A were-dragon? A talking tree? Saving a world she didn’t know existed? … Philomella’s having an unusual day. Mystery, humour and sparkling magic combine in this middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel – perfect for fans of The World Between Blinks and The Phantom Tollbooth. When Philomella is drawn into the Impossible Forest – a place where anything can happen and usually does –Continue reading “Review: Managing big feelings in Philomella”
Category Archives: Blog-exclusive book review
You need to read ‘You Need to Know’
Christmas Eve. A car pile-up. Who will survive? And who caused the crash? Nicola Moriarty’s You Need to Know is a complex family drama, where everyone has a secret. This multi-view story follows three author brothers, their partners, and their mother, as they navigate grief, family tension, and both everyday and extraordinary dramas. Topics includeContinue reading “You need to read ‘You Need to Know’”
Why I Have Mixed Feelings About The Good Sister
Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be . . . dangerous. When Rose discovers that she cannot fallContinue reading “Why I Have Mixed Feelings About The Good Sister”
What The Course of Love teaches us about long-term romance
Boy meets girl, they fall in love… and then what? Alain de Botton’s The Course of Love is billed as an ‘unparalleled meditation on modern relationships’. Half philosophy and half fiction, it follows the lives of a couple, Rabih and Kristen, as they fall in love, navigate marriage and children, and the perils of maintainingContinue reading “What The Course of Love teaches us about long-term romance”
Why ‘One of Us is Lying’ makes me uncomfortable
It’s hard to miss Karen McManus’ books in the YA section of your local bookshop. With their distinctive minimalist covers, they stand out. McManus has now written five books, including One of Us is Lying – her 2017 release and most popular book so far, with over 450,000 ratings on Goodreads. Its sequel, One ofContinue reading “Why ‘One of Us is Lying’ makes me uncomfortable”
The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill
The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid. Branded as a story told through ‘a searing feminist lens… a book with the darkest of undercurrents’, it follows Gaia, the youngest daughter of The Sea King. She falls in love with a human boy and longs to find out what happenedContinue reading “The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill”
Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal
What is it like to navigate a world that isn’t designed for how your brain works? Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal looks at the impact of trying to be ‘normal’ for a neurodiverse teenage girl. As always, please note that this post contains spoilers! Topics covered: Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, sexual harassment, domesticContinue reading “Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal”
Nine Perfect Strangers
In this blog-exclusive review, we talk about the psychology behind Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers. Now a major TV series! Please note that this blog post contains spoilers! Mental health issues covered: grief after a family member’s suicide, body image and disordered eating, drug use/psychedelics Additional content warnings for the book itself: diet talk andContinue reading “Nine Perfect Strangers”
The Morbids
In this blog-exclusive review, we talk about our views on Ewa Ramsey’s 2020 novel, The Morbids. For this blog, we’re joined by a special guest, Bree from Feelz Podcast, who gives her unique and comedic spin on this book. Please note that this blog post contains spoilers! Mental health issues covered: Death anxiety, post-traumatic stress,Continue reading “The Morbids”
I Wish You All The Best
In this post, Priscilla wants to talk about I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver. This book is an honest and heartfelt portrait of coming out in the context of difficult and/or abusive family dynamics. The main character also wrestles with symptoms of anxiety and depression and starts therapy in the story. PleaseContinue reading “I Wish You All The Best”
Novel Feelings 