Tag: Book Review

  • 👀 First impressions:Shuggie Bain is a raw and deeply moving novel set in 1980s Glasgow, a city scarred by industrial decline and social decay. It follows young Hugh “Shuggie” Bain as he grows up in a working-class family struggling to survive. His mother, Agnes, is beautiful, proud, and addicted to drink. She dreams of a better life,…

  • 👀 First impressions:Set in the remote Scottish Highlands in 1727, The Last Witch of Scotland tells the story of Aila and her mother Janet as they try to rebuild their lives after a fire kills Aila’s father and leaves her permanently scarred. They move to the parish of Loth in search of a fresh start, but soon discover…

  • 👀 First impressions:If you’re looking for a book that truly earns its place on your Halloween reading list, Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt is it. This haunting novel blends folklore and modern life in a way that feels both timeless and terrifying. Set in the seemingly peaceful town of Black Spring, it follows residents who live alongside the…

  • 👀 First impressions:American Pastoral by Philip Roth is one of those novels that stays with you long after you finish it, not because it’s comforting, but because it refuses to be. It tells the story of Seymour “Swede” Levov, a man who seems to have it all: success, family, and the American dream. But when his daughter…

  • 👀 First impressions:Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is one of those novels that everyone’s heard of, but few realise just how wild and sharp it really is until they dive in. Set during World War II, it follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army bombardier desperately trying to survive the madness of war while everyone around him seems…

  • 👀 First impressions:Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson is one of those rare novels that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. First published in 1985, it tells the story of Jeanette, a young girl growing up in a strict Pentecostal household in northern England, who begins to question both her faith and her…

  • 👀 First impressions:The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore isn’t the kind of book I’d normally reach for, but my best friend has been singing its praises for months, so I finally gave in, and I’m glad I did. Set in the small, picturesque town of Dream Harbour, this story follows Jeanie, who unexpectedly inherits her aunt’s…

  • 👀 First impressions:The Family at Number 1 by Caroline Mitchell has all the ingredients of a solid domestic thriller: a new family moving into a quiet neighbourhood, neighbours who seem a little too curious, and secrets simmering just below the surface. From the very first chapter, it’s clear something isn’t right about Number 1, and Mitchell does…

  • 👀 First impressions:The Guest List by Lucy Foley promises a stormy island, a glamorous wedding, and a body before the cake is even cut. On paper, it’s the perfect recipe for a modern murder mystery. The story unfolds across multiple perspectives including the bride, the groom, the best man, the bridesmaid, and the wedding planner, each with…

  • 👀 First impressions:Annie Bot by Sierra Greer is one of those novels that sneaks up on you, softly, almost gently, and then completely shatters you. It’s a story about Annie, a humanoid AI companion designed to serve her owner, Doug. On the surface, it’s a tale of technology and obedience, but beneath that, it’s a profound exploration…