The Familiars by Stacey Hall

Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, is with child again. None of her previous pregnancies have borne fruit, and her husband, Richard, is anxious for an heir. Then Fleetwood discovers a hidden doctor’s letter that carries a dire prediction: she will not survive another birth. By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help her deliver a healthy baby. But Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft.

Is there more to Alice than meets the eye? Fleetwood must risk everything to prove her innocence. As the two women’s lives become intertwined, the Witch Trials of 1612 loom. Time is running out; both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.

Rich and compelling, set against the frenzy of the real Pendle Hill Witch Trials, this novel explores the rights of 17th-century women and raises the question: Was witch-hunting really women-hunting? Fleetwood Shuttleworth, Alice Grey and the other characters are actual historical figures. King James I was obsessed with asserting power over the lawless countryside (even woodland creatures, or “familiars,” were suspected of dark magic) by capturing “witches”—in reality mostly poor and illiterate women.

Hardcover, 344 pages
Published February 19th 2019 by Mira Books (first published February 7th 2019)

My Review

This story is told from the point of view of Fleetwood Shuttleworth (yes, that was her real name!), a young woman of 17 who is on her fourth pregnancy and is desperate to ensure her child survives after three miscarriages. When she meets Alice, she meets someone who could be a friend for the first time in her life but Alice has secrets and is mysterious.

I liked the way Stacey Halls wove a story around the history of the real Pendle witch trials using real people who were close to the trials and creating an answer to the mystery of Alice's missing story. I sometimes found Fleetwood's narrative a little unbelievable as she rides around the countryside searching for answers but appreciated the descriptions. I also found her history with her mother really interesting and more believable for the time.

I would really have valued reading chapters from Alice's point of view to further bring her story to life.

This was an enjoyable story with some insight into the danger during witch trials, when neighbours would turn against their neighbours, and being a woman not conforming to patriarchal stereotypes could have you branded a witch. This gets 3 out of 5 from me.

The Author

Stacey Halls grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire, as the daughter of market traders. She has always been fascinated by the Pendle witches. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and moved to London aged 21. She was media editor at The Bookseller and books editor at Stylist.co.uk, and has also written for Psychologies, the Independent and Fabulous magazine, where she now works as Deputy Chief Sub Editor. The Familiars is her first novel.

All the Water in the World by Karen Raney

A stunning debut novel about a teenage girl and her mother as they grapple with first love, family secrets, and tragedy.

Maddy is sixteen. Smart, funny, and profound, she has loyal friends, a mother with whom she’s unusually close, a father she’s never met, devoted grandparents, and a crush on a boy named Jack. Maddy also has cancer. Living in the shadow of uncertainty, she is forced to grow up fast.

All the Water in the World is the story of a family doing its best when faced with the worst. Told in the alternating voices of Maddy and her mother, Eve, the narrative moves between the family’s lake house in Pennsylvania; their home in Washington, DC; and London, where Maddy’s father, Antonio, lives. Hungry for experience, Maddy seeks out her first romantic relationship, finds solace in music and art, and tracks down Antonio. She continually tests the depths and limits of her closeness with her mother, while Eve has to come to terms with the daughter she only partly knows, in a world she can’t control.

With unforgettable voices that range from tender to funny, despairing to defiant, this novel illuminates the transformative power of love, humor, and hope.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published August 6th 2019 by Scribner

I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

This is a tender exploration of the relationship between a mother and daughter in the most difficult of circumstances. The narration switches between Eve and Maddy's perspectives and doesn't always fall in chronological order.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the music which Maddy enjoys so much and the setting of the lake.  This book also contains some of the most detailed descriptions of chemotherapy and its effects that I've read in any novel.

The story and the relationships between the characters were very moving and I enjoyed the story, although towards the end Eve's actions seemed perhaps a little out of character. I'd give this 3 out of 5 and would be interested to read future novels by Karen Raney.

Postscript by Cecilia Ahern

It's been seven years since Holly Kennedy's husband died – six since she read his final letter, urging Holly to find the courage to forge a new life.

She’s proud of all the ways in which she has grown and evolved. But when a group inspired by Gerry's letters, calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, approaches Holly asking for help, she finds herself drawn back into a world that she worked so hard to leave behind.

Reluctantly, Holly begins a relationship with the club, even as their friendship threatens to destroy the peace she believes she has achieved. As each of these people calls upon Holly to help them leave something meaningful behind for their loved ones, Holly will embark on a remarkable journey – one that will challenge her to ask whether embracing the future means betraying the past, and what it means to love someone forever…


Paperback, 368 pages
Published September 19th 2019 by HarperCollins
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

My Review

I first read P.S. I Love You back in 2004 when it was released and loved the emotional story of Holly and Gerry and his letters to help her move on after he passed away. Since then I have also enjoyed the film adaptation, which changed a lot of details but still had the same feeling of the original story. In the intervening years I had definitely forgotten some of the details of the book and focussed on the film, so if anyone else is the same, I would recommend re-reading P.S. I Love You before reading Postscript - I wish I had!

