Cursed Ever After by Andy C Naranjo

Risa Porto is a Bad Thing born on a Bad Day and cursed with Bad Luck.

After years of taking the blame for every calamity, mishap, and minor inconvenience that befalls the townspeople of Barrow, she longs for escape. And on her seventeenth birthday, her wish is granted.

Sort of.

Risa owes a (very annoying) witch a favor, and it comes in the form of a quest: escort Prince Javi—the youngest, handsomest, and least significant prince— through the dark (and deadly) Woods to his wedding. This measly errand quickly spirals into a struggle against greedy assassins, a murderous cult, a vicious tyrant – and Risa’s own curse.

Most unfortunate of all...

She is not immune to Javi’s charms and has a highly irritating urge to kiss the prince. Though, surviving the darkest corners of the Woods is only the beginning. If Risa is to hold up her end of a witch’s bargain, she’ll need a lot more than luck on her side to untangle the web of lies threatening the kingdom. Is Risa willing to pay the price of happily ever after? What if the only person she’s meant to save is herself?

The Little House that Needed a Witch by Sophie Pluim

Deep in the forest sat a little house, empty and alone. The old witch who'd lived there had gone for good. The little house felt empty and alone.

The little house decided it needed a new witch. So, creaking and squeaking, it stood up! And went in search of a witch in need of a house.

When the witch who lived in a little house deep in the forest is gone, the house decides the obvious solution is to find itself a new witch.

---

📚 Pre-Reading Thoughts

There's something immediately appealing about a premise where a house is the one taking action. Houses in children's stories are often places of safety, but they're usually passive. This little house has other ideas.

Also, any story that begins with a lonely, mobile house wandering through the forest looking for a purpose already has my attention.

---

📖 Post-Reading

As I thought…

• This is a wonderfully gentle story. Even though it begins with loss, it never feels sad in a frightening or overwhelming way.
• The house itself is immediately lovable. Its determination to solve its own problem gives the story warmth and humour from the very first pages.
• The tone strikes a lovely balance between magical and matter-of-fact. A house deciding to stand up and go for a walk is treated as entirely reasonable, which somehow makes it feel even more magical.

It surprised me by...

• How comforting the story's view of change is. The old witch's departure is clearly significant, but the book focuses on what comes next rather than what has been lost.
• The reactions of the characters the house meets. Nobody seems especially alarmed that a house is wandering around the forest looking for a witch, which creates the delightful impression that this sort of thing happens all the time.
• The ending. I particularly loved that the new witch settles where the house originally stood rather than forcing the house to relocate permanently. It gives the story a lovely sense of continuity and belonging.

And perhaps my favourite detail of all is tucked into the artwork. The illustrations suggest that the old witch becomes a tree rather than simply dying and disappearing. As the seasons pass, the tree grows and flourishes, quietly remaining part of the landscape.

It's such a gentle, beautiful way of depicting the idea that someone can be gone and still remain part of the world around us.

---

🌈 Vibe Check

• Colour Palette: moss green, mushroom brown, warm wood, autumn gold
• Season: all four seasons turning quietly through the forest
• Mood: comforting, whimsical, hopeful
• Scent: damp earth, fallen leaves, woodsmoke drifting through trees
• Setting: the sort of forest where magical things happen so regularly that nobody bothers to mention it

---

👀 For fans of

• The House in the Cerulean Sea for its gentle kindness and found-family spirit
• stories where homes are just as important as the people who live in them
• cosy fantasy that feels like a warm blanket on a rainy afternoon

This is a story about endings, new beginnings, and finding where you belong—but wrapped in such warmth and gentleness that it never feels heavy. Just sweet, thoughtful, and quietly magical. The sort of picture book that lingers long after you've closed it.

The Little House that Needed a Witch publishes on the 15th of September, 2026. I am giving an honest review.

Weekly recap 14th June 2026

Happy Sunday, all! Welcome to the weekly recap. The weather's getting a bit better here.

This week, I read

The Summer my Wishes came true - tween magic and friendships

The Inheritance - terrifying thriller

50 True Stories that will Scare you to Death - real life stories that will leave you gasping

If Books Could Kill - meta fun with genre conventions

This week, I read

It's a Spellshop reread because - drumroll please - I got an ARC of the fourth book! Look out for the reviews coming up soon.

Coming up 

It's a mix of genres and a pun that makes me laugh every time.

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle

When Roxie makes a tongue-in-cheek wish to live out the plot of her favorite author's next novel, she has romance in mind -- namely, the sweet, safe, swoon-worthy storylines Anna Matthews is known for. It should be a dream come true when her wish is granted by a mysterious busker, and she finds herself swept into a fairytale first date with a dashing stranger who seems destined to take her breath away.

Except for one little hiccup: that dashing stranger tries to take her breath away. Literally. With a knife. The thing is, Roxie may be the new Anna Matthews protagonist -- but this time, Anna is writing a crime thriller.

Thrown into a perilous genre she's never read, Roxie is desperate for help. So, when her escape from a potential murderer takes her straight into the path of Grant Hoffman -- an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels -- she decides a little light kidnapping is a small price to pay for survival. Together, Roxie and Grant team up to navigate a madcap story where the lines between fiction and reality blur and find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End -- or maybe even Happily Ever After.

