My enormous thanks to Sian Baldwin at Orion for sending me a surprise copy of The Love Library by Sarra Manning. It’s my pleasure to share my review of The Love Library today.

Published by Orion on 25th June 2026, The Love Library is available for pre-order through the publisher links here.

The Love Library

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.

My Review of The Love Library

Tess Hardy is looking for love.

Yes! Yes! Yes! The Love Library is absolutely brilliant. I didn’t so much read it as gulp it down. It might just be the most perfect example of enemies to lovers in modern commercial romantic fiction that I’ve read.

The slightly magical premise of a library where readers can borrow characters from books is superb and the right side of believable to make the story so engaging. (Let me take out Angel Clare and give him a piece of my mind!) And I thought naming the protagonist Tess Hardy was inspired!

Tess is fantastic. Self-deprecating, overweight and frustrated by her job, with a mother not slow in pointing out her faults, she embarks on a quest to find romance, borrowing men from out of copyright fiction. Tess is, like so many of us, unable to see her positive attributes too, so that she is relatable and endearing. Her ability to empathise with others and to give them her whole-hearted attention made me want to climb into the pages and hug her. I especially loved the moments in the story where food is involved for Tess because they felt so real.

Gabe is the perfect romantic hero too. Darcy-like to some extent with his somewhat rigid approach to running the inherited library with his twin sister Ella, he is never mere pastiche. I adored that he is also a philosophy professor because the blend of life lessons from the great thinkers positioned alongside the fictional lessons in books illustrates what those of us who read romantic fiction already know – all life is to be found between the pages of a book. Both Tess and Gabe are a little prejudiced against one another’s approaches, but it’s that finding of common ground that makes the story so engaging.

Of course there’s the expectation of a happy ending, especially when Pride and Prejudice forms the backdrop of The Love Library’s actions, but the route to that ending is fabulously entertaining. The humour (meet Mellors), the heartbreak, the fizzing attraction between Tess and Gabe all mean that it’s impossible to put the book down. There is some strong language and occasional moments to bring a blush to the reader’s cheeks, but these elements are in perfect balance to enhance the plot and just perfect in execution.

It’s quite hard to define what wonderful romantic fiction The Love Library is. Filled with hope over expectation, literary and philosophical reference, brimming with humour and a passionate understanding of real people, I thought it was excellent. I’d defy anyone who loves romantic fiction not to adore it too. Don’t miss it because it is a truth (about to be) universally acknowledged that a reader in possession of the need for a superb romcom must be in want of The Love Library by Sarra Manning! Sensationally good!

About Sarra Manning

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. 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 and Harper’s Bazaar. She is currently the Literary Editor of Red Magazine. Sarra lives in London surrounded by piles and piles of books.

For further information about Sarra follow her on Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook.

It was my privilege to interview Charlotte Butterfield about her novel The Second Chance for a podcast a couple of years ago (you can listen here) and I love her writing. Consequently, when a surprise copy of her latest novel The Life I Didn’t Plan dropped into my post box I simply had to read it straight away. My huge thanks to Becky Hunter for sending it to me.

You’ll find my reviews of two of Charlotte’s books, The Second Chance and The Sister Switch along with an interview celebrating By This Time Tomorrow on Linda’s Book Bag here.

The Life I Didn’t Plan is published by Harper Collins imprint Avon on 18th June 2026 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Life I Didn’t Plan

Beth didn’t expect to get pregnant at seventeen.

Nor did she think she’d lose the name and address of the father of her child. Swept up in romance on her French exchange, all she remembers is that his hair smelt like mangoes.

Now, in 2026, at her school reunion, she opens the time capsule she wrote to herself at that time. Inside she finds a letter that alters everything Beth thought she knew about her past, and provides an all important clue for finding the father of her 19-year-old daughter, Maisie.

Hit hard by the difference between the life she hoped for and the one she’s living, Beth is faced with a choice: chase the adventures she once dreamed of, or embrace the new opportunities life presents?

My Review of The Life I Didn’t Plan

Getting pregnant at 17 wasn’t quite what Beth had planned.

What a fabulous book. I loved every moment of The Life I Didn’t Plan. I found it convincing, emotional and completely engaging. It’s an absolute belter.

The plot is super as Beth decides now is the time to begin to live a little. The fact that her ‘journey’ through The Life I Didn’t Plan doesn’t always happen in a straightforward manner, frequently stalls and more often than not terrifies her, ensures that the reader is on her side throughout. 

Beth is such a brilliant character. Having spent her entire adult life focused on Maisie, when Maisie heads to university she finds herself somewhat adrift. This is hugely relatable. Whilst she adores her daughter, there is also the poignant sense that she has missed out on her own life in the interim of bringing up Maisie. She has an uneasy relationship with her own parents which provides contrast and depth.

