I read some absolute GEMS over April. After a couple of months of not feeling like I had much reading oomph, I am back to being wildly in love with falling into other people’s worlds…
Too Hot To Sleep is Elspeth Wilson’s debut poetry pamphlet. It’s perfect for fans of The Sims and Teen Wolf, and explores coming-of-age and sexual identity in a creative and lyrical way. This collection is a great read for anyone who would say they don’t really get poetry. I was lucky enough to get a proof copy, but you should go check out the actual cover. It is a thing of GREAT beauty.
Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland is the sequel to Lost for Words. Any fans of Loveday will not be disappointed by this dive back into her world. Stephanie’s writing continues to be beautiful and heart-breaking. This story is set during the COVID lockdowns, a time that I’m finding it helpful to revisit via fiction to try to make sense of all that was too big and scary to comprehend at the time. This novel explores the joys and horrors of the pandemic in a kind and sensitive way.
Becoming Ted was my first Matt Cain novel, but it shall not be my last! This is a joyous romcom, perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan – but make it gay. There are drag queens, dogs, ice cream, messy families, and a love story that will warm your heart. Ted is a main character who will grab hold of you from the first page – he’s one you’ll find it impossible not to root for.
The Scottish Boy by Alex de Campi was a reread. I loved it just as much the second time around. This story is epic and sweeping, yet soft and intimate. The central love story is sweet and compelling, and set perfectly against a backdrop of great historical unrest. There are some brutal bits, but this book champions love overcoming all obstacles.
A small shout out for The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths – this is the final instalment of the Dr Ruth Galloway series, and I could not be sadder to say goodbye to these characters! If you’ve not picked up this series yet, you are in for a treat.
Anyway – read them all and we can be chums 😊
Anna Britton 