Book Review: People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon

Posted on by Libby Price

I’ve enjoyed previous non fiction by Bryony Gordon, so was delighted to be granted an advance review copy of her foray into fiction. Subsequently I saw it all over my social media – with Bryony sending copies to seemingly every person I follow on Instagram!

Here’s the blurb:

“Olivia Greenwood has been trying very hard to please people for a very long time.
But today is going to change Olivia in a big way. A soul-crushing career disappointment, a fiery young woman with a chip on her shoulder and a cigarette in her hand, and one single blue hallucinogenic gummy all lead to a raucous night out and one hell of a hangover. And when Olivia wakes up the next morning, it seems she’s unable to please anyone but HERSELF.
So who actually is Olivia Greenwood, when she’s not trying to be what everyone else wants her to be?”

I could immediately identify with Olivia – being a similar age and similarly a people pleaser!! Her night out and encounter with a younger colleague, Rose, along with booze and a gummy – transforms Olivia’s attitude. I have to say (and perhaps this is because I am so stuck firm as a people pleaser) – I found her to be a little bit unlikeable and unpleasant in some ways when she had this epiphany – although appreciate that may have been to move the story along.

Olivia is very much sandwich generation – brought up in the 90s being told women could ‘have it all’ – but still juggling childcare and older parents (one of whom is living in her garden shed!) You also learn about a horrible misogynistic experience Olivia had early in her career – with which I could completely empathise. Young women today just wouldn’t put up with it – but I remember being groped by a partner of the accountancy firm I worked for and asked if all of the women in the Birmingham office were as sexy as me! At the time I just removed his hand from down my dress and laughed it off, as it was just considered ‘normal’ (although some years later, the aforementioned partner was personally fined £250k and banned from being an accountant for 3 years, which did prompt a wry smile……)

Some of the storyline did make me appreciate how much my own husband and children do around the house as a matter of course – although I completely recognise this is not the norm for many!

Overall I enjoyed the book and Olivia’s story arc – and agree that people, and women of a certain age in particular, should be able to stick up for themselves and not be perpetual people pleasers – but I also think it’s easier said than done! Maybe Rose’s gummies should be on prescription with HRT?!

Also loved the Erling Haaland cameo!

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my advance review copy – the book is published next month if you fancy pre ordering.

Book Review: The Sisterhood Rules by Kathy Lette

Posted on by Libby Price

“The Sisterhood Rules:

1. Never let a man come between you
2. Share all your secrets
3. Live life to the fullest – girls just wanna have fun

For twin sisters Isabel and Verity, the sisterhood rules were shattered when Verity had an affair with Izzy’s husband. Unforgivable, right? Devastated by her sister’s betrayal, Izzy casts Verity into social Siberia.
But when their mother goes missing, Verity and Izzy are forced to come together again to find her. And then the estranged sisters’ problems only get bigger. Their mother has a new younger lover and where there’s a will… he’d clearly like to be in it.
Can they stop their mother making a dreadful mistake? And in doing so find a way to bury the pain of the past?
Full of laugh-out-loud humour and devastating pathos, Kathy Lette’s brilliant new novel takes us on a roller-coaster ride which proves that from pain comes healing, from honesty comes forgiveness, and that nothing is more important than your sisters.”

I’ve always enjoyed books by Kathy Lette. They are fast paced and wise cracking and a definite #womanpower genre. So when I saw she had a new book out this year, I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy by Net Galley.

The book follows the story of estranged sisters Izzy and Verity as they try and track down their missing mother, Nicole. The women all work in music in some way, shape or form – which was interestingly explored. There are also geographical location switches – whilst all now live in London (having relocated from Australia when the twins were little) the book takes us to European mountains and Derry for different chunks of the storyline.

There is also a wide variety of supporting cast – from Johnny (Izzy’s husband that Verity stole), Chrissie (Izzy and Johnny’s teenage daughter), Gawain (Nicole’s new alpine horn playing toy boy), Fiachra (Izzy’s guitar student) and Melissa (Nicole’s long suffering manager) who all interweave in the storyline. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Izzy and Chrissie – having kids of a similar age!