Her job is quite wonderful as she works in palliative care at the end of people’s lives. It’s this profession that leads to so much humour in The Life I Didn’t Plan. Charlotte Butterfield explores the links between life and death, between joy and sadness, and between grief and relief with remarkable dexterity so that the reader feels as if she might be describing their own life, drawing them in and making them feel ‘seen’. 

I thought the dynamic between Beth and her daughter Maisie was brilliantly handled because the closeness of their relationship is warm and loving and the direct speech between them is so natural that it’s like eavesdropping on their conversations. At the same time, both have secrets and opinions that they don’t always express fully for fear of hurting one another so that there’s the capacity for tension and change, giving added interest to this fabulous story. 

There’s also a wonderful romance in The Life I Didn’t Plan. I was completely enamoured of Jack myself. Charlotte Butterfield is fully aware of Beth’s flaws and presents her unreasonable side as well as her humour as she gets to know Jack, making for fun, frustration and laugh aloud moments that ameliorate some of the more emotionally charged events. I thought this aspect of the book was magnificent. 

Whilst The Life I Didn’t Plan is totally wonderful, for me the most fabulous aspect was the exploration of second chances, and of the realisation that what we think we want isn’t necessarily what we truly want  – or need. Reading Beth’s story helps the reader to reflect on their own life, assess their own priorities and give thanks for successes, however small they may be. This makes the story incredibly impactful and touching as well as funny and entertaining. 

The Life I Didn’t Plan is a cracking read. It made me laugh aloud, brought an occasional lump to my throat and held me captivated from start to finish. I cannot recommend it highly enough. And now I’m off to stick my bucket list on the fridge – or am I? 

About Charlotte Butterfield

A former magazine editor, Charlotte Butterfield was born in Bristol, England and studied English Literature at the University of London, and a Masters in Gender and Women’s Studies at Birmingham. She moved to Dubai by herself on a one-way ticket with one suitcase in 2005 and left for Rome twelve years later with a husband, three children and a 40ft shipping container. After four years in Italy working as a freelance journalist, living the dolce vita and eating tiramisu with every meal, she now lives in the Cotswolds teaching and writing.

Her first novel won a Montegrappa award at the 2016 Emirates Festival of Literature, and she went on to publish three romantic comedies before pivoting to high-concept women’s fiction with heart. Her second novel in this space, The Family Fix (previously You Get That From Me) was The Times Book of the Month upon publication, and later one of The Times Popular Fiction Books of the Year in 2023. She currently publishes with Avon at Harper Collins UK. Her novel, The Second Chance, has been optioned for film by a major Hollywood studio, and her next book, The Sister Switch (aka grown-up Parent Trap) was released in May 2025.

For further information, visit Charlotte’s website, or find Charlotte on Facebook and Instagram.

I’m a huge fan of Vaseem Khan, both as a writer and a fabulous human being. Consequently it was a real treat to catch up with Vas at my local literary festival and have him sign a copy of the first in his spin-off series from the Fleming James Bond books; Quantum of Menace. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Quantum of Menace today.

You’ll find other posts on Linda’s Book Bag featuring Vaseem here. 

Published by Zaffre, Quantum of Menace is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

Quantum of Menace 

Q is out of MI6 . . .

. . . and in over his head

After Major Boothroyd (aka Q) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6’s Double O agents, he is adrift, unsure of his place in a world where the stakes aren’t always life or death. But when he learns that his childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, Q is drawn back to his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. 

Frustrated by the police, who consider the case closed, Q is compelled to investigate, starting with a cryptic note Napier sent him on the day of his death. Q soon discovers that Napier’s ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . but can he decode the truth before danger closes in?

My Review of Quantum of Mencace

Recently ousted from MI6, Q is at a loose end. 

Having long been a fan of Vaseem Khan’s historical Malabar House series, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a James Bond spin-off as I’ve never read one of the original books. What I found was enough familiar reference to 007 to please any Bond fan, but without overwhelming or alienating those of us without any depth of knowledge. Quantum of Menace is a skilful and carefully crafted start to a series that I fully expect to be equally as popular as Fleming’s books. I loved it.

The plot is a belter. It romps along, blending mystery, science and organised crime with conventional policing, alongside intelligent sleuthing from Q. I must mention too the smashing wit threaded throughout and the variety of sentence structure that means tantalising hooks draw in the reader, making them desperate to know what happens next. There’s impressive insight into the world of quantum physics and espionage too so that Quantum of Menace is multi-faceted, providing something for any reader. 

