Purple spredges? Obviously, I caved.
Wish that gorgeous cover wasn‘t ruined by the stupid blurb "sticker" though!
If, for whatever reason, you need a hug in book form today, I‘ve got you covered!
https://ifyoulovethatreadthis.substack.com/p/if-you-love-a-book-that-feels-like
I‘m enjoying Fable but I need some friends there! Come and find me — I follow back :)
https://fable.co/claire-568048873173
Resolving to learn French this year? I wrote this in 2022, but the advice stands!
https://claireamyhandscombe.medium.com/best-books-to-learn-french-2022-d7ab1cf07...
Need a short book to round off the year?
I‘ve got some recs for you in the latest edition of my newsletter.
https://ifyoulovethatreadthis.substack.com/p/if-you-love-short-books-read-these
Listen, you‘re gonna be at the bookstore today picking up Sally Rooney‘s book, so while you‘re there why not get mine too for some light and ridiculous relief on the side?
Not sure how many Brits are on this app, but worth noting that HarperCollins UK has a sale on at the moment — the perfect time to stock up on books like A NOVEL LOVE STORY, YELLOWFACE, BUTTER, THE MIDNIGHT FEAST, and my own BOOKISHLY EVER AFTER!
pickExcited that Clara Reads Proust made it into Anne Bogel‘s Summer Reading Guide! It‘s such a lovely book about the power of reading. A young woman who‘s feeling a bit stuck in her romantic relationship and her hairdressing career picks up Proust‘s first novel, Swann‘s Way, and it changes everything…
Two months today, BOOKISHLY EVER AFTER will be out in paperback in the UK, and in ebook and audiobook everywhere!
You can pre-order wherever you get your books.
Lots of links and more info on the book can be found at MiaPage.com!
#bookishlyeverafter #miapage #miapageauthor #romance #romcom
My enemies to lovers rom com about rival bookstore owners is up for pre-order! (And just 99p on ebook!)
#bookishlyeverafter #bookannouncement #romcom #romance #romancereadersoflitsy
I could not be more excited to bring you this bonus episode of the Brit Lit Podcast!
The Idea of You held my attention in a way very few books have been able to of late and it took my heart. I love it so much.
Robinne Lee and I talked about her origin story as a fanfic writer, why she made her main character French, why love stories that don't end happily have such a big impact on us, and a whole lot more.
It's a delight! Don't miss this one.
For episode 77 of the Brit Lit Podcast, I got to interview mega bestselling author Sophie Kinsella about her new book The Party Crasher, the role of music in her life, writing comedy during a pandemic, what her favourite biscuit is, and a whole lot more.
https://buff.ly/3CQHIs8
Episode 75 (!!) of the Brit Lit Podcast features a delightful conversation with Mary Pauline Lowry.
We talked UK/US cultural differences, the joys of epistolary novels, and a whole lot more. Have a listen!
https://britlitblog.com/2021/09/02/brit-lit-podcast-episode-75-the-roxy-letters-...
Episode 74 of the Brit Lit Podcast features a conversation with Lizzy Dent. She and I talked about her favourite food books, what it‘s like to release a novel during a pandemic, why we love ANXIOUS PEOPLE, and more!
Have a listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Have a listen wherever you get your podcasts. There‘s a link in my bio too!
Get to know Jennifer Saint, author of ARIADNE, in an interview on the Brit Lit Blog!
https://buff.ly/3hkADYG
Our guest on episode 73 of the Brit Lit Podcast is Minnie Darke, who wrote one of Claire's very favourite books of recent years, called STAR-CROSSED. They discussed what makes ONE DAY by David Nicholls such an amazing novel, and much more besides.
https://buff.ly/2V04i0D
New month, new British books!
https://britlitblog.com/2021/07/01/brit-lit-for-your-july-tbr-list/
On episode 72 of the Brit Lit Podcast,
Sareeta Domingo talks about romantic reads she loves, the process of putting together her anthology WHO'S LOVING YOU, why books by British authors of colour are important, and more.
https://britlitblog.com/2021/06/03/brit-lit/
On episode 71 of the Brit Lit Podcast, we hear from Naoise Dolan. She talks about cultural and literary differences between the UK, the US, and Ireland, what she thinks of the idea of “likeable” characters, some great Irish authors, and more.
https://britlitblog.com/2021/05/06/brit-lit-podcast-episode-71-exciting-times-wi...
For #IndieBookstoreDay, I made a bonus episode of my podcast in which I interviewed my boss, Laurie Gillman, who founded East City Bookshop.
Laurie and I talked about what makes ECB special, her advice for anyone wanting to start a bookshop, and a whole lot more.
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
https://britlitblog.com/2021/04/24/brit-lit-podcast-bonus-episode-the-most-fun-j...
I loved talking to Sophie Cousens about THIS TIME NEXT YEAR and her next book, JUST HAVEN‘T MET YOU YET. You can hear the Brit Lit Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Happy US publication day to this book! Joanne Harris has shared great tips for writers on Twitter threads over the years.
Some of her writerly wisdom and publishing insider knowledge is collected here!
