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Between the Pages

A Literary Journey Through Book Reviews

BookBlogger

  • Legends & Lattes

    Legends & Lattes is a warm and enchanting cosy fantasy that swaps epic battles and dangerous quests for coffee, friendship, and finding a place to belong. Following Viv, an orc who leaves behind her life as a warrior to open the world’s first coffee shop, Travis Baldree creates a charming story about second chances, unexpected… Read more

  • A brilliant book can take us on an unforgettable journey, but what happens when the final pages leave us disappointed? From rushed conclusions and unanswered questions to endings that divide readers, a poor ending can completely change how we remember a story. But can one chapter really undo hundreds of pages of incredible characters, emotions,… Read more

  • Britt-Marie Was Here

    What starts as the story of a lonely, set-in-her-ways woman rebuilding her life becomes a touching exploration of friendship, belonging, and second chances. Britt-Marie may be stubborn, blunt, and obsessed with routine, but beneath her prickly exterior is a character impossible not to root for as she discovers that life can still hold surprises, even… Read more

  • Those People Next Door

    What begins as a disagreement between neighbours quickly spirals into something far more sinister. Those People Next Door is a thought-provoking thriller that blends social issues with courtroom drama, keeping you questioning everyone’s motives until the very end. Read more

  • *Advanced Reader Copy* Returning to The Book Club Murders felt like catching up with old friends. The familiar cast, another compelling mystery, and Maggie Allswell’s cosy writing style made this a thoroughly enjoyable read. While I found this instalment a little more predictable than the first, it was still an entertaining mystery that kept the… Read more

  • Atmosphere

    Atmosphere is a breathtaking blend of ambition, love, and resilience set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980s Space Shuttle programme. Taylor Jenkins Reid creates a story that feels both intimate and epic, with a protagonist I couldn’t help but root for. Richly researched, emotionally powerful, and impossible to put down, this is a novel that… Read more

  • *Advanced Reader Copy* The Knife Maker of Venice is a well-researched historical fiction set in seventeenth-century Europe, following a young English boy who is captured and sold into slavery in Venice. The story begins slowly, focusing on world-building and character introduction, before building into a more fast-paced and action-driven second half. The sibling relationship between… Read more

  • Artemis

    A fast-paced space heist set in the first city on the Moon, Artemis combines science-fiction, crime, humour, and conspiracy into an entertaining adventure. While it didn’t quite reach the heights of Project Hail Mary for me, Jazz Bashara’s witty narration and the unique lunar setting made this a fun and engaging read from beginning to… Read more

  • The Names

    A beautifully layered novel exploring how one small decision can ripple through an entire lifetime. Thought-provoking, emotional, and quietly devastating, The Names examines identity, family, and the lasting impact of choice through three intertwining timelines. Read more

  • A dazzling, scandal-filled journey through the golden age of Hollywood, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is far more than a story about fame and glamour. Beneath the designer gowns, red carpets, and dramatic headlines lies a deeply emotional tale of love, sacrifice, ambition, and identity. Evelyn Hugo is the kind of character who completely… Read more

  • *Advanced Reader Copy* A world divided by angels and demons, soul bonds that change lives forever, and a knight forced to question everything she has ever believed. The Wretched Divine delivers a rich high fantasy romance filled with forbidden tension, betrayal, political conflict, and emotional bonds that blur the line between good and evil. Slow… Read more

  • Station Eleven

    Station Eleven is a haunting and reflective dystopian novel that explores life before and after a devastating pandemic. Through interconnected characters and shifting timelines, it focuses less on action and more on the emotional weight of survival, memory, and human connection. While its structure can feel disorienting at first, the story gradually weaves together into… Read more

  • The Book Club Murders

    *Advanced Reader Copy* I went into The Book Club Murders not quite knowing what to expect, but it quickly won me over with its humour, charm, and intriguing premise. Following a book club that suspects they have stumbled across a real-life serial killer, the story balances light-hearted moments with genuine suspense. With a cast of… Read more

  • Orbital

    Orbital by Samantha Harvey is a quiet, reflective science-fiction novel that follows a group of astronauts observing Earth from space, focusing more on their thoughts and emotions than a traditional plot. While it explores powerful themes like grief, human connection, and the fragility of our planet, I often felt a little disconnected despite some thought-provoking… Read more

  • Jess and Norma

    There’s something incredibly special about Jess and Norma. It feels less like reading a book and more like sitting down with them, listening to their stories unfold in their own voices. Warm, honest, and deeply personal, this memoir captures not just their journey, but the unbreakable bond between them. It’s comforting, moving, and at times… Read more

  • In a world where colourful covers can hide complex and explicit themes, how do we know what’s truly suitable for younger readers? As “spicy” BookTok recommendations continue to blur the line between Young Adult and Adult fiction, it raises an important question: should books come with age ratings like films and games? Read more

  • Chain Gang All Stars

    Chain Gang All Stars is set in a near-future America where prisoners can earn freedom by surviving a televised death-match programme. The story follows teammates and lovers Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker as rules shift and protests rise. While the large cast and frequent perspective changes can feel confusing, the central relationship is… Read more

  • ke It Back is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that follows Zara Kaleel, a former barrister who leaves behind one of London’s brightest legal careers to work at a rape crisis centre. When she begins supporting Jodie Wolfe, a vulnerable sixteen-year-old who accuses four Muslim boys of rape, the case quickly spirals beyond the courtroom.… Read more

  • We’ve all been there: someone calls a book their favourite, and the room goes quiet when another reader admits they didn’t enjoy it. Suddenly, a difference in taste feels personal. In this post, I reflect on how we can share honest book opinions — in reviews and book clubs — without turning disagreement into discomfort. Read more

  • Cultish

    Cultish challenges the idea that cults are only religious or inherently bad, instead presenting them as something that exists on a spectrum. By exploring sport, fandoms, and marketing alongside religion, Amanda Montell shows how language creates belonging — and how easily that sense of connection can shift from healthy to harmful. Read more