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.

My enormous gratitude goes to lovely Tracy Rees for sending me a very early copy of her latest book, The Golden Feather, all those months ago. I’m delighted that it is finally time to share my review. 

As well as being one of the first authors I ever met, Tracy’s Amy Snow was one of the first books I ever reviewed on Linda’s Book Bag way back in 2015 and I have read and reviewed many of Tracy’s historical novels and her contemporary fiction over the years. You’ll find those reviews here. 

The Golden Feather is published by Ronnald Press on 4th June 2026 and is available for purchase here. 

The Golden Feather

Saul Bonnytop – penniless, uneducated and very, very old – has a secret dream: to enter the mighty Emperor’s storytelling competition. But the contest, to find the most marvellous tale in all the land, is out of reach for someone like Saul – until the arrival of a mysterious golden feather. Despite the impossible odds, Saul and his family embark upon the ultimate road trip, making an unlikely assortment of friends and a dangerous enemy. If Saul fails, the Bonnytops will return to poverty. If he succeeds, they’ll be in greater danger than ever. Saul’s journey is full of splendid tales told in grand halls – but his own quest might be the most remarkable story of all.

My Review of The Golden Feather.  

Being used to Tracy Rees’s historical fiction in particular, it took me a little while to attune to The Golden Feather because it felt so different and initially I was unsure if I’d enjoy it. However, I didn’t just enjoy the story of Saul et al, but I absolutely adored it. 

In effect (and magnificently given that this is a narrative about story-telling) elements of whatever genre of book a reader enjoys can be found between the pages of The Golden Feather. Drawing on the great traditions of oral story-telling, here we have fairy story and fable, romance and fantasy, a touch of horror and a great epic journey, quest and self-discovery, magic and rags to riches to name but a few. There really is an aspect of The Golden Feather that appeals to everyone. The layers of the story can be accessed and appreciated in many ways so that the narrative could be read simply as a magical adventure whilst simultaneously being a love letter to narratives, to life and to what makes community, friendship and humanity so special. The plotting is so deftly handled that there are some true surprises along the way. 

The characters in The Golden Feather are superbly created and the links between them are spun together in such a satisfying way that I found myself completely drawn into the circle of Bart and the Bonnytops. It’s simply wonderful that the aged, poverty-stricken Saul learns just as much about himself, others and what is important in life as does the initially brash, conceited Bart. Even the near-perfect Marralda learns something in the narrative, but you’ll need to read the book to discover what it is! This has the effect of avoiding cliche where the worst character simply learns to be a better person, and instead illustrates how all of us have the potential to change and grow, even if not all of us choose to do so. It gives realism amongst the magic and is a powerful and affecting combination.

More importantly, I feel, is the awareness that dawns on the reader. I found myself finding a childlike, but never childish, delight in rediscovering the power of story, of being drawn into an imaginary world where I had no idea how events might resolve themselves, but being able to relax in the wonderment of knowing they probably would. It’s no exaggeration to say that The Golden Feather is highly entertaining, captivating and compelling, but equally that it brings the most glorious joy to the reader. Having begun the first few pages unsure about the register of the story, I found myself ensnared in the magical quality of plot and authorial style. I could not draw myself away from the people between the pages. 

At the risk of being hyperbolic, I can honestly say that reading The Golden Feather restored my soul. I felt uplifted, as if I’d been privy to the innermost thoughts and actions of people I care about, and I closed the story with the most warm feeling of deep satisfaction. For those, like me, who usually eschew anything bordering fantasy (and there are fantastical aspects here), I urge you to put aside any preconceived opinions and read The Golden Feather. It’s an absolute gem!

About Tracy Rees

Tracy Rees was the first winner of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition. She has also won the Love Stories Best Historical Read award and was shortlisted for the RNA Epic Romantic Novel of the Year. A Cambridge graduate, Tracy had a successful career in non-fiction publishing before retraining for a second career practising and teaching humanistic counselling. She has also been a waitress, bartender, shop assistant, estate agent, classroom assistant and workshop leader.

Tracy is the bestselling author of ten published novels and is currently working on a historical trilogy for Quercus. She divides her time between beautiful south Wales and London. In her rare spare time, her interests include singing, walking, learning languages and film-making.

