With the recent weekend of the kind of weather that makes you feel like staying inside with a good book, we thought we’d check in with the team to see what stories they’d been enjoying lately.
Dylan - The Correspondent
I absolutely adored The Correspondent. I don’t read a lot of fiction, but couldn’t put this down and finished it in less than 24 hours. The book is a collection of letters, written to and from Sybil - a wonderful character, who is well, a character! The books makes you laugh, it makes you think - and probably makes you cry (but not me!). The letter format is unique and inspired me to get back into long-form letter (email) writing myself - something I love to do, but have done less of since starting a business. I've lent this book to two friends already, and both loved it as much as me. AAA recommend!
Shirl - Yesteryear
Yesteryear has been getting a lot of buzz and I can totally see why, I was hooked from the first page! It’s one of those books that constantly keeps you guessing; right up to the last chapter I had no idea where it was heading. The quote on the cover, “The Stepford Wives meets The Handmaid’s Tale,” sums up the book perfectly with the unsettling themes around control, identity and the idea of a perfect life. It’s funny but dark and a little bit frightening, with a tense pace that makes it hard to put down. I highly recommend this read when it releases next week!
Amelia - Rites of the Starling
I loved this book so much! Rites of the Starling is everything I wanted in the sequel to Shield of Sparrows and so much more. Rites of the Starling delivers an epic continuation of Odessa’s story, taking you on a thrilling adventure with all your favourite characters while also introducing new ones that are just as loveable. Filled with monsters, romance, and intrigue, this book will keep you hooked right until the very end (and may cause just a little bit of emotional damage throughout). Deveny Perry has done a true masterclass job with this book, expertly weaving together adventure and romance, world-building, and high-stakes storytelling in a way that completely pulls you in. Plus, she has already announced the third book's release date for early next year!
Roopa - Remarkably Bright Creatures
Remarkably Bright Creatures took me by surprise, in the best way! It’s not usually the kind of book I gravitate toward, but the premise immediately drew me in. The uplifting novel follows Tova, a widow working the night shift at an aquarium, who forms an unexpected bond with a remarkably intelligent octopus, uncovering long-buried truths about her past. With well-drawn characters and a gentle, immersive pace, the story balances heartfelt emotion with a light mystery that keeps you engaged throughout. I highly recommend this read in anticipation of the Netflix adaptation next month!
Lizzy - Game On
I was getting FOMO (fear of missing out) seeing customers picking up the latest book in the Into Darkness trilogy by Navessa Allen, so had to join in the fun. Her books are not for the faint of heart (check your comfort with spice levels and content warnings), but if hilarious and scorching dark rom-coms are your vibe then definitely give it a try. This one was a bratty, enemies to lovers situation and an excellent addition to the series.
Hannah - The Hiding Place
I recently enjoyed “The Hiding Place” which is about a group of friends who buy an idyllic plot of land in the Australian outback, determined to escape the problems of their daily lives. Unfortunately for them, their worries follow them to Willow Creek and by the end of the first night someone is dead. It was a tense wait to see if they would get away with murder, and the lengths they would go to hide it. Perfect if you’re looking for your next thriller.
Edd - The Poet Empress
I just finished this after Lizzy forced it into my hands, and ended up really enjoying it. Thrust into dangerous politics in a world where women are forbidden to read, Wei must learn to truly understand her abuser in order to compose the most powerful and deadly spell of all, a poem of love. With a deep focus on character and relationships, Shen Tao builds a layered portrait that explores trauma, ambition, and personal responsibility while reinforcing the idea that no single perspective can fully explain a person, this is a beautiful and unconventional story about the power of love.
Alex - The Last Voice You Hear
After binge watching Down Cemetery Road on AppleTV over the summer holiday, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the books that inspired the show. I dived into the sequel story “The Last Voice You Hear” and from page one was entirely engrossed in the atmospheric, gripping and funny world of Zoë Boehm. Written with intelligence, empathy and wit I am a total convert, and will be devouring the rest of the books in the series in short order.
1 comment
I agree with Dylan about “The Correspondent “. A different format for a novel, but what a revelation …. So well thought out and beautifully written, and what an excellent main character Virginia Evans brought to life with Sybil van Antwerp. Characterisation is excellent.
‘But as the clock begins to tick for Sybil, the need for a few postscripts to the life she’s led becomes apparent.’