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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: Under Story by Chloe Benjamin

Published September 1st, 2026 by Tinder Press
Literary Fiction, Romance Novel, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE IMMORTALISTS COMES AN ENTHRALLING NEW NOVEL THAT ASKS: WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR MORE TIME WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE?

At an isolated research station in Antarctica, biologist Laurel Salter washes dishes for a living ten hours a day, six days a week. She tells no one why she left her career, or why her marriage ended.

But even in this remote outpost, Laurel can’t outrun her past. When a strange light appears across the ice and draws a group of physicists to McMurdo, her former husband, Eli, won’t be far behind.

Laurel is captivated by the Arc: its surreal glow; the way it seems almost alive. And though Eli is reluctant to test her wildest theory, Laurel is convinced that the Arc leads down a rabbit hole and into a world they can barely imagine. Can she persuade him to risk everything to fix the burden that hangs between them – to turn back the clock and live their story a second time?

And this time, live it differently.

Once read, never forgotten, Under Story is a genre-defying exploration of the promise of this life, what might lie beyond it, and how far we would go for more time with the people we love.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

What if our world wasn’t the only reality? What if there was another universe identical to ours where time moves differently? What if you’d made a mistake so devastating in this world that it shattered your life. Would you take the chance to right that wrong in the other world and recapture the happiness you once had?

These are the questions at the heart of Under Story. Inventive, complex, thought-provoking and emotional, this was not an easy read. First of all because of the heartbreaking subject matter, and secondly because it gets off to a very slow start. This book is a chonker and for the first 100 pages I just wasn’t feeling it. I couldn’t connect with the characters, wasn’t enjoying the story and felt bogged down by all the scientific jargon. But I’d been looking forward to this book so much, plus it was one of our SquadPod Featured Books, and readers I trusted had told me they loved this book, so I decided I’d read a quarter of the book before I’d DNF. I am so glad I did because the tides turned; I connected with the characters, felt invested in their lives and fell in love with this story. Suddenly, I didn’t want to put it down and couldn’t stop thinking about it whenever I did. But it isn’t going to be for everyone and I think this will be a marmite read that divides Bookstagram.

So what is it actually about? Well, the story follows biologist Laurel Salter who is working at an isolated research station in Antarctica trying to escape the heartache of her marriage ending and the mistake she can’t move on from. But even here Laurel’s past haunts her. And when a strange light appears across the ice it draws a group of physicists, including her ex husband Eli. After a strange dream, Laurel becomes convinced that the Arc is a portal to a parallel universe and the answer to the pain that destroyed their marriage. Eli is unsure at first, but eventually agrees to test Laurel’s theory. Will they find another world where they can turn back time and erase the pain of the past?

Chloe Benjamin has crafted a well-written, intricate and layered story that captures the imagination. The imagery is evocative, especially when they are in the Antarctic and the icy beauty was written so vividly that I felt like I was shivering from the cold even though it’s still summer. As I’ve mentioned, a lot of the science felt hard to follow or went over my head as I’m just not wired that way. However I was fascinated by the different ways things worked in the antiuniverse and enjoyed the parts that explained them. But for me, what I really loved about this book was its heart. Once we get into the book, this is a story steeped in heart-rending emotion and I was hooked. Chloe expertly captures the raw heartache, guilt, confusion and fear that Laurel felt and I was captivated by her dilemma. It really made me think about what I would do in her shoes and I had to keep reading to see how things worked out.

An imaginative and emotional read, this is one of those books I had to sit with for a while after turning that final page. And it is certainly one I won’t forget.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thanks to Tinder Press for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chloe Benjamin is the author of The Immortalists and The Anatomy of Dreams.

A Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, LibraryReads favorite, and #1 Indie Next pick, The Immortalists was named a best book of 2018 by NPR, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, and others.

The Anatomy of Dreams received the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award and was long listed for the 2014 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.

Originally from San Francisco, CA, Benjamin is a graduate of Vassar College and the M.F.A. in fiction at the University of Wisconsin. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages. She lives with her husband and two Maine Coon cats in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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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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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby

Published September 10th, 2026 by Mountain Leopard Press
Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

YOU TOLD HER YOUR DARKEST SECRETS.