For further information visit Tracy’s website or find her on Instagram and X @AuthorTracyRees. 

It’s well over six months since a surprise copy of Every Lifetime After by Jennifer Ross dropped into my post box. My huge thanks to Rhiannon Morris at Harper Collins for sending it to me. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Every Lifetime After today.

I have previously reviewed one of Jennifer’s Jenny Ashcroft books, Echoes of Love, here.

Published in other formats by HQ in January 2026, Every Lifetime After is coming in paperback on 16th July and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

Every Lifetime After

Can they find each other in every lifetime after…?

Claudia is searching for her past.

Suffocating in the glamour of Hollywood, A-list star Claudia Baxter is desperate for an escape. But when she arrives at the Yorkshire estate of Doverley for her next project – an epic romance set in the throes of war – Claudia is astonished to find herself slipping into the story, into the life of her heroine, into time…

Iris can’t unsee her future.

Radio operative Iris Winterton sits in the grounds of Doverley on a moonless night, watching planes depart for Europe. Her stare is fixed on one plane in particular – inside is the man she has loved since childhood. But Iris already knows that this time he’s not going to come back, and she will be the reason why.

Together, can they complete their story?

Pulled together by the past and the future, Claudia and Iris begin to unravel the threads of their connection. But in doing so, will they discover a secret bigger than they could ever imagine…?

Discover this spellbinding time-slip romance, perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Paige Toon.

My Review of Every Lifetime After 

Actress Claudia (Claude) Baxter is playing the part of Iris Winterton in a movie.

What a wonderful, wonderful book. I don’t often read time slip novels but Every Lifetime After has made me an immediate convert to the genre. This isn’t a book that takes yet another well known character from history and transports them to a modern setting for a bit of a romp, but rather one that examines the impact of the Second World War on ordinary people and one which delves into the possibilities of different, congruent, echoing lives through a kind of string theory of connection in a soaring love story. I adored it.

The plot is fascinating, weaving in historical detail, a variety of relationships and an interconnected story that ensnares and mesmerises the reader. This is historical, romantic, mystery, psychological writing wrapped into one glorious narrative.

Reading Every Lifetime After isn’t always easy because the depth of emotion is profound. The reasons for the complex relationship between Claude and Nick are heart breaking. They illustrate the ways in which we truly can hurt the ones we love. The parental, authoritarian and societal control exerted over those in both the 1940s and 2018 timeframes indicate just how a simple moment might alter a whole lifetime and there are moments in the story that left me enraged by the interference in other people’s lives.

I thought the depiction of the two timeframes was perfect. The war setting of the airforce base at Doverley is vivid and clear so that I could picture the men flying off on raids and feel the anxiety of those awaiting their return as if I were there with Iris, Clare and Prim. Equally impactful was the way Jennifer Ross gave me insight into making a film in the modern spotlight of media intrusion. This thread is absolutely believable. There’s such a wonderful balance in the prose between historical and modern eras and I must comment on the brilliant variety of sentence structure in Every Lifetime After. Often the shortest of sentences or phrases have the greatest impact. 

The characters are so engaging. It’s impossible not to get to know Iris and Claude intimately because there are echoes of one life in another, with parallels that shift and reverberate in a gripping narrative. Every Lifetime After feels less like reading a novel and more like watching the ripples in a pool when a stone has been dropped into it. These ripples hold all manner of emotions for those involved, from guilt to grief, and pure love to jealousy and control, and because Jennifer Ross’s writing is so effective, it’s impossible not to feel those emotions deeply too. 

There’s huge sadness in Every Lifetime After, and I did shed a tear several times, especially for those who carry burdens they could have put down and forgiven themselves for years ago. However, it is also the most gloriously uplifting tale. Jennifer Ross shows that whilst we may make mistakes and life doesn’t always work out as we want, there is always hope. There are other connections and possible lifetimes that provide opportunity and joy as well as more difficult times. This is a very moving aspect to the story.

Every Lifetime After is a beautifully written narrative that completely transports the reader and I recommend it without hesitation. I was thoroughly entertained by the story, finding it immersive, tender and mesmerising. 

