“I have no more questions,” The Defendant concluded with a parasitic smile, looking tremendously self-satisfied for doing f*** all but attach himself to a woman who was good at her job.” A pick based on this sentence alone! Never once is the culprit named; he is The Defendant throughout. The story is not about him; it is about the victims and those who fought for them and I loved this perspective. Tricky to get into but overall a good read.

Weretigers, severed fingers, mysterious dreams. Chinese and Malaysian superstitions and mythology in 1930s Malaya clash against colonialism and the medical world; for the large part I thoroughly enjoyed this (although got tired of all the severed finger talk until the action ramped up!) The romance didn‘t do it for me, but otherwise a compelling story.

I‘m not entirely sure what to make of this. Nadia, a criminology lecturer, lands a job with a new UN agency tasked with rehabilitating ISIS brides, and digs herself in deeper than intended. A really interesting topic, yet it‘s told in a light hearted comedic tone which I just could not get on with.There is, however, a lot to take away from this, although at the same time it wouldn‘t have been a WP short list choice for me. A light pick.

Nearly didn‘t read it, glad I did. This is not *the* mid-life novel; the protagonist‘s life bears no resemblance to mine, nor that of any other woman I know. She is the most self-absorbed, self-indulgent person you‘ll probably ever hear from yet despite that I found this utterly compelling, with a knowingness I suspect you‘ll recognise if you too are mid-40s. I also found the absurdity quite good fun in a way I didn‘t expect.

On paper this was my kind of book; a family saga focused on the matriarch, her daughters and granddaughters, spanning Iran and the US. I really wanted to love it, but just…didn‘t. I found the fast-paced narrative sometimes tricky to keep up with, and actively disliked just about everyone in an irritated rather than amused way. Slightly puzzled by the inclusion of this on the Women‘s Prize short list.

I‘m really torn with this; I can‘t decide whether it is quietly majestic, or just a, sometimes repetitive, back and forth between the residents of a small town. On balance I think, perhaps, that you ignore the power of this gentle story at your peril (and also beware that it contains unexpected darkness). I never once wanted to pick it up, but was hooked every time I did.

Travel writer Gabriel is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 60s when he is asked to interview Patrice Lumumba. From there his life takes a turn and he becomes an unlikely Cold War spy, caught up in more than he realises. I loved Gabriel‘s gentle yet sharp character, his attempts to play with those leading him, combined with his sad backstory and the will he/won‘t he romance. Stylish, good fun, yet also thought provoking.

Set in post-reunification Germany, Nila‘s Afghan parents & Nila struggle to find their cultural place in Berlin. Nila is coming of age in techno clubs and a drug-fuelled lifestyle of self-loathing & an obsession with her older American boyfriend. Her struggle to find her place & the cultural expectation that she be a good girl were all excellent. The messy narrative surrounding Nila & Marlowe less so. Overall this is an intriguing, absorbing read

We start this with Lily in New York in the 1990s, then her son Nick in 2021, then jump to her mother May in 2030, who looks back on her youth in the midst of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. They all struggle to find their own identity and this runs as a theme through all three stories. A really absorbing, lovely yet also sad read (there are some science-y bits which didn‘t always work for me, but didn‘t detract from the overall).

The Green family have moved from Ireland to London for reasons unknown, their neighbours are suspicious of them. Then a toddler is found dead, and suspicion falls on the Greens, and specifically 10-year-old Lucy. Enter a tabloid journalist keen to mark his mark. Rather than the expected drama this is a thoughtful and gently done character study of, well, ordinary human failings. Overall I found it hopeful and lovely, despite the subjects tackled.

Oh I loved this as much as I hoped I would. It‘s a time travel story, it‘s a love story, a friendship story. Read it even if you don‘t think you want a time travel story; I defy you not to fall for Commander Graham Gore.

As all good dystopian fiction should be, this is eerily prescient and portrays a future one can almost see, and certain fully imagine. What was lacking for me is a full exploration of tech firm DreamSaver Inc; we get a chapter or two focussed on one of their developers, but nothing more and this felt a missed opportunity to take the story further. It also had echoes of other dystopian fiction I‘ve read, however overall a great read.