NOW MILLIONS WILL READ THEM . . .

‘A gripping thriller that plumbs the dark depths of our closest relationships’ CLAIRE MCGOWAN

‘Brilliant and chilling . . . I tore through the pages’ – SARAH EASTER COLLINS

‘What a unique premise and so well executed. Tight plotting, and great characters. THE BESTSELLER is set to fly. I loved it!’ – LOUISE SWANSON

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Therapist Helena Salve knows that client confidentiality is the number one unbreakable rule of her job. But the constant stories of coercive control and threat she hears from her client Belle about her dangerous husband have been wearing her down. One night over too many glasses of wine, she tells her best friend Tala everything that Belle has told her.

The problem is, Tala is a down-on-her-luck novelist who is looking for an idea for her new thriller.

Months later, Tala is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher is saying this is going to be her biggest book ever. The story is Belle’s story. Not only is Helena’s job on the line, but if Belle’s husband is as dangerous as she says, her life is too…

Why would Tala do this to Helena? She knows what’s at stake.

Your friends are meant to protect you… aren’t they?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Therapist Helena Salve knows client confidentiality is the most important rule in her profession. But, after a few too many glasses of wine, she finds herself telling her best friend Tala all about her new client Belle’s abusive relationship. A year later, struggling novelist Tala tells her she’s written her best thriller yet. One that her publishers are sure will send her into the stratosphere. But she’s being cagey about it and won’t say what it’s about. When she finally reads it, Helena is horrified to learn Tala has written Belle’s story. Now her job is at risk and she’s worried Belle’s dangerous husband will come after her. Why would her best friend do this to her?

A compelling, tense and twisty debut about love, friendship, coercive control, secrets and betrayal, The Bestseller is a page-turning debut. A thought-provoking read, it poses some important questions about human behaviour, morality and toxic relationships. Jenny Knight explores coercive control and toxic relationships throughout the story, writing with honesty but also compassion. She makes sure we understand why Belle might not be able to see that she’s being abused and is reluctant to leave, something I appreciate as a survivor. She also expertly showcases how kindness, charm and protection are used by abusers to explain away their control and make the victim feel loved. 

This is a book about relationships and at the heart of the story is the friendship between Helena and Tala. It’s a well-written relationship that is full of all the complexities and nuance that you’d expect from a decades-long friendship. They have a strong bond but there is something from their past they won’t ever discuss. Something that still haunts both of them decades later. Clues are dropped like breadcrumbs for us to follow, while a past timeline slowly reveals their secret and helps us to understand them and their friendship. 

I did guess most of the twists but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book as Jenny was skilled at making me second-guess my predictions. And that ending! Talk about leaving me reeling. 

A gripping debut that all thriller lovers should have on their TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Mountain Leopard Press for sening me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenny Knightsby is a hospital doctor based in West London. The Bestseller was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize 2024 and is Knightsby’s debut novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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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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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Against the Tide by G. D. Wright

Published June 18th, 2026 by Avon Books
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Ficiton, Police Procedural, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

If the truth could destroy you, would you choose to know it?

DC Vinny Robson has spent his career seeking justice for others, but when an elderly couple are violently murdered in his hometown of Beachbrook, the investigation takes a devastating turn – one that cuts straight through his own family.

As Vinny dives deeper, the case becomes more than a pursuit of a killer – it’s a fight against the undertow of his own past. But in chasing the truth, will he finally find justice, or will he drown in the wreckage of everything he thought he knew?

Some truths should stay submerged. But once the tide turns, there’s no stopping what comes to light.

An emotional crime drama set on the south coast of England, perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Gillian McAllister and Ann Cleeves.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

G. D. Wright never misses. He’s three for three on the tense and emotional thrillers that you can’t put down. And this is his best yet!

An elderly couple are brutally murdered in their home in Beachbrook and DC Vinny Robson is on the case. But the case soon takes an unexpected and devastating turn that could turn Vinny’s world upside down. Now, this is more than the hunt for a killer; it’s the pursuit of a truth and justice that he never knew he needed to find.