About Jennifer Ross

Jennifer Ross is the pseudonym for Jenny Ashcroft, author of the historical novels, including Secrets of the Watch House, The Echoes of Love, Beneath a Burning Sky and Island in the East. 

She previously spent much of her life living in, working in and exploring Australia and Asia and now splits her time between Australia and the UK.

For further information, you’ll find Jennifer on Instagram. 

I cannot thank enough Jess Barratt of Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of Body Of Lies by Jo Callaghan. I have adored this series and cannot believe Body of Lies is supposed to be the final book. I’m devastated and refuse to accept it! It’s my pleasure to share my somewhat inadequate review of Body of Lies today. 

You’ll also find my reviews of Jo’s In the Blink of an Eye here, of Leave No Trace here and of Human Remains here. 

Body of Lies is published by Simon and Schuster on 21st May 2026 and is available for pre-order here. 

Body of Lies

The brand-new thriller featuring DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock from the award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of In the Blink of an Eye.

Human suspicion. AI manipulation. Who can you trust when truth has no meaning? 

DCS Kat Frank returns to work at the Future Policing Unit after a tragic loss, only to find herself thrust into a new high-profile case. On the night of Halloween a local MP is found murdered, with a taunting message written in binary code that seems to target Kat specifically: Catch me if you can.

The victim’s anti-AI sentiments suggest a political motive, and as Kat investigates with her partner AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI detective – she finds herself once again battling her own prejudices about the technological future he represents. But when a cyberattack takes out the National Grid, Kat and Lock have to race against the clock to track down the hacker before thousands die.

Tangled in a web of suspicion and deception, Kat must choose who and what to believe when the truth seems to defy both instinct and logic.

Can she set aside her old doubts and put her faith in her AI partner one last time?

Or will this case send Lock down a path she just can’t follow – a path that will leave humanity behind for good?

My Review of Body of Lies

Kat’s got a new case on Hallowe’en.

I am at a complete loss to know how to review Body of Lies. I thought it was utterly fabulous. There are so many aspects to Jo Callaghan’s insightful writing that each book rewards multiple reads and Body of Lies is no exception.

Obviously plot is of supreme importance and in Body of Lies there is a breathtaking, gripping, terrifying (just choose your own superlative and apply it) story. The intriguing police procedural element is layered with aspects of national and international importance and has such resonance in today’s world that the real life potential of this fiction is unnervingly plausible. I cannot stop contemplating what happens, so that the effect of reading Body of Lies is profound. It’s impossible to review Body of Lies without spoilers, but I cannot stress strongly enough how good it is or how fitting the title is.

With Kat’s partner, Lock, being AI, the effects and implications of how we create, use and control AI all feature throughout the book and I adore Jo Callaghan’s skill in presenting both positive and negative aspects without steering the reader to one particular viewpoint. Body of Lies is a book that is intelligently written and not only entertains flawlessly, but that makes the reader think long after the final page is read. 

However, amongst a superb plot are themes of humanity that thrum with sensitive understanding, and affect the reader emotionally too. Kat’s PTSD following events in Human Remains, her ongoing grief at losing her husband, her desire to protect her adult son Cam as well as give him freedom and autonomy, her professionalism and strength as a DCS and her vulnerability, loneliness and compassion, all combine to make her a sublime character. Add in politics, national and international security, cyber attacks, trust, betrayal, zealousness and professional relationships, and Body of Lies transcends mere entertainment.

I realise this review is slightly vague as I really don’t want to spoil the story for others, but let me just say that Body of Lies is magnificent. It appeals to a wide range of emotions, and engages the reader completely. Indeed, I defy any reader not to shed a tear in reading it. Jo Callaghan is not only a sublime author, but her writing illustrates her as a superbly human individual who cares about her characters. Body of Lies is completely wonderful and not to be missed. 

About Jo Callaghan

Author photo courtesy of Edward Moss

Jo Callaghan works full time as a senior strategist, carrying out research into the future impact of AI and genomics on the workforce. She was a student of the Writers’ Academy Course (Penguin Random House) and was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Writing Competition and Bath Novel Competition. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019 when she was just forty-nine, she started writing In the Blink of an Eye, her debut crime novel, which explores learning to live with loss and what it means to be human. She lives with her two children in the Midlands.

