An impressive debut novel that sees reality and fantasy entwine, Something Like Breathing proves that Readman has what it takes to produce a distinctive, full-length piece of work. However, her background as a short story writer features prominently throughout the book; each word, each image, each scene and minor character, has a heartfelt purpose. No
Ambitious businesswoman Mae Yu runs Golden Oaks – a luxury retreat transforming the fertility industry. There, women get the very best of everything: organic meals, fitness trainers, daily massages and big money. Provided they dedicate themselves to producing the perfect baby. For someone else. Jane is a young immigrant in search of a better future.
At first Dom seemed okay about selling the Z3. We posted it on Auto Trader then spent hours poring over Which Car? weighing up family-friendly designs. We had already sold the flat and bought a four-bed house with a garage, now home to a BabyJogger buggy. I had no intention of holding on to the
If you’ve not heard the name Lucie McKnight Hardy, then you better stand up and take notice – because with her latest offering Water Shall Refuse Them, I firmly believe that it announces her to the literary world and with it introduces a writer that will change the literary landscape for years to come! Dead
I can’t remember the first moment Sally Rooney came onto my radar. One minute, I knew nothing about her. The next, I was hearing her name everywhere. As soon as I picked up Normal People, I realised Rooney was the author I didn’t know I needed. If she isn’t yet on your radar, she should
To truly capture the essence of this book, I am going to write a review of only 100 words: As relevant and terrifying as The Handmaid’s Tale, Vox is a dystopic nightmare brought to startling reality. With a focus on language and social interaction, Dalcher manages to perfectly convey a chilling atmosphere of fear, oppression, hatred and silence
There is a time in your life when you are in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time, reading a story you were supposed to be reading. Jutland by Lucie McKnight Hardy was simply that story, at that time, in that place. The stars seemed to have aligned and well, the power of
Well, what do we have here then? An anthology…by women! How preposterous…it shouldn’t be allowed! That my friends is why Boudicca Press exist and why they are so very special. They’ve blasted out of the gate and are tearing up the track with this delightfully put together anthology, featuring, you guessed it, a full female
Quite often there are times when I feel lucky that I got to read a certain story. Maybe once or twice a month, I read something that makes pause, perhaps not in awe, but in true appreciation of another’s work. ‘An Elegy for Easterly’ by Petina Gappah is that story. I confess I’ve yet to
With her debut short story collection, Amy Bonnaffons gives us modern day magical realism complete with inquisitive, hopeful 21stcentury female characters in The Wrong Heaven. Compared to the literary powerhouses George Saunders (on more than one occasion) and Alissa Nutting, Bonnaffons’ writing is funny, sometimes goofy and incredibly inventive. These short stories mostly address young