As expected – the book is full of puns, one liners, caustic asides that you would expect from a Kathy Lette book – and if that’s what you want, then it’s perfect – but it can get a bit exhausting. I felt reading this was like spending time with someone who has ADHD – you need to have a lie down in a dark room to decompress afterwards!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC – I thought from Net Galley it was out in June, but I’m now thinking that might only be in certain geographical areas – as it appears to be out in the UK already!

Book Review: The Shock Of The Light by Lori Inglis Hall

Posted on by Libby Price

“Cambridge, 1942
Twins Tessa and Theo had always shared everything – until the summer Tessa spent studying in France. She hasn’t been the same since. But before Theo can find out why, he is recruited by the RAF and disappears into the skies.
Determined to carve her own path, Tessa joins the clandestine Special Operations Executive, slipping into the shadows of occupied France. It will be dangerous work, but France is the home of her greatest love – and her darkest secret. Tessa has many reasons for wanting to return.
Two years later, only one of them comes home.”

I don’t often read historical fiction, and so I’m not sure how I ended up with an advance review copy of this debut novel – but I’m so pleased I did, I couldn’t put it down!

The book is the story of twins Tessa and Theo who have grown up in Cambridge with a French Mum and English Dad. Theo signs up to join the war effort in the RAF as a pilot – and Tessa is very cross that she, as a female, can’t do similar. She is initially working in an administrative role – but is then recruited by the Special Operations Executive to be sent to France to work with the resistance there. Being bilingual – and very feisty – she is ideal for the role.

The story follows her experiences in France as the first section – and it’s really interesting and evocative – I really enjoyed this.

Theo ends up injured – both physically and mentally – and returns to Cambridge as the war is coming to a close. He is devastated that he doesn’t know what has happened to Tessa. His life after the war is tough – in many different ways – and he never makes peace with the ‘not knowing’.

Much later – when Theo is an old man – he is approached by a PHD student, Edie, who is researching the SOE – and in particular the female operatives and specifically Tessa. Between them, and with a cross generational friendship developing, Theo and Edie work out what happened to Tessa both during the war, and back in 1938 when she studied at the Sorbonne for a year. I have to say I was expecting a twist of fate and far fetched ending that – thankfully I suppose – didn’t come!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I’m glad I took a punt on a book I wouldn’t normally read – and I feel more educated about the SOE and World War II. I also now know how to say my Grandson’s name in French – he’s also a Theo!!

A big thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Lessons From A Default Parent by Lou Beckett

Posted on by Libby Price

I have been a listener to the Parenting Hell podcast since it started way back in lockdown – so I feel like I ‘know’ Lou Beckett already. In fact my review of the Parenting Hell book by her husband Rob and Josh Widdicombe turned into a bit of a Lou Beckett appreciation post! So when I heard she’d written her first book (and having enjoyed the chapter she’d written for the Parenting Hell book and a longform blog post that went viral), I was looking forward to reading it – and then was super grateful to be granted an advance review copy by Net Galley. Here’s the blurb:

“What nobody tells you about parenthood, from one of the ‘silent partners’ behind the Parenting Hell podcast.
School-run coordinator, party planner, clubs organiser, laundry sorter… and maybe even a ‘real’ job on top! Sound exhaustingly familiar?
From assumptions surrounding who is going to stay at home with the kids to the never-ending list of school admin, being ‘the default parent’ rears its head in a plethora of ways.
This book is for all the defaults out there – bored out of their eyeballs or so overwhelmed they could scream expletives into the wind for a solid hour – to know their invisible labour is seen and valued.
With heartfelt and hilarious advice, Lou Beckett provides much-needed comfort and community for the one who is depended on the most (and often feels appreciated the least), and maybe – just maybe – how we can begin to rebalance the parenting scales and muddle through a little better, together.”

Now I’ve been a default parent for almost 23 years – so this was not telling me anything I didn’t already know – but it did give me vindication for what we’ve experienced as a family! Lou writes incredibly eloquently – and her findings are backed up by research and data which is always reassuring. She is witty, intelligent and occasionally a bit sweary – perfect Mum-friend material I’d say!