Link to buy in the US: https://bookshop.org/a/699/9781912836598
pickThis was such a good story of a celebrity crush, because it did an excellent job of showing how it can feel to know that something is bonkers, might come from a deep place of hurt and messed-up-ness, but also might be real. I loved Nora, I loved her ballsy risk taking, and I identified deeply with her for reasons anyone who‘s ever met me or read my novel UNSCRIPTED will easily be able to guess.
I loved this book!
On the first Thursday of April two years ago, after a decade of serious writing, I became a published author.
I started writing UNSCRIPTED, the story of a young woman with a celebrity crush and a determined plan, in 2013, and I‘m still really proud of it.
If you‘re looking for a smart beach read or a story of friendships and second chances or a chance to travel to London or Cambridge or California from your armchair, I hope you‘ll pick it up.
Our guest on episode 70 of the Brit Lit Podcast is Sophie Cousens, the author of THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. We talked about what working in TV taught her, what she misses about London, the special island where she lives now, and more.
buff.ly/3fA0RpK
In episode 67 of the Brit Lit Podcast, we're joined by Milly Johnson, bestselling author of romantic fiction like her latest novel, I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY. It was a fun and festive time discussing Purple Ronnie, Christmas books, and more!
https://buff.ly/2KM0FX0
Important post for all who make audiobooks and all who love them.
https://blog.libro.fm/the-harmful-impact-of-audible-exclusive-audiobooks/
The bookshop where I work has joined us on Litsy! Please give @EastCityBookshop a warm welcome!
New month, new British books! Head to britlitblog.com for my monthly roundup.
pickSpent a very happy weekend immersed in this book. If you love gymnastics, you‘ll especially get a kick out of it — the author is a former gymnast, so all the terminology and inside our knowledge of that world is in point! It‘s a good story and a great read — better, in my opinion, than LOVE AT FIRST LIKE!
Episode 62 of the Brit Lit Podcast is out, with Rachel Winters. She is the author of WOULD LIKE TO MEET, which is just the happy, escapist book I needed right now. She talked about her favourite rom coms, gave advice for people wanting to get into publishing, and more.
pickThis was SO GOOD. It‘s about love, and chosen families, and belonging, and facing your fears, and choosing joy not despite the realities of life but because of them. It‘s also a little bit about the power of books. It is so well written. It‘s out 14th July. Do yourselves a favour and pre-order it from your local indie.
Really enjoying this so far! It‘s a bit ridiculous but lots of fun and just what I need right now. Also, this was a lovely place to read on a Sunday afternoon. ❤️
First draft of novel number 7 is done! It‘s called ON THE SAME PAGE and it‘s a romance novel set partly in a Capitol Hill bookshop. Not sure where I got that idea. 🤔
Our guest on Episode 61 of the Brit Lit Podcast is Rosanna Amaka, author of the novel THE BOOK OF ECHOES. She and I talked about how Brixton has changed over the years, her long road to publication, and more
https://buff.ly/2VQKn1Z
Need some audiobook recs? I‘ve got you.
(PS use code BRITLIT for a discount!)
https://blog.libro.fm/18-things-to-do-while-you-listen-to-an-audiobook/
Head over to Libro.fm to buy the cutest bookish socks! They‘ve been created specifically to raise money for Binc, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation that supports booksellers across the nation whose job has been affected by COVID-19.
I‘m thrilled to be working for Libro FM for the next month! If you don‘t know of them, they‘re the alternative to that other audiobooks company out there, but they share their proceeds with indie bookshops — who really need it right now. Sign up using the code SHOPBOOKSTORESNOW next week and you‘ll get two audiobooks for the price of one — as well as donating extra to indies!
On Episode 60, our guest is Clare Pooley, the author most recently of the heart-warming novel THE AUTHENTICITY PROJECT. Clare talked about up lit, the importance of community, how writing a novel compares to writing a memoir, and more.
https://britlitblog.com/2020/03/19/brit-lit-podcast-episode-60-the-authenticity-...
I am SO, SO EXCITED about my guest on this month's Brit Lit Podcast!
On episode 59 of the Brit Lit Podcast, my guest is Dolly Alderton, author of EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE. She talks about her favourite literary friendships, what it's like to co-host The High Low with her friend Pandora Sykes and lots, lots more! https://buff.ly/2SMGCt8
In episode 58 of the Brit Lit Podcast, hear from Erin Somers between British and American humour, the challenges of writing funny books, her novel STAY UP WITH HUGO BEST, and more.
Top nine of the year... will a tenth sneak in before midnight on 31.12? We shall see!
My publisher have put together some themed bundles and other deals just in time for your Christmas shopping.
A lot of these books have flown under the radar, so they‘re safe picks for pressies.
Happy shopping!
https://buff.ly/2rhsFs5
Our guest on episode 57 of the Brit Lit Podcast is Talia Hibbert, the author of GET A LIFE, CHLOE BROWN. We talked about how she got her start writing romance, the illustrated cover trend, what it's like to get picked by Book of the Month, and more. https://buff.ly/389ZGa3
Don't miss these still warm-off-the-press British books -- 12 new books out in November!
https://britlitblog.com/2019/11/30/12-british-books-out-in-november/
I was interviewed for this piece! https://www.bustle.com/p/how-fiction-authors-are-using-myers-briggs-to-define-re...
