Category: books

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: July 27 – August 2

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Welcome to August everyone, all the usual start of the month stuff coming up over the next week or so. In the meantime, here’s the list from last week, which includes three of my Bristol purchases, three new releases (included one I mentioned in the Summer romance releases) and the last of the St Justs I hadn’t read which meant I could finally write that post on Friday! This week it’s meant to be hot and sticky again and I’ve got at least one theatre trip planned so we’ll see how all of that meshes with the reading list.

Read:

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Dimsie Goes to School by Dorita Fairlie Bruce

The Reluctant Ballerina by Linda Graham

The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Vol 1 by Beth Brower*

Death and the Old Master by G M Malliet

The One Where They Fall in Love by Christina Wolf*

Helen, Ballet Student by Linda Graham

The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Stealing the Bride by Jeevani Charika*

Started:

The Irresistible Urge to Fall Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

Still reading:

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

We won’t talk about it – there was a stack acquired in Bath on Monday and a bunch of tempting new Kindle offers too

Bonus picture: my favourite shop name from Bath on Monday!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books

Book of the Week: A Taste for Murder

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Happy Tuesday everyone. And before you ask, yes, for the second week in a row I’m cheating and writing about a book I finished after Sunday. But as previously discussed: Book Conference. Excitement. Short list last week. And this one has been on the long runners for a few weeks, so it’s not quite as cheaty as it could have been. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. And here’s hoping I’m not causing myself another problem for this time next week…

Recently widowed police detective Joe Mottram and his daughter Angelica are spending the summer in Capri. They’re returning to the childhood home of Joe’s late wife to spend the summer with Angelica’s grandparents as they struggle to recover from the loss of Sofia. Joe’s expecting to spend the summer as a spare wheel at his in-laws’ resturant, but soon after their arrival a British tourist is found dead at the foot of a local beauty spot and Joe is drawn into the investigation when local detective Lara turns up at the restaurant.

I thought this was a really well put together and readable mystery – there’s lots going on and plenty of plot strands to follow and a twisty mystery at the heart of it. Plus Capri makes for a great setting – I haven’t been there, but it was already on my list of places to go, but if it hadn’t been, it probably would be now, although here’s hoping that the unsavoury elements that are in the book are purely fiction. I would say the ending is ripe for a sequel, but I haven’t seen any sign of a second book yet.

This has already been adapted for TV – it’s on ITVX – and some of the locations they used to film are places that we’ve been to on holiday in Croatia which is fun. And in case you’re wondering, it’s not Blue Peter-Countryfile Matt Baker, it’s a different one!

This came out at the start of the year and I’ve seen it all over in the shops. My copy was a hardback, but the paperback is out now and it should be fairly easy to get hold of. And of course it’s in Kindle and Kobo too.

Happy Reading!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: July 20 – July 26

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I’m exhausted. I’ve had a fabulous time at book conference, but I’ve spent a lot of time talking about reading, listening to talks about reading and buying books to read rather than actually reading. So this list is short and I’ve already caused myself a major problem for tomorrow by writing about American Fantasy last week. Past Verity causing problems for Future Verity once more.

Read:

American Fantasy by Emma Straub*

Dead Water by Ngaio Marsh

A Murder at the Mansion by Ellie Alexander*

The Spoilt Kill by Mary Kelly

Death in White Pyjamas by John Bude

Death Knows No Calendar by John Bude

Started:

The One Where They Fall in Love by Christina Wolf*

The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Vol 1 by Beth Brower*

Still reading:

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Where to start. About six on the way to book conference and another nine at book conference. And I’m writing this before our day out in Bath where we intend to visit even more book shops.

Bonus picture: Our (there’s a trio of us) sale table at the delegate sale on Sunday. The right hand side (all the less valuable stuff!) is (mostly) mine. I didn’t sell it all, but I came home with less books than I took with me – even when you include the stuff I bought at conference. Result.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books

Recommendsday: Summer New Releases

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Happy Wednesday! It’s peak summer holiday season, and so this week I’ve got some of the new books that might make for ideal reading as you hit your sunlounger this vacation season. And given the temperatures that we’ve had in the UK over the last few weeks it might even be cooler (or at least less humid) wherever it is you’re going on holiday. And unlike a normal Recommendsday post, these are books that I haven’t read but that I’m looking forward to, rather than stuff that I have read and recommend.

