Maddy's Book Blog

The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin   I was so excited to get another Rebecca Raisin book to read, and I loved it. It has a slightly different feel from her previous novels — less focus on environmental themes — but the characterisation is absolutely incredible. She creates people you instantly care about, and this story is full of that trademark warmth, charm and emotional depth that make her books such a joy. Viviane appears to be very neurodiverse, and her mother worries about her lack of friends and her difficulty socialising. But when Viviane steps into a small coffee shop in Porto, she has no idea she’s about to spark a silent book club — or find a group of people who will quickly become friends. As the saying goes, every pot has its lid, and this quirky little circle fits together perfectly, each able to be fully themselves in each other’s company. The first person Viviane meets is Tiago, a handsome, nerdy tech entrepreneur who strikes up a conversation when he ...

  One Day at a Time by Shari Low I’ve read many of Shari Low’s ‘One’ books over the years, and although this one is a standalone, I still recognised a few familiar faces along the way. Shari first became well known writing with Russ King, but with over forty bestsellers to her name, it’s clear she’s earned her reputation in her own right. She writes with such ease and confidence, and her characters are always spot on. This story has a brilliant twist at the end too, and I absolutely loved it. Sheena, Orla and Maddie are all pregnant, each in completely different circumstances, and for all three it’s a surprise — but one thing they agree on is that they want their baby. And guess who else is pregnant? The midwife. They all meet at antenatal classes, forming an unlikely little group, but it soon becomes clear there may be more linking them than any of them realise. It’s a heartfelt, engaging story that brings these women together in ways that feel both unexpected and deeply s...

  A Family Affair by Jodi Taylor I’ve read many books by Jodi Taylor and they are completely bonkers — but I absolutely love them. Her Time Police novels fling you around the world in both place and time, creating chaos wherever they land and somehow emerging unscathed every single time. They’re fast, funny and gloriously ridiculous, and this one is no exception. Hilarious. Lady Smallhope and Pennyroyal are business partners with a secret romantic relationship, and between them they own two time machines they use as bounty hunters in the lucrative service of the Time Police. Life is already chaotic enough, but when Pennyroyal’s sister Amelia suddenly appears, he starts spending more time with her than with Lady Smallhope — until events take a dangerous turn. As ever with Jodi Taylor, the mix of time‑travel mayhem, sharp humour and emotional undercurrents makes for a wildly entertaining ride. It’s another wildly entertaining instalment, full of the trademark chaos, sharp humou...

  Blue Skies Ahead by Jessica Redland I just love Jessica Redland’s books, and I was delighted to hear she has a new series out — especially one set, like many of her previous favourites, on a country farm. She has such a gift for transporting you out of the city and straight into the heart of the countryside, with realistic, relatable characters and a wonderfully grounded sense of place. This one even comes complete with a very grumpy teenager, written with her usual mix of humour and empathy. When Grace and her husband break up, she heads to her mum Frances’s for a much‑needed holiday, taking along Maddie — her very grumpy teenage daughter. When they stumble across Hazelwick Farm for sale, Grace takes it as a sign, and she and Frances decide to buy it together. Frances will run the café, Grace will take on the farm work, and Maddie… well, Maddie might help if she can shake off her bad mood. The story is full of twists and turns, including a few I genuinely didn’t see coming, ...

  The Truth of Us by Sara Cox   I’d obviously heard of Sara Cox, and the premise of this book really intrigued me — and I’m so pleased to say it absolutely delivered. Sometimes celebrity‑penned novels can feel a little flat, but this one is a triumph. It’s engaging, heartfelt and far more assured than I expected, with a story that pulls you in and a voice that feels both natural and genuinely entertaining. In 1982, on a street in Manchester where all the houses looked much the same — though number 51 was always a touch neater than number 49 — two girls became inseparable. Abi and Christy, birthday twins and instant best friends, grew up side by side: Christy the wilder one, Abi happily led astray. Twenty years later, their lives couldn’t be more different. Abi is back in her parents’ house with a husband and children, while Christy is living the high life in London. But when Christy’s mum becomes unwell, she returns home, and the two women find themselves neighbours once a...

  Winter Lights in Pine Harbor by Tammy Robinson I’ve read nearly every book Tammy Robinson has written, and I’ve loved them all. Even though she’s based in New Zealand and I’m here in the UK, her characters and situations always feel incredibly relatable, as if she’s writing about people you might know yourself. There’s a warmth and emotional honesty to her stories that I adore, and Winter Lights in Pine Harbor is another beautiful example of why her books are such a joy to read. Mae was an ER nurse, completely burned out after years of pressure, and when a young boy dies on her watch she knows she can’t stay. She moves to Pine Harbor to work as a community nurse, hoping the slower pace will help her heal. Jonah has lived in Pine Harbor all his life; his parents want him to take over the family business, but he prefers the quiet, steady rhythm of being a lobsterman. When Mae becomes responsible for Jonah’s father’s care, sparks fly almost immediately. Jonah’s dream of showing...

  I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend by Harry Trevaldwyn Having read and enjoyed the first book in this series, I was delighted to be offered the second — and it was just as enjoyable. These books feel like sitting down for a chat with a much younger, very amusing friend who has an endless supply of self‑deprecating humour and chaotic charm. I didn’t quite laugh out loud, but it certainly made me smile all the way through. Patch and Sam have shared their first kiss, but they’re not officially boyfriends yet — something Patch is desperate to change. He’s convinced the best way to make it happen is to give Sam the most perfect date imaginable… but, of course, the best‑laid plans rarely survive contact with real life. Meanwhile, his best friend Jean is tutoring one of the worst boys in school and doesn’t seem to hate him nearly as much as she should, Patch’s mum is suspiciously cheerful, and Sam’s friend Peter is being altogether too nice. With Peter also on Patch’s team for...