Q is a brilliant creation as he is obsessive in believing his childhood friend Peter Napier was murdered and he has a strong sense of justice and what is right. At the same time, he’s more than willing to circumvent the rules, pull in favours or behave in an underhand manner. In effect, he’s human. I loved the potential for romance with Kathy; the woman Q spurned years before and am hoping that might develop in future books. Equally appealing is his upbringing, relationship with his father and the insight into why Q behaves and thinks as he does.

Indeed, Q has a marked sociological and emotional depth. Q’s understanding of Zak for example, illustrates how we all have potential and provides a subtle insight into immigration, single parent families and prejudice. I loved these emotionally intelligent asides to the main plot because they added depth and texture to Quantum of Menace. There’s also an unnerving gravitas beneath the lightness of touch. Big tech, cyber security, international threat and control, all bubble under the surface, echoing elements that we hear about every day so that there’s an unsettling authenticity to this romp of a book. 

Bridging the gap perfectly between gritty thrillers and cosy crime, Quantum of Menace is a triumph. Hugely entertaining, filled with both realism and surprise, this story is a real corker. It’s packed with drama, stylishly written and completely addictive. I thought it was absolutely excellent. 

About Vaseem Khan

 

Vaseem Khan is the author of two award-winning crime series set in India, the Baby Ganesh Agency series set in modern Mumbai, and the Malabar House historical crime novels set in 1950s Bombay. His first book, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020, and is translated into 16 languages. The second in the series won the Shamus Award in the US. In 2018, he was awarded the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Award for Literature. Vaseem was born in England, but spent a decade working in India. In 2021, Midnight at Malabar House won the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger, the world’s premier award for historical crime fiction. 

For more information about Vaseem visit his website, or follow him on X @VaseemKhanUK, Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook.

My enormous thanks to Alara Delfosse at Headline for sending me a surprise copy of The Sea Stone Sisters all those months ago. It’s my pleasure to share my review today. 

Already available in other formats, The Sea Stone Sisters will be released in paperback by Headline on 27th August 2026 and is available for purchase through the links here. 

The Sea Stone Sisters

Like the stones in their rings, the sisters were meant to stay together. 

Now they were scattered across the world.

1931. When Iris Blackmore’s father knocks down the Sisters of Skara standing stones, a dark shadow falls on her family that will echo down through generations. With their fortune lost, the four Blackmore sisters are scattered to the four winds, taking only the rings they inherited from their beloved mother.

Present day.  Grieving and adrift, Roz Chatton leaves her home in Australia, arriving in London with little other than her late mother’s ring. When she stumbles upon a painting of four ancient standing stones, she feels the past calling to her. Drawn to Scotland, Roz begins to unearth a long-forgotten mystery, and a secret that lies waiting for her within her mother’s ring …

Four lost sisters. An epic journey home. Will you follow?

My Review of The Sea Stone Sisters

When four sisters are abducted from Skara in c. 2800bc their father erects four standing stones in their memory and curses any who might remove the stones in the future.

The Sea Stone Sisters is a glorious book. It’s what might be termed a ‘proper story’ that draws in the reader and holds them spellbound. It truly has everything; there’s romance, history, society and travel all underpinned by a mystical thread that treads the line between superstition, magic and reality in a way that is breathtaking. I loved this story.

The plot is fabulous. As The Sea Stone Sisters is the start of a series, it is the eldest, Iris, who is the focal point with her 1930s narrative echoed by the present day timeline of Roz. There’s danger, strength and vulnerability for both women so that the strands of the past weave effortlessly between the two time frames, illustrating just how the past impacts the present. I was utterly entranced. I’m not going to spoil the story by saying what happens and I know it’s a cliche to say that I could not put this book down, but genuinely, I was desperate to be reading it every moment I could. 

I loved Iris. Whilst we are fed enough detail about her sisters Rose, Lily and Daisy to make them rounded and interesting and to make me desperate to read more about them in future books, in The Sea Stone Sisters it is Iris who really pulsates with life. Her fierce determination to keep her family together ironically sees her travel far and wide in settings that vibrate with detail and realism. The senses thrum through Iris’s experiences so that what she sees and experiences in Ceylon and Australia are very much part of who she becomes. Eleanor Buchanan’s eye for detail in transporting her readers to her settings is every bit as artistic as Iris’s skill in drawing and I felt as if I were walking alongside Iris. 

Equally, Roz is fabulous. Her difficulties are highly relatable in a world of coercive control and social media, so that she feels realistic. I adored the pull of Skara linking her to Iris and the past. There’s a convincing and compelling exploration of visceral DNA and memory that is just fascinating and the exploration of what constitutes home and belonging is sensitively expressed.  