Lou talks about her own experiences with Rob and their girls – but also tries to be inclusive of other situations. She does admit that ‘generally’ the default parent is the mother rather than the father. This was highlighted to me recently when the NHS sent text messages about Year 9 vaccinations to the ‘primary contact’ on the school’s records. to everyone in my youngest daughter’s year. In most instances this seemed to be based on historic gender roles for school forms (and possibly because it’s an ancient fee paying school who are quite ‘traditional’) and was the father. My husband, like many others it would appear, had assumed that the message had gone to both parents and so I would deal with it and he could ignore it! Thankfully one husband clarified that with his wife – who hadn’t received the text message – and the school year WhatsApp group unravelled what had happened, and the ‘default family administrators and form fillers’ – who in 95% of the cases were the mothers – got on with registering their children for the jabs. In that instance – as well as with Lou’s anecdotes – it does help you realise you’re not alone!!

I think this would be a perfect book if you’re just starting a family and want to set down some ground rules right from the beginning. I’m also reading it in the capacity as a new grandmother. Due to circumstances are eldest daughter finds herself the sole parent – and thus by default (pun most definitely intended, just as Lou does in the book!) – the default parent to our gorgeous grandson. She has the support of me, her Dad and siblings – but it is completely different dynamic for her than a standard default and non-default parent relationship – and it’s made me think about how we can help her more.

Rob has a right of reply chapter at the end – and I think a lot of what he says would be fairly common for the non-default. I think communication is key for everyone – your partner is unlikely to be psychic! I also believe it is incredibly true where Lou talks about letting the non-default do things their way when you have agreed how tasks are to be shared out. It’s taken me a long time – but I’m getting better at not commenting when the dishwasher hasn’t been stacked as I would (some might say hasn’t been stacked ‘properly’?!)

As Lou said on Saturday Kitchen yesterday (I was v proud of her being on live TV with Rob – not sure if that would feel like a security blanket or more of a liability?!) it’s not a manual – but it does most definitely give you food for thought and realise you’re not alone. I think it would be a perfect gift to a pregnant couple or new parents (I believe it’s going to be in ‘Don’t Buy Her Flowers‘ gift boxes – so that’s a present pairing made in heaven!!)

A huge thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC, it’s out later this month.

Book Review: The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith

Posted on by Libby Price

I have to say I’ve had mixed thoughts about Nikki Smith books historically – but decided to give her new one (out in Summer 2026) a go. Here’s the blurb:

“Leo thought he knew his wife. Until she disappeared.
When Addison Kennedy fails to return from their safari lodge, her husband flies out to South Africa to find her.
But when he arrives, he discovers a missing poster – and it isn’t Addison’s face staring back at him. It’s his. His name. His details. His photograph.
His wife might be missing but it’s him they’re hunting . . .”

Each chapter of the book is told from Leo or Addison’s point of view. They appear to be the ‘perfect couple’ living in a gorgeous house in a gated community in the UK, whilst also owning a luxury safari lodge in Leo’s native South Africa. The descriptions of both are wonderful.

The book starts with Addison not returning from a trip to the lodge – but then twists and turns with flashbacks as well as real time commentary.

I enjoyed the various settings of the book – and the South African heat is described brilliantly! Having been lucky enough to do a similar trip (although with different outcomes, thankfully!) it really brought the area to life.

You know with a Nikki Smith novel there are going to be coincidences / plot twists – and this is no exception. Whilst I was expecting them – they weren’t what I predicted at all – and I really enjoyed it (although you do have to suspend belief a bit)

Overall this was an enjoyable read which I would recommend. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my advanced review copy.

Book Review: The Book Club For Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

Posted on by Libby Price

I am very lucky that I get given loads of books to read for free – but my sister messaged to say she thought I’d enjoy this book – so without even reading the blurb I ordered it! But if you need to read the blurb first – here it is:

“By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman’s dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia–one of Northern Virginia’s most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman’s Place–a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn’t that feel like enough?
Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia’s newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte’s orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women–Bitsy and Viv–to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they’d been sold isn’t all roses and sunshine–and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments–and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a humorous, thought provoking, and nostalgic romp through one pivotal and tumultuous American year–as well as an ode to self-discovery, persistence, and the power of sisterhood.“

Straight away I got ‘Lessons In Chemistry‘ vibes from this book – which I also thoroughly enjoyed – but it kind of set the scene for the historical setting in my brain. Margaret and her neighbours are all very different women in very different times – but you will definitely see similarities between your own friends and the book club ladies. They really were incredibly different times for women!