Suspenseful, gripping, twisty and totally unpredictable, this sensational thriller was impossible to put down. I’m a big fan of Gaz’s books so I was thrilled when I heard that the SquadPod had got his latest novel as one of their July reads. And he has knocked it out of the park once again. He lulls us into a false sense of security, starting slowly by introducing us to the characters and the story. But the pace soon picked up, and before long I was holding on tight for dear life with no idea what shocking revelation would hit next. Expertly written, cleverly choreographed and intricately interwoven, this is a complex thriller filled with twists you’ll never see coming and characters you’ll love. And that ending! I was not prepared and it will stay with me for a very long time.

Gaz is the King of the emotional thriller and this story had me fighting back tears quite a few times. Vinny’s mum has dementia in the story, something I know was inspired by a member of Gaz’s own family. And his experience of this terrible illness is evident in the care, sensitivity and honesty with which it was written. Another thing I love about Gaz’s books is the authenticity that shines through from his time as a Police Officer. Those small details really make a difference and allow you to have confidence in the accuracy of what you are reading.

A must-read for any thriller lover.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From his website: Hi, and thanks so much for visiting my website. My name is Gary (pen name G.D. Wright) and I live in Kent with my wife and two young children.

I joined Kent Police at the age of 18, working on the front line in a variety of uniformed roles until the age of 29 when, completely out of the blue, I suffered two cardiac ‘events’, and was subsequently diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy if you’re being fussy!). As a result, I had an internal defibrillator implanted in me, and I had to retire from the police aged 30.

One door closed, but another opened, and my wife and I bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour. We spent eight of the happiest years of our lives there but, when the kiddies came along, it just wasn’t sustainable. Family comes first, every single time (a theme in my books…), and the simple fact was that we knew our summers should be spent with the kids, not working seven days a week. In 2022, we sold our ‘third baby’ (the coffee shop, not an actual baby – although… what a plot line for the future… making a mental note…), and I took to writing full time.

Fast forward to now. I’ve signed a two book deal with Avon UK (part of the Harper Collins family), and my debut was released in August 2024. It’s called AFTER THE STORM, and it’s a police procedural with a twisty, emotional hook. My second novel, INTO THE FIRE, was released in June 2025.

As a screenwriter, my feature film BREATHE DEEP is scheduled to shoot in September 2025.

I’m always up for chatting, so find me on my socials (below) and I’ll happily answer any questions you might have!

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: Waiting on a Friend by Natalie Adler

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Published May 26, 2026 by Riverrun
Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story, Lesbian Fiction, LGBTQ Litertature

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

East Village, summer of 1984. Renata is a young dyke-about-town who has the ability to see ghosts, which has been happening more and more frequently as her friends have started dying of what has recently been named AIDS.

So, when her best friend Mark dies, she assumes she’ll see him again. There’s no way Mark wouldn’t give her a chance to say goodbye, would he? But to her disappointment – and increasingly, her concern – Mark doesn’t appear.

Renata has other problems, too. A mysterious, police-like force has begun ridding their East Village neighbourhood of anything abnormal or inexplicable. At first, she’s sure they’re scam artists, but it becomes clear they’re actually trapping ghosts. With her band of lovably eccentric pals and lovers, Renata is determined to fight back against the erasure of her friends’ memories and the sanitizing of her beloved New York.

Both heartbreaking and healing, tragic and triumphant, Waiting on a Friend is a magical retelling of queer history and a celebration of youth and camaraderie. With pathos and humour, empathy and an edge, Natalie Adler freshly reimagines the past for a new generation, reclaiming the spirit of resistance and determination that would become one of the era’s defining legacies.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

East Village, New York, summer of 1984. Young lesbian Renata has an unusual ability – she can see ghosts. And with her friends dying of AIDS it has been happening more frequently. And it’s been happening more and more frequently lately as her friends have died from AIDS. So, when her best friend Mark dies, she assumes she’ll see him again. But he doesn’t appear. And a missing ghost isn’t Renata’s only problem. There is a mysterious, police-like force trying to rid the neighbourhood of anything inexplicable. At first, she is sure they are con artists, but it’s soon clear they are trapping ghosts. So, Renata and her motley crew of friends and lovers all band together to fight back against them. 