I thought The Sea Stone Sisters was brilliant. I could not have enjoyed it more. It’s beautifully written, full of heart and the most perfect escapist read with sufficient reality to persuade even the most challenging reader. Just fabulous. 

About Eleanor Buchanan

After many years of travelling the world, Eleanor Buchanan has turned her hand to a brand-new series of enthralling stories that combine her passion for travel, her belief in the power of evocative love stories and her enduring fascination with the relationship between the past and the present. Now based in York, she still searches for wide horizons whenever she can.

For further information, follow Eleanor on Instagram.

My enormous thanks to Christian Lewis for sending me a copy of The Midnight Train by Matt Haig. I so loved Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library (reviewed here) that I was thrilled to receive The Midnight Train. It’s my pleasure to share my review today. 

You’ll also find my review of Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay alive here, and of his children’s book Evie in the Jungle here.  

The Midnight Train was published by Canongate on 21st May 2026 and is available for purchase in all good bookshops and online including 

The Midnight Train

When your life flashes before your eyes, what will matter most?

For Wilbur it was his time with Maggie, the love of his life. Their honeymoon in Venice. Before he threw it all away.

Years later, on the brink of his own death, a train arrives. It can take Wilbur back in time. To relive his most important moments. Soon he realises just how much he would have changed…

An adventure through time, The Midnight Train is a story of love and second chances, from the world of The Midnight Library.

My Review of The Midnight Train 

Wilbur’s life is flashing before his eyes.

What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book! 

Whilst The Midnight Train has echoes of The Midnight Library with the theme of life choices, the two books are totally separate and succeed brilliantly as a pair or in isolation. I loved The Midnight Library but The Midnight Train transcends my ability to review it. 

In order to give space to the importance of theme, the plot of The Midnight Train is, essentially, simple. When Wilbur dies his life literally flashes before his eyes as he is aboard a magical train with stops representing moments in his life. But that simplicity belies the profound, emotional and completely mesmerising story. I was transfixed throughout. 

Wilber is a total triumph. His death in his eighties comes at the end of a very successful business life as a bookshop owner. As the train takes Wilbur on his journey to eternity, we see him as damaged by his childhood, idealistic and intelligent and whilst flawed in his choices, capable of great love and of total selfishness. Indeed, he is what we all are; a mess of contradictions, successes and missed opportunities. The reader’s heart breaks for him over and over again. As a result, The Midnight Train hits right to the heart and soul of who we are.

Central to the story is the contradiction that is the all consuming love between Wilbur and Maggie that is simultaneously ignored as Wilbur erroneously chases the wrong priorities in his life. The reasons for this are sensitively and sympathetically explored at the same time as sparing Wilbur nothing when it comes to blame and fault so that it is impossible not to love him whilst wanting to shake him until his teeth rattle! 

With books at the heart of Wilbur’s life (until they aren’t!) The Midnight Library is partly a beautiful love letter to literature, to the power of reading and to the way books can transport us and fire our imaginations. Regardless of the rest of the fabulous narrative, book lovers will thoroughly enjoy discovering old literary friends and new ones alike. 

For me, what was so personally affecting was the glorious exploration of choice and chance, of the potential for redemption, for other potential lives despite the one we choose to lead, and the layered approach to dealing with love, grief, responsibility, commercialism, creativity and loyalty. What Matt Haig does so beautifully is to present these themes without judgment. Through Wilbur, the reader can reflect on their own lives with the effect that The Midnight Train has the potential to impact a reader’s destiny at the same time as watching Wilbur reflect on his own. This truly is a narrative of second chances and being true to ourselves. 

Reflective, restorative and utterly remarkable, The Midnight Train is absolutely brilliant. Read it merely as a diverting and entertaining story if you wish, but be prepared to have your whole life outlook shaped and enhanced by Matt Haig’s glorious writing. I could not have loved this more. It’s sublime. 

About Matt Haig

Matt Haig is the internationally bestselling author of the novels The Midnight Library, How to Stop Time, The Humans, The Radleys, children’s novel A Boy Called Christmas, and memoir Reasons to Stay Alive. His The Life Impossible, was published in summer 2024 and his latest book is The Midnight Train. His work has been translated into over fifty languages.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @matthaig1. Visit his website for further information and find him on Instagram.

My grateful thanks to Louise Court at Hodder for sending me a surprise copy of Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer. It’s my pleasure to share my review today.

Villa Coco is published by Sceptre on 9th June 2926 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

Villa Coco

A coming-of-age novel, a love story and a tale of life-enhancing friendship: Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer showcases his wit and warmth in this magical tale set amidst the Tuscan hills.

