
The Other Alcott: A Novel
Book
Elise Hooper's debut novel conjures the fascinating, untold story of May Alcott-Louisa's youngest...

Mrs Engels
Book
Longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award Love is a bygone idea, centuries-worn. There are things...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Arsenic and Adobo in Books
May 5, 2021
This is a solid debut. The mystery starts off quickly, and Lila learns plenty of secrets on her way to uncovering what really happened. The climax is suspenseful and creative. The characters are all strong. We even learn a bit more about Derek that makes him a little sympathetic although not completely likable. The rest of the cast is strong. A few supporting players blend together, but that is done on purpose, and we see glimpses of their individual personalities. We do have the beginnings of a love triangle here. Some of Lila’s friendships are so strong already, they help make those characters more real for us. I did feel a few of the themes of the book weren’t quite as well developed as I would have liked. Hopefully they will be explored more in further books. If the descriptions of food make you as hungry as they made me, you’ll be happy to see the four recipes at the end of the book. This is a strong debut, and I already can’t wait to find out what happens next to the characters.

The Other Hoffmann Sister
Book
Gripping historical fiction from the prize-winning author of The Spring of Kasper Meier Shortlisted...
historical fiction fiction

Sounds of Isolation by Lottery Winners
Album
The Lottery Winners return with Sounds Of Isolation. A new 11 track covers album that immortalises...

Swimming in the Dark
Book
Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of...
Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Communist Poland

Cigarettes After Sex by Cigarettes After Sex
Album Watch
Cigarettes After Sex frontman Greg Gonzalez had a clear vision for his band's gorgeously cinematic...
alternative rock R&B soul

Gather the Daughters
Book
Never Let Me Go meets The Giver in this haunting debut about a cult on an isolated island, where...

Out of Place
Book
When twelve-year-old Cove Bernstein becomes the target of a school-wide bullying campaign, she sets...

SummerLGrant (185 KP) rated The Hate u Give in Books
Aug 20, 2017
Starr is an absolutely beautiful character with a beautiful family and is put in an ugly situation when she witnesses her best friend shot and murdered by a police officer. He was unarmed, unaggressive and terrified of what the officer eventually does do.
An astoundingly well written debut novel that explores a lot of important topics offset by the support and love of family. It's relevant today and will be for a very long time.