50 True Stories that will Scare you to Death by Sebastian Krahl

This deeply horrifying collection of 50 chilling stories is not for the faint of heart. Collected and told by viral true crime storyteller Sebastian Krahl, these true tales dive into the unexplained, the unsettling, and the unimaginable, with frightening and gruesome real-life accounts of murder, mystery, abduction, hauntings, and so much more.

From popular creator Sebastian Krahl—With over 9.5 million total followers, Sebastian Krahl (@Sebastiank22) is known for his well-researched and detailed recountings of true crime, paranormal encounters, unsolved mysteries, and more.

True, and truly scary—These stories don't shy away from the darkest corners of reality—read them with the lights on.

Discover stories like:

A set of haunted bunk beds who turned a family's dreams into a nightmare.

A woman whose ghost solved her own murder.

A kidnapping victim who was kept in a box for years.

An alien encounter from one of the real-life men in black.

A murderer who lived in his victims' home for days.

A set of creepy reincarnated twins.

Are you scared yet?

Happy #BookBirthday! 11 Jun 2026

Happy Thursday! This week there are THREE books on our lists publishing!

The Inheritance by Gemma Denham

A dream home. A fresh start. A nightmare waiting inside?

Kate and Patrick are struggling through life. After living on one wage since the birth of their son, Riley, Patrick is suddenly unemployed.

Bouncing from one bad interview to the next, the family are offered a lifeline when Kate receives a phone call. She has inherited a house on the northeast coast from her late aunt.

A beautiful Victorian townhouse. A new beginning.

Excited for the change, the family move hundreds of miles from their Beaconsfield home to the northeast coast. The house needs a lot of work, but that doesn't deter Kate. She is determined to make it work for them.

But from the first night, Kate notices something isn't right. Things are moved or go missing. Objects vanish... then reappear. At first Kate tells herself it's stress. The disarray of the move. Her young son.

Until night falls and she hears footsteps upstairs.

Terrified, Kate becomes convinced there is someone in the house. Upon searching, the house is empty. All the doors and windows are secure.

Night after night Kate hears these noises...and then she starts to receive messages.

Is someone really in the house, could it be haunted, or is she losing her sanity?

The Summer my Wishes Came True by Radhika Sanghani

Ayesha can't wait for summer camp, it's going to be the best two weeks ever with her best friend Nikki. But Nikki's changed over the summer and things don't feel the same between them. When Ayesha overhears Nikki telling their roommates she's immature, Ayesha is embarrassed and wishes her life could be different.

The next day Ayesha realizes everything she wishes for is coming true. Lie-in in the morning? Tick! Pizza for lunch? Tick! Nikki to be her best friend? Tick! Suddenly Nikki's hanging out with her again, and then Ayesha wishes for Nikki to get a part in the camp's musical, and now she's playing the lead role.

But their friendship still isn't the same. Ayesha thinks she needs a part in the musical too, so she makes another wish, even if her actions have taken a role in the musical from someone else who would really love it. She's got everything she's ever wished for, but will her wishes really make her happy? This summer isn't turning out to be everything she hoped for...

Weekly recap 7th June 2026

Happy Sunday, all! Welcome to the weekly recap. It's been wet and miserable here, hope it's better where you are!

This week I read

The Reimagining of Thornwood House - patience, found family and a house that's gone walkabout

No one Leaves the Manor - terror and mystery in a decadent manor

All we Have Left - romance and paperwork after the apocalypse

Five Total Strangers - claustrophobic driving through a snowstorm with a killer

This week, I read

The Summer My Wishes came True - magic powers fix all tween problems, right?

If Books Could Kill - meta fun with genres

My brain absolutely refused to settle on a Thing this week, which is perfectly fine. Completely fine. Not frustrating at all.

Coming up 

Oh, it's a fun reread! I'm so excited for this.

My Maybe List is currently sitting at 47 books. That's about average for me! My quest to read every cosy fantasy novel published continues, with 19 Fantasy books on the list. There's also 8 Contemporaries, 7 Horror — Halloween is coming, y'all! — 5 Mysteries, 4 Sci Fi, 2 Non-Fiction and 2 Romance.

So yes, we can clearly see where my reading heart lies. Ironically, it isn't in Romance.

Five Total Strangers by Natalie D Richards

She thought being stranded was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong.

Mira needs to get home for the holidays. Badly. But when an incoming blizzard results in a canceled connecting flight, it looks like she might get stuck at the airport indefinitely.

And then Harper, Mira's glamorous seatmate from her initial flight, offers her a ride. Harper and her three friends can drop Mira off on their way home. But as they set off, Mira realizes fellow travelers are all total strangers. And every one of them is hiding something.

Soon, roads go from slippery to terrifying. People's belongings are mysteriously disappearing. Someone in the car is clearly lying, and may even be sabotaging the trip—but why? And can Mira make it home alive, or will this nightmare drive turn fatal?

All we Have Left by Emily Paxman

Thirty years after the end of the world, a young woman enters into a marriage of convenience with a man she hardly knows so she can secure vital medical care for her beloved younger sister.

The world might not have ended all at once. But end it did.

Kayla Hollins is a survivor. Living in the fragmented wasteland of the Canadian Pacific Northwest, she's outlived a colony, a cult, a paramilitary group, and most of her family. So when her younger sister April falls seriously ill, Kayla will do anything to save her. They trek to Salt Spring Island, a beacon of hope in their otherwise brutalized world, which is rumoured to still have a hospital. But Salt Spring's utopia comes with a price. Not just anyone can enter paradise or access their medical care, and Kayla's past is chequered.

