Book Reviews
For Fiction Fans
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July 2026
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Reads & Raves
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We're new - wahoo! ~ July 2026 ~ Reads & Raves ~
Discover your next great read!
One minute or in-depth Book reviews with star ratings!
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Three sisters clash with two barren queens in a brutal dance for a single, bloodstained throne.
Medieval saga of The Tudor dynasty in all its greed and gore ...
Latest Reviews
A Good Year
Pater Mayle
Romance
Standalone
Our review: A shrewd British businessman inherits a French vineyard from his uncle. A love story begins and the man willingly journeys toward humorous self-reflection.
The perfect summer read.
Witty and keen observations.
Lion
Conn Iggulden
Historical
Series 1/2
Our review: From ultra-talented Conn Iguulden comes the first in his latest two book series. A historical epic set in ancient Greece and focusing on the Greco-Persian wars with attention to true events, and characters that cross the centuries divide.
Immersive Ancient Greece.
Damascus Station
David McCloskey
Spy Thriller
Standalone
Our review: Pacey, middle-of-the-road spy thriller with a central love story, but it’s a safe read if you’re new to this genre. Sam, a CIA officer, recruits a Syrian woman with links to Assad. Main character cliches abound especially around the romance.
Great for newcomers to spy thrillers.
The Mad Women’s Ball
Victoria Mas
Historical, Drama
Standalone
Our review: Scenes, moods and thoughts are encased in a succinct and sophisticated narrative. Set in historical Paris and partly based on shocking events related to mental health. With a sprinkling of paranormal, feeding the moody atmosphere, this is a novel you won’t regret reading. Also now a movie.
Thought-provoking whilst still lightly entertaining.
The Librarian Of Auschwitz
Antonio Iturbe
Historical Drama
Standalone
Our review: A poignant novel based on a true story and offering insight and a different perspective into the ‘family camp’ at Auschwitz.
Antonio Iturbe is a talented writer and his succinct and fresh writing style remains pacey until the end.
Heart-breaking but heart-warming.
Rush Home Road
Lori Lansens
Literary
Standalone
Our review: Brilliantly written with mindful observations of characters’ experiences. An elderly woman is prompted to reflect on her challenging past when her neighbour’s little girl comes to live. Set in 1920’s & 1970’s Canada with aspects of the Underground Railroad woven in.
Character-centric with an interesting and rare storyline.
The Sunrise Sisterhood
Cathy Bramley
Drama
Standalone
Our review: Ideal for anyone who can relate to being a sister or an aunt of grown-up nieces. A lovingly written, summer drama that keeps moving forwards with humour and a happy ending.
Ideal novel for reading on holiday by the pool.
The Exhibitionist
Charlotte Mendelson
Drama
Standalone
Our review: Despite the slow pace it’s worth a read for the writer’s very acute observations of family dynamics, flaws and motivations. Ray, the narcissistic father was all too real and I’m afraid I wanted to shake the other characters at times.
The Times Novel of the Year 2022
Good if you want to read about narcissists.
Summer Romance Novels - Standalone - latest reviews
The Mercury Travel Club
Helen Bridgett
Rom-Com Novel
Series 1/3
Our review: A 50-something divorcee forms a new life for herself. Reminiscent of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
If you’ve ever had to stand up, brush yourself off and adopt a pragmatic approach then this book will resonate.
Funny and entirely relatable.
One Perfect French Summer
Lucy Coleman
Romance
Standalone
Our review: A woman travels to France on a working holiday. Dependable writer Lucy Coleman delivers an immersive and classic romance with the increasingly popular, older woman younger man, trope.
Perfect contemporary summer romance.
Aphrodite’s Island
Hilary Green
Historical Romance Novel
Standalone
Set in Cyprus during WW2 and 1998 and linking a family’s intriguing history. Not too deep despite the WW2 subject matter and the storyline worked well to incorporate history and romance equally.
Enjoyable all-rounder for a wide audience.
Wild At Heart
K. Barnett
Contemporary Romance Novel
Standalone
Our review: A new divorcee sets out on her own self-esteem building adventure on a nature reserve in Kenya.
A delicious, slightly spicy enemies-to-lovers style summer romance that’s easy reading.
A romance story that bounds along.
The Horse Whisperer
Nicholas Evans
Romance Novel
Standalone
Our review: After a tragic accident a young girl and her broken horse take the long road back to salvation with the help of an enigmatic horse expert. A love story and a story of love unfolds on the Montana landscape.
Soul warming.
Love & beauty throughout .
Book to TV / Movie Novels - latest reviews
The Queen’s Gambit
Walter Tevis
Drama Novel
Standalone
Our review: Refreshing coming-of-age drama for a broad audience. Beautifully written and entirely reflective of 1950’s 1960’s America featuring a young girl’s determined but graceful mission to find her place in life.
The TV series follows the book quite closely.
You don’t need to know chess to enjoy!
About A Boy
Nick Hornby
Drama Novel
Standalone
Set in the early 90’s this funny and evocative read follows an unlikely friendship between a vacuous man and and odd-bod boy.
Humorous and witsome observations by a talented author who has a knack for taking the everyday obvious and moulding it into a laugh out loud narrative.
Book is better than the movie.
The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks
Romance Novel
Standalone
Set in North Carolina after WW2 a young man deals with heartbreak by spending time doing up a plantation house. A tandem storyline follows the same characters in their youth and their twilight years.
Written by seasoned author who never lets romance readers down.
It’s a tie: the book & movie are equally superb.