“An exhilarating tale of twisted desire, histories and homes.” I started out being clever, thinking I knew what this was about, where it was going. It turns out I really didn‘t, and I LOVED realising I‘d misjudged it entirely. I‘m not saying anything more for fear of spoilers. It‘s not an easy read in terms of the subject, on several levels, but after a slow start I couldn‘t put it down, it delivers a real gut-punch. Loved it (love the cover too)

This is fiction, but is based on/inspired by a true crime which culminated in the penultimate execution of a woman in Britain in the 1950s. It‘s told from the viewpoint of Zina and also her young Greek translator, Eva, and encompasses immigration, cultural translation and the treatment of women, particularly in the legal system, as well as the “whodunnit” element itself. The courtroom scenes are particularly sobering.

I love well done historical fiction; Joseph travels to post-war South of France after receiving an enigmatic invitation from reclusive artist Tartuffe. Once there he is drawn into the life of Tartuffe, his paintings and his niece Ettie. I was so taken with and drawn into the setting, the descriptions of the colours and light, the food, and then the unsettling sense of menace that builds alongside Ettie‘s frustrations and awakening. Excellent.

I love Sarah Winman but this one had passed me by. It‘s a lovely book, I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if the whimsical elements lost me slightly at times. There‘s a little mystery here as I pass a lot of my books onto my mum. I found this on her shelves but it didn‘t come from me and she has no recollection where it did come from. So who else is passing her books of this quality I ask?! I thought I was the one who gave her the best books 😆

Love Kate Atkinson, love the cover, love the title and love Jackson Brodie. This was great fun with a mix of knowing humour, Downton-vibes, and a lost-art murder-mystery crime caper (I can‘t decide if I love or hate the word caper 😆). You‘ll love to hate the Miltons, and I loved the gentleness with which Ben and Simon were treated. And of course, Jackson himself never disappoints.

Lydia has washed up in a forgotten seaside town, reeling from her on-off lover‘s apology for appalling behaviour she‘s not yet recognised as such. Joyce is living a claustrophobic life under the oppressive thumb of her mother. I loved both Joyce and Lydia‘s stories and particularly enjoyed the building tension, the dark humour that almost felt it would merge into horror, and the sense their worlds are about to collide and implode. A great read.

I went in having seen great reviews but was initially a bit disappointed. It is no doubt an important subject (emotional abuse, family homelessness) yet as a novel at first it didn‘t feel like a fresh take sufficient to be nominated for a literary prize. However this poor judgement is all mine as by halfway through I was completely hooked, unable to look away. It is so tense and claustrophobic, so simply told yet heartbreaking.

In parts I actively disliked this; set in post-apartheid South Africa, Deirdre is a mess with no apparent desire to make changes. Her mother, in a care home, is convinced her presumably dead son is visiting her. Deirdre never visits. There‘s a drought, everyone is dirty, drinking too much. This was an unpleasant read, yet at the same time draws you in. I didn‘t love it, I‘m glad it‘s done, yet it‘s niggling at me and I guess that‘s the point 👇

Set in a small town in the Mojave desert, Driss, is found dead at the side of the road. Was it a hate crime? Told from alternating perspectives the story winds back and forth, touching on Driss‘ life, but also his family and neighbours, whilst also trying to discover the cause of his death. For me, this was about grief, combined with small town tensions. The whodunnit element I felt was less successful for me. Overall though, I enjoyed it.

A great story of the family dynamics between four sisters, reflecting on their childhood, addiction and troubled parents, I tore through it. Her books seem to be targeting/resonating with a younger generation of female readers and I quietly wonder if she might turn out to be their Maggie O‘Farrell, thinking back to the vibe of MO‘Fs very early books. Watching with interest!

A very Booker Prize-ish book - it was a bit tricky. This is a series of stories spanning 1908 to 2025 covering love, both romantic and between parent and child, loss, war and science. What I struggled with was the telling, individual stories moving back and forth in time, the narrative in each story also moving around from paragraph to paragraph. Lovely in parts, but it was harder work than I‘m willing to invest.

When you‘ve adored Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, do you delve into the author‘s backlist, or keep the love with TTT? Turns out it is ok to keep reading, I absolutely loved this one too. A completely different book to TTT, this was short, sweet and gave me several love stories I didn‘t know I was looking for. It leaves the best possible bookish-hug feeling. If you need a winter pick me up, highly recommend 💙

With a blurb that references One Day and Normal People, this just about lives up to that. A sweet story of perceived “bad boy” Will, studious Rosie, and Rosie‘s twin, Josh, as they finish sixth form and try to find their way. It really is a lovely story - with that ever elusive romance without the cringe factor - yet I‘d say this didn‘t quite reach the heights of Sally Rooney genius for me, I agree more with the One Day vibes.