Broke and directionless, our young protagonist takes a job in the Italian countryside as the assistant to Lisabetta – better known to her friends as Coco – a strong-willed, wealthy aristocrat of great local renown.

Trained as an archivist, he thinks he’s been hired to catalogue the contents of the beautiful, crumbling mansion nestled in the green Tuscan hills. But what are his actual duties? Days are spent in a series of increasingly eccentric pursuits: entertaining an endless carousel of guests (from bohemian painters to elderly princesses to unnervingly handsome nephews), attending a funeral in order to make off with the urn, and aiding and abetting Coco’s great and final plan – to reunite with the lost love of her life before it’s too late.

As summer turns into autumn and the Italian countryside begins to work its magic, the secrets of Villa Coco and its inhabitants are slowly brought to light – and with them, an unforgettable story of the enduring power of friendship.

My Review of Villa Coco

A young man is going to discover more than a house of objects!

Villa Coco is such an accomplished novel and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought it was inspired that the ‘young man’ is mis-named from the beginning. As Giovedi he can become anyone he wants, leaving behind the disapprobation of his parents and finding his own identity. There’s a delicious irony that his true name is spoken once – when he finally accepts who he has become in his new identity.

The plot of Villa Coco is fascinating because it has a defined timescale for the young man’s stay with Baroness Lisabetta, or Coco, in order to catalogue the contents of her Tuscan home, and yet it has a fragmentary feel as stories are told and memories revealed that are not always as clear cut as they might appear. This has the effect of enhancing the experience the young man has, drawing in the reader. There’s an underpinning mystery too which leads to a wonderful resolution making for a hugely satisfying read. Add in the three part structure and Andrew Sean Greer draws on classical framing to create drama and attraction, especially as this first person narration reads like a confidential memoir making the reader feel an intimate affinity with Giovedi.

Equally convincing and skilful is the use of description. Reading Villa Coco truly immerses the reader in the landscape, eating eel or anchovies, and being controlled by the weather. It isn’t just the young man who finds insight and understanding, but there are so many references to art, history and culture woven in that the author makes the reader want to find out more, with the effect that the book lingers far beyond the final page. At the same time, none of these aspects ever leaves the reader alienated. Rather, they form a bond with Giovedi as he navigates the wilful nature of Coco and gets to grips with the Italian language.

And what a character Coco is. I adored her. As uncontrollable and changeable as the wind, she is also contrarily constant, loyal to her friends and, like us all, actually desperate for love and understanding, making her a kind if Everywoman. Her audacious reasoning for the inventory of her home is brilliant but I’m not spoiling the plot by telling you why!

Other characters too feel Shakespearean in nature with Ghazel every bit the humorous light relief at the same time as the wonderful Oscar is a kind of Greek chorus, leading Giovedi to the truth. And throughout, moral ambiguity adds layers to both character and plot.

From the endorsements for Andrew Sean Green’s writing I had expected high quality prose. I got it. I also got beauty, truth, humour and affecting themes as he explores sexuality, social expectation and convention as well as family, friendship and the glorious concept of carpe deum. Villa Coco makes the reader want to grasp every opportunity that comes their way. It’s entertaining, and filled with heart. I thought it was wonderful.

About Andrew Sean Greer

Andrew Sean Greer is the bestselling author of eight works of fiction, including the novel Less, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018. His latest novel, Villa Coco, comes on June 9th. Greer lives in San Francisco and Venice, Italy.

For further information, visit Andrew’s website.

My enormous thanks to lovely Annabel Kantaria for giving me a signed copy of You Lied First. I had meant to read and review You Lied First immediately, but this was at Capital Crime last year, my Mum was ill and then died shortly afterwards so sadly You Lied First has languished on my night stand ever since. However, it was so worth waiting for and I’m delighted finally to share my review.

You will find an interview with Annabel, writing as Anna Kent, here on Linda’s Book Bag.

Published by Harper Collins imprint HQ on 17th July 2025, You Lied First is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

You Lied First

Sara is about to spend a week in a villa with people she barely knows.

She’s been invited to join her daughter, Liv, her boyfriend and his parents on their holiday. She can’t say no. After what happened, she’ll jump at any chance to spend time with Liv.

She tries to be the perfect guest, and they seem like the perfect hosts. But something about the Forrest family isn’t right.

By the end of the trip, someone will be dead. Lies will bind the rest of them together. But who can lie the best?

My Review of You Lied First

Sara’s on holiday in Oman with her daughter, Liv, her boyfriend and his parents.

What a fabulous thriller. I loved You Lied First. 

