From Hardy to Haylofts: The Books That Shaped Human, Animal
So, my debut novel Human, Animal is finally hitting the shelves! It explores the complex terrain of tolerance in a world increasingly defined by its divisions. The seeds of this story were sown in my own childhood experiences. Growing up in the countryside, surrounded...
Romance Reads this Valentine’s Weekend
Jenna suggests: A Women's Prize for Fiction-longlisted novel about a recovering love addict and the merman who changes her perspective on love and relationships. The Pisces is a hilarious story of modern love, astutely capturing the chaos that can ensue when...
For the ones who need holiday gift ideas…
Christmas is coming fast, so we've supplied you with ideas for what to get your loved ones this festive season! For the person who has read everything… If you're struggling to choose a book for someone who seems to have read everything, why not let your favourite...
Jane Jesmond’s Crime Fiction Recommendations
It's October and already autumn is upon us. Soon I'll no longer be able to walk down onto the beach after supper to watch the sun setting. Instead I'll be curled up in front of the fire relying on an engrossing book to block out the noise of wind and rain outside -...
Hot Girl Horror
The Substance (2024) Hot girls hate scary beauty standards. Further reading: Sarah Rose Etter’s The Book of X – another surreal look at how women’s bodies are viewed, treated and experienced. X (2022) Hot girls are obsessed with Mia Goth (and her denim dungarees)....
What 2024 Title You Should Read Based on Your Star Sign
Scorpio - The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo This novel is perfect for Scorpios, not only does it feature a scorpion to be wary of, it is dark, intense and sensual. A historical fantasy set in the Golden Age, Luzia Cotado is a scullery maid with magic at her fingertips, a...
Navigating the Diaspora Disconnect by Maame Blue
I was curious about a lot of things when I started writing The Rest Of You. I was thinking about my Ghanaian heritage, about the life of my mother before she had me, and about what being Ghanaian meant to me, as someone who grew up Black in Britain. I don't think I'm...
Writing Placeholders by James Roseman
Influence is a funny thing. Ira Glass once spoke quite eloquently about the taste-talent gap – that is, the space between the things an artist likes and the things she has the capacity to create. And so she creates, because an artist can't help herself from creating,...
Campus Novels to Make You Feel Nostalgic
As autumn draws in and the new term begins, pick up a campus novel for some nostalgic after-school reading… Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld Fittingly described as ‘The OC meets The Secret History with flashes of Clueless’ (Observer) and ‘Sweet Valley High as written by...
Writing Blue Hour by Tiffany Clarke Harrison
Blue Hour started, as many things do, with a kernel of an idea. I knew I wanted to write a story about a multi-ethnic couple in which the wife was uncertain about having children. I'd had this image of a couple in my head for a while and was excited to start creating...