I found this book quite boring, which may be unfair as biographies aren’t my usual read. As a semi-autobiography, it confirmed my assumptions, I wasn’t eager to return to it, and it took me a while to finish. The story focuses on women mistreated by men, and while these realities matter, constantly revisiting the most depressing parts of womanhood can be draining. I appreciated the critique of traditional African attitudes toward motherhood and marriage, especially the pressure placed on daughters. Still, the main characters (except Kadiatou) were incredibly wealthy, and their greatest struggle (finding a decent partner) felt hard to sympathise with. It’s not badly written, just not for me. I also found it frustrating how differently romantic longing is framed for men and women. For women, it’s layered with judgment, shame, and societal expectations; for men, it’s just a feeling. No wonder our longing feels heavier – and often more embarrassing.

Unfortunately, this book was boring for me. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but the plot felt mediocre, predictable, and at times a bit childish. The story structure, starting mid-way and moving between past and present, kept the pace up, but good pacing couldn’t save a plot I didn’t care for. The romance, especially between Vasalie and Copelan, was rushed, and the love triangle felt predictable, losing its tension. While the book attempts an old-world fantasy setting, modern references and inconsistent language often pulled me out of the immersion. Dialogue was weak, and certain elements, like the secret tunnel, were confusingly explained. I did enjoy the sections with Emilia, Vasalie’s stepmother, whose presence haunted the narrative. Overall, despite some interesting moments, the book felt rushed in parts and failed to hold my engagement.

This book is a brilliant example of fantasy, especially considering it's Rothfuss' debut. His world-building and magic system are exceptional, with thoughtful, logical mechanics that make the story feel grounded. The writing has a medieval vibe, the pacing and tone are spot on, shifting seamlessly between light and intense moments. Kvothe is an imperfect but relatable protagonist, talented yet flawed, and his growth throughout the story is captivating. The relationships he forms, particularly with his friends and mentors, add depth to the narrative. The portrayal of women in the book is refreshing, with Kvothe treating them as equals. While the magic system can be complex and a few tropes are present, the storytelling is rich, with every detail serving a purpose. The contrast between Kvothe’s past and present self leaves a haunting question, making me eager for the next book.

This novel follows Claire Clairmont from the fateful summer of 1816 at Lake Geneva, where she visits Lord Byron with Mary and Percy Shelley. From that moment, her life is shaped by the men around her. A forgotten woman overshadowed by literary giants, Claire's story is one of betrayal, sisterhood, and survival. McDowell’s writing is sharp, weaving themes of motherhood, power, and toxic male influence. The complex dynamic between Claire and Mary is one of the novel’s strongest elements, their bond strained by the men who manipulate them. The novel highlights how women are pitted against each other while men escape blame. Byron, the ultimate poison, infects everyone he meets, figuratively and literally. The novel captures the era’s misogyny with unsettling accuracy, making it painfully relevant. With vivid prose and haunting themes, McDowell crafts a powerful read.

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! I absolutely loved this story. It was gifted to me by a friend as a good summer read, and boy did it deliver. I'd never read anything by Françoise Sagan before (in fact, I hadn’t even heard of her), but I’m so glad I was introduced. The fact that Sagan wrote Bonjour Tristesse  at just eighteen feels downright unfair, it gave me the same stunned admiration I felt when I learned Mary Shelley was the same age when she wrote Frankenstein . I read the whole book in a single day. I was that hooked. The pacing is fast but never too rushed, and it perfectly matches the tone and emotional current of the story. What struck me most were Cécile’s conversations with Anne. There’s so much happening beneath the surface, unspoken tensions, subtle power plays. And their spoken words heavy with context. The dynamic between Cécile, her father, and Anne is both fascinating and unsettling, especially as it veers into Oedipal territory. Cécile’s psychological turmoil, shaped by her father’s neglect and indulgence, is portrayed with such modulation. The novel balances everything so well, it trusts the reader, never overexplains, and its confidence shines through. The symbolism is rich and layered; you could spend hours unpacking it.

I really liked this book. I’ll admit, I’ve never felt quite as passionate about biographies as I do about fiction (there’s just something about them that makes it harder for me to engage in the same way or to reflect on them as deeply). What stood out to me most was Alderton’s writing style: fast-paced, direct, and full of feeling and humour. She never lingered too long, and yet nothing felt rushed or empty. The way she moved through time, dipping in and out of different periods, worked beautifully. The tone throughout was spot on. I’m glad I picked this up and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. It was worth it. I’ll always value a book that celebrates the beauty and importance of female friendships. They’re often the first real experience of love, and for me, women are the great loves of my life. I’m glad Alderton feels the same.

