The book follows P&P from Mary’s perspective and then what happens afterwards. When Mary has to leave their family home, as the Collinses take up residence, she feels uncomfortable at her sisters’ homes and her mother is always criticising her. Staying with her aunt in London is a lifeline for Mary, who is appreciated for her intellect and two men are interested in her; the eccentric but polite Tom Hayward, and the impulsive Mr Ryder who is pursued by Caroline Bingley.

Mary’s character development is central to the novel as she learns to stand up to people and know when to trust her emotions over rationality. Through Mr Hayward, she also gains an appreciation for poetry, when she used to prefer reading only facts. I felt as if I was reading an Austen book, as the structure and ideas were inspired by them, but that’s what I liked about it. There were further perspectives on characters such as Mr Collins, Mr Bennet and Mrs Hill, which might even enhance my next reading of P&P.

Published by Macmillan, 2020.

Whispers in Yellow: Spring Stories by N S Ford

Step into Springtime with this collection of quirky stories!

A bout of Spring-cleaning turns into a crazy journey to parallel universes. On an egg hunt, a harassed father questions his sanity when only he can see the Easter bunny. A woman named April Showers is embarrassed about her name, but a date with a clown gives her a new perspective. When a magnolia tree is under threat, the forces of nature must work together to save the garden. Among the daffodils, invisible beings whisper of a planet where it is always Spring.

Five unique stories with N S Ford’s trademark mix of weird and wonder, darkness and light.

My Devil Wears Denim (London Magic Book 1) by Angela Pearse

When the devil shows up in tight Levi’s, how can you resist?
Jade Jameson would quite happily sell her soul for a better life. To her surprise, the universe takes her seriously and sends a handsome devil with an offer. But there’s a catch: sealing the deal requires more than a handshake.

Ever the opportunist, Jade negotiates a workaround, picturing cocktails and a resort with patchy Wi-Fi. Instead, she lands in the 1980s – no internet, no smartphone, and an alarming amount of neon. Not to mention having to juggle new flatmates and a job she never applied for.

Sebastian Burns has a bad habit of letting people off the hook, and Jade is his latest fiasco. Demoted and desperate to earn back Lucifer’s favour, he knows he should be focused on scoring souls – not getting attached to a sassy brunette who pushes his buttons.

When he shows up looking sinfully good in stonewash and armed with survival tips for the ‘80s, Jade’s walls start to crumble. This sexy devil might just be the reason her life takes a turn for the better – but how do you plan a happily ever after with a man from Hell?

If you like funny paranormal romcoms with banter, temptation, and wickedly charming immortals, then you’ll love My Devil Wears Denim. Dive into romantic mayhem and time-travel trouble today!

The Ghostwriter: A Tiny Terrible Tale by Sarah Jules

For as long as she could remember, Clio Pike devoured stories. It was only natural that she’d become a ghostwriter.

Percy Hern wasn’t her usual client.

He was ninety-eight: a shut in, a technophobe, and he said he had a story worth telling. In Clio’s experience, there was a direct positive correlation between the client’s age and the dullness of the stories they wanted immortalised.

Hern was offering £50,000, more money than Clio would typically make in a whole year. How could she possibly say no?

All she had to do was travel to the Isle of Kresnick, a tiny island just off the north coast of Scotland, listen to an old man’s stories, and then weave them into something worth reading…

But something is wrong with the Isle of Kresnick, and its sole occupant. Something… monstrous. And Clio has no way to escape its grasp.

Hideaway Valley Fire: The Complete Series by Eliza Rockwood

Welcome to Hideaway Valley – where the alpha heroes of the local Fire District fall hard and fast for feisty, independent women.

His Hidden Star: She’s a movie star on the run, and he’s the small-town fire chief who’s also her best friend. When a fire drives her into his protective arms, will his love be enough to keep her safe?

His Hidden Desire: He was her dad’s best friend and the only man she’s ever loved. Bound by honor, he’s kept his distance. But when he learns she’s planning to date a rookie firefighter, will jealousy finally push him to claim the heart that’s always been his?

Her Hidden Protector: She thought he was gone forever, but he’s been watching her from the shadows for years. When he finally steps out of the darkness, can she forgive him for letting her believe he was dead?

Her Hidden Hero: She’s the hometown girl he never stopped loving, and he’s the man who shattered her teenage heart. Now, fate has brought them both back to Hideaway Mountain – will they risk it all for a second chance at love?

His Hidden Fire: She’s a guarded tattoo artist with a dark past, and he’s the younger firefighter determined to ignite something unforgettable. He may be inexperienced, but he’s eager to learn – the only problem is, can she risk her heart to teach him?

