My huge thanks to Becky Hunter for sending me a surprise copy of The Last Page Café by Kate Storey. With Kate’s The Memory Library (reviewed here) one of my books of the year in 2024, I was thrilled to receive it. It’s my pleasure to share my review of The Last Page Café today.

The Last Page Café will be published by Avon on 12th March 2026 and is available for pre-order through the publisher links here. 

 The Last Page Café

Sometimes the last page is just the beginning…

At fifty-four, Erin McRae feels like she’s been living in the margins of her own story. Ever since she inherited her late mother’s café, The Bookmark, she’s been stuck in a comfortable routine. Her greatest escape is the mismatched book club she founded, bound together by one unusual rule: they choose their next book based solely on the last page.

But when the book club discusses what their own last pages might say, Erin and her fellow members begin to see their own lives in unexpected ways. As the club’s discussions grow deeper, long-buried secrets surface, old wounds start to heal, and romance leaps off the page. With The Bookmark under threat of closure, Erin must ask herself: can she write herself a happier story?

My Review of The Last Page Café

The book club members in Erin’s café always read the final page of a book first.

What a wonderfully charming and entertaining book. I really loved The Last Page Café – even if the concept of reading the final page of a book first almost brought me out in hives!

There’s a realistic and gentle plot that encompasses events that feel familiar and relatable. That’s not to say that there isn’t drama, but it’s so good to find situations that belong to real people so that there is balance and engagement in a really well told story. Reading The Last Page Café makes you feel as if you’re in safe, competent hands.  

And what real people there are between the pages of The Last Page Café. I thought the intensity of the book group members worked brilliantly, and I found myself wondering how they all were getting on when I wasn’t reading about them. The balance of ages from younger Jack and Riley through the middle years of Erin and Adam to the more mature Joe meant that there was almost a Shakespearean seven ages of man presented providing a character for any and every reader. The sense of community they engender and the manner with which Adam’s inclusion initially threatens the balance of the book group seemed absolutely realistic.

And it’s a sense of community and inclusion that runs through this narrative like a shining, golden thread. Kate Story illustrates how looking out for others, but equally caring about ourselves, ensures a better life for all. There’s a vivid and inspiring sense of belonging that shows how, together, we can be greater than the sum of our parts.  I thought the way the author explored Erin’s insecurities through her early prickliness towards Adam, her desire to maintain the status quo at all costs and her desperate need for control (hence reading the final page of a book first), gave true insight into humanity and why others behave as they do on occasion. As the story progresses, there’s a real sense of growth for the characters, making for a really satisfying narrative.  There’s also a dramatic impact on the reader as Kate Storey gently nudges them to consider their own attitudes towards the status quo. 

The other themes feel just as accessible and interesting. The contrast between confident public persona and private insecurity, the way we can be too quick to judge others, that what constitutes family may not equate to blood lines, and the way change can be a catalyst for positivity as well as threat, all combine into a story that speaks right to the heart of who we are. If it doesn’t sound contrived or cliched, reading The Last Page Café made me feel as if I belonged too so that I found the story hugely inspirational. 

Wise, heart-warming and uplifting, The Last Page Café is the perfect counterbalance to a challenging world. It’s entertaining, certainly, but also inspiring and I thought it was a gorgeous read that will stay with me. 

About Kate Storey

Kate Storey started her career teaching English and Drama, and when she had her family, combined all three to write novels about family drama. Originally from Yorkshire, she now lives in a London suburb with her husband and two teenage daughters, so expects there’s plenty more drama to come.

Also writing as Lisa Timoney, you can find out more about Kate by visiting her website, finding her on Facebook and Instagram or following her on Twitter/X @LTimoneyWrites.

My enormous thanks to Emma and/or Katie at EDPR for sending me a copy of What Really Happened To Me? by Ellie Barker. It’s my pleasure to share my review of What Really Happened To Me? today.

Published by Vinci and available here in e-book, What Really Happened To Me? is out in paperback on 23rd April 2026, and available for pre-order here.  

What Really Happened To Me?

Sometimes losing everything is the only way to find yourself.

Grace Leven seems to have it all―CEO of a national TV channel, a picture-perfect family and a life others envy. But behind the glossy façade, cracks are forming. Her career is on the line, her marriage has crumbled and her best friend has disappeared.

Lost and alone, Grace stumbles upon the Strawberry House Hotel, a haven in the idyllic Strawberry Village. Here, surrounded by a community that values truth and connection over social media perfection, Grace begins to ask the one question she’s been avoiding: What really happened to me?

Heartwarming, empowering and beautifully reflective, What Really Happened to Me is a story for every woman who’s ever wondered if there’s more to life.