Some historical facts are woven through the story (the assassination of JFK being one of them, which I suspect for the generation older than me is a life event you remember where you were when you heard the news – for me similar events are 9/11 and when Princess Diana died) but a lot of the book is the day to day lives of the women in Concordia.

My sister was correct – I did really enjoy it – and I can see it would make a good ‘bookclub’ book – as there is a lot to discuss and think about.

Book Review: All Grown Up by Daisy Buchanan

Posted on by Libby Price

A few years ago I read a previous book by Daisy Buchanan called Insatiable which I thoroughly enjoyed, and when Net Galley had a new book by the same author, I was pleased to be granted an advance review copy (it’s out in June 2026 but can be pre ordered now).

Here’s the blurb:

“After thirty long years, Louisa’s daughters can finally look after themselves … or so she thinks.
Because suddenly, they’re back – apparently for good. Meg’s second-guessing her marriage. Jo’s career hangs in the balance. Amy has inexplicably quit university. None of them empty the dishwasher.
Louisa knows it’s time for some life lessons. She adores her girls, but if she’s ever going to get her (sex) life back, they’ll have to grow up – and go.
But maybe they’re not the only ones with lessons to learn… And Louisa might just discover that her daughters have something to teach her about being an adult too.“

I have to say I didn’t look closely at the cover of the book – so it was when I started reading it that I realised the names were familiar – and then when it became evident that the sister called Beth had died (not a spoiler, I promise!), I thought it must be connected to the famous Louise May Alcott book Little Women. Seemingly it’s a reimagining in modern day Manchester – but I’m not familiar enough with the classic book’s storylines to know just how close it is, but I suspect big fans of the OG Little Women will find even more Easter Eggs within in than I did.

Louisa is almost my age – it’s her 49th birthday at the start of the book – and so that made it easy to empathise with her in many ways. Also one of her daughters has a baby during the book – and my first Grandson was born as I was reading it – so that was a lovely thing to experience at the same time, and share the emotions of. And children not emptying the dishwasher unless they are asked to is top of my pet peeves according to my husband!

I really enjoyed the book and getting to know all of the March family and their friends and neighbours. It was a lovely read told from their different points of view. Sometimes the girls in particular were frustrating – but at the end of the day, they are all there for each other – just like in real life.

I did keep expecting there to be some graphic sex scenes (based purely on the previous book by the same author that I’d read, and that wasn’t the reason I’d requested the ARC, honestly!) and whilst there was a little bit, it felt much tamer – but completely appropriate to the storyline.

I thoroughly enjoyed it – and would recommend you pre order it ready for June. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC.

Book Review: The Truth About You and Me by Emma Cooper

Posted on by Libby Price

Having very much enjoyed previous books by Emma Cooper, I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy of her new book The Truth About You & Me. I actually read it before the publication date in November 2025 – but have been slow in reviewing it, sorry, but that does mean you can buy it instantly (and I recommend you do!)

Here’s the blurb:

“When two strangers find themselves locked in a cinema overnight, it could be the start of a perfect meet cute… but as Maggie is about to discover, real life is so much more complicated than fiction…
Every Friday, Maggie attends the last showing at her local indie cinema. Then one night, bookseller Jack goes to the same screening. These two strangers are about to fall in love – there’s just one complication: Jack knows nothing about Maggie. Maggie knows everything about Jack.
Over a series of Fridays, Maggie and Jack get to know each other, but the closer they grow, the bigger the secrets that could tear them in two. Because Maggie has a unique gift: with just the lightest touch, she knows exactly what someone is thinking. That’s how she knows how Jack’s picture-perfect life has fallen apart. And that she isn’t the total stranger he thinks she is.
Will she risk everything to tell him the truth – or is true love something that only happens in the movies?”

I really enjoyed this book. The ‘different’ side of it – with Maggie being able to know what people are thinking just by touching them – is woven into the story in clever ways. I’m not a huge ‘supernatural’ fan – but this felt really real and not far fetched.