Any book that questions humanity’s morality wins me over, and Catherine Chidgey’s novel does just that and more. It follows triplets Vincent, Lawrence, and William, raised under the government’s Sycamore Scheme in 1979 England, cared for by three mothers and shaped by three mysterious books tracking their dreams, knowledge, and guilt. The story subtly diverges from known history, creating an unsettling, alternative world that probes deep questions about nature versus nurture and the origins of good and evil. Chidgey’s rich, descriptive language and nuanced portrayal of the brothers, distinct and complex, make the novel immersive. Like Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go , it’s dark and thought-provoking, pushing readers to become theorists themselves. While the prose can be heavy at times, the novel’s expansive themes and ethical reflections make it compelling and haunting.

This was a solid read for me. I really enjoyed Mitchell’s balance between sticking to the facts and keeping the audience entertained. He’s funny without being over-the-top, and his humour makes dense historical material easier to digest. At the same time, he’s sharp and insightful; he doesn’t oversimplify or talk down to the reader, and his voice comes through clearly throughout. That said, I often found the lineage of kings confusing. With so many similar names, rulers disappearing and returning, and complex family relationships, it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who. The longer I read, the clearer it became, but the pre- War of the Roses section of the timeline felt new to me, and it’s a dense period of history that isn’t easy to absorb in one sitting. Although my confusion was sometimes sticky, I’m not sure whether that’s due to Mitchell’s clarity or the inherent complexity of the period. Even so, while I may not retain much beyond what I already knew and a few new insights, Mitchell’s writing makes navigating this complicated history both engaging and enjoyable. I particularly loved Mitchell’s perspective on religion. He argues that violence is constant and not inherently caused by faith, though it can provide a convenient justification.

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world. I) Katabasis Released I’m sure you’ve heard of R.F. Kuang by now. And if you haven’t…do you even read? She’s the author of bestsellers like Yellowface  – which has won multiple awards, including the British Book Awards’ Fiction Book of the Year (2024) – Babel , and the infamous Poppy War  series. Fans have been eagerly anticipating her latest fantasy novel, and it finally dropped on 26th August. Katabasis  follows two graduate students who set aside their rivalry to journey through Hell in order to save their professor’s soul. Critical reception has been mixed. Publishers Weekly  notes: “[Kuang] takes readers on a clever and deeply cerebral, if sometimes fatiguing, journey through hell… It’s not perfect, but Kuang’s devoted fans will find this hits the spot.” II) Jonathan Karp, CEO of Simon & Schuster, to Step Down to Head New Imprint, Simon Six After five years at the helm of Simon & Schuster, Jonathan Karp has announced he will step down as CEO to launch and lead a new imprint, Simon Six. Karp plans to edit every book himself and collaborate with the teams at various S&S imprints on a book-by-book basis, saying: “I have decided it’s time for me to return to the part of publishing that animates me the most.” Funnily enough, the original name for the imprint was going to be X Books, but Elon Musk beat them to it. Probably for the best; it’s usually wise not to copy anything he does for the foreseeable future. The idea behind Simon Six is that each of the six books published annually will have its own X-factor (hence the previous working title). Simon Six is expected to launch its first list sometime next year, so keep an eye out! III) The New Adult Book Prize Shortlist 2025 The New Adult Book Prize  is a new UK literary award, launched in April 2025 by The Bookseller  in association with The Times  and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival . Five debut authors and five established authors have been nominated, with the winner to be revealed at the Cheltenham Literature Festival this October. Here’s a quick overview of the ten shortlisted books: Onyx Storm (Piatkus) by Rebecca Yarros – #1 New York Times  bestselling author. The third book of The Empyrean Series , a fantasy novel. Sorcery and Small Magics (Orbit) by Maiga Doocy – first novel of The Wildersongs Trilogy , a cosy fantasy series. Heir (Atom) by Sabaa Tahir – first novel of an intended duology; nominated for Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Fantasy (2024) on Goodreads. Ghost Chilli (Fleet) by Nikkitha Bakshani – debut fiction novel. Disappoint Me (Doubleday) by Nicola Dinan – queer fiction, funny, sharp, and poignant. Homesick (HarperFiction)   by Silvia Saunders – debut contemporary novel; winner of the Comedy Women in Unpublished Print Award. Good Girl (Bloomsbury) by Aria Aber – debut literary fiction novel; made the shortlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. The Pairing (Macmillan) by Casey McQuiston – queer romance; nominated for Readers’ Favorite Romance (2024) on Goodreads. Under Your Spell (Simon & Schuster) by Laura Woods – romance novel; an easy, fun read. Human, Animal (Verve) by Seth Insua – debut literary fiction exploring the enduring effects of conflict and the friction between tradition and progress. IV) Hamnet Teaser Trailer Drops The teaser trailer for the film Hamnet  has just dropped! This adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s incredible historical fiction novel tells the love story that inspired Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece Hamlet . So far, it looks brilliant, with a stellar cast led by Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. I’m keeping my fingers (and toes!) crossed that the film stays true to the source material, rather than using it merely as “inspiration”, something that’s frustrated me with recent adaptations like Wuthering Heights  (2026) and Frankenstein  (2025), which twist the original stories to the point of almost insulting their frameworks. V) Penguin Celebrates 90th Birthday with 90 Little Book Stops To celebrate its 90th birthday, Penguin has launched an exciting new project: 90 Little Book Stops. These Stops are essentially community bookshelves or small book boxes placed in neighbourhoods, acting as book exchange spots. The idea continues the tradition started by Todd Bol in Hudson, Wisconsin in 2009, as a memorial to his mother, a schoolteacher and avid reader. Penguin is partnering with the non-profit Little Free Library, which manages the network, to mark this milestone. The Little Book Stops will be installed across 12 regions in the UK this autumn. Check back in September when Penguin will reveal all 90 locations, so you can find your nearest Stop and join in the fun!