For further information, follow Jo on Twitter/X @JoCallaghanKat  or find her on Instagram and Bluesky. 

My enormous thanks to lovely Louise Beech for sending me an early copy of her latest novel, Wonderful. I’ve been sitting on my review for ages and although it’s still rather early, I can’t wait any longer to share my thoughts.

Louise has featured here on Linda’s Book Bag many times both as Louise Beech and as Louise Swanson and I always love her books. 

Wonderful is published by Pick Lock on 1st June 2026 and is available for purchase here. 

Wonderful

A Hollywood idol. The Virgin Mary. An everyday girl from Hull.

Three women, three eras, surprising things in common…

On 4th August 1962, the night she should have died, Marilyn Monroe – the biggest star in the world – receives a visitor who changes the course of her destiny. The Virgin Mary appears in her kitchen with a curious message. Inspired, Marilyn abandons her home, her life, her fame, and disappears into the night…

Fifty-four years later, in a Hull kitchen, Flora Baker finds Mary, bathed in light. She has a similar message for the working class woman who is on the poverty line and dreaming of a better life. Flora begins to make changes that impact not only her life but the lives of those around her…

Do Marilyn and Flora have more in common than just Mary’s visit? Are they somehow linked across time? And is Mary’s message for all the women of the world?

Wonderful is about the way women are portrayed in both history and the world of celebrity, about women not being quiet, and about women united by the shared stories that shape them.

My Review of Wonderful

Three women mysteriously linked across time…

If I’m absolutely honest, I found the premise of Marilyn Monroe, the Virgin Mary and a poverty-stricken young woman from Hull, Flora, being linked in a narrative rather unlikely. I was wrong! Wonderful is exactly as the title suggests because Louise Beech brings her incredible skill in uniting them. I so enjoyed the plot and its resolution was incredibly deftly handled – but you need to read Wonderful to discover how!

Wonderful can be read on so many levels. Firstly there is the meticulously researched and brilliantly woven historical detail about the real person who was Marilyn Monroe. Like many who rely on what the media tells us, I thought I knew her, but I learnt so much from this story. Indeed, one of the points of the narrative is that we create ideas of others in our minds without truly understanding what has happened in a person’s life. This reality adds depth and credence to the ‘what if’ creativity that imagines what her life may have been like and who she might have become had she not died. On just this level the story is highly entertaining. 

A fine balance is presented between being an icon and universally accepted iconography making the events relatable and understandable. Wonderful explores how we create persona and image, how we find signs in everyday life and how reality and illusion are inextricably linked. I found this element of the narrative utterly fascinating. This is the kind of story that resonates long after it is read and makes the reader consider the world differently.

In contrast to Marilyn’s fame, Flora is totally ordinary. Her poverty, her difficult relationship with her mother and her closeness to Bella are the kinds of experiences any one of us could relate to. I thought her developing relationship with Neil was pitch perfect. As the story unfolds and we discover why Flora maintains a romantic distance from Neil, despite their obvious attraction to one another, the emotional impact of the story deepens. 

And there is huge emotion in Louise Beech’s writing and I did shed an occasional tear as I read. One of the most affecting messages of the book is that fame does not equate to happiness. Equally important and emotionally resonant is the manner with which women – and young girls – are treated by those with power over them, how they can be used and abused and how their experiences affect the remainder of their lives. 

But although this might sound rather bleak, Wonderful is a fabulous example of how we can transcend our origins, the traumas of our past and the expectations of others. The book celebrates women for themselves, not who others want them to be. There is vulnerability and mental and emotional struggle, but there is also friendship, strength and true beauty. Wonderful shows how we can change not only our own lives, but the lives of others too. There’s a profound understanding of the power of love. 

With its magical and spiritual element of the Virgin Mary set alongside two women at the opposite ends of the fame and fortune spectrum, Wonderful takes the reader on an emotional journey that is affecting, entertaining and, actually, unforgettable. Once you’ve read Wonderful, you won’t want to be quiet about it! I loved it. 