Desperate, Kayla makes a deal with Sid Charles, an aspiring politician with whom she had a chance encounter before arriving on Salt Spring. If Kayla and Sid get married, it will boost Sid's chances of election, and grant April automatic access to the medical treatment she desperately needs. And in two years, when Kayla is eligible for citizenship herself, they can get a divorce. Simple, right?

Sid is distant and cranky, but Kayla comes to learn he is also shockingly kind. The more time she spends with him and his ragtag group of rescued boys, the more she comes to admire him. But with April's treatment and Sid's election on the line—and the constant terror of her past being discovered—Kayla isn't sure she can risk trying to change their arrangement.

Trapped together in the closest thing left to paradise, Kayla and Sid both know what it means for the world to end. But as they try to rebuild with the people of Salt Spring Island, there may be time left to save—if not the world—themselves.

Happy #BookBirthday! 4th Jun 26

Happy Thursday! This week there are TEN books on our lists publishing!

No One Leaves the Manor by Kelly McWilliams

It’s 1921, and Mrs. Caroline Reginald Kane, the last surviving descendant of a family of oil barons, has invited four young debutantes to visit her at Greystone Manor. There, they'll compete for the ultimate prize: to become heir to her unspeakably vast fortune. But only one girl can win. And the manor is watching. 

Dorothea is a thief, and the best liar in the American Northeast. Her mother vanished at Greystone years ago, and she’s determined to find out why—so long as no one uncovers her secrets first. 

Vaughn isn’t crazy. She was born for this life—and she won’t let anyone come between her and the fortune she deserves. 

Birdie doesn’t know why she’s been invited, but she believes everything happens for a reason…and that reason just might be divine. 

Elspeth is called “pretty as a peach, dim as a doorknob.” But she sees things that the others can't: whispering birds, shifting doors, and a language that should never be spoken. 

And there’s something else hidden behind these walls. Something sinister. It doesn’t plan to let them leave alive.

The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson

A witch and her young ward discover a magical, walking house and learn the true meaning of home in this cozy, enchanting novel from New York Times bestselling author Jaleigh Johnson.

Evelyn Sharpe is accustomed to dealing with natural disasters as a land witch, but she longs for a life with a little less danger for her and her adopted daughter, Ruby. So when the opportunity to take over as Caretaker of Thornwood House—a sentient home that acts as the magical heart of the village of Iskendra—arises, it seems almost fated.

When they arrive in sunny Iskendra, Evie and Ruby find the house is nothing like what they expected: First of all, it has walked away from the address. Thornwood House is also grumpy, guarded, and extremely hesitant to allow the two witches through its doors.

Armed with gentle hearts and wild magic, Evie and Ruby begin to form tentative bonds with the house and the citizens of the small town. But there’s something deeply damaged about the building seeping into the forests surrounding Iskendra, and Evie will have to use all her power to protect the roots she’s started to grow.

Weekly recap, 31st May 2026

Welcome to the weekly recap! It's been very warm here this week, perfect for reading snowy books.

This week I posted

The Thing about Giants - breaking assumptions and making friends

Being Aro - you mean romance isn't the be all and end all?

The Tiny Magic Bookshop - the magic of books and found family

The Someday Garden - grief, gardening and a goose named Damnit

This week I read

Five Total Strangers - claustrophobic danger in the snow

The Inheritance - growing terror in an inherited house

Clearly I just wanted to scare myself before spending the weekend alone in a strange house.

Coming up

Tween wish fulfillment and meta commentary on genres!

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

When Sophie Drear plans her escape to coastal Maine for the summer—for a temporary job revitalizing the storied grounds at Lilymoor House—she doesn’t expect to fall in love.

But she does: With the beguiling land, the fragrant flowers, and the towering hedge maze. With the quirky staff and the enigmatic woman who owns the place.

And then, the door appears. Never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, and unfinished, garden with a frustrated thundercloud of a man trapped inside.

This mysterious garden is not the only sign that the future of Lilymoor is unstable: the foliage resists Sophie’s careful nurturing, vines threaten to strangle the hedges, and the manor’s owner has wild ideas about who will take over when she retires—including her inconveniently attractive nephew who is also there just for the summer.

Despite herself, Sophie has come to care for the residents of Lilymoor just as much as she cares for its grounds. With the help of one man on the outside of the secret garden, and one man on the inside, she might be the only person who can figure out exactly what Lilymoor needs to bloom once more.

The Tiny Magic Bookshop by August C. Bloom

There's magic in a book ...

Max always felt too ordinary for the magical village of Lampton. No place more so than her mum's bookshop, where the recommendations are more than just a matter of taste - they're magic.

When Max's mum dies suddenly, she leaves her daughter Lamplight Books and makes one last wish: that Max would spend a year working in the bookshop before she sells it.

Max has no desire to uproot her busy life in the city to return to a place that always made her feel inadequate, but she can't ignore her mum's last request. So she decides on a trial run of two weeks - if she can't even last that long, then a year would be impossible...

Happy #BookBirthday! 28 May 2026

Happy Thursday! This week there are THREE books on our lists publishing!

Being Aro ed by Madeline Dyer and Rosiee Thor

These twelve stories showcase aromantic people breaking generational curses, finding acceptance, and protecting the vulnerable while highlighting the infinite ways people find connection and love without romance.

