I do love a listy post. I was contemplating doing one of my archive ‘Five Feat‘ posts about Brooklyn, one of NYC’s five boroughs, but when I started looking for posts, I found there were just tons of them! What is it about Brooklyn? A few facts: It’s the most populous part of NYC, and Read More
Month: July 2026
20 Books of Summer – Midway check-in and my road trip #20BOS26
A little late, but the last week and a half was hectic! I’ve finally put the summer edition of our school magazine to bed. I had to use Canva for it for the first time, having always used Adobe InDesign before, and found Canva’s AI-driven ‘I-know-better-than-you-what-you-want’ tendencies frustrating, whereas InDesign is totally under your control. Read More
Three for #ParisinJuly2026 – Duras, Vigan & Balle
Today I have short reviews of two novellas set in unspecified French locations by Parisian authors, and one set partly in Paris by a Danish author for Paris in July, hosted by Emma at Words and Peace. These three novellas are also books #9-11 of my 20 Books of Summer. The Garden Square by Marguerite Duras Read More
Two from Scorpius Books – a UK indie publisher of dyslexic friendly editions
A while ago, I was contacted by Jacqui Kibby, founder and publisher of UK indie Scorpius Books based in Colchester. Scorpius was the first UK publisher to create dyslexic friendly editions especially for adult readers, and although I’m not dyslexic, Jacqui kindly sent me copies of two of their recent titles, one standard edition, one Read More
Twenty Books of Summer – midway check in #20BOS26
Well, I promised you a midway check in. How are you getting on with your Books of Summer, however many you aim to read? I’ve read 9 and with several of them to review. Now school has broken up, I’ll have more reading time, so hope to get cracking on reading and reviewing the rest Read More
Fair Play by Louise Hegarty – Book Group Report & No 5 of #20BOS26
This was our July book for discussion at Book Group – and yes, it generated a good discussion – but that doesn’t mean that readers enjoyed it! Only 2 out of 7 were largely positive, including me, with one more on the fence, the rest found it irritating and repetitive – it all gets very Read More
Just a Little Dinner by Cécile Tlili – #ParisinJuly2026
Translated by Katherine Gregor My first read for this year’s Paris in July, hosted by Emma at Words and Peace is one of my new acquisitions from UK indie publisher Foundry Editions, so doesn’t count for my #20BOS26, but I’m on track with that, so I’m not worried about squeezing in unplanned reads. What is Read More
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – #20BOS26 No 7
Well – I’m rather relieved that is over! Yesteryear is this year’s most hyped novel. As this novel is our #20BOS26 Buddy read, there will be a discussion post in early August where spoilers will be encouraged so we can discuss it freely. Natalie Heller Mills has millions of followers on social media. A mega-influencer, Read More
Six Feat… Kensington & Chelsea
In my irregular themed look at old posts (previous posts here), this time I’ve picked books where the action takes place in or just outside the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the postcodes of SW7 and W8, my old uni stomping ground. See the numbered map below.
Mostly Books is 20 years old!
My favourite little indie bookshop, Mostly Books in Abingdon, is twenty years old this weekend! I’ve been going there since it opened, made many, many purchases and attending author events. It’s a compact shop, but the selection of books, and some gifts and stationery, is great and the staff lovely. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Joining current owner Read More
Six Degrees of Separation: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
It’s time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for participants to go wherever it takes them in six more steps. Links to my reviews are in the titles of the books chosen. The starter book this month is: Yesteryear Read More
2 ‘Extraordinary’ Books – by Dennison Smith & Oscar de Muriel
Extraordinary Books are a newish UK indie publisher (part of the Indie Press Network). They describe themselves as “a not-for-profit company bringing a radical new approach to publishing. We were founded with a sense of outrage at the ever-growing monopoly exerted by the big publishers, a desire to subvert the current state of the industry.” Read More
20 Books of Summer – #20BOS – 2nd Month!
Dear all, welcome to the home page for July in the 20 Books of Summer challenge 2026. I can’t believe we’re into July already! Thank you to all who have joined in so far – I’ve been enjoying all your posts. July is the month of our buddy read – Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Read More