About Louise Beech

Louise Beech is the author of nine novels and a memoir, Eighteen Seconds (2023). Her debut, How to be Brave, was a Guardian Readers’ Pick; The Lion Tamer Who Lost was shortlisted for the Romantic Novel Awards 2019 and longlisted for the Polari Prize that same year; Call Me Star Girl was Best magazine’s Book of the Year; This Is How We Are Human was a Clare Mackintosh Book Club pick; and audiobook Daffodils shortlisted for the Audies23. Wonderful, which imagines if Marilyn Monroe had lived, is released on Marilyn’s 100th birthday, 1st June 2026. Louise’s dystopian thrillers, End of Story and Lights Out, are written as Louise Swanson.

You can follow Louise on Twitter @LouiseWriter, find her on Facebook and Instagram and visit her website for further information.

My enormous thanks to Lily Birch at Faber for sending me a surprise copy of Kiss Marry Kill by Yemi Dipeolu. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Kiss Marry Kill today.

Published by Faber on 23rd April 2026, Kiss Marry Kill is available for pre-order here.  

Kiss Marry Kill

It’s Ife’s dream wedding – until her new husband Ade is arrested for murder.

His missing ex, Cynthia, has been found dead on the Dorset coast.

Case closed: it’s always the ex, right?

But did Ade kiss, marry – and kill? One person hopes the truth never comes out.

My Review of Kiss Marry Kill

Ife and Ade’s wedding reception is interrupted by the arrival of the police to arrest Ade on suspicion of murder.

It’s quite hard to believe that Kiss Marry Kill is Yemi Dipeolu’s debut as it is a captivating and assured thriller that I thought was excellent. There’s a smoothness to the writing that means the narrative flows brilliantly, with a hint of independent narrator behind it. The effect is to create a kind of intimacy with the reader so that they feel part of the events.  

The plot is perfectly crafted, with Ife’s present day life interspersed between the events in the 12 weeks leading up to Cynthia’s disappearance, giving a taut and manipulative story that has the reader guessing who might be responsible for that disappearance and making them vacillate in their suspicions with every nuance, conversation and detail. Yemi Dipeolu is so skilled in drawing in her reader. 

I loved the claustrophobic use of limited characters in Kiss Marry Kill too because it creates an intensity. As the personalities of Cynthia, Ade, Mark and Ife are gradually uncovered there are moments that truly take the reader by surprise. Indeed, it’s character that is the lynchpin for this book.  I don’t want to spoil the read for others, but nature and nurture, coercive control, love, obsession, family, friendship, self-delusion, and jealousy are just a few of the themes that manifest themselves through the people here. Each person, even the victim Cynthis, is flawed but is understandable and real. They all have the ability to fool others and themselves. I loathed Mama and felt I couldn’t trust anyone in the story. This added to the suspense and drama, making for a gripping read. 

I am aware I have been a little vague in my review of Kiss Marry Kill, but it’s so tautly written that I am terrified of giving too much away. I thought Kiss Marry Kill was a fabulous debut thriller and I thoroughly recommend it. Equally, I have a feeling that Yemi Dipeolu is going to be a name to watch. 

About Yemi Dipeolu

Yemi Dipeolu is a British-Nigerian writer from South East London. She studied English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Surrey and has an MFA from Kingston University. By day, Yemi works as a copywriter, using her passion for storytelling to help businesses connect with their customers. In her fiction, she blends her two favourite genres, crime and romance, to create character-driven thrillers with relationships at their centre. Kiss Marry Kill is her first novel.

For further information about Yemi, follow her on Instagram.

I’ve been meaning to read Philippa East for years, so I was thrilled when I’ll Never Tell turned out to be this month’s U3A book group choice. I’m delighted to share my review of I’ll Never Tell today. 

I’ll Never Tell was published by HQ on 5th January 2023 and is available for purchase here.

I’ll Never Tell

Keep your family close, and your secrets closer…

To the outside world, the Goodlights are perfect.

Julia is a lawyer, Paul a stay-at-home dad who has dedicated his life to helping their daughter Chrissie achieve her dreams as a talented violinist.

But on the night of a prestigious music competition, which has the power to change everything for Chrissie and her family, Chrissie goes missing.

She puts on the performance of a lifetime, then completely disappears. Suddenly every single crack, every single secret that the family is hiding risks being exposed.

Because the Goodlights aren’t perfect. Not even close.

My Review of I’ll Never Tell

Chrissie is in a prestigious music competition.