A high school matchmaker learns a lesson about love. A rebellious spaceship pilot defies his culture’s compulsory coupling. A boy magically transforms banned romance novels into living dragons. A teen immune to romance, and the zombie virus, fights to survive the apocalypse. Being Aro is full of stories throughout real and imagined worlds that cross genres and disrupt the status quo.

The Thing about Giants by Christopher Galvin

Jacq is destined to hunt fearsome giants to protect her city--but when she meets a sensitive young giant named Corman in the forest, she realizes the world isn't quite what she's been taught. A page-turning adventure full of heart.

Thirteen-year-old Jacq Dyer is the daughter of two renowned giant hunters, although she's never had much stomach for what they do. In a city built from giants' bones, people rely on hunters to keep them prosperous and safe, and everyone knows that giants are violent, senseless creatures . . . aren't they? But when an accident leaves Jacq lost and injured in the wilderness, she ends up face-to-face with Corman, a frightened young giant, and Misneach, his overgrown badger. Corman has just lost his dad to hunters, and he and Jacq must learn to trust each other if they're going to find their ways home. 

But as they start finding out the truth about giant hunting--and the shadowy Resistance Jacq has grown up hating--they discover there's more at stake than either of their people know. 

With captivating world-building and rich characters, debut author Christopher Galvin offers an engrossing and thought-provoking tale.

Weekly recap - 24 May 2026

Happy Sunday! Welcome to the weekly recap. Missed a post, or curious about what's coming up? It's all right here.

This week, I posted

The Heirs - murder and mystery with five extraordinary siblings

The Blue Book of Nebo - language and belonging in post apocalyptic Wales

Just Another Dead Boy - romance and fate in a luxury resort

Really Rubie - tween drama and friendship at summer camp

This week, I read 

The Little House that needed a Witch - picture book about longing and belonging

Princess Diaries Graphic Novel - our favourite princess is back!

Princess (Apparently) - our new favourite princess is Caribbean!

Cursed Ever After - fantasy in a world where belief is more important than any spell

You Only Live Twice - a Muslim romance

Apparently this week I was all about how people see themselves and what happens when that's challenged

Coming up: For only the second time since beginning blogging, I have nothing due immediately! Would you read something long to clear it off the list or a few short things to gain some space?

Really Rubie by Maddie Frost

Hello, summer! Eleven-year-old Rubie Fox can’t wait to go to sleepaway camp for the very first time. She and her best friend Riley Swisher will go away for an entire month TOGETHER, and they’ll even be able to spy on Riley’s crush Owen, who will be across from Camp Pineview, over at the boys’ camp, Moose-Ridge.

But when Riley drops a bomb—she can’t go to camp because she broke her ankle—Rubie has to go by herself. Which sort of makes her feel RAGE…how can she go to camp without Riley?! But her mom has already paid for it, so she’s stuck with her plushie chicken Jim the Duck and a cabin full of girls she doesn’t know.

But Rubie just might find another BFF, break out of her shell, and even meet a boy…all without Riley. Camp might be more eventful than Rubie ever thought it could be—will she sink or will she swim?

Just Another Dead Boy by Kelly McCaughrain

In a world where everyone knows the date they will die, Regan’s job to be the perfect girlfriend to rich boys with days to live. Her two rules: Don’t fall in love. Don’t have hope. So far, she’s been able to follow them, but will the last client between her and a full-time “Juliet” contract be the one that breaks her?

Wild-child Regan works at a luxury resort as a “Juliet” for the Romeo & Juliet Service, promising to provide the illusion of star-crossed romance to rich boys on end-of-life retreats. She gets to live life on the edge—skydiving, partying, and doing a host of other people’s bucket-list thrills—then moves on to her next client. But when world-famous Death Date researchers the Dalys arrive, she’s tasked with her hardest client yet, their overachieving stone-faced son. Jude Daly sees right through the setup—he thinks she’s a parasite, and, frankly, she thinks he’s an entitled jerk. They agree to fake romance for the sake of Jude’s parents and Regan’s job, but as contempt turns into something else, news breaks of the first ever Death Date survivor. Will Regan break her ironclad rules so she and Jude can take on Fate together—before his impending Death Date catches up with them? A compelling and heartbreaking love story, in which Regan realizes she might have to stop living like today is her last—and start living like it isn’t.

Happy #BookBirthday! 21 May 2026

Happy Thursday! This week there are TWO books on our lists publishing!

The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros

Dylan was six when The End came. 

Now he is fourteen. Since the disaster that changed everything, Dylan and his mam have survived in their isolated hilltop house above the village of Nebo in north-west Wales, learning new skills and returning to old ways of living. They trap rabbits, tend the vegetable garden, and take turns caring for Dylan's little sister, Mona.

Dylan does not remember the time before they were alone, before the electricity went off for good, before the “normal” twenty-first century world disappeared.

His mother, Rowenna, has given him a simple task: to write in a journal, the book now in your hands. 

When, one night, Dylan asks his mam to write too—the story of The End and of the life before that he cannot remember—the Blue Book of Nebo is created.

“We’ve agreed not to read what the other has written, just in case," Dylan writes. "In case of what, I’m not sure.”

Together, they take turns writing their histories, what they remember, and what they can piece together of the outside world—and the secrets they have kept from each other for the past eight years.

What brought The End?

What was life like before?

Where did Dylan's baby sister Mona come from?

The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…

Octavius the Maestro.

Fola the Brain.

Bilal the Olympian.

Perdita the Artist.

Romeo the Failure.

These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.

Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.

Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .

Weekly recap 17th May 2026

Welcome to the weekly recap! 

This week, I posted:

The Last Dragon House - adventure and found family with only some light scorching occasionally

Forlorn Harbor - YA horror, Twilight Zone style. What's your ironic punishment?

A Flood of Memories - floods both literal and metaphorical in Malaysia

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous - Stardew in real life, or sort of real

This week, I read:

The Someday Garden: Magic and mystery in a garden in Maine, where all the spooky things ever happen

A Flood of Memories - yep, cutting it very tight there

The Blue Book of Nebo - language and memory in post apocalypse Wales

All we have left - cosy apocalypse.

Apparently this week I was all about the memories we keep when everything else falls away.

Coming up:

It's all about princesses next week! 

What have you been reading?

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K England

When Oaklin Nettlewood accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult, mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. Years later, the realm's heroes have finally saved the day, defeated the villain, and shattered the last remnants of the spell...leaving destruction in their wake. And so, with a spell-damaged memory and whole bushel of trauma, Oaklin escapes to a small farm on the edge of Mossley's Rest and swears an oath: After all the things they were forced to do with their magic, they will never use it again. Ever.

The no-nonsense ghost granny who lives in Oaklin's house has other ideas. As she coaxes Oaklin out of their shell and back into the world, they find companionship (a grumpy horse and a very good dog), friendship (a local bard and magical baker who should just kiss already), and tentative romance (a paladin-librarian who makes Oaklin's heart come alive for the first time in ages.) Magic even seems possible again--though strictly for foraging magical mushrooms and protecting the farm from bugs.

Healing comes in gentle waves, and Oaklin doesn't have to do it alone. So what does it mean when an inquisitor comes to town to hunt former cultists just as Oaklin begins to think that maybe, just maybe, they deserve a happy ending after all?

A Flood of Memories by Nadia Mikail

It's raining in Sarawak, Malaysia - a lot - and Leila, now living in Kuala Lumpar, must go home to help her Mak before the floods become serious. But she hasn't been home since the death of her father - and she's not quite ready to confront what's waiting for her there. Life with Pak was complicated.

But Arthur is in Sarawak, the boy she's thought about ever since they first met at school - Arthur, who offers her support, care and love, but at a cost perhaps too great for Leila.

As the floodwaters rise and her family and home become threatened, can Leila confront the enormity of her own past in order to move forwards properly in her present? A beguiling and meaningful novel which explores the fine line between care and control, between love and abuse in families, and shows that it is possible to move on to a brighter future.

Happy #BookBirthday! 14th May 26

Happy Thursday! This week there are TWO books on our lists publishing!

Forlorn Harbor by Jim Doran

Squeaky-clean Martina Ramirez is about to commit her first crime with a group of six schoolmates—breaking and entering into an abandoned movie theater. The trespassers soon find themselves trapped inside, and while trying to discover a way out, they are startled by a projector playing a film on its own. It shows a vintage episode of a horror series, and one of the group is trapped within the film. The only method of escape is to survive the episode, but the story doesn’t play fair. As the night wears on, the projector displays more episodes, ensnaring the others one by one. Martina tries to help her classmates, hoping that they’ll trust her. However, the events onscreen continue to work against her. And when Martina’s turn arrives, she must face her own ominous trial…alone.

The Last Dragon House by Liv Mae Morris

Siblings Olly and Jenny Atwood have never met a dragon—Olly doesn’t even think they’re real. But when the strange and brilliant Dr. Lady Abernathy offers Olly a job at her mysterious house, the Atwoods learn that these incredible beasts are very much alive—and they need help.

Dragons have been forced into hiding, and as caretakers of the Dragon House, Dr. Lady and Olly are the only protectors these magnificent creatures have left. But when evil forces conspire to poison Dr. Lady, Olly and his dragon friends find themselves locked in a race against time, political conspiracies…and one very large corgi. Can Olly recover the antidote before it’s too late? And can Jenny harness her stirring powers to keep Dr. Lady alive until then? Or could this be the end of the Dragon House—and dragons—as they know it?

Common Criminals' Club: Death Before Detention by Alison Weatherby

This is the story of how we . . .

- Discovered a dead body

- Launched an investigation

- Battled mean girls, feral bats, and nearly destroyed our three-year friendship all in the noble pursuit of solving a complex murder

Mae Flynn is used to the chaos of her rural Irish Catholic boarding school, but she isn’t expecting to discover a dead body in the school kitchen. To make matters worse, the hapless victim, Conor Haddock, was the previous owner of the school building and had recently been talking about selling up, alongside getting on the bad side of seemingly every adult Mae knows. In other words: the suspects are endless.

Along with her best friends, the self-named Common Criminals' Club, Mae is determined to solve the murder. But the more she uncovers, the more she begins to suspect that everyone around her is hiding something. Soon it’s not only her lessons and friendships at stake, but her very life . . .

Bromantasy by Marie Roche

Fellas, is it gay to kiss your bff while on a quest through the forest you’re unqualified for?

Juniper Reilly is good at only two things: demolishing a pint of mead and finding the perfect skincare routine. Oh, and getting in brawls at the local tavern, backed by his roommate, the absurdly capable, endlessly patient Morn Elmthorn (Mo, for short).

But when Juniper accidentally volunteers them both for a quest to kill a fearsome monster, he knows he’s finally gotten in over his head. Juniper hates camping, he hates the dark, and there’s no way all these foraged mushrooms are going to sit well in his stomach. One thing he doesn’t hate? How good Mo’s thighs look in his questing pants—though that’s worrying for an entirely different reason.