The setting is wonderful. Oman is depicted in such an evocative way, through the souks and desert, the heat, the food and the markets, so that Annabel Kantaria truly transports her readers to her setting – especially when it is contrasted with the wintery landscape of the UK. There’s a real sense of affection for the Middle East that I found compelling. 

The plot is superb. It’s pacy, dynamic and enthralling. There’s an underlying tension and sense of menace from the beginning, but I didn’t foresee the pivotal event at all. Neither could I be certain how the narrative might finally resolve itself because the twisty and psychological skill in its execution was so accomplished. I found the entire narrative very exciting. It also had the effect of making me tense and it unsettled me. My sense of right and justice was challenged, but you must read You Lied First to see why! 

The characters and relationships are deliciously toxic but completely believable. I loathed Guy from start to finish. Through him, we are given a sensitive insight into controlling and coercive behaviour and we see the veneer of respectability that powerful men can exude. I loved the fact that he was called Guy as it hinted that any guy as charming as he is might have that negativity beneath the surface. He’s a kind of negative Everyman. That’s not to say that You Lied First contains misandry. Both Flynn and Sara’s estranged husband Michael are positive individuals. Rather, Guy is so well delineated that it’s impossible not to loathe him! 

There’s an intimacy from having just half a dozen characters. We get to know and understand them thoroughly. I thought it inspired to have Sara’s sections written in the first person as it forms a bond with the reader because they and Sara are usually outside the social sphere of the Forresters. There’s a Gatsby-esque hedonistic sense of social glitterati, especially with Celine’s personality that raises alarm bells. The way this strand of the novel unravels is superb. Even the teenagers Liv and Flynn feel rounded and realistic. 

Themes of parenthood, marriage, relationships, society, truth and manipulation weave through You Lied First. I lost count of the number of times I questioned what I might do in similar circumstances, so thoroughly did Annabel Kantaria draw me into the story. This is a narrative to give the reader pause for thought as well as to entertain them brilliantly. 

In case it isn’t entirely obvious, I thought You Lied First was fabulous. It’s elegantly written, cleverly plotted, packed with action and contains events, themes and characters that won’t be forgotten in a hurry. It’s a cracker of a book and not to be missed. 

About Annabel Kantaria

Also writing as Anna Kent, Annabel Kantaria became a published author when the manuscript for her first novel, Coming Home, won the Montegrappa Prize for First Fiction at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2013. It was published in 2015. You Lied First is her sixth book. 

Annabel lives in Dubai, UAE, with her husband.

You can follow Anna on Twitter @BellaKay and Instagram, find her on Facebook or visit Anna’s website for more information.

My enormous thanks to Beck Lewis for sending me a copy of Double Take in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Double Take today.

Double Take, part one in the Dead Ends series, was published on 10th April 2026 and is available for purchase here. 

Double Take

She did the right thing. Now she’s the problem.

When Esther Butler sees a man with a gun following a woman through the dark streets, she calls the police.

Minutes later, the man is dead.

The police fired the shot.

There’s just one problem.

No weapon is found.

Esther knows what she saw.

So why is her story falling apart?

As the investigation deepens, the truth starts to shift – and the evidence begins to point back at her.

DC Josie Kaminski, newly assigned to Leicester’s most overlooked police team, is tasked with finding the truth. But the more they dig, the less anything makes sense.

And the only witness they have… might be lying.

Or she might be next. 

My Review of Double Take

Esther has seen a man with a gun.

I’ll let you into a secret. I’m not a great fan of novels featuring police procedures, which just goes to illustrate how fantastic Double Take is as I thought it was brilliant. I’ll definitely be reading any  future books in the series.

The writing is razor sharp with short punchy chapters that propel the reader through the narrative. As those chapters became shorter and faster towards the denouement of the story, so my heart rate increased because the excitement level just kept elevating. I thought the direct speech was so good, as it felt natural and the contrast between Esther’s first person account and the rest of the book gave an extra edge. Was Esther a reliable narrator, or was she lying as the police thought? You’ll need to read Double Take to find out. 

As for the plot, it simply races along so that it’s impossible not to want to know what happens next. The strands of the story took me by surprise and I thought the way the narrative was constructed was sublime from start to finish. Indeed, the opening chapter made me so invested in Josie and so loathe Greg that I don’t think I’ve ever formed such strong opinions about character within four pages of a novel before.

I loved the characterisation. Esther intrigues and is the lynchpin of the narrative. She is a complex individual whose rashness is balanced by her intelligence. In addition, the police team is varied and wide ranging, with Beck Lewis exploring the hierarchy, rivalry and politics of policing as well as illustrating how investigations are conducted, so that as well as introducing individuals, there is a sense of another being – the whole team. This makes for fascinating reading and I loved the potential for future stories as I want to know more.

