Read whatever, whenever, however.
In brief: When the world ends, Carl is outside in the freezing night with his ex-girlfriend’s cat. Now he’s part of an intergalactic reality TV show of survival and the cat is talking. The good: It’s funny, smart and very enjoyable. The not-so-good: There is a lot of death by squishing. Why I chose it:... Continue Reading →
In brief: The story of a young writer helping an established writer find her way back into writing again, with a little romance. The good: Great idea for a story. The not-so-good: Covers a lot of ground for a short story. Why I chose it: Trying out some new authors via short stories. Year: 2026... Continue Reading →
It’s freezing cold and rainy today, definitely a day for staying in and reading! May You Have Delicious Meals by Junko Takase involve the power dynamics in an office and their relation to food. Ashikawa can’t get respect from Nitani (who is addicted to instant noodles) as she shares sweet treats around the office. But... Continue Reading →
In brief: Emery and Luca’s marriage would be great if she wasn’t always preoccupied with work. But when Luca has an accident, they need to start again. Can Emery convince him she’ll do better second time around? The good: Sweet and very inventive. The not-so-good: The premise of Emery’s work is very different to what... Continue Reading →
In brief: Sophia and boyfriend JP are meant to be escaping winter for the Galapagos Islands – until he has to leave unexpectedly. The trip will be lifechanging for Sophia. The good: Easy to read with an engrossing story. The not-so-good: It’s a short story so everything is wrapped up quickly. Why I chose it:... Continue Reading →
It’s another week and I’ve been tracking down some buzzy books while the sunshine lasts: Into the Blue by Emma Brodie starts in the year 2000 when AJ meets Noah in the video rental store she works in. They become friends and acting partners until Noah just disappears. Seven years later, AJ meets Noah again... Continue Reading →
In brief: The story of two librarians separated in World War II – Joyce in London and Dorotha in Poland – and their fight to survive. The good: An enjoyable story, full of drama and emotion. The not-so-good: A couple of typos – ‘breaks’ instead of ‘brakes’ – ouch! Why I chose it: Enjoyed Kate... Continue Reading →
In brief: The history of AI from the 1930s until now. What can go wrong, what can be done well and what does the future hold? The good: Some of the history is very interesting as is the current limitations of AI. The not-so-good: AI has become way more popular since 2020 when this book... Continue Reading →
I finally tracked down the new Christina Lauren book, and some others of course… The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren seems to be VERY popular (as in it took me three shops to find it). Emery got married to Luca after one night in Vegas but her job took over from their relationship, followed by... Continue Reading →
In brief: Eight short stories offering glimpses into different worlds where something small, or by chance, changes things. The good: Lovely writing style. The not-so-good: I wanted more than a short conversation. Why I chose it: Liked the title and was keen to pick up a couple of the Penguin Archive series. Year: 2025 (original... Continue Reading →