Firstly though, I’ve also been at Shiny New Books last week with my review of Flame Tree Publishing’s short story anthology Best Served Cold from their Beyond & Within series of beautifully produced hardbacks. The collection comprises ‘Chilling short stories of crime and revenge’ – mini psychological dramas by author known and new with some Read More
Month: August 2026
Twenty Books of Summer #20BOS26 – Queenhood & The Cryosphere by Simon Armitage
Does a pamphlet count as a book? Well, given that I’ve read 17 of my 20 books and I’m well on course to finish the 20 and more, why not! However, I will bracket these two Faber signed limited edition pamphlets by Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, together as one! Queenhood was written to celebrate Elizabeth Read More
Twenty Books of Summer #20BOS26 No 13 – Reversed Forecast by Nicola Barker
I’ve now read 17/20 and am rather behind on my reviews, but here’s the next one for you… The second of my Barker Books reads this summer is her debut novel from 1994. This was a re-read for me and all I could remember was that there’s a greyhound in it – but the cover Read More
20 Books of Summer #20BOS26 – No 12 – The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine
I’m currently dipping into Tomine’s 2024 book, Q&A, in which he answers questions posed to him sent to his publishers about his life, his career, his techniques, the business of cartooning and more. The very first question is how do pronouce your family name? (He is Japanese-American) – I now know it’s ‘Toh-mee-neh’ if you’re Read More
Holy F*ck by Joseph Incardona
Translated from the French by Sam Taylor With its tagline ‘Salvation comes with a body count’, I was never going to say no to this thriller involving the Vatican, a priest and an honest whore along with a pair of hitmen brothers set in America’s Deep South. I was therefore really surprised when I read Read More
Six Degrees of Separation: Land by Maggie O’Farrell
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: Land Read More
20 Books of Summer #20BOS26 – August – on the home straight
Dear all, welcome to the home page for August, the last month in the 20 Books of Summer challenge 2026. This page will stay open into the beginning of September to give you a chance to add late links to books read in August. See also the June and the July pages, where you can Read More
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – the #20BOS26 buddy read discussion post – warning! – There be* SPOILERS*
Hello, lovely summer readers. If you’ve read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – it’s time to open up the discussion on this summer’s most talked about book. Spoilers are welcome, so if you haven’t read the book and want to, this isn’t the post for you! If you have read and reviewed it, do leave Read More