But monsters come in all shapes and sizes. When the brave, totally 100% platonic bros realize the “fearsome monster” is actually just a scared little girl, they’ll begin to wonder who the real villain is… and if Juniper and Mo can find their own happy ending along the way.

In a kingdom utterly unprepared for Juniper and Mo’s single shared brain cell, BROMANTASY is what would happen if David Rose starred in THE PRINCESS BRIDE.

Happy #BookBirthday! 7th May 2026

Happy Thursday! This week there are ELEVEN books on our lists publishing!

Questor's Academy: The Box of Locks by Sam Hay

Tom Friday was never meant to be a magical-object-guarding, super-brave secret agent. But on a visit to the Natural History Museum he gets embroiled in the world of the Questers Academy – protectors of mythical treasures and artefacts from around the world.

Questers student Leesha is determined to be the youngest ever agent for Questers, but first she’ll need to prove her worth. That’s where Tom comes in. Tom is a super-recogniser, someone with the ability to pick out people from a crowd after barely glimpsing them for a moment. Together Leesha is sure they can solve a complex and intriguing quest: to find the key to the mythical Box of Locks, before it falls into the wrong hands.

Faced with a bunch of complicated ciphers and coded clues, the new friends must learn to trust each other in order to beat the forces of darkness and save the world from potential apocalypse.

Common Decency by Tom Allen

It may be quiet in the suburbs, but it's far from peaceful...

Oak Drive can be found nestled tidily in an unassuming English town. Its uniform front gardens overlook a midsized common which the street's residents survey with quiet, some might say smug, pride.

This is the sort of place where it pays to sweat the small stuff, and let the big things look after themselves. Bins should be placed back in their right positions in a timely fashion and paintwork should share the same tasteful but muted palette.

Sometimes, however, the big things do not look after themselves - and all hell can break loose in sleepy suburbia.

Common Decency chronicles the lives and interactions of the street's residents as they band together to save a beloved oak tree from destruction at the hands of ruthless developers.

As tensions rise and repressed neuroses and resentments seep out, the secrets of Oak Drive threaten to shatter the well-ordered veneer, revealing some rather more surprising truths. . .

The Monster and the Clown by Mats Strandberg and Sofia Falkenhem

Frank must outwit the ringleader of the monstrous circus in this new story in the just-scary-enough illustrated chapter book series about a warm-hearted boy-turned-werewolf trying to find his pack.

The people of Yrred are terrified of monsters, and fear is spreading like wildfire. So when Kruger the Clown comes to town, they leap at his offer to catch the creatures haunting Yrred and force them to perform at his circus. Only Frank knows the town’s secret—and his own. He is the monster they’re all afraid of. But he’s also a nine-year-old boy, who has finally found friends like him. Frank and his monster friends must reveal the truth of Kruger’s cruel circus before the hateful plan takes hold. The Monster and the Clown is a spine-tingling adventure about a creepy clown, a daring rescue, and having the courage to stand up for what’s right.

Young World by Soman Chainani

America is on the brink of collapse, and the youth have lost all faith in their leaders. As a pivotal election approaches, Benton Young, a high school senior trying to impress a girl, impulsively uploads a video, daring everyone to interfere with the vote and write him in for President. The video explodes online, igniting election chaos and a national revolt, until the Supreme Court intervenes to put Benton in the White House. Galvanized by Benton’s rise, more global youth take to the streets, and more governments fall, until eight of the world's most powerful nations are led by teenagers.

When these young leaders convene at their first summit in Sweden, they face the monumental task of setting a new course for history. But the first night, their unity is shattered when a leader is murdered in cold blood . . . and Benton is the only suspect. Hunted by enemies young and old, he must untangle a deadly web of secrets, betrayal, and power plays—while the future of the world hangs in the balance.

With globe-spanning action, stunning twists, and an electric new brand of storytelling, Young World is a heart-stopping thriller that asks: What happens when the future really does belong to the young?

Happy #BookBirthday! 30 Apr 26

Happy Thursday! This week there are THREE books on our lists publishing!

Last to Leave by Teresa Richards

Video game streamer Fallon joins a 1920s-themed murder mystery game, and the only thing more important than figuring out whodunit is who has the most fans.

When seventeen-year-old up-and-coming video game streamer and content creator, Fallon, earns a coveted spot in the new murder-mystery reality game, SleuthIt, her objective seems pretty straightforward: play the game, solve the mystery, and win the million-dollar prize. The fact that she’ll do it all on livestream with seven other young content creators only makes things better—after all, increased exposure is influencer gold, and winning will catapult her gaming channel to the next level.

But unbeknownst to each other, the contestants are interconnected, and when one of them turns out to be Fallon’s online gaming partner, Dante, she starts to doubt the objective of the game. The intrigue runs much deeper than Fallon ever thought—the eight contestants chosen for the show are not the only players in the game, and the interlopers have hidden agendas and competing interests.

As secrets come out and the lines between ally and adversary blur, Fallon will have to figure out what game she’s really playing, who might be playing her, and what she’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of fame and fortune. Because, in the end, no one can have it all.

Blog Tour: The Redwood Bargain by Markelle Grabo

To free her cousin from an indentured contract, Katrien agrees to fulfill their lord’s bargain with the fabled “Redwood Man.” Three maids before her have posed as his stepdaughter, Lady Zaviera, and met this lord of the forest as promised. But Katrien means to be the first to fool him—and live.