I’d heard good things about Philippa East’s writing, but until I read I’ll Never Tell I didn’t appreciate just what an accomplished and gripping writer she is. I thought I’ll Never Tell was excellent. It sounds slightly bizarre or even patronising to say I felt in safe hands because I thought the author’s narrative style felt authentic and authoritative but I’m not sure how else to articulate the way this fast paced plot felt so convincingly constructed.

The plot is claustrophobic and often enraging because so often the characters behave dreadfully. They are selfish, reckless, controlling and delusional. Frequently I wanted to shake Paul and Julia until the truth dropped out of them and to make them realise the harms they were causing Chrissie, one another and themselves. With Chrissie as the catalyst of the action, it felt perfect that her point of view was never directly presented in the alternating chapters belonging to Paul and Julia whose own machinations cause them to lose sight of reality and truth, and indeed, of themselves. The structure of the book reflected perfectly the content of the narrative.

Indeed. I thought the pendulum swing of chapter viewpoints was really clever as it seemed both to echo the beat of a metronome in keeping with the musical theme as well as the ticking of a timebomb’s clock as all the secrets and lies of the Goodlight family gradually become exposed. I found the plot gripping and compelling. 

The psychological aspect of I’ll Never Tell is sophisticated, unnerving and brilliantly crafted. Although I guessed a couple of aspects from Julia’s early life, I was never completely certain who could be trusted, who was to blame and how the narrative might be resolved. The title is inspired because it represents the way characters withhold secrets from one another, but also from themselves.

The themes woven into the psychological strand are fascinating. Class and social status, coercion and control, dependence and a variety of forms of abuse including drugs and alcohol, family dynamics, nature and nurture, talent and vicarious living – all have a cadence like Chrissie’s playing – they are spellbinding. As a result, I’ll Never Tell is a book that keeps the reader completely engaged, often unsettled and totally absorbed. 

I thought I’ll Never Tell was terrific. I thoroughly, thoroughly, enjoyed it and recommend it unreservedly. 

About Philippa East 

Philippa East grew up in Scotland and originally trained as a Clinical Psychologist. Her debut Little White Lies was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Award, and she has since published three further psychological thrillers. Philippa lives in Lincolnshire with her spouse and cat, and alongside her writing continues to work as a psychologist and therapist. A Guilty Secret is her fourth novel.

For further information, you can find Philippa on Bluesky. She is also on Facebook.

It was back in October at the smashing Romance Writing Festival in Bournemouth that lovely Bella North gave me a copy of Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World and I’m delighted to share my review today.

Published on 25th September 2025 Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World is available for purchase here. 

Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World

Romance readers aren’t just readers.

We’re emotional athletes and trope-identifying, banter-craving queens.

Part love letter, part romance novel celebration, part unapologetic power move—this manifesto is for anyone who knows that a happy ever after isn’t silly…
It’s sacred.

Proud to love love? This is your official crown. Wear it well!

Warning: May cause excessive swooning, emotional validation, and uncontrollable urges to recommend romance novels.

My Review of Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World 

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

I loved this little book – from its vibrant pink cover, through the illustrations to the opportunity to read the opening of Bella’ North’s novel Score to Settle.

There is such a lot of snobbery about romantic fiction that Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World is the perfect book to present a counter argument. Everything I’ve ever thought about the genre is explained with humour, intelligence and total sassiness that celebrates the romantic fiction genre and the millions of readers who enjoy it. It’s huge fun and I found myself laughing aloud on several occasions.

However, whilst it can be read as a light-hearted exploration of its genre, Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World has considerable depth too – just like the romantic fiction so many eschew, erroneously believing it has no intellectual acuity. Bella North explores with aplomb the qualities of the genre. She examines the right way to live; here you’ll find emotional intelligence, a means by which corrupt public figures might better behave, a wealth of humanity, connection and cooperation. If everyone took the lessons from romantic fiction that Bella North examines in Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World, the world would be a much, much better place!

If you’re a lover of romantic fiction then Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World will make you feel seen and give you a heart-warming joyous sense of belonging. If you’re one of those readers who’ll never pick up a romantic book or read something with a pink cover – try Why Romance Readers Should Rule The World. You’ll find out what you’re missing and you might be very surprised!

