Stepping outside your comfort zone with “Britt-Marie Was Here”: a review of Fredrik Backman’s novel
Book Reviews / swedish / The Latest

Stepping outside your comfort zone with “Britt-Marie Was Here”: a review of Fredrik Backman’s novel


Swedish author Fredrik Backman has become quite the buzz-worthy author of late with his books appearing all over my bookish social media feeds. His first novel, A Man Called Ove became extremely popular and soon after that his books have become a worldwide hit. The novel is set in a place called Borg, a small … Continue reading

“Pride & Prejudice & Passports”: a review of Corrie Garrett’s immigrant retelling of Jane Austen’s classic
American / The Latest / YA

“Pride & Prejudice & Passports”: a review of Corrie Garrett’s immigrant retelling of Jane Austen’s classic


I’ve read some modern re-tellings of classics that have just fallen flat. Sometimes classics are named classics because they are indeed just that: stories that transcend time. They shape our culture and understanding of the past. They also help us shape our future and in particular the way authors and readers write and engage with … Continue reading

“Is There Still Sex In The City?”: A Review on love, lust, and life in the Big Apple
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“Is There Still Sex In The City?”: A Review on love, lust, and life in the Big Apple


Is There Still Sex In The City? by Candace Bushnell is an exploration of love, lust, and digital dating after 50. How should older women, and men for that matter, navigate single life in a world that has vastly changed since they last dated. As more and more couples split, especially later on in life, … Continue reading

Male neutrality and female bodies in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Book Reviews / Canadian / feminism / The Latest

Male neutrality and female bodies in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”


The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985 before I was born, yet even today this novel holds an extremely terrifying place in contemporary politics surrounding women’s bodies and bodily autonomy. The red and white aesthetic of the handmaids in Atwood’s novel has become protest colours across the U.S. and the world at large. The novel … Continue reading

“Queenie”: a review of Candice Carty-Williams’ novel about female mental health
Book Reviews / British / The Latest

“Queenie”: a review of Candice Carty-Williams’ novel about female mental health


NOTE: discussions about mental health and miscarriage Candice Carty-Williams’ novel Queenie is set in a London that is very different from other novels I have read set there. It is set in a London with racial tensions and diversity alongside gentrification and poverty. For me, Carty-Williams’ London is truer to the ‘real’ London I have … Continue reading

Review: J.D. Horn’s “The Final Days of Magic”
American / Book Reviews / fantasy / The Latest

Review: J.D. Horn’s “The Final Days of Magic”


NOTE: This novel was was accessed through Netgalley and 47 NORTH for review purposes. The Final Days of Magic is the third book in J.D. Horn’s series “Witches of New Orleans”. It mixes Western Christian notions of witchcraft with a Voodoo/Creole that feels very specific to New Orleans culture. This is the final novel in … Continue reading

Millennials and Money: a review of Sally Rooney’s “Conversations With Friends”
Book Reviews / Irish / The Latest

Millennials and Money: a review of Sally Rooney’s “Conversations With Friends”


Conversations With Friends was Sally Rooney’s debut novel published in 2017. Set in Ireland, the story follows the closely-knit and complicated relationships of Frances and Bobbi, who are both university students in their early 20s, and Melissa and Nick, a married couple in their early 30s. With these two couples, Rooney already offers up a … Continue reading

“When All Is Said”: a review of Anne Griffin’s knockout debut novel
Book Reviews / Irish / Opinion Pieces / reading / The Latest / Travel

“When All Is Said”: a review of Anne Griffin’s knockout debut novel


Note: plot spoilers and discussions of death by suicide. Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. In February this year, I had the chance to go to Ireland for a long weekend. I’ve been threatening to visit Ireland for … Continue reading

“The F Word”: a review of Lily Pebbles’ book celebrating friendship
Book Reviews / British / nonfiction / The Latest

“The F Word”: a review of Lily Pebbles’ book celebrating friendship


Lily Pebbles’ is a lifestyle and beauty Youtuber from the U.K. Her first book, The F Word, is a celebration and personal exploration of contemporary friendships. I have always been interested in friendships, in particular female friendships, because when I moved to Switzerland in 2013 I saw massive shifts in who I thought were friends … Continue reading