Hello! This is my bi-weekly update on publishing. Don’t worry, this one isn’t going to be heavy. It’s just the introduction, and I want it to feel like a welcome rather than a big scary sign screaming: PUBLISHING IS TERRIFYING! PREPARE YOURSELF FOR REJECTION AND STRUGGLE… BUT ALSO HOPE AND RESOLVE! So, I’m going to take it down a notch. Honestly, this is mostly for me, to track my own journey, see where I’m at, and have a sort of physical reminder of how I’m developing. That way, whenever I feel low, I can look back and realise I am getting somewhere… slowly, but surely. I guess I just need to see it to believe it, and be reminded of it. And who knows? Maybe it’ll help someone else too! Publishing, ah, what a tough nut to crack, and wow, is it testing me. There’s no doubt this is something I want to do, because if anything else was this hard to get into, I wouldn’t stick around for longer than five seconds. But for some reason, I just can’t be deterred. Lots has happened… and also not much at all when it comes to progress in publishing. You feel so close, yet so far. Up until about four months ago, the industry was really struggling, one position per thousands of applicants, people being let go, whole departments shutting down because of lack of demand. It’s been a tough time for everyone, both those on the inside and especially those of us on the outside looking in. But thankfully, things seem to be shifting. There’s been a little step up, a little more hope for everyone trying to break in. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still hard. But compared to the last year? That was borderline impossible. There are ways, of course, to get your foot in the door. The most important one? Work experience. That could mean admin roles, working in a bookshop, helping out on independent or volunteer-run magazines, contributing to newsletters, any form of editing or journalism, really. Maybe even starting a Bookstagram, blog, or website. Anything that gets you working with the written word is ideal. But honestly? I don’t know what they prize above all else. Sometimes, I think it’s all of the above… plus a bit of luck. I can’t say for sure which matters most, probably a mix of everything. What I have heard (and learned) is that an admin role is a great starting point. It makes sense, because your first job in publishing will likely involve a lot of administrative tasks. As an assistant, you need to be proficient in all things admin, because that’s where you begin. So from what I’ve gathered so far: admin, admin, admin. But honestly, if you’re reading this, you probably know that already. So, think of this as me just reaffirming what you were already thinking. Of course, to start, I’d recommend before (or alongside) signing up for opportunities with the Big Five (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster), trying to get some experience with smaller businesses first. I’ve found you’re more likely to hear back from them (even if it’s just a polite “thanks but no thanks”), because they usually get fewer emails and calls and are often more open to extra help. The downside? Because they’re smaller, payment is unlikely, and they usually can’t cover things like travel costs or even compensate you for your time, unlike bigger companies that often have the funds to do so. But the experience itself is incredibly helpful, and perfect for your CV. I’d like to think it also shows dedication. You’re not doing this for any reason other than the enjoyment and the commitment to the industry itself. Plus, when you apply for internships or other opportunities with the Big Five, having that prior experience might boost your chances. It shows you’re already contributing to and educating yourself about publishing in some capacity. But hey, this isn’t me telling you what to do. After all, I’m still trying my luck like everyone else! Anyway, to conclude – and not be a huge Debbie Downer – some honesty: it's hard. You’ll get overwhelmed, you’ll burn out, and you’ll need to take a break after applying and applying and applying. But as long as you get back to it, that’s something to be proud of.