Thank you Helen for the birthday card and this book 😘 I can‘t wait to read it! 🖤 @squirrelbrain

The husband likes seeing the wife flirt & encourages her to kiss other men, too - we get to see the unravelling. I loved how it was all written from the woman‘s perspective and how reflective it was. I found some parts of her relatable but thinking on it I get why some people say the characters are unlikeable. It was one of those listens for me that I just got lost in. It‘s in the vein of All Fours but way less crazy. I loved it.

Still reading books from last years Women‘s Prize NF and they have all been BRILLIANT reads - more so than this years imo. I wasn‘t really drawn to this but I‘m glad I read it - loved the way it was written, the way Funder gives Eileen a voice and shows another side to Orwell (so misogynistic) that his biographers tried to sidestep. A tale as old as time really - a man not acknowledging a woman‘s part/taking credit for all the work.

Alfie keeps picking this off my shelves and telling me to read it next - so here I am 💙

I‘ve rated it a so-so but that‘s probably more a reflection of how long it took me to listen to it (such a short audio too!) as it has actually lingered in my mind. It‘s a classic for a reason and can see how other authors likely took inspiration from its plot/characters. It was slightly repetitive and the characters had no redeeming features at all but I‘m glad to have read it - just wouldn‘t make my favourites list.

I thought the characters in this were realistically written, real feelings, real dialogue - I felt so involved in their lives I found it hard to put down. Obviously Mike & Ben weren‘t the best suited but I think some relationships are like this 🤷‍♀️ and it was depicted beautifully- I loved the way we got to see glimpses of their past & the way we sometimes have to infer reasons for the way the characters are, we are trusted as readers. 🤍

I was in the mood for a ‘literary‘ read and this was a perfect choice for that - I loved her writing style and the back and forth timeline worked for the novel. Addresses mother-daughter relationships and addiction. Definitely right book-right time and I‘ll read more by her!

I read this a little while ago and it‘s one of those that has some good things about it (the women, the friendships, the writing) that keep you reading but overall is pretty meh. It felt too rushed and the backdrop of covid and the father‘s illness felt like it was an afterthought as to how to get old friends back together - it just didn‘t feel like a fully realised novel. #readyourkindle

This was a really thorough biography of Paul Gauguin with his beautiful paintings printed throughout. Written almost without sentiment but not dry. I found it really immersive. In some ways he was ahead of his times in terms of the way he viewed certain things. The chapter on Gauguin and Van Gogh was interesting and the ones on his early life too - how it wasn‘t until a bit later in life he became interested in painting. #wpnf25

Went to see Matt Haig talk last night and he was very engaging and funny. He talked a lot about his most recent book, his writing process, dogs, recovery and mental health. A really enjoyable night.

This was such a sad book - so much more should have been done for Jenni, questions asked, support given. I listened to it and the narrator did a brilliant job of portraying the sadness but obvious childlike feelings of Jennis early years and then the anger and disillusionment that comes with her teen years. Amazing that she‘s been able to tell her story 🩷 #wpnf25

I really enjoyed this book - mostly about David Starr Jordan but interwoven with little bits about the authors own questioning of life and chaos and orderliness. I loved how it started one way then we‘re left with a different opinion altogether. The bits about the history of eugenics was something I knew little about and the story of it, and Clara specifically, was heartbreaking. #wpnf25

So pleased this was next to come up from my library holds for #wpnf25 - such a gorgeous book and really interesting so far.

I didn‘t know anything about Neneh but this was such a compelling listen. I loved hearing about her childhood in Sweden and all of her life experiences. The main thing that shone through was her love of/from her family. She comes across as very perceptive and I relate to the way she speaks about her children. I just wanted to keep listening 🩷 #wpnf25

This was cheap on kindle so ended up buying it for #wpnf25. I found the writing really engaging. The way the subject matter was written about through a social commentary lens, aswell as the bits about the newspaper journalist Harry Procter, was done so well. You really get a sense of the time and place. There is no concrete conclusion when it comes to the murders & motives etc but the author has clearly done her research with this book.

I can‘t imagine I‘d pick this up if not for the women‘s prize but I really liked it! I learned a lot about ocean life (past & present), how much effects ocean life like climate change and overfishing and how all of those things have an effect on the way ocean life thrives (or doesn‘t). The bit about emperor penguins though 😢 it‘s very accessible and she writes with hope but also a real sense of urgency. It will stick with me. #wpnf25

I wasn‘t feeling great in January & this book popped up for me so thought I‘d give it a go - it did make me feel calmer & put things into perspective. The first half was journal entries which she wrote with humour and relatability. She writes about her struggles with equanimity, compassion for herself etc. The second half was small chapters on things like walking, friendships which was easy listening but I didn‘t take as much from.

Book haul from Next Chapter Books 🩷

Took myself to Leeds for the day mostly to visit this new little, women led independent bookshop. They do coffee too 😁 will definitely be popping in again when I‘m next in Leeds.

I do like a small town novel and this was no exception. I liked hearing the perspectives of each other and of events through both Amy & Isabelle. It was a very slow start (almost bailed) and it wasn‘t until the halfway point that I really got invested but the second half unfolded perfectly. Loved the backdrop of characters, how we get to hear Isabelle‘s story and see her opening up and the mother/daughter relationship. #readyourkindle

I listened to this one and I actually felt relief when I got to the end as it was SO relentless in its portrayal of a woman stuck in a horrible marriage. It was like living in her head/story. So well written and I imagine a lot of women will relate to at least aspects of it. “I was in charge of everything and in control of nothing.”