My Review of What Really Happened To Me?

Grace Leven is at the top of her game. Until suddenly – she isn’t.

Oh my word. I could not have enjoyed What Really Happened To Me? more. I thought it was wonderful.

The plot of What Really Happened To Me? is relatively simple. A wealthy, successful woman finds herself ousted from her job, with her marriage failing and her best friend ignoring her. She’s estranged from her daughter and Grace finds that having been interviewed as a total success, instead she is a total failure. Or is she? As events progress Grace comes to learn what success really means and what is important in her life. It’s quite possible to read What Really Happened To Me? as a light and thoroughly entertaining romantic story. 

That description of the story may seem mundane, but don’t be fooled. Ellie Barker grasps her readers and shakes them up. The experience of reading What Really Happened To Me? and what each reader gets out of the narrative will depend on their own experiences. The author leads both Grace and reader on a journey of self discovery that is utterly inspiring, empathetic and completely uplifting. There’s a fascinating (and infuriating) insight into the world of television. There’s a realistic expiration of sexism in the workplace. Equally entertaining and compelling is the understanding of how marriage and family, self-awareness, grief and guilt affect us all so that What Really Happened To Me? feels like a beacon of light as well as a brilliantly entertaining story.

I adored the settings of Strawberry Village and Strawberry House. Reading What Really Happened To Me? gave me every bit as much of a break from life as Grace experiences. There’s a further setting later that is simply beautiful but I won’t spoil that discover for others!

The people are glorious. I thought naming the protagonist Grace when her life suddenly has a total fall from grace was inspired. Equally, Grace learns what it means to behave gracefully, to be kind to others and to accept and deal with the vagaries of life. At 53, Grace has a coming-of-age experience that is presented with understanding and emotion. Obviously it is Grace who develops the most during the story, but there’s a fabulous gradual revealing of so many others too. Penelope Fanshaw in particular felt quite perfect. She’s spiky, rude and abrupt, but she’s also vulnerable, self-aware and redemptive so that I was utterly convinced by her. Of course, I was every bit as much in love with Harvey as everyone else!

Indeed, other than Eric who brought out the worst in me by making me want to cause him physical and financial damage, I found a kernel of joy, hope and understanding in all the characters which made me reassess those I know in real life too. What Really Happened To Me? gave me permission to be myself, to understand not only Grace et al, but to find compassion for my own frailties and the strength to do something about them. 

Warm, wise and wonderful, What Really Happened To Me? is a glorious book. It deserves to be returned to time and again in those darker moments where we feel all hope is lost and we to be uplifted. I’m putting this one straight on my list of books of the year!

About Ellie Barker

Ellie Barker is a television journalist, author, and host of The Next Chapter podcast. Ellie started as a runner in TV, just like Rosie in The Pink Coffee Shop. Does the camera really lie? With more than 25 years in the industry, Ellie knows.

When she’s not being dazzled by those TV lights, Ellie writes contemporary romance novels, or “Fiction Therapy,” as she calls it. The Pink Coffee Shop, The Juggle, and The Secrets of the Coffee Club are all set in the fictitious Cherry Blossom Park in Bristol—the city where Ellie lives with her journalist husband, sons, and dog, Cookie.

When Ellie’s not holding a microphone or collecting socks, she loves to write warm, uplifting fiction with lots of love and hope. All her books feature a therapist (hence the Fiction Therapy), based on her lifelong fascination with mental health. And be warned: after years of reporting on some of the not-so-fair parts of life, only happy endings are allowed.

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

I’m not entirely sure if it’s Poppy North or Kimberley Nyamhondera to whom I owe thanks for a surprise copy of So, I Met This Guy… by Alexandra Potter, but I was delighted to receive it and it’s my pleasure to share my review today. 

So, I Met This Guy… was published by Pan Macmillan on 29th January 2026 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

So, I Met This Guy…

So, I Met This Guy . . .

Well, isn’t that how every love story starts? But how does it end – a happily ever after? Or with the discovery that the supposed love-of-your-life has stolen your life savings and your home, trashed your heart and demolished your self-esteem?

Maggie is barely fifty years-old, and she’s not one to give up on herself. So when she meets Flick, a young reporter who realizes this story could be the big break she’s been looking for, they set off to catch him as he goes on the run across Europe. After all, she’s got nothing left to lose, right?

But as the pair embark on the road trip of their lives, unexpected twists, hidden secrets and hard truths are revealed. And as an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, they realize it’s not just about finding the guy, it’s about finding themselves . . .

 My Review of So, I Met This Guy…

Middle aged Maggie is on her uppers when she teams up with young, ambitious local reporter Flick.