Cover of the Romance Revival

First up it’s the new Christina Lauren The Romance Revival which came out last week and which I haven’t read yet (obvs). Per the blurb: our heroine is Emery, who married Luca-the-Landscape-gardner three years ago in an impulsive moment. But now she’s consumed with her secret job – and telling herself Luca will understand once she can tell him about it. Until an accident takes him from her and now she’ll try everything to bring him back. Now this is the point where I can’t tell if this is going into necromancy or what. The cover doesn’t suggest the supernatural, but the blurb is talking about miracles of science and the wording of the aforementioned blurb seems very carefully chosen and so I think I could go either way on this one because at best it’s an amnesia plot and I have a mixed record on that front – and it’s possibly also paranormal/fantasy. I look forward to seeing what the reviews-with-spoilers say after release day! But this will undoubtedly work for some people – no matter whether or not it does for me!

Next up is Glow Job by Kristen Bailey which came out on Monday. This is about two people who meet at a chaotic wellness retreat on Ibiza – Chloe is there on holiday and Ben is trying to turn his uncle’s villa into a functioning retreat. It’s described as “for fans of Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary and Sophia Kinsella” which I am – although my cringe tolerance is sometimes too low for Sophie Kinsella so there’s a little question mark there for me but I know that I’m at the lower end of that particular scale. So I guess we have a bit of a theme here – books that I think will work for other people, but I’m less sure will work for me. This one is going to be in Kindle Unlimited when it comes out so there’s a low barrier to entry for those who are members.

Out next Thursday is the new novel from Jeevanki Charika – The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Stealing the Bride which is also described as for fans of Emily Henry (and Chloe Liese among others) and I am usually a big fan of Charika so I am optimistic. Kalpana is a romance author due to marry Marcus, a prize-winning literary author. Sampat is their wedding planner – skilled at working out what couples want from their big day. But this couple has very different ideas about their wedding – Marcus wants a traditional wedding in Sri Lanka, but Kalpana’s the third generation of her family born in the UK and doesn’t feel like that that’s her tradition. I can’t wait to read this – I’m going to try and get to it asap.

And of course I’ve already read a bunch of books that could be read on a sunlounger this year – including The Paris Match and Dolly All the Time which are romances, as well as The Shampoo Effect which isn’t but is really, really good.

Happy Humpday!

books, stats, week in books, The pile

The Week in Books: July 13 – July 19

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A rollercoaster week in many ways, ending late on Sunday night with extra time in the World Cup Final and me rereading a Dimsie book instead of something new. Who knows what I’ll write about tomorrow given that the two NetGalley books that I finished aren’t out for months, and there are a lot of later in series on the list too. Oh well, I’m sure it will come to me…

Read:

A Death in Cornwall by G M Malliet

The 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

Death in Print by G M Malliet

Broadcast Murder by J G Colgan

Marilyn Monroe at the Movies by Caroline Young*

Wes Anderson: The Graphic Novel by Katarina Horakova*

Dimsie Moves Up by Dorita Fairlie Bruce

Dimsie Moves Up Again by Dorita Fairlie Bruce

Started:

American Fantasy by Emma Straub*

Still reading:

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Three ebooks. But I’m still pleased with how well I did with the physical pile last month so I’ll let myself off!

Bonus picture: The top of the Shard, lit up as a St George’s flag on Wednesday night (taken just after England scored!)

