This was a surprisingly difficult novel to review because while aspects of it captivated me I was in some ways left unsatisfied. I was initially sold on trying it due to the 'family saga' angle which is absolute catnip to me and I thought Jackson did a fantastic job of creating a family that was both recognisable and unique.

This book was an absolute surprise to me. It's not really like anything else I've read before although it absolutely has notes of other books I've loved including Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss and Emily Austin's Someday Everyone in this Room Will Be Dead.

Good Friday afternoon! I initially wrote this review on the hottest day of the year and I imagined you were probably already furious/melting/refusing to work/swimming in a paddling pool in the garden – delete as appropriate. Since I was sure your main interest at that point was just lying infront of a fan whilst groaning, I’ve waited until I thought I might have your full attention to post this because I’m very keen you receive my message loud and clear: go and pick up a copy of Impossible by Sarah Lotz right now/after work and get reading this weekend!

Hello, welcome back to my Corona Diaries! It’s been a while hasn’t it? But let’s be honest, everyone was really just OVER it, right? No one was waiting for me to chime up and start wittering on about lateral flow tests and masks. But I’m afraid that now I’ve finally had a bout of COVID I have returned!

I remember hearing about this novel right after just reading an article on detransitioning in a national newspaper. I’ve long been interested in the transgender experience and particularly in how the conversation has changed -often for the worst- as its become more mainstream.

For some reason - read: because I manage my own website and my abilities are severely limited on that front - I can’t seem to link new freelance articles that I publish to the home/news page of this website unless I also add them over here to the blog.

It’s hardly been a moment since I posted my review of Beth O’Leary’s The No Show, so I’m coming in unexpectedly hard here with the romance novels. On a practical level it’s just that all my favourite authors of this genre have really been leaning into the Spring and Summer months with new releases but, on a more emotional note, I think these are great reads for pure escapism.

This is, without a doubt, my best book so far of 2022 and it’s going to take some beating (not that it’s a competition). I was immediately intrigued first and foremost by the title because I love a memoir but do also often mull the boundaries inherent in writing such a piece - who is it for, what’s its function for the writer and so on. I’m also aware that Abi Morgan is a writer for stage and screen and so I was interested in how her work might translate to the stage.

I became an instant Beth O’Leary fan after reading The Flat Share (I’m excited for the TV adaptation too) due to the unique premise, fun note writing format and quirky characters. It was a quick, page-turning read and I instantly went on to download and devour the free Christmas story on her website that followed the characters after the book ended.

We kicked off the UK Tour of If This Is Normal last week at The Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol and what a delightful experience it was. I couldn’t have asked for anywhere nicer to start off - their technical director Chris was an absolute star, patiently and enthusiastically programming the lights and making sure we had everything we needed. Also, the restaurant/bar attached to the theatre is great, with a cool collection of local beers - both alcoholic and lo/no alcohol options.

As I sit on my sofa, coffee on one side, a cacophony of paperwork on the other, quietly freaking out at the fact that tomorrow we’re heading off on tour, it seems fitting that I’m the most recent guest on the Just Get A Real Job podcast.

You might have seen this news already if we follow each other on the old social medias but I thought it deserved a blog post all of its own.

Hello strangers! I’ve been so caught up with planning for my theatre tour (not so subtle plug, sorry) that I’ve totally neglected book reviews despite having read some utter delights recently. Today though, that changes!

A couple of weeks ago I gleefully announced that after more than a year of zero theatre work my play If This Is Normal was going out on a UK Tour starting in April 2022. Now I’m delighted to also be able to share the wonderful news that all three of our original cast will be returning to the show.

Gillian McAllister is a pretty cool cucumber. I first discovered her on instagram where she has a significant presence now, updating followers on both her daily writing life and the walks she takes with her dog Wendy in the countryside near her home. She talks openly and often about how she left her job as a lawyer to be a full-time writer and outlines in detail how hard she worked to make this a reality.

After months of using this website to submit you to my every thought about books and life, it’s an absolute delight to be able to use it instead to tell you that I’M GOING ON TOUR! I

Unexpectedly one of my top reads of 2021, I requested this book on Netgalley because I’ve also been writing a novel about a young woman obsessed with dying and I was keen to compare and learn. Of course, because Everyone in this Room will Someday be Dead (let’s ‘shorten’ this to EITRWSBD) starts in such a well written and attention grabbing way I instantly lost the will to write my own novel.

Every year I do my literary round up and every year it sparks off lovely conversations - whether that be with fellow fans of similar books or those that use this list as a jumping off point for their next read. If you’re in the latter camp I’ve included some categorisation/genre information for each book which might make finding what you’re looking for a bit easier.

Saturday 18th December. 2021. It’s freezing cold and I nestle down into my thick scarf as we walk down the street, passing a cute cafe offering a full Sunday roast for £6.50, and arrive at the outdoor section of the shopping centre complex.