Impersonating a Lady is no easy feat, especially one as beautiful and aloof as Zaviera. With six weeks before she’s sent off, Katrien is put through endless lessons, even as The Redwood Man’s suffocating vines overtake the manor and threaten its staff.

Zaviera takes a special interest in her training, and their shared interests grow into shared affections. But The Redwood Man awaits his prize. Caught between duty and desire, her future and her past, Katrien must navigate a tricky bargain—or risk failing those she holds dearest.

Wench by Erynne Rivers

Maid Marian’s life is over.

Her cowardly father has betrothed her to the most reviled man in the land: the Sheriff of Nottingham. Devastated, she’s sent on the quickest path to meet her husband, through the fae-infested Sherwood Forest.

But everything changes when her carriage is attacked by the most feared fae of all: the Merry Men, followers of the infamous Robin Hood. Kidnapped and waiting on the Sheriff’s rescue, Marian finds herself surrounded by the magical creatures she’s been raised to fear. But the more time she spends in their presence, Marian realises that not everything she’s been taught by her family is true.

And Marian can’t help but find herself drawn to her captor – the sinfully handsome Robin, who stands between her and returning to life amongst the humans.

As the Sheriff's men close in on Marian's location, she will soon be faced with the ultimate choice: the family she’s always known, or the love she can choose for herself…

Reality TV for Snobs by Ali Barthwell

Turn skeptics into fans and fans into scholars with this smart, entertaining guide to 20 influential reality shows, from The Real World to The Traitors.

Much like reality itself, reality TV has one main problem: There’s just too much of it. Whether you’re a devoted fan who wants to share your passion, a specialist who doesn’t have time to watch every show, or a skeptic who still wants to understand all the references, you’re going to need a guide.

Great news: Reality TV for Snobs offers explanation and analysis of 20 influential shows. Learn about:

• The massive cultural impact of The Bachelor
• The ultimate fate of all those top models from America’s Next Top Model
• The genesis of that Real Housewives meme you keep seeing
• What really happened on the set of Survivor

And many more secrets, facts, and insights!

This is the second installment in the Outsider’s Guide series, which offers highly readable crash courses in major cultural phenomena, so you can catch the references and understand the big deal. Join the conversation—or convince your favorite snob to join it with you!

Happy #BookBirthday! 23 Apr 2026

Happy Thursday! This week there are THREE books on our lists publishing!

Andromeda by E. S. McLeod

Blessed by the gods with unparalleled beauty, Andromeda lives a life of ease within her Aethiopian palace walls. Content with her sanctuary, the young princess has no concerns other than the royal expectations her parents have for her – until a single, fateful proclamation changes everything.

When the queen defies the gods with a blasphemous claim, Poseidon, fearsome God of the Seas, delivers a deadly ultimatum that puts the queen’s life in Andromeda’s hands. Poseidon sends his loyal servant, the shape-shifting Ceto, to seal the princess’s fate.

But Ceto is not just a servant. With a sharp tongue and hardened heart, she has little interest in the princess’s appearance – and even less in the games of gods. Yet an undeniable tension begins to bloom between them, and both quickly realise Andromeda’s beauty is not only a gift, but a weapon to wield. As Poseidon’s judgement draws ever closer, the two women find themselves pulled into something far more passionate – and dangerous – than either could have predicted...

The Ship's Cat by Alex Howard

From the bestselling author of The Ghost Cat comes an epic new adventure for feline fans. The Ship's Cat is the Odyssey with cats - a heroic yet feel-good tale of unlikely friendship on the high seas.

When street-savvy London stray Archie accidentally stows away on a flight to Turkey, he's just looking for shelter. But after stumbling onto a fishing boat in a quiet cove, Archie discovers he's no ordinary feline - for with his polydactyl paws, he brings uncanny good fortune to vessels at sea.

From the sun-drenched harbours of the Mediterranean to the bustling decks of ocean racers, Archie becomes a legend among sailors. Yet beneath the viral fame and whispered tales of 'the magical ship's cat', Archie yearns for something deeper: a forever-human who will love him not as a talisman, but as a companion.

It may be luck that drives Archie on this great Odyssey around the world, but love will be what calls him home - not to some place, perhaps, but to someone.

Heartwarming, adventurous and quietly profound, The Ship's Cat is a tale of resilience, belonging, unexpected friendship and the mysterious ways love finds us.

Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler by Amelia Tait

The start of a brilliantly funny accidental time-travel diary series for tweens. It’s Back to the Future meets Judy Blume, with a 13-year-old girl who tackles timeslip mishaps, laugh-out-loud embarrassing moments, and one unpredictable adventure after another.

Hi! I’m Lily. My birthday is in two weeks and I have a big secret: Every New Year's when the clock strikes midnight, I time travel to a new century. Mind-blowing, right!?

Thank goodness my cat, best friend, and school crush always turn up, too. But I still have a ton of problems… like why is my arch-nemesis, Georgia, so good at ye olde insults? How does anyone survive in Ancient Rome without chicken nuggets? Why are my brother’s clothes so ridiculous in every century? And why on earth can’t I stay in one era!?