From the blurb this story sounded like my worst nightmare. First third, nope, can‘t do it. Mother is up in the night with young kids, husband not there, realises there‘s someone else in the house. No, not 300 pages of a house invasion with kids in the mix. Yet then the story changes, we go back into various parts of the narrators life, stories slowly evolve. A third in I was suddenly so invested I read the rest almost in one sitting.

Started out strong, limped to 786 pages somewhat exhausted. I am not the intended audience - my younger self would have adored the page-turning storytelling and world building, but this older, slightly jaded reader didn‘t fall for it. Right now, I never want to read about a dragon again, and I‘m glad Violet‘s narrative voice can begone from my head. On the other hand my 17 yo is desperate to get his hands on it, and that is how it should be 🐉

The premise was strong, and intriguing. Jivan comments on Facebook then finds herself arrested for playing a part in a terror attack. Her former teacher is being pulled into nationalist politics, Jivan‘s student Lovely could possibly help her, but no one is asking. There‘s a lot being said here, yet at the same time I felt a strange disconnect from the three main characters, and from how their stories interconnected. Overall, mixed feelings.

Kate is struggling with self-isolating in November 2020, she breaks and goes for a forbidden walk in the hills of the Peak District. Her 16 year old son Matthew is home alone when he realises she‘s gone and turns to their elderly and vulnerable neighbour Alice. The fourth character is mountain rescue volunteer Rob, helping search for Kate. A third in, I was racing through this desperate to know the outcome. And when it comes, it packs a punch.

Visitors to a Tokyo cafe get to travel in time if they sit on a certain chair and follow very specific rules. Four segments follow four different people as they travel, along with snippets of their back stories, and the stories of those who work in the cafe. The premise is intriguing and some of the stories sweet, yet the delivery not so much so. It dragged, despite being a short book, I lost track of who was who and found the narrative overdone.

I went into this a bit judgy - the Yorkshireness of the characters feeling overdone, and I was unsure if I liked the true story of the Yorkshire Ripper being the backdrop (was it insensitive to the victims?) - yet it won me over and had me having a little cry too. Sweet characters, the resolutions I wanted and a bit of nostalgia for childhood in the 80s.

A sweet, short and sharp little book that in large part I loved. Yet holding me back was a quite intense dislike of the main character that I never quite got past.

Oh goodness, what do you say about the Booker Prize winner? This is beautiful writing and an interesting premise, I get it. However, purely based on what I want from a book, it was a skim read for the main part with my focus being on the rare moments of character and their narratives. I‘d have read a longer book about the astronauts and their back stories but 135 pages about what they can see of Earth from their spaceship was enough for me.

At the start I was totally lost and nearly bailed. I just couldn‘t get on with the prose and the number of characters and the tangents we take to hear snippets of their back stories just had my head spinning. Yet as with all good books, and when I gave it the time, it pulled me in, and by the end I was heartbroken, heart-warmed, and had a tear on my cheek. I defy you not to fall for the characters of 12 year old Dodo and his friend Monkey Pants.

A courtroom drama with family and friendship dynamics plus immigration, neurodiversity and science. This is my second book by this author, both have a similar vibe which I like but also find a bit intense. This felt too long and not as page-turner-ish as the blurb promised, or as much as her second book, which overall I think I enjoyed more, perhaps as I disliked all the characters here! Still, an interesting read and a pick overall.

A great read, I really enjoyed this. The story follows the quirky, bohemian family of rock star Matthew Radlett who now lives a reclusive life in the country, and predominantly his daughter Linda as she lurches through various love affairs. Funny and sweet this was a hug of the book and I loved every character no matter how improbable. (However. The final page takes some getting over, no spoilers but be warned.)

A perfect read to start the New Year; I love Patrick Gale. Here the writing is incredibly gentle and I loved how the chapters dipped in and out of the characters lives at different ages whilst keeping the overarching narrative, it worked perfectly. I was gripped and had the time to read in huge chunks, completely absorbed. It‘s about faith, morality, family and love. It‘s quiet, sad, moving and also uplifting. I absolutely loved it.

Phyllis is living a perfectly normal middle class suburban life in the 60s when her attention is unexpectedly caught by a young family friend and her life upends. From there, an intriguing cast of characters and a slow unravelling of the suburban life. I particularly liked teenage daughter Colette; Phyllis herself less so. The second half the interest really ramped up for me, overall a great read.