As well as captivating characters and a blisteringly good story, there are themes in Double Take that add layers and depth. I don’t want to spoil the story for others, but Beck Lewis weaves in such features as crime and justice, family, friends and relationships, the power of social media, domestic abuse, control, and PTSD. There are emotional and psychological aspects within the exciting story which give it extra impact so that this is intelligent as well as entertaining writing. 

I’m not sure what I was expecting from Double Take, but what I got was a fantastic read, packed with action surrounding vivid and wide ranging characters. I was drawn in from the very first page and resented any interruption to my reading of the narrative. Double Take is an absolute belter of a thriller and one I recommend completely. I thought it was fantastic.

About Beck Lewis

Beck Lewis, a writer who has spent most of her adult life immersed in stories, believes deeply that stories exist to connect people, to help us see the world through perspectives that are not our own.

She has spent years in writing groups, workshops, conventions, and creative spaces, learning both from established voices and from those taking their first steps. Just as importantly, Beck Lewis spends time around readers. Readers are at the heart of everything she does, because no writer exists in isolation. The relationship between writer and reader is a partnership built on trust, curiosity, and the shared love of stories.

For further information, visit Beck’s website and find her on Facebook and Instagram. 

My grateful thanks to Caitlin Raynor at Headline for sending me a surprise copy of The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. It’s my absolute pleasure to share my review today.

The Road to Tender Hearts was published by Headline imprint Mountain Leopard Press on 21st May 2026 and is available for purchase through the links here.

The Road to Tender Hearts

At sixty-three years old, million-dollar lottery winner PJ Halliday should be the happiest man in town – but everything in Pondville is another reminder of the child he lost, and the way his marriage fell apart.

So, when PJ hears that his high-school sweetheart, Michelle, is unexpectedly back on the market, there’s nothing stopping him driving straight to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community in Arizona to win her back.

But before he can hit the road, a spanner in the works: a tragic incident has suddenly left PJ as the only guardian of his estranged brother’s grandchildren.

Anyone else might be deterred, but it seems like the newly orphaned kids might enjoy the trip out of town. And PJ’s adult daughter, Sophie, has been roped in to help babysit.

There’s one final surprise passenger – Pancakes, a former therapy cat with a knack for predicting death, who recently turned up outside PJ’s home . . .

My Review of The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

PJ Halliday is about to find his life changing dramatically.

What a glorious book. I loved it.

The plot of The Road to Tender Hearts is, quite frankly, somewhat exaggerated and a bit bonkers at times but actually completely believable and totally absorbing. It’s fast paced and perfectly balanced between the most outrageous premise of the seemingly death dealing cat Pancakes, Luna’s obsession with her paternity and the sheer humanity of providing a family for those most in need of one. The initiating events are shocking and tragic, but whilst they introduce the theme of grief and lead to the creation of a dysfunctional group taking a road trip, they are never morbid and nor do they feel contrived. What Annie Hartnett provides for her readers is sheer entertainment that encompasses humour to sadness and everything in between. This is such fabulous writing.

I fell in love with PJ from the first moment and my goodness it was brilliant to have a middle aged man rather than a gorgeous hunk 30 something as the protagonist. I rarely make comparisons between books but I felt PJ was rather like an amalgam of Harold Fry, Ove and Don from The Rosie Project. He is, however, equally distinct and his own self too. He drinks, he’s had driving convictions, he’s often unintentionally reckless and irresponsible. He’s also generous, vulnerable, a dreamer and caring so that it is impossible not to want him to find Michelle and have his own happy ending.

I am not usually a great lover of children in fiction (or real life!) but here my heart was broken for Luna and Ollie because they are developed with conviction, realism and pathos. There is a moment between Luna and Sophie that will stay with me a very long time, but you need to read The Road to Tender Hearts to find out more. I didn’t so much want the children here to have a positive outcome, but NEED them to because I cared about them. More importantly is the understanding that the characters are ALL children, shaped by their past, their parents and their upbringing. Annie Hartnett teaches her reader not just about her characters, but about themselves in a supportive, funny and sensitive manner.

Whilst there is a physical road trip, the real road to tender hearts is an emotional journey, providing insight into the characters for the reader. However the greatest ‘journey’ is the level of understanding each person gains along the way. Wrapped in their own grief, Ivy, PJ and Sophie have lost sight of one another and themselves. They learn emotional honesty, compassion and connection as the adventure progresses. Here we see that real family may not be those with a genetic link at all.