Postscript rejoins Holly seven years after Gerry died and six years after his last letter. She has moved on with a new job and new boyfriend but is still treated by her family as very fragile due to her grief. She has also become an expert at distracting herself from thinking about Gerry too much. 

When she shares the story of Gerry's letters, people in similar situations to Gerry are inspired to form a club focussing on helping their own loved ones after they're gone. The stories of the PS, I Love You Club members are very moving. I was particularly captivated by Ginnika and Jewel and was heartbroken by the end. It was interesting to see how Holly was affected by each member of the group and how it helped her reflect on Gerry's loss and his letters, although I did find some of Holly's reflections quite lengthy and maybe a little repetitive.

I really enjoyed Postscript and felt like it has enhanced the original story, emphasising how grief for a loved one is a lifelong process but that there can be hope for the future.

I highly recommend Postscript for those who loved P.S. I Love You. I give it 4 out of 5.

The Author

Cecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. She is now published in nearly fifty countries, and has sold over twenty-five million copies of her novels worldwide. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series.

All About Us by Tom Ellen

A chance encounter on Christmas Eve leads to the journey of a lifetime in this powerful and emotional love story, perfect for fans of Josie Silver, David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes.

One moment in time can change your life forever…

Ben’s always loved the holidays but with his marriage to Daphne on the rocks, this year they’re missing their usual magic. So when his old flame Alice gets back in touch, Ben can’t help wonder: did he make the right choice all those years ago?

Yet everything changes on Christmas Eve when a twinkly-eyed stranger sells Ben a mysterious watch, the hands frozen at one minute to midnight. Opening his eyes the next morning, Ben is astonished to find that he has been catapulted back to 5th December 2005: the day he first kissed Daphne, leaving Alice behind.

Now Ben must make the biggest decision of his life, all over again. But this time around, will he finally find the courage to follow his heart?

All About Us is a deeply moving novel about love, loss and heartbreak — and how, with the help of a little magic, it’s never too late to find the one you’ve been searching for.

Paperback, UK, 400 pages
Expected publication: October 15th 2020 by HQ
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

This is a wonderfully enchanting re-imagining of A Christmas Carol, with memorable characters and a moving story.

The author grabbed my attention from the very first page and I couldn't put the book down after that. As Ben travels back in time and revisits key moments in his life, we join him on his journey rediscovering the past with fresh eyes. He develops a lot as the book progresses and he re-examines his decisions, regrets and mistakes. His relationships with Daphne, his mum, his best friend Harvey and Alice are explored in different ways, and show how people and experiences shape us.

The book was also incredibly emotional and it moved me to tears more than once. I loved it and don't hesitate to give it 5 out of 5!

This Lovely City by Louise Hare

"The drinks are flowing. The music’s playing. But the party can’t last.

London, 1950. With the Blitz over and London still rebuilding after the war, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England’s call for help. Arriving from Jamaica aboard the Empire Windrush, he’s taken a tiny room in south London lodgings, and has fallen in love with the girl next door.

Touring Soho’s music halls by night, pacing the streets as a postman by day, Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home — and it’s alive with possibility. Until one morning, while crossing a misty common, he makes a terrible discovery.

As the local community rallies, fingers of blame are pointed at those who had recently been welcomed with open arms. And before long, London’s newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy which threatens to tear the city apart. Immersive, poignant, and utterly compelling, Louise Hare’s debut examines the complexities of love and belonging, and teaches us that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope."

Hardcover, 400 pages

Expected publication: March 12th 2020 by Harper Collins

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Louise Hare brings post-war London to life in this exploration of the arrival of the Windrush generation. People invited across the world to new homes who then weren't welcomed by the British people. The story follows Lawrie who has taken a chance to come to London in search of new opportunities and the people he meets along the way. His discovery sparks the tension that has been held within the community.

Equally important to the story is his girlfriend Evie, who has lived with racism all her life and a mother who has always made her feel guilty for ruining her life. As their stories converge the author explores many themes, from widespread racism, to the women whose husbands returned from the war different men and those trying to rebuild their lives without men. This story highlights a society that was starting to become more progressive but still had double-standards when it came to sex and race.

This was an interesting story that kept me guessing until the end but was a little slow at times. I would give it 3 out of 5.

The Author

Louise Hare is a London-based writer and has an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London. Originally from Warrington, the capital is the inspiration for much of her work, including This Lovely City, which began life after a trip into the deep level shelter below Clapham Common.