A Taste of Smoke: He’s been searching for his forever, and she’s desperately trying not to be found. But when a wildfire forces her into his waiting arms, will she let him keep her safe from more than just the flames?

The Darkness Series Box Set by Jessica Huntley

Everyone has a little darkness inside them … But just how dark is yours, and what are you willing to do to keep it hidden?
“Cherry Hollow is a place where if you leave to live elsewhere, you never return, and if an outsider moves in, they never leave.”

It may seem like your average rural town in the Lake District, but Cherry Hollow hides more secrets than most. And it all started with the disappearance of Kieran Jones in 1998. Didn’t it?

Four friends deal with their grief over what happened in different ways, each suffering from their own version of The Creature, an entity that may or may not be real and feeds on their inner darkness.

New people move to the town. More secrets are revealed. And more lives are lost. But at what price?

How did The Darkness start? Why is it tormenting the town and its grieving residents, and who will be the one to finally reveal the darkest secret of all?

A dark psychological thriller series that focuses on mental health and explores just how dark our minds can go, the aftermath of trauma and how it can have repercussions for the rest of our lives … and beyond.

Dame Ophis: a sapphic fantasy tale by Merlina Garance

She has many names.

Lady of the Oak.

Dame Ophis.

Few are those to know her real one.

Sinha.

When wounded knight Cerris crosses through the forest on her way back to the castle, she doesn’t expect a surprising young woman to offer her shelter, nor to heal her.

Things take a complicated turn when Cerris realises who she is dealing with.

She is supposed to kill Dame Ophis.

The only problem is, she might have fallen in love with Sinha.

When the Devil Calls: a Collection of Horror Stories by Bethany Russo

Aliens cause havoc at a service station in Lancaster, and continue to terrorise the cleaners at two hotels in Plymouth. A woman recounts the horrors that lurked in the woods at her favourite childhood campsite in Dorset. Two women fight their way from Ambleside to Grasmere on the first day of the zombie apocalypse. A man takes part in the Chippenham scarecrow trail. With a human-looking scarecrow on his front garden, he’s surprised one night when it’s missing and is then interrupted by a knock at the door. Two new friends pay a visit to Sally in the Woods in their hometown of Bath, only to discover the woods hold more than just a creepy ghost story.

The Man on the Roof at Midnight by Eric Woods

A trilogy of three novellas, this paranormal thriller asks the question: what would you do if you were awakened at the same time every night by the sound of footsteps on your roof?
Dr. Owen Drake recently suffered a tragedy so painful that he picked up his entire life and ran away from the memories. Now, Owen is in a new city with a new job as a psychology professor at a reputable university. He also has a new home that sits on a lake, but the area is eerily quiet. The lake is calm. The neighbors are mysterious.

But then there are the nights… and the thundering noises above … that wake him every night at the same time…

Get the entire trilogy but be sure to fall asleep before you hear the footsteps!

If you would like to submit a title to be considered for my next indie books feature, please use this form.

Previous issues: Summer 25, Autumn 25, Winter 25.

This book is divided into two parts. The first part is the history of spectacles, up until the world wars. The focus is on the industries and processes which allowed the technology to improve, and society’s views on people who wore glasses. You will not be surprised to hear that women wearing glasses was frowned upon, even by doctors. The second part of the book is more of a cultural history, focusing on representations in the movies in particular and the history of designer frames. This part started off very interesting to me, but it became a little tiresome because there was so much discussion of film. I’m not at all fussed about designers either, although as a part-time glasses wearer I often go for designer frames if they suit me better. I felt that although the subject is very worthy of a history book, the focus of it was not quite what I wanted. There is praise from Simon Garfield on the front cover, and indeed it’s the kind of book he would write, with its niche history topic and irreverent, rambling style. There are some photographs of famous spectacles-wearers, including Harold Lloyd, Buddy Holly, Dizzy Gillespie, Michael Caine, Gloria Steinem, Jarvis Cocker, Keith Haring, and John Lennon (the nude photo of him and Yoko). It was a good read, considering I bought it from the discount trolley at Waterstones!

Published by Abacus, 2023.