The Between-Worlds B&B by Amy Mae Baxter

Margo is bored. It’s the summer before she graduates and she has no idea where her life is going. When she gets locked out, and checks into a lovely B&B, Margo is greeted by surprisingly handsome receptionist, Finn. The rooms are cosy, there’s a grand library and a huge swimming pool, and the breakfast smells amazing.

But Margo soon suspects that it’s all too perfect, and that magic is in the air. She’s fairly sure that one of the other guests is a fairy princess, for one thing. Is this a B&B for magical beings? But Margo doesn’t have a magical bone in her body, so what is she doing there?

The Unchosen One by Amy Sparkes

Tassie has always dreamt of a life of adventure and exploration. Instead, she’s stuck in the Citadel under the care of the Chief Steward, well away from any form of danger. When the Wisest of the Wise Witches comes to visit and proclaims her the Chosen One, destined to save her people from death and destruction, Tassie realizes why she’s spent her life under lock and key—in order to fulfill a prophecy. Can she refuse the role and find an alternative? Along with her best friend, a griffin named Spin, she embarks on a hilarious epic quest through magical lands in a race against time.

Looking for Aurora By Zainab Boladale

Aurora Kutti's life seems perfect: she's a beauty and fashion icon for her many TikTok followers.

But below the surface it’s a different story. All the freebies and product launches can’t stop her feeling empty. All the glamour is scripted, and she’s not even sure she knows who she is anymore.

When Aurora’s ‘momager’ pushes her towards yet more fame, she decides to make herself disappear. But can she find herself, or is she lost forever?

Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham

Temmi, a young trash collector stuck in a dead-end job on a garbage planet, finds herself with a golden ticket she never expected: an opportunity to compete in an intergalactic dating show starring the brother and sister heirs to the galactic empire. Twenty-four women will compete on a televised program to marry the prince and princess—and future emperors—and to win the dynasty’s favor for their home planet.

Temmi may have been hand-picked to date the quiet, bookish prince, who is immediately taken by her brash personality and their shared passion for the sciences. But she can’t seem to keep away from the princess—and even though it couldn’t be a worse idea, their chemistry is undeniable.

But when contestants start turning up dead, and conspiracies begin to swirl around anti-imperial motivations of several contestants, Temmi among them, so much more than feelings are at stake.

In fact, very few of the participants of Love Galaxy have come on the show to find love. Sexy, snarky, and revolutionary, this fast-paced thrill ride will hook lovers of reality TV, fans of thoughtful sci-fi, and anyone who lives for drama.

Secret of the Selkies by Laura Keohane

‘They came from the sea, shrouded in cloaks and mystery’

A lonely summer looms ahead for Lana, with only Nan and Grandad for company. Still, it’s better than being stuck at home, living in her perfect brother’s shadow. But Carrig Cottage has magic and secrets of its own. When Lana finds a strange coat in the attic, and a book about mysterious, magical seal people – selkies – she also uncovers an incredible family secret. Lana is on the edge of a whole new, impossible world. Is this where she truly belongs?

Happy #BookBirthday! 9 Apr 26

Happy Thursday! This week there are SIX books on our lists publishing!

The Ministry of Manners by David Solomons

A BOLD NEW MIDDLE-GRADE ADVENTURE FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR DAVID SOLOMONS EXPLORING WHAT'S LOST IN KEEPING QUIET AND WHAT'S FOUND IN FIGHTING BACK.

Be quiet. Be polite. Or be silenced.

Alfie and Margot Hawthorne have grown up under the Ministry of Manners, where politeness isn't a choice - it's the law. And one wrong word can change your life. He knows how to stay out of trouble, but she has never been one for quiet obedience.

When the Ministry takes Margot, everything changes. Inside the Manners Retreat, she fights to stay herself in a place built to erase her. Meanwhile, Alfie falls in with the Unsilenced - those who still dare to speak. But the Ministry has plans of its own. And if they succeed, rebellion won't just be punished. It'll be impossible.

An Accident of Dragons by Cheri Radke

In theory, the dragoness of Summer can make any resident on her island the ruler, if the previous Lord Summer is so careless as to die without an heir. In practice, absolutely no one expected her to choose Teddy, the last lord’s middle-aged fancy man. With his quick wit, heaps of charisma, and excellent dress sense, Teddy brings plenty of virtues to his new role, but statecraft, pedigree, and decorum are not among them. That’s all right: he’s done his duty to the island, and his five-year-old daughter, Zinnia, will make a brilliant Lady Summer when her time comes.

Except when a ship of desperate mainlander thieves arrives, Zinnia’s caught in the fracas and taken hostage. Teddy jumps into the rescue mission without delay, even though his days of adventures on the mainland are long buried with his lover. But his sailors have never seen their destination, and worse, the hard-liner admiral who leads them thinks Teddy’s a worthless dandy. Against a conniving robber baron, a sorceress who’s tamed her own dragon, and ordinary people with everything to lose, the crew faces terrible odds. But with all he loves in danger, Teddy must prove there’s more to him than he’d ever intended to show.

The Bookshop Sisters by Sarah Webb

It’s 1956. When thirteen-year-old bookworm Rosy Heron and her big sister Martha are sent to Dublin to help their aunt Toto in her busy bookshop for the summer, their quiet lives change overnight.

The two sisters quickly become part of the Baggot Books team as junior booksellers and bicycle delivery girls. But the bookshop is also full of secrets. Where does their aunt disappear to at night, and what exactly is happening in the basement of the shop? Rosy is determined to solve the mystery, but she’s not the only one interested in the goings-on in Baggot Books …