Sometimes you just know you’re going to love a book from the first page. This was one of those books for me. Heartfelt, moving, funny and deeply human, this innovative debut is one you won’t forget. A story of tragedy, grief, youth and friendship, Natalie Adler had me in the palm of her hand from start to finish. Skillfully written and original, Adler reimagines a dark time in queer history and the bleak reality of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, giving it a supernatural twist and showcasing the community’s strength to overcome seemingly insurmountable prejudice and odds. She also transports us to New York, bringing it to life so vividly that I could see the gritty streets, smell the car exhausts and hear the cacophony of people and traffic. I was totally hooked and read the whole book in just two sittings. 

Renata and the motley crew of other characters are richly drawn, relatable and real. I liked these people and was drawn into their world. I believed in these friendships, romances and dalliances. The 1980s were a terrifying time for the queer community. So little was known and it was a game of Russian Roulette that so many people lost. Adler does a great job of threading that undercurrent of fear into every facet of their lives whilst also making them feel normal. Unfortunately I know the pain of losing friends and could relate to the heartbreak they were feeling. I also thought how comforting it could have been for Renata to see some of those friends again as ghosts. I loved how the supernatural aspect never felt unreal and I was rooting for the ghosts as much as the other characters. 

Quirky, emotional and enthralling, this remarkable debut is one I’ll think about for years to come. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Ms. Adler. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Natalie Adler has an MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College and a PhD in Comparative Literature from Brown University. She was a Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellow at the Center for Fiction. She is an editor at Lux magazine and an instructor at Sackett Street Writers. She is from New Jersey and lives in New York City.

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

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

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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book reviews Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

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.

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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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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Published January 27th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

My Husband’s Wife was one of our SquadPod Featured Books in February.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Sunday Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ugly is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity and revenge.

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into – Spyglass, an enchanting old house in the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls – nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that this stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner named Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel and, as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Husband’s Wife weaves a tangled web of deception, obsession and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Alice Feeney has done it again! Heartsoppingly tense, unsettling, cryptic and immersive, My Husband’s Wife is an outstanding thriller and possibly her best book yet. 

It follows Eden Fox, who has recently moved to Spyglass, an enhancing old house in Hope Falls, Cornwall, with her husband, Harrison Woolf. They are hoping their move will be the fresh start they both need and it seems like life is starting to look up. But when she returns after her usual evening run nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t work and a woman who is eerily similar to her answers the door saying she lives there. Harrison insists the stranger is his wife and claims to have never seen Eden before. Eden desperately tries to prove her identity, sparking a chain of events that uncover long-buried secrets, deception and betrayal.

I always know when I pick up one of Alice’s books that I’m in for a treat. A thriller powerhouse, I know I’ll get an exquisitely written, twisty, layered and pacy thriller that will keep me on the edge of my seat. This was all that and more. It’s like Spaghetti Junction – the different storylines and threads interweave in unexpected ways, and it’s brimming with suspense, twists and turns. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives and moves seamlessly between timelines as Alice drops clues like breadcrumbs for us to follow. But nothing is what it seems in this book and everyone is possibly an unreliable narrator – keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. And that final line! I can’t get it out of my head.

One of the things that Alice always does well is writing charismatic, flawed and relatable characters who are fun to read whether we like them or not. The abundance of unreliable narrators means there are no clear heroes or villains, ramping up the tension and making me second guess everything they said and did. My favourite character was Birdy, a reclusive woman from London who returns to Hope Falls following life-changing diagnosis and unexpected inheritance. Birdy was the comedic relief in the book and although we know there are things she’s hiding, I did feel like I could trust her more than a lot of the other characters.

A must read for anyone who loves clever and riveting thrillers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Bookbreak for sending me a proof copy of the book and to Libro.fm for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author of novels including His & Hers, Sometimes I Lie, Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy Darker. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations, with His & Hers currently in production for Netflix, produced by Jessica Chastain, and starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal.

Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years. Her seventh novel, Beautiful Ugly, will be published around the world in January 2025.

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: Blank Canvas by Grace Murray

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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