I was wary of reading the book, when it appeared in my recommendations. I knew it was going to be dark and heavy, despite some lighter anecdotes and a much-needed sense of humour. It includes graphic descriptions of drug use, plus references to self-harm and a lot of emotional distress. However, I’m glad I read it because it gives an informed perspective on the psychology of addiction and an understanding of bipolar disorder. Importantly, it does not glamorise the rock star lifestyle with its easy access to substances and is remarkably respectful to Scott despite everything. I can’t find much about what Mary is doing these days but I hope she continues to be well. A cynical reader might say that without the name Weiland attached to the book, it could be any tragic tale of addiction and mental illness. Not to trivialise it, but there are so many, and not all are about rock stars. True, the main reason anyone would read it is for their interest in Scott; but I really admired her determination to have a separate identity, to get sober and be there for her kids. There is a section of photographs, not always flattering, which show the reality of Mary’s life. It may not be the best-written memoir I’ve ever read, but it’s one of the most compelling and honest, and I’d definitely recommend it, if you can cope with reading about the themes discussed in this review.

Published by HarperCollins, 2009.

Thank you to the publisher MacLehose Press for the review copy via NetGalley. English translation by Anton Hur, 2026.

I have to admit that the story wasn’t quite what I expected. The writing style, illustrations and themes matched the first book, however the majority of the story was set on the farm, which was not at all interesting to me. Moreover, the ethics of dairy farming and of humans eating animals were presented in a strangely positive way, at odds with what our future civilisation might be like. The best part of the story is right near the end, when Roz is navigating through urban landscapes and ends up literally meeting her maker. The book cover shows an industrial setting and the blurb misleadingly mentions having to work in a city, so I thought it would be more of an exciting adventure, maybe even talking with the other robots and trying to change their programming, but it’s nothing of the sort. It’s not exactly Asimov. However, it’s a children’s book and perhaps I’m expecting too much. There’s another book, The Wild Robot Protects, but I’m not sure if I’ll read it.

Published by Piccadilly Press, 2018.

The book describes what happened to the Apollo 13 mission, which was supposed to be the third manned lunar landing in 1970. Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise were on their way to the Moon, when there was an explosion in an oxygen tank – on April 13th. They had to abandon the Moon landing and focus on getting home, with the odds stacked against them.

Although the book was co-authored by Lovell, the perspective is third person. At first I thought that was strange, as there are chapters of his biography every so often, but then it made sense. A lot of the time we are following the various teams on the ground as they battled to solve problems and communicate to the crew. We also follow Marilyn, Jim’s wife, as she tries to reassure their children and fend off the media frenzy, while praying that he would come back. As a non-technical person, the book had too much detail for me and I think it could have been shorter, but for a science nerd I’m sure it would be perfect. I appreciate how it was carefully researched and structured. There is a good deal of background on previous missions and astronaut selection before we get to number 13. With a few diversions, the rest of the narrative, which is written in quite a journalistic style, follows the events closely. I liked the epilogue best, which manages to blend the investigation into what caused the explosion, with fast-forwarding to 1993 and Jim showing his space souvenirs to his grandchildren. At the end of the book, there is a timeline, list of Apollo missions, and dramatis personae. I think some images would have been a good addition, but I’m sure plenty can be found elsewhere.

Published by Hodder and Stoughton, 2015.

Related reviews: Space: The Human Story by Tim Peake, Magnificent Desolation by Buzz Aldrin, Look Up: Our Story with the Stars by Sarah Cruddas, The Moon by Oliver Morton, Challenger by Adam Higginbotham.

The picture book, which has monochrome illustrations, tells us about siblings Judy and Peter, who play a board game they found in the park. When they land on various hazards in the game, such a lion, monsoon or monkeys, these become real. They must finish the game, causing everything to return to normal. Their parents, returning home, are none the wiser.

The film builds up a feature-length story, following the game through the years as a drum-beat draws children into unearthing it. A major feature of the story is that two children, Alan and Sarah, play the game, but Alan gets trapped in its world. Fast forward a few decades, when Peter and Judy, moving into the house which Alan used to live in, find the game there and that’s when Alan is freed, having become an adult. They then have to track down Sarah and continue play. Alan, played by the brilliant Robin Williams, is the main character (instead of Peter and Judy), with a background story exploring his conflict with his father, who owns a shoe factory.

One of the many changes is that the story is not confined to the house – a big problem when the monkeys escape and steal a police car! However, the worst creature to emerge from the game is a colonial-style hunter, Van Pelt (possibly inspired by the hapless guide from the book, who pores over a map). Alan, Sarah, Judy and Peter not only have to play the game and survive the hazards, they have to foil the hunter. I like how neatly the story is wrapped up, time travelling back to Alan’s childhood. The special effects are very good too.

The only detail from the book which I think should have been in the film, was that ‘Jumanji’ is a golden city that the players are aiming for.

Image credit: http://www.impawards.com/1995/jumanji_ver2.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=899077

Thank you to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the review copy via NetGalley. The publication date is 16th April.