Eva and her family have fled Russia for Europe but WWII is brewing. A charismatic and mysterious Englishman takes Eva under his wing and recruits her as a spy from where she becomes fully immersed in WWII subterfuge in the US. Later in 1970s Oxford, the truth of her past is slowly revealed to Eva‘s daughter. It was consistently absorbing and then became so gripping I couldn‘t look away. I enjoyed the spy focus being the US rather than Europe too.

Nope. Christmas cosy this is not. It goes hard on the malice; a family group reunited for Christmas, but why they are reuniting is the question given their most tenuous of familial ties and their constant sniping. Constant, exhausting sniping. There were some interesting threads but not enough to give me Christmas cheer. (However I enjoyed the cover although I‘m not sure Meg Mason and I read the same book. This is NOT comparable to the Cazalets!)

I‘d been ambivalent about the Kristin Hannah books I‘d read before this one, but I couldn‘t quite resist a bit of Russian history and the suitably wintery cover. And it was a good one! Moving between the present in an American apple orchard and the 1941 siege of Leningrad, I was thoroughly pulled into the family dynamics and awful backstory. Yes I cried. Easy yet gripping reading, a great one to hunker down with in a storm.

A fairly standard police procedural but set in 2051: near future yet not disappearing into dystopia. Very readable, the near future element entirely realistic and scary, the “figuring out the crime/scare vibes” just what I wanted.

I‘ve enjoyed this trilogy, which focuses on the civil unrest during the mid- to late 1600s rather than the Tudors of her earlier books. They‘ve spanned witch hunts, kings coming and going, forging a life in the Americas, and, in this book, slavery and freedom, wealth and injustice and a truly despicable character you‘ll love to hate.

On the whole I really enjoyed this family mystery (and much more besides). There were great elements and I was largely kept guessing in a good way. I really enjoyed the thoughtful exploration of language, race and happiness. Only complaints were it felt long with some points overly laboured, particularly the science-y bits. It was a great one to discuss in our book group. Will definitely read more from this author and just bought Miracle Creek.

Goodness this one hits hard. Dystopian fiction that feels not many miles from our reality. I‘ve always enjoyed dystopian fiction but this is bleak; watching Eilish‘s normal life unravel, the decisions made too late, her desperate attempts to protect her children from the state. The questioning as to how you would respond to these circumstances. An extremely powerful way to tell a terrifying story💔

The writing is beautiful. I immediately took to the narrator‘s voice and its unusual detached feel. But maybe because of that detachment I wasn‘t immediately emotionally invested. However as the story moved on I became gripped, and also sad and distressed at the fate of Sashi and those around her. The second half was excellent; the final pages such an angry yet reflective look back on the war, that it fully won me over, as did the author‘s note.

Like the author‘s debut novel - Girl A - this cannot be described as a pleasant, easy read, but it is compelling. A school shooting in the Lake District leads to “truthers” and conspiracy theorists questioning whether it ever really happened. Sadness abounds, secrets slowly emerge. This isn‘t easy reading, but it is timely/zeitgeisty and is page-turningly, can‘t-look-away good.

This has everything I usually love in a book…and yet, I didn‘t love it. I have no idea why really. Wrong timing? I know nothing about Our Town, the play the story centres around (but I never want to read about Emily or the Stage Manager again), I felt nothing much for the characters and just felt distanced from the whole thing. In fact I nearly gave up. The last 50 pages or so kind of won me round but I still feel ambivalent.

I really enjoyed this. An artist couple living in isolation on Cape Cod (the real life artists Jo and Edward Hopper) get drawn into the lives of two boys and the extended family. The boys are heartbreaking and delightful; I loved seeing artist Mr Aitch get drawn out of himself by them. I pretty much hated everyone else, but in the best bookish way. There‘s a lot not told, it‘s left to the reader to interpret. It‘s slow, thoughtful and gentle.

This is page-turningly unpleasant, depicts perfectly the mundanity and awfulness of school and teen bullying, brilliantly reflects a Leave-voting town and its hierarchy and residents. Yet I also had issues with it. The pages and pages of the minutiae of teen lives was too much, the characters within the town were so obvious it must have been intentional but felt clunky to me. Yet despite those issues, overall this was an intriguing read 👇