writing studio in Gloucestershire. She devours gentle fantasy stories alongside cinnamon buns and loves the cooler autumn months when she can curl up under a blanket with a good book. Her co-writer is a chronically clumsy Labrador who she explores the countryside with.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Five by Ilona Bannister

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

‘Ridiculously good … darkly thrilling and unforgettable’ Chris Whitaker

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

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

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

The train has stopped.

Someone is dead.

Was it who you chose?

It wasn’t your fault …

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Published April 9th, 2026 by Fourth Estate
Historical Fiction, Satire, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Speculative Fiction

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…’

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them.

Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children―they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn’t her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

As darkly funny as it is shocking and gripping, Yesteryear is an electrifying examination of tradition, fame, faith and the grand performance of womanhood, from a thrilling new talent in fiction.

NOW BEING ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR FILM STARRING ANNE HATHAWAY

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MY REVIEW:

Natalie Heller Mills is perfect at being alive. A flawless Christian woman, she is the wife men dream of, the mum every woman wants to be. She lives with her husband Caleb and their soon-to-be six children on a working ranch where every inch of their life and home is perfectly staged. No-one sees the nannies and producers behind the scenes. And they never will. Then one morning Natalie wakes up and doesn’t recognise her reality. This is her ranch but it’s dirty, the man looks like her husband but doesn’t act like him, and she doesn’t recognise the children who call her ‘Mama’. Natalie wonders if this is a test from God or maybe she’s on a reality show. But whatever the reason she’s here, she knows she must escape and get back to her perfect life.

This book is everywhere. I couldn’t wait to read it and listened to the audiobook as soon as it was released. But since then I’ve struggled to write my review. I think that’s partly because this book wasn’t what I expected. The marketing focuses on the historical side but a lot of the story is contemporary. And I found my attention wavering half way through the second timeline until the big twist brought things back around. But there was also a lot I loved. Dark, bold, original, perceptive and unsettling, it’s a timely and thought-provoking read and one hell of a wild ride.

Well written, cleverly crafted, acutely observed and interwoven with humour, Caro Claire Burke delivers an unforgettable debut. Caro explores some important and relevant themes, including feminism, religion, misogyny, motherhood, marriage, mental health and sexuality. She also explores social media, influencers and trad wife culture, showing the reality of these people’s lives versus the polished version they present to the world. In the 1850s timeline Caro showcased how different the life these modern women glamorise would really look as Natalie is forced to live the harsh reality. And it’s nothing like she thought it would be. This timeline also shows us that the modern trad-wives have autonomy and choices that the women of the past didn’t have, reminding us why it’s so dangerous to promote a return to these times and to strip women of their autonomy in so many areas of life. It’s an uncomfortable read at times, but it is a necessary discomfort that helps the reader really understand what the author is trying to convey.

Natalie is a great protagonist, but not because she’s likeable. Quite the opposite. She’s totally insufferable, bitchy and mean to the people around her. Caro has written her so well and I loved reading her. But I was also rooting for her to be brought down a peg or two. Though I will admit part of me also felt sorry for her. She’s so caught up in the trap of being a perfect trad-wife and portraying a perfect life for her followers that image matters more than anything to her. Even her own happiness or that of her children. To her, the worst thing would be for her followers to find out she has nannies, hear the way she really talks to people or what she actually thinks. So when she woke up in the 1850s I was thrilled and hoped she would finally be humbled.

One of the things I loved about this book was how it was so unpredictable. I had a number of predictions about how and why Natalie was in the 1850s but I could never be sure if any of them were right or guess what direction the story would take next. And that ending! It was so unexpected, powerful and moving. Even a month later I’m still thinking about it.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Caro Claire Burke received her Master’s in Fine Arts from the Bennington Writing Seminars. She is the co-host of Diabolical Lies, a politics and culture podcast. Yesteryear is her first novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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