I’m aware that this review is rather vague, but it’s so hard not to reveal crucial moments that a reader needs to discover for themselves. What I can say, totally unreservedly, is that The Road to Tender Hearts is a narrative that deserves spreading far and wide. It’s wonderful. It entertains. It’s funny and sad. It is packed with human understanding and written with skill to draw in the reader perfectly. I absolutely loved it.

About Annie Hartnett

Annie Hartnett is the author of three novels: The Road to Tender Hearts, Unlikely Animals and Rabbit Cake. Unlikely Animals was listed as one of the best books of 2022 by the Washington Post and BookRiot, and was long-listed for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. Rabbit Cake was listed as one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2017, was a finalist for the New England Book Award, and was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize.

Annie has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Annie co-runs Accountability Workshops for writers, helping writers commit to routines and embrace the long, slow, joyful, terrible process of doing the work. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog.

For further information, visit Annie’s website, and find her on Instagram.

My infinite thanks to the lovely Freya North for sending me a signed and dedicated copy of Spring at Flora’s House. Given that I adored Christmas at Flora’s House (reviewed here) I was thrilled to receive it. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Spring at Flora’s House today.

Spring at Flora’s House was published on 26th March and is available for purchase here.

Spring at Flora’s House

From the award-winning author comes an uplifting story of friendship, bravery and discovery.

Arriving on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland with swash and bluster, three young American students are set to run a marathon the islanders know nothing about.

At first, it seems the lads are more interested in partying. Gradually, however, their reasons for making this journey, for running this race, come to the fore. JB has an overbearing father to appease. Drew needs to find his feet in more ways than one. And Taylor has history here – his mother was born in Harris but left when she was a teenager, never to return. Hidden in his backpack are four old pieces of Harris Tweed with family secrets tightly woven through the iconic cloth.

It’s spring on the island; a time of renewal and growth, of sunshine and snow, for putting distance between the dark days of winter and the promise of summer. In the tiny holiday cottage on the windswept dunes, friendship, ambition and identity are put to the test. Is the race all about the finish line? What is it that these three are running from – and towards?

My Review of Spring at Flora’s House.

Three twenty-three year old American young men, JB, Drew and Taylor are heading to Harris to run a marathon.

Now, given that I adored Christmas at Flora’s House I was slightly anxious about Spring at Flora’s House. What if it didn’t live up to my expectations? Hmm. Maybe the question should be, ‘Why question the unique ability of Freya North to understand humanity, to make the reader love her characters and to transport anyone picking up her books to her location?’ Spring at Flora’s House is simply glorious.

What I adored here was being given an insight into the lives of three young men. So many books are from the perspective of 30 something women, but here we see the bravado, the impetuousness, the energy and, most importantly, the flaws and vulnerabilities of three close friends. They are magnificent. Physically they are on a journey, but emotionally and spiritually they travel the furthest in the remarkable setting of Harris and Flora’s House.

And what a setting it is. Freya North conjures the most glorious landscape. She made me determined to visit Harris and for those readers who can’t make it there, she gives such a vivid depiction that it’s as if you are actually there. The haunting surroundings, capricious weather, even the coos, all contribute to an achingly immersive sense of place that feels every bit as much a character as the people.

Speaking of people, whilst it isn’t remotely necessary to have read Christmas at Flora’s House to enjoy Spring in the same cottage, there is a real sense of coming home in encountering characters and places from the first book which feels so inclusive.

And coming home, community, friendship, finding oneself and deep, deep human understanding are themes that thread their way through the story in ways that resemble the soft and tickle of a Harris weave. Whilst the narrative might seem simple – three young men deciding to run a marathon in Harris – there is so much to discover alongside JB, Drew and Taylor.

I adored this novella. It’s beautifully written, evocative and immersive. I’d go so far as to say that Reading Spring at Flora’s House is balm for the soul. It re-establishes personal equilibrium not just for JB, Drew and Taylor, but for the reader too. Make sure you read it.

About Freya North

Freya North’s novels explore the emotions and complexities of everyday relationships and families. First published in 1996 with her ground-breaking debut Sally, Freya has written 15 further bestsellers including the highly acclaimed Little Wing and The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne. Translated into many languages, Freya won the Romantic Novel of the Year award for Pillow Talk and has been short-listed for others. A sense of place is central to Freya’s writing. Never a backdrop, always a leading character, locations featured in her novels include New England, France, British Columbia, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Norfolk, Freya’s own county of Hertfordshire and of course the Outer Hebrides.

Freya holds degrees in History of Art from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute, London. She lives on a small farm in Hertfordshire with her dogs, horses and sheep. She enjoys ceramic classes and road cycling and loves to connect with her readers.

For further information, visit Freya’s website, follow her on X @freya_north or find Freya on Instagram and Facebook.