What‘s not to like about this book? Amazing characters, family, humour, writing and the character development 🙌 I feel like it did drag slightly halfway but that was probably my fault - it took me nearly the whole of January to read it and I feel like it‘s one of those that needs to be read in chunks. Still, absolutely loved it, especially the ending for Valdin 🩷 #readyourkindle

Essay collections can be hit or miss but every one of these had something special/different to tell. The one about the narcissistic dad and her mother was very impactful. I loved listening to it all - lots of different perspectives and feelings on that mother-child relationship. I‘ll be listening to some of them again.

Little book haul from the tagged bookshop (they had a brilliant selection of books) and Waterstones.

Off to Newcastle for food and shopping 🤍

I bought my kindle to read Greta and Valdin on the train but I can‘t stop listening to the tagged book.

This was such a tense and melancholic read. Moss perfectly captures those first months of Covid and lockdown and all of that uncertainty. I‘m not sure I could have got through it had I read it closer to pandemic times. I really felt these characters thoughts and feelings.

My list for #readyourkindle 🤍

I‘m listening to a non-fiction book at the minute so have chosen all fiction from my kindle.

I‘m going to try and squeeze in one more book before the new year (The Fell by Sarah Moss) - got my red wine ready to get settled in for the night. But as it stands these were my best books of 2024. I absolutely loved Wellness, so well written and just really resonated with me. My Husband I‘ve put as a ‘bonus‘ but I‘d say that‘s one of my most memorable reads that I‘d definitely recommend.

All the best for 2025 🥂

Didn‘t get a bingo but close. I read more non-fiction but found these prompts a bit more difficult than previous years. Love the challenge though 🤍 Lots of books from the women‘s prize non-fiction which was definitely a highlight of my reading year - looking forward to next years. #nonfiction2024

#top24of24 I feel like I‘ve been on a streak of really good books this year - lots of 4.5/5 star reads.

November reading 📚

The two books not pictured - For Such a Time As This (3.5 ⭐️) & One Day I Shall Astonish the World (3 ⭐️)

I feel like this was right book, right time for me - although it‘s a contemporary novel it‘s set during the 1950s & it was nice to read something that felt a bit old school. The protagonist is in love with a boy she met in school but he moves away & she ends up in a marriage she‘s not truly happy in (for a few reasons). It‘s a quick read although a sad one for the most part but I really loved the ‘twists‘ in it & how it portrays relationships.

Hate to bail on this as I really liked The Essex Serpent and Melmoth but I‘m just over 100 pages and I don‘t feel invested at all and I‘ve sort of been just putting off reading it.

Storm raging, fire on, kids are playing, got my coffee and starting a new book 💛

Book buys for Bookshop day - Wellness from Waterstones and A Spring of Love from the tagged bookshop 🩵

The thread of addiction and generational trauma is woven into these sisters lives prominently in the way they act and in the way they live their lives but it‘s also just in the background in the way it‘s written - the focus is very much on the characters lives and their relationship with each other and their grief. I loved the moment near the end with Avery and her Mam. Very character driven which I love.

I had to go audio with this one when I saw Elle Fanning was narrating it - she was perfect for it. Margo is such a great character, she felt very real and I loved the development. Just such a genuinely enjoyable listen - one of the best audiobooks for me.

Pumpkin spice latte and book shopping to try and cheer myself up over the fact my eldest has started school today 😭

I was drawn to the cover and the illustrations in this book about London pubs.

I always say dystopia isn‘t my genre but whenever I do happen to read a dystopian novel I generally always enjoy them! This was no exception. A camera is put into a ‘kentuki‘ (a moveable soft toy sort of thing) & you can be a watcher or a dweller (where people watch you) - so within it there was themes of technology, surveillance etc. I liked the writing, the idea & the characters although it did feel like it could have been more fleshed out.

You just have to go along for the ride with this one. It‘s first person narrative so you really get that obsessive, full on vibe from her. It reads sort of like a thriller but the drama is all confined to the narrator. Absolutely my sort of read. I did get an inkling about the ending @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes so I wasn‘t completely surprised but I still thought it was brilliant.

Popped into this lovely little independent bookshop after a lush day with the kids 🩵 I really liked her first book & this cover is just gorgeous

This was such a hard read - you see what‘s happening to the daughter & you just want to stop it & protect her, and you see the mothers side & she‘s just so oblivious to it (until she realises & then she helps the best way she knows how - with some regrets in hindsight). The boys should have been held accountable, things could have been handled differently & this book shines a light to that. Why is it the women/girls always have to take the blame?

Maybe I just didn‘t catch on but I‘m not a fan of books you have to google afterwards to find out what happened- even more so when it‘s a disappointing (to me) reveal. It‘s supposed to be suspenseful but it never felt that way to me. I did like the dialogue between Jake and his girlfriend and the questions it brings up about relationships etc. but overall meh.

Took myself to a lovely little cafe for dinner ♥️ just started this book and I‘m loving it.

One night in a hotel and I‘ll be out tonight but still insist on bringing 2 books and my kindle 😁

July wrap up 🤍

3 of the books I read over months hence the 31 days on average to finish.

Some books you know instantly you‘re going to like.

I thought this was a brilliant read on AI although I spent most of it thinking ‘how can this be allowed to happen‘ (especially in regard to deep fakes 😤). It was giving me anxiety thinking of the world we‘re living in with AI becoming more prominent as a lot of seemed quite bad - however the audio came with a 30min interview with the author which sort of offered a more balanced approach to it- she talked of how it could be used in positive ways.

I loved living in the lives of Adrien, Etienne and Nina. It spans over decades from the time they meet at school to their present day. One of my favourites of the year so far.

Between this & James this is the first time I‘ve ever used up the audiobook hours on Spotify - and I‘ve still got 10 days before it‘s renewed (I‘m loving this book so much I‘m tempted to pay the 9.99 for extra hours but it seems a lot 🤔)