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.