Now, I confess that So, I Met This Guy… was absolutely not the book I was expecting. I had anticipated a funny and entertaining, somewhat frothy story, with little real depth. How wrong can you be? Yes, So, I Met This Guy… has a super range of humour from almost slapstick moments to really witty dialogue and I did indeed laugh aloud. But it has so very much more too. 

Firstly, there’s a terrific sense of place which makes So, I Met This Guy… almost a travelogue at times. As Maggie and Flick travel across Europe the reader is transported to each place they visited. Food, weather, scenery, language, art and culture blend into a vivid and enchanting read. Add in a fast paced, twisting plot with plenty of surprises and So, I Met This Guy… is a real winner.

Then there’s the superb characterisation. Whilst there are several secondary characters met along Maggie and Flick’s journey, there’s a real intensity to their burgeoning friendship so that we get to know them intimately. I adored the way they progress, adapt and emerge as warm, living, beings. Maggie in particular has such a realistic development, so that any woman in her middle years will cheer her on. Flick also grows into her persona in an authentic manner. These are not merely fictional stylised women on stereotypical ‘journeys’ but they are portrayed with warmth, wit and understanding. As for Birdy – she’s magnificent. Her addition to the narrative gives a broad spectrum triumvirate as the three women encompass a wide age range, varied personal circumstances and brilliant balance of naivety and knowledge. I loved them all.

As for Theo – I think I have rarely hated a character quite as much. Alexandra Potter depicts him with such authenticity that I was desperate for him to get his comeuppance. Whether that happens, you’ll have to find out by reading So, I Met This Guy…. Rory feels so real too. He’s no villain like Theo, but he’s very much the kind of chap who could be living next door or married to your best friend, giving a sense of reality and additional credibility.

But it is the themes of So, I Met This Guy… that make the read so compelling. Obviously it is a narrative about romance fraud which is entertaining and interesting in its own right. In addition, Alexandra Potter explores just what effect that can have. The loss of money, possessions and livelihoods is impactful enough, but through Maggie we see just how self-worth, confidence and self-reliance are decimated by fraudsters like Theo. With friendship, love and trust underpinning the action, So, I Met This Guy… becomes so much more than the light hearted beach read I was expecting. 

I really loved So, I Met This Guy…. It’s fast paced, fun and fabulous and I can recommend it unreservedly. Don’t miss it!

About Alexandra Potter

Alexandra Potter is the bestselling author of numerous romantic comedy fiction novels in the UK, including One Good Thing and Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, one of the bestselling books of 2022 and 2023 and the basis of a major TV series. These titles have sold in twenty-eight territories and achieved worldwide sales of more than one million copies, making the bestseller charts across the world.

Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lived for several years in LA before settling in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she’s not writing or travelling, she’s getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life.

For further information visit Alexandra’s website, find her on Facebook or follow her on Instagram.

Regular Linda’s Book Bag visitors will notice far fewer posts this year as I begin to step back from posting to deadlines and head to my 65th birthday. However, as my poor sight meant I was a later reader because I had no idea those blurry black smudges had form and meaning, I simply had to take part in today’s announcement as part the National Year of Reading. Books offer so much joy and escape but so many of our potential young readers are missing out. It’s my pleasure to share the following press release provided by Midas PR.

London, Monday 2 February 2026. Bookshop.org is bringing back its charitable initiative Read It Forward for a third year in a row, in partnership with BookTrust and Scottish Book Trust. Once again in February 2026, 10% of every children’s book sale (including pre-orders) will be donated to the charities, while also supporting independent bookshops.

Top children’s authors will once again throw their support behind the charitable drive, with the 2026 ambassadors confirmed as: children’s author of the Fairytale Woods series and star of film, television and stage Ben Miller; former Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho; and Gill Sims, author of hugely successful parenting blog ‘Peter and Jane’ and of the YA novel Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood.

Ben Miller, Joseph Coelho, Gill Sims

The aim of the initiative is to inspire a love of reading in the next generation, with the money raised going towards BookTrust and Scottish Book Trust’s work in supporting children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds.

This year, Read It Forward takes place in the context of the National Year of Reading, the nation-wide campaign to encourage people of all ages to read for pleasure. The campaign is a response to declining reading enjoyment among young people and aims to increase literacy, boost wellbeing, and build a culture where “reading is for everyone”.

Last year, Read It Forward raised money to support over 1,550 families, bringing books to children who need them the most, and received incredible support from ambassadors Alexander Armstrong, Catherine Rayner, Andy Day, Serena Patel, and Nadine Aisha Jassat, as well as authors, illustrators, publishers, influencers and beyond, including Adam Kay, Jessie Burton, Tim Harford, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Robin Stevens, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Abi Elphinstone, Christopher Edge and many more backing the initiative on their channels.

Customers are encouraged to place their pre-orders for some of the biggest children’s titles for the first half of 2026, including the highly anticipated Volume 6 and final instalment of the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman, The Last Wolf by Rob Biddulph, Evenfall: The Tempest Stone by Alexander Armstrong, Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and The Long Way Home by Holly Bourne, to name a few.

Ben Miller said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of Read It Forward. Anything that helps children discover the joy of stories — and supports our wonderful independent bookshops at the same time — is worth shouting about from the highest rooftops. In my books, I try to celebrate the old magic of fairytales: the spark that lights up a child’s imagination and, if we’re lucky, keeps burning right through adulthood. This campaign is such a brilliant reminder that we all have a part to play in keeping that magic alive. I’m also delighted to be teaming up with Bookshop.org, whose mission to help local bookshops thrive online is something I wholeheartedly believe in. And what better time to support such a brilliant drive than with the National Year of Reading just upon us?”

Joseph Coelho said: “Reading for pleasure broadens horizons and enables us all to learn more about ourselves and each other. When you pick up a book you don’t know where it’s going to take you, or the person you will be when you put it down. It is every child’s right to read for pleasure and to have the opportunity to find those books that can profoundly change their lives or just let laugh out loud. I’m so excited to be an ambassador for Read It Forward this year. Scottish Book Trust and BookTrust do wonderful work to get books into the hand of those who need them the most, so I encourage book buyers to get behind this brilliant charity drive this month.”

Gill Sims said: “I’m thrilled to be one of the ambassadors for Read It Forward 2026. After writing my first book for young adults, I’m especially passionate about making sure that teenagers, as well as children, continue to experience the benefits of reading. Adolescence is a phase where no-one seems to understand you. I believe reading can be a wonderful way to unlock empathy, and help young people realise that actually, their feelings and experiences are valid. I encourage everyone who has a teen in their life to get behind Read It Forward, and buy a book or two in support of both young people’s literacy and bookshops!”

Diana Gerald MBE, Co-CEO of BookTrust, said: “We’re extremely pleased that Bookshop.org is supporting BookTrust again this year. Shared reading early on in life can have a huge impact on bonding, happiness, wellbeing and much more, but not all families have the chance to experience it. Funds raised by Bookshop.org and its customers will help us reach even more children, particularly vulnerable children and those from lower income backgrounds. Through our ongoing Reading Rights campaign and with the National Year of Reading happening in 2026, it’s more important than ever that every child can access the transformative power of books.”

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Scottish Book Trust is delighted to be part of Read it Forward in 2026, and to build on the impact of this year’s campaign during the National Year of Reading. Funds raised will continue to help support young families facing challenging circumstances across Scotland, particularly through our early years work including specialist outreach programme Bookbug for the Home. The demand for our work continues to grow and we’re excited to be part of an initiative that supports families and children as well as independent bookshops.”

Nicole Vanderbilt, Managing Director of Bookshop.org UK, said: “We’re so excited to be launching our third Read It Forward drive this month, and to be joined by such high-calibre authors as our ambassadors. Knowing that we were able to support 1,550 families through last year’s initiative makes us confident in the impact of our efforts, and even more willing to help BookTrust and Scottish Book Trust to inspire a love for reading in the younger generations. Read It Forward is a great opportunity for publishers across the UK to get behind the initiative not only to support children’s literacy and indie bookshops, but also to promote and amplify their best children’s titles of the year. We encourage readers of all ages to get behind the initiative and buy a book (or two) during Read It Forward!”

Find out more about Read It Forward here. A comprehensive toolkit, including social media assets, is available at this link. Follow the latest developments on social media using the hashtag #ReadItForward.

About Ben Miller

Since penning his first children’s book in 2018, Ben Miller has become one of the UK’s most beloved children’s authors and was in the top 10 biggest bestselling Children’s Fiction Author list in both 2021 and 2022. Ben’s books include the Fairytale Woods series, with hilarious diaries from the Big, Bad Wolf and Puss in Boots,  Robin Hood Aged 10 ¾, Once Upon A Legend, The Day I Fell Into A Fairytale, How I Became a Dog Called Midnight, The Boy Who Made the World Disappear, The Night We Got Stuck in a Story and the Christmas Elf Chronicles. A much-loved, longstanding star of film, television and stage, Ben rose to fame as one half of the eponymous comedy duo behind the BAFTA winning THE ARMSTRONG AND MILLER SHOW (BBC) with Alexander Armstrong. Currently playing the title role in the hit ITV series PROFESSOR T, Ben is also known for his performances as Bough in the JOHNNY ENGLISH feature films alongside Rowan Atkinson, the Colonel in the much loved PADDINGTON franchise, and Richard Poole in the hugely popular DEATH IN PARADISE (BBC).

 About Joseph Coelho

Joseph Coelho OBE, FRSL is a multi-award-winning children’s author and playwright. His YA ‘Story told in poems’ The Girl Who Became A Tree’ was shortlisted for The 2021 Carnegie Medal and received a special mention from the Bologna Ragazzi Award 2021. He has written plays for Little Angel Theatre, Tutti Frutti Productions, Polka Theatre and The Unicorn Theatre amongst others. He is two-time winner of the Indie Book Awards (2019 & 2022) with Picture Books ‘If All The World Were… and ‘My Beautiful Voice’ respectively ‘(illu. Allison Colpoys). His Poetry Collection Werewolf Club Rules (Illu. John O’leary) won the 2015 CLIPPA Poetry Award. His plays for adults have received a special commendation from the Verity Bargate Award and been longlisted for the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition. He won the 2024 Carnegie Medal for writing with The Boy Lost In The Maze (illu. Kate Milner) and was Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2022 – 2024.

 About Gill Sims

Gill Sims is the author of the hugely successful parenting blog and Facebook site ‘Peter and Jane’. Her first book Why Mummy Drinks was the bestselling hardback fiction debut of 2017, spending over six months in the top ten of the Sunday Times bestsellers chart, and was shortlisted for Debut Novel of the Year in the British Book Awards. Her globally bestselling Why Mummy… series has now sold over a million copies. She lives in Scotland with her husband, two children and three Border terriers. Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood is her first YA book.

About BookTrust

We get children reading from their earliest days, especially those from low-income families or vulnerable backgrounds.  As the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, we know that children who read regularly experience better mental well-being. They form stronger bonds and relationships. They do better at school and are more creative. This is why we work with families, supporting them to start sharing stories and books together from the earliest possible age. We work in every community in England, Wales and Northern Ireland through over 6000 local partners to reach 1.3 million children every year. BookTrust also supports the work of the Children’s Laureate (currently Frank Cottrell-Boyce). Former Laureates include Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Browne and Quentin Blake.

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About Scottish Book Trust

Scottish Book Trust is a national charity that believes everyone living in Scotland should have equal access to books. Our work provides opportunities to improve life chances through books and the fundamental skills of reading and writing. Access to books and a love of books bring many important benefits from family bonding and advancing children’s learning, to unlocking creativity, helping employability and improving mental health and wellbeing. Scottish Book Trust aims to support all communities across Scotland, with particular focus on those who are vulnerable and under-represented.

Our programmes and outreach work include:

Gifting books to every child in Scotland to ensure families of all backgrounds can share the joy of books at home, through Bookbug and Read, Write, Count

Working with teachers to inspire children to develop a love of reading, creating innovative classroom activities, book awards and author events such as Authors Live with the BBC and our Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour

Supporting and nurturing Scotland’s wide-ranging literary talent, both emerging and established through our training, awards and writing opportunities including New Writers Awards

Creating events to share books and connect writers with communities, including Book Week Scotland

Providing support to people living with dementia and their carers through Reading is Caring

In addition to the funding we receive from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, we need the constant support of trusts and foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors.

Find us online at scottishbooktrust.com. Follow @scottishbktrust on Twitter, @scottishbooktrust on Instagram or like Scottish Book Trust’s Facebook page.

 About Bookshop.org

Bookshop.org is an online bookselling platform and affiliate network with a mission to financially support independent bookstores and literary culture.

Bookshop.org first launched in the USA in January 2020 and has already raised over $40m for independent bookshops in the States. Bookshop.org launched in the UK in November 2020, and currently has over 600 independent bookshops and over 11,000 affiliates using the platform. The UK site has generated over £4.5m for independent bookshops since its launch, being named Retailer of the Year in the British Book Awards in 2022.

Independent bookshops receive 30 percent of the cover price from each sale they generate on the platform. Print books are offered to consumers at a small discount, with free shipping on all orders over £25, and in stock books are delivered within 2-3 days.

Bookshop.org is a Certified B Corporation and has received the prestigious status as a B Corp Best for the World 2022.

For more about Bookshop.org, please see www.bookshop.org or visit their social media channels on Instagram @bookshop_org_UK, X @bookshop_org_UK, Facebook @BookshopOrgUK, Threads @bookshop_org_UK, and Bluesky @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social.