About Bella North

Bella North writes spicy sports romances with equal parts heart-racing chemistry and heartfelt emotion.

Her debut series, Oakwood Ranch, introduces readers to the sizzling lives of three gorgeous brothers who play for the NFL, blending the thrill of the game with the heat of romance. Book one, Score to Settle, and book two, Game Over, are out now!

When she’s not writing, Bella enjoys walking her dog or hitting the gym and dreaming up new swoon-worthy stories.

For further information follow Bella on Instagram and find her on Facebook and Bluesky.

I have been sorting through my Google docs only to find this review of Estella’s Fury by Barbara Havelocke that has been sitting there waiting for months! It’s my pleasure finally to share my review today and my thanks go to Kate at Canelo for sending me a copy of Estella’s Fury all those months ago.

You will find my review of the first book in the series, Estella’s Revenge, here. 

Estella’s Fury is out now in hardback and is coming from Hera in paperback on 14th May 2026. It is available for purchase through the links here. 

Estella’s Fury

Daughter. Murderer. Saviour.

London, 1835.
To high society, Estella is the perfect lady. But her fair face hides dark secrets. What has she done with her husband? And will her past crimes come back to haunt her?
Desperate to escape her troubled life, she visits her friend, Lady Taykall. But when a servant girl disappears, Estella stumbles on a horrifying web of crimes and feels the old fire for vengeance burning inside her.
To mete out her own brand of dark justice she must risk everything.
Even if it means she cannot survive.

My Review of Estella’s Fury

Estella is taking back control of her life and her marriage to Bentley Drummle.

I absolutely loved Estella’s Fury. Although it is the second book in the series after Estella’s Revenge, it works perfectly well as a stand alone read, but is all the more enjoyable if the first book has been read too. Equally, although Estella is based on Dickens’s character Estella from Great Expectations and there are delicious references and characters from that book and Oliver Twist threaded through this narrative, there is absolutely no need to have any knowledge of those stories. Estella’s Fury is a feminist mystery thriller that grips the reader regardless of their previous reading experiences. 

Estella is an absolute triumph as a character, not least because of her first person narrative and internal dialogue. As she examines her own personality, she draws in the reader as if she is speaking confidentially to them. This makes the reader feel totally immersed in the story. I thought the way nature and nurture is in conflict in Estella’s personality was brilliantly handled by the author. It is intriguing and not a little unsettling how someone who is, essentially, a murderer, incites such understanding, empathy and approbation in the reader. Despite the darkness of her flawed character, Estella remains appealing, enthralling and mesmerising throughout because her methods might not be those we would use, but her reasoning behind her actions is irrefutable. 

The early 1800s are depicted to perfection. The strata of society explored show that social status is not an indicator of social morality and conscience. Without wishing to spoil the plot, what I found so impactful about Estella’s Fury was the way in which it is totally believable for its era and setting, and yet completely modern in theme. What happens in this book is still occurring in modern society. As a result, Estella’s Fury not only entertains the reader but becomes their fury too. This is powerful writing.

The story is packed with twists and turns so that I found myself enthralled by events. Estella’s Fury is a book that made me exclaim aloud and I was actually rather in awe of the way Barbara Havelocke manipulated me and her characters! The pace is fast, the action compelling and the ending perfectly pitched between resolution and potential future stories. 

Estella’s Fury is brilliant because it can be read and enjoyed on so many levels. I could not have enjoyed it more and I recommend it without reservation. Don’t miss it!

About Barbara Havelocke

Barbara is an international bestselling author, whose books have topped Amazon and Kobo, and also appeared on the USA Today chart.

She creates dark, tense Gothic historical thrillers set in the early Victorian era. Estella’s Revenge was nominated for the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2025.

For over twenty years Barbara wrote for and edited national magazines and newspapers, talking to victims of crime – and its perpetrators. Her fiction reflects this: she creates realistic characters, and often explores moral grey areas.

Barbara is also an artist specialising in animals and nature. She lives in Birmingham, UK, with her partner and their three rescue dogs.

You can find out more about Barbara by visiting her website and following her on Twitter/X @BCopperthwait. You’ll also find Barbara on Instagram and Facebook.