I also really liked both Maggie and Jack as people. I’m not saying you have to like the protagonists to enjoy a book – in fact sometimes I thoroughly enjoy disliking someone – but in this case, I loved them both – and the surrounding cast of characters of their friends and family.

The book twists and turns and the storyline makes you want to carry on reading to see where everyone will end up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this rom-com of a book (meant in a good way – just like the rom-com films that Maggie and Jack discuss) and would thoroughly recommend it as a feel good read. It made me laugh and cry – which is always the sign of a good book.

A big thank you to Net Galley and Boldwood Books (I didn’t realise that Emma Cooper is now one of their authors, as I have a friend who is one of the publishing Directors there, but that has not coloured my judgement, as I loved this book anyway!)

Book Review: Private Lives by Emily Edwards

Posted on by Libby Price

I thoroughly enjoyed Emily Edwards’s previous book The Herd – so when I saw she had a new book out I was delighted to be granted an advance review copy. It actually came out in June 2025 (I’m just behind in my reading and subsequent reviewing) but at least that means if you like the sound of it you can order it immediately! Here’s the blurb:

“I thought I was inviting a friend over for a cup of tea. I had no idea I was opening the door to my worst nightmare.
The moment my husband saw her, it started. The look on his face. The silence that followed, before she hurriedly left. Signs that told me more than words ever could.
Then came the whispers. The whole town watching. Judging.
But it’s not what you think it is. It’s worse.
Because it’s not just my family with everything to lose here. And it’s only a matter of time before one of us does something we’ll regret. . . the question is, who’s going to get hurt first?
Some secrets end a marriage. Some ruin a reputation. Some bring a whole town crashing down.“

This book is EXCELLENT! Like The Herd it’s set in a comfortable middle class area – and all of the judgement that comes with that. The blurb doesn’t give much away – and I think you need to read it blind so the twists and turns come to you throughout. (This is not just an excuse for me not to write a detailed review, no, absolutely not at all!!!)

The lives of the families who are ‘friends’ and are intertwined with the local community are central to the story – and the characters are a real mix – some are likeable, some aren’t – but some change during the book. It’s so easy to see how it could unfold in real life – and I suspect most people can identify a friend or acquaintance who could take each role.

I’ve seen other reviews say this would be great for a book club to dissect – and I can completely agree with that – there’s a lot to discuss.

I would definitely recommend this as a real page turner to everyone. A huge thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC.

Book Review: They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith

Posted on by Libby Price

I’ve enjoyed previous books by Nikki Smith – set in exotic locations around the world – and when I saw her new novel was out and set in Bali, I requested and was granted an advance review copy (although it was out back in July 2025, so you can order it now if you like the sound of it). Here’s the blurb:

“Escape to Bali in this gripping new sunlounger thriller, for fans of Lucy Clarke and Ruth Ware.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer . . .
Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie. They’ve been a four for as long as they can remember: fancy dinners, dancing ’til dawn . . . Even living and working together.
So when Nate and Layla suddenly quit their lives and move to Bali, with its white sands and exotic beach clubs, Jude and Sophie are their first visitors. Anything to escape their life in London.
But as the two couples reunite, cracks begin to show.
Which is hardly surprising; they’ve been lying to each other for years.
And now, it’s time for revenge.”

I have to say it took me a weirdly long time to get into the book – I kept forgetting which of the characters were couples, and which two had moved to Bali and which two still lived in London. I know that sounds odd – and I’m sure is completely my issue – but everyone seemed interchangeable – it was bizarre!

I didn’t particularly like any of the characters either – so all in all, I’m not really selling this well to you?!?

It was clearly evident that each of the characters was keeping secrets from the others – both their other halves and their friends – or should that be frenemies?!

The descriptions of Bali – and the touristy / non touristy bits was interesting (and made me crave some sunshine!)

The storyline was interesting and you wanted to see how it developed – but then there was this huge change towards the end and a part of the story was so different to the rest it was as if two books had been spliced together with seemingly no initial connection. All in all – a bit weird.

Whether this just got me at the wrong time – but it just wasn’t the book for me – sorry!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC.