Review: Camp Murder by Sophie McKenzie

 

Publication Date: June 2026

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

[ Goodreads ]

Blurb: The water tower stands in darkness . . . I’ve seen its secrets now. I know the truth.

With summer camp ahead this August for Georgia, Wren and Billy, the students of Mayfield Academy are looking forward to kayaking on the lake, trails through the woods and evenings round the fire.

But when someone at camp suffers a fatal accident, Georgia is convinced that there’s more to what happened than meets the eye. As she and her friends investigate, they find themselves drawn to the spooky water tower next to camp – the scene of an unsolved mystery from years ago. 

Could there be a connection between this past event and the present-day murder? And is life at summer camp about to turn even more deadly?

I have loved Sophie McKenzie since I first read Girl,Missing age 12 and have continued to dutifully read each of her new releases. Including, this new fun murder mystery series. 

This book was written with the same warmth and fun as the previous. The characters are so well written with such personality and quirks that you can easily identify them. Our main group of besties leap from the page and into the readers hearts. 

Review: The Summer After The Night Before by Lisa Williamson

 

Publication Date: January 2026

Publisher: David Fickling Books

[ Goodreads ]

Blurb: Ben has been in love with Molly forever. When she finally kisses him at a party, he thinks all his dreams have come true.

Later that night he thinks they've started something really special. Molly loves Ben too – of course she does. But not like that. He's her best friend's brother – which makes him practically her brother too, right? But after a few drinks at a party Molly kisses Ben. And she can't remember what happened next.

The months of freedom after GCSEs should be the best of your life. But with everyone reckoning with doubts, lies and mixed-up memories, it quickly becomes the thorny summer after the potent night before...

I picked this book up on a whim after reading the blurb in the library and it went above and beyond my expectations. This book deals with a tough subject of consent and sexual assualt so bear in mind, this will be discussed in the following review. 

The novel deals with the before during and after of the event that occur at a party that Molly, Rhiannon and Ben attend. Molly gets very drunk and wakes up not fully remembering the events of the night before. How does she navigate these scary feelings that involve her best friend and her best friends twin brother. 

Review: Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

 

Publication Date: June 2025

Source: Borrowed from library

Blurb:       [ Goodreads ]

Three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller. He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.

Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

It's no secret - I'm a huge Lisa Jewell fan. So if you were awaiting a negative review - keep scrolling. 

This book was more of Lisa Jewell's amazingly twisted mind conjuring up pulse-quickening excitement that I couldn't eat up fast enough. Full of twists, untrustworthy characters and craziness. If you are a fan of true crime documentary's this is a book you would really enjoy. 

Review: Yesteryear by Caro

 

Publication Date: April 7 2026

Publisher: Fourth Estate Books

Blurb: 

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them.

Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

I would say this is the book of the year - EVERYONE has been raving about it, so naturally enough I was somewhat apprehensive going into it. I honestly can say I feel the hype was warranted in this case. 

This is a book where I feel like I am left thinking about it long after I turned the last page. Not solely because of the content, but because of the message, its execution and the societal changes that have warranted this book being published. 

Review: The Dirty South by Alex Wheatle

 

Publication Date: January 2008

Publisher: Serpent's Tail

Source: Borrowed From Library  [ Goodreads ]

Blurb: 

The mean streets of south London offer little hope for young black guys. Selling drugs, on the other hand, offers quick money and respect. 

Dennis Huggins finds himself drawn into the spiral in this powerful portrayal of gang life.

Alex Wheatle is an author I have recently discovered that I am trying to make my way through their back catalogue and read all of their work. Having read Liccle Bit and loving it, I picked up Dirty South as my next read. 

Review: Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

 

Publication Date: June 2009

Source: Borrowed from library

Blurb:     [ Goodreads ]

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

I haven't read much Sarah Dessen, despite her being the queen of teen when I was a teenager, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by this one. 

Review: Effie Is Offline by Karen Harte

 

Publication Date: June 2026

Publisher: Gill Books

Source:  Borrowed from library    [ Goodreads ]

Blurb: 

Fifteen-year-old Effie has spent her entire life in the spotlight as the daughter of @TheBrightFamily, a famous Irish influencer family known for their picture-perfect posts. But after her dad’s very public cheating scandal implodes their online empire, Effie’s mam relocates the family to a small rural town for a fresh start.

Desperate to escape her embarrassing past, Effie hides her influencer origins at her new school, where she finally starts to make friends and meets Jack – a grounded, gentle boy with a total lack of online presence or knowledge of that world. But as her mam starts reinventing herself, Effie’s secrets and her chance at a new beginning are at risk of being exposed … in a very public, very messy way.

Utterly unexpected and fantastic. One of my five star reads of the year! 

I actually had no idea this book was a graphic novel until it arrived into the library. I had only skim read the blurb before requesting it as I knew this sounded like a fun time. What I came away with was so much more than fun.