We Are Reading

“Like any good glass of water this book is refreshing, enlivening and life restoring. The book gives a great new perspective on Rivers and the World. It’s a must read. Robert Macfarlane’s brilliant and perspective-shifting new book answers with a resounding “yes” the question of its title, arguing that rivers are not mere resources but living beings deserving of recognition in both law and imagination. Is a River Alive? explores this transformative idea, taking readers on an exhilarating journey through the past, present, and future of this urgent concept.”

Is A River Alive?
Review by Patrick Neale

“The long-awaited second novel from the author of bestselling The Woman in the Window, this taut psychological thriller does not disappoint. It’s brilliantly and intricately plotted, with a twist you won’t see coming. End of Story tips its hat to classic detective fiction but is unashamedly 21st century in its setting and ambience.”

End of Story
Review by Rachel White

“A stolen egg, a hidden past, and a somewhat chaotic chase. The Impossible Thing weaves together two timelines: a pre-war rural North Yorkshire community engaged in illicit egg collecting, and the modern-day pursuit of a rare red ‘Metland’ egg. As their paths converge, a tangled web of mystery and crime unravels…”

The Impossible Thing
Review by Rachel White

“Dream Count is worth the twelve year wait Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie fans have had to endure since Americanah, with what is in essence four novellas in one sweeping, far-reaching great novel, written with the virtuoso precision of a world class pianist.”

Dream Count
Review by David Faulds

“A stunning, emotional family epic that lingers long after the last page – a story of sisters, secrets, and second chances, where love is both the wound and the cure. Some families are built on love, others on longing– this one is built on both. This book will truly break your heart and put it back together again. Patrick, Polly & Rachel are on the same page as me!  ”

Hello Beautiful
Review by Rabab Bahrainwala

“Nussaibah Younis could have written a very serious and very worthy tome about her time spent working to deradicalise women affiliated with ISIS, but instead she’s turned her experiences into a brilliantly funny, dark comedy that shines light on the barriers and Kafkaesque bureaucracy those in her field face, whilst giving a human face to those vilified in the press.”

Fundamentally
Review by David Faulds

“Such an all encompassing and unclassifiable book. It bridges history, travel writing, natural history with stunning prose. Sophy Roberts has found a tiny story in colonial history and used it to write a masterpiece. She writes about human tragedy, past and present, with such delicacy. Each page unfolds unforgettable images.”

A Training School for Elephants
Review by Patrick Neale

“I came to this novel not knowing much about it or really having read the blurb. I’m so glad that I discovered it, and also for it have been shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize. Dutch author, Yael van der Wouden, creates a tautly written story around the life of Isabel in the 1960s who lives a seemingly quiet life in a provincial backwater. But there are secrets to be gradually revealed, which implicate not only Isabel’s family, but also reflect on the politics and culture of Dutch post-war life.”

The Safekeep
Review by Rachel White