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: July 6 – July 12

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It’s so hard to concentrate in the heat isn’t it? And to sleep. And to do anything other than slump somewhere and drink cold drinks and moan about how hot it is. That was basically my week. Lots of time on hot trains not being able to thing about anything except how hot I was. This week is meant to be a bit cooler (please, please, please) but we’ve also got an England semi-final at the World Cup (which I’ll be missing at least part of) and then whatever comes next. Who knows what all that means for the list…

Read:

First and Forever by Lynn Painter

For Never and Always by Helena Greer

Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh

Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer

The Bells of Westminster by Leonora Nattrass*

Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate

How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin*

Started:

Marilyn Monroe at the Movies by Caroline Young*

Still reading:

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

One book bought

Bonus picture: Wisteria season continues on my walk to work

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: June 29 – July 5

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Not going to lie, I’m really feeling it after getting up to watch the England match in the middle of the night and my brain’s not really working right now. So this might be a shorter than usual post because of the brain fade but basically the top line is that I finally finished a long runner and because I was writing the offers post I may have bought some things…

Read:

Scot and Soda by Catriona McPherson

A Pocketful of Rye by Agatha Christie

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie*

Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronica Dapunt

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson*

The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer

A Superior Death by Nevada Barr

False Scent by Ngaio Marsh

Started:

First and Forever by Lynn Painter

For Never and Always by Helena Greer

Still reading:

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Lets not talk about it because the Kindle offers post was expensive.

Bonus picture: a landmark on the Kindle reading log… but I’m still annoyed about the day 1903 days ago that I missed.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats

Reading Stats: June 2026

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Books read this month: 35*

New books: 28

Re-reads: 7 (5 audiobooks)

Books from the to-read pile: 9

NetGalley books read: 3

Kindle Unlimited read: 4

Ebooks: 12

Audiobooks: 5

Non-fiction books: 3

Favourite book: Dolly All the Time

Books bought: lets gloss over

Most read author: Rachel Reid – four from the Game Changers series

Books read in 2026: 201

Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 587

I am aware that the numbers don’t seem to add up this month – and that’s because there were two Wells books that I reread (for the umpteenth time) which are actual hardbacks, and have already been on my shelves for years so don’t really fit into any of the categories. But that’s why. Usually they do add up because the rereads are either audiobooks or ebooks. But not this time, and possibly the July stats they may not – and the July is because we have Book Con coming up in the middle of the month and if there’s one reason I might end up re-reading things I already own, it’s because a talk about it has inspired me – and all of the Girl’s Own stuff is physical copies. Anyway, aside from that, not a good month for reducing the NetGalley list, but a pretty good one for reducing the actual physical pile (the third over flow pile is significantly smaller than it was!) but I guess reading stuff that I actually bought on Kindle (as opposed to getting a e-proof of) is also something that I should be doing, so I guess I can find a bright side in everything!

Bonus picture: The RSC before The Tempest – on one of the first gorgeous weekends of the year.

*often includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – but not this month!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: June 22 – June 28

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Well as you can see, I didn’t get any of the long runners ticked off, but also the heat was even worse than I was expecting it to be. Honestly. The office was fine – but getting there was not, and sleeping at night was terrible. I feel like I need to sleep for a couple of days to recover. Apparently this week is going to be better until we get to the weekend. Thoughts and prayers everyone…

Read:

George V by David Cannadine

The Spies of Hartlake Hall by R L Graham

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn

An Untidy Death by Simon Brett

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake

Started:

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Still reading:

Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronica Dapunt

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Two ebooks bought.

Bonus picture: watching football somewhere with air conditioning…

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: June 15 – June 21

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Morning everyone and welcome to the (extreme) heatwave. Houses in Britain aren’t made for this sort of weather and I’ve found myself researching portable air conditioning units more than in the last week! Anyway on the reading front, we’re just over a month out from Book Con and so I’ve started clearing out my shelves for the sale table – which lead to three Lorna Hills in 24 hours rather than finishing any of the still reading books. Because of course it did. Lets see if I can concentrate enough in the heat this week to get them read shall we (I doubt it).

Read:

Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan

Singing in the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh

One for the Books by Jenn McKinlay

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

How to Fake It in Society by K J Charles

The Gay Best Friend by Nicolas DiDomizio

Castle in Northumbria by Lorna Hill

Masquerade at the Wells by Lorna Hill

Jane Leaves the Wells by Lorna Hill

Started:

George V by David Cannadine

Still reading:

Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronica Dapunt

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Two ebooks.

Bonus picture: despite the heat, it’s wisteria season again on the walk to work.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.