Review - the Night Stairs by Erin Kelly

The Night Stairs by Erin Kelly

Publisher: Harvil

Release date: 9 July 2026

Back cover blurb: St Cordula’s Catholic boarding school has survived for centuries on tradition, discipline and silence. Now its future is under threat, and Deputy Head Fiona Fox is preparing to lead the controversial change that could save it from ruin. But St Cordula’s has always had rules of its own. Legend has it that the ghost of fifteenth-century nun, Sister Matilda, will keep the school safe. But only as long as the words ‘GOD FORGIVE ME’, scrawled by Matilda on a chapel staircase wall before she fell to her death, remain. Every year, the words are repainted. The only time they were allowed to fade, in 2002, a terrifying outbreak of vertigo swept through the pupils. One girl died on the night stairs. And only three people know what really happened. Now the vertigo is back, and as panic sweeps the school, Fiona must confront a dark secret from her past. Or face the deadly consequences…

St Cordula's Catholic School for Girls is about to go kicking and screaming into the modern day, through a partnership with the local Catholic boys school.

After a scandal involving some of its priests - I'm sure you can guess the rest ... the boys school is keen to make a fresh start.

But St Cordula's is about to have a long ago scandal of its own resurface when one of its pupils is struck down by the 'spins', a vertigo phenomenen that affects people in very close proximity with each other, like a boarding school.

Deputy Head Teacher, Fiona Fox was once a pupil at St Cordula's and she was there when the last attack of the 'spins' struck, resulting in tragedy. But no one knows she is a former pupil, and no one must find out.

Years earlier Becks, Jessica and Kylie are navigating the bullies of St Cordula's whilst trying to save it from closure due to its financial situation. There is a ghost supposedly haunting the abbey attached to the school. The spirit of Matilda who fell to her death on the 'night stairs'.

Possibly the first victim of the 'spins'. 

When the girls risk their lives by climbing the night stairs years later, they can't possibly understand the danger that they have put themselves in or what might follow.

Twisty, turny and expertly written combining years of tradition with modern tech and evolution, I loved this latest offering from Erin Kelly.

the Night Stairs is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review - the Project by Annie Lord

The Project by Annie Lord

Publisher: Harvill

Release date: 16 July 2026

Back cover blurb: Daisy and Maya bounce around the city like they own it, from all-night house parties to sticky-floored smoking areas, drinks in hand. But after a particularly regrettable one-night stand with her annoying friend James, Daisy starts to look around and wonder why, in a sea of intelligent, gorgeous women, all their prospects seem so hopeless. It’s time for The Project, a radical reinvention of dating, and who better to start with than James? James may be raw material, but he’s quite happy to go along with Daisy and Maya if it means a little more time alone with Daisy. But falling for James was never part of Daisy's Project - can she bring down her walls enough to let someone in? Because she might not find someone perfect, but she might find something real.

Daisy has loved Fin for as long as she can remember, but each time she thinks that they can make it work, he introduces her to his newest girlfriend.

James, who they have known since Uni, is the guy that gets all the girls. But he doesn't always treat them how he should.

Maya, Daisy's best friend and work colleague decides that they need 'a project' to find the perfect man.

James, ends up being part of the project. Unquestionaly fuckable, and charming. You could possibly take him home to meet your Mum. But then he might break your heart by fucking your best friend..

There a lot of imperfections to work on.

The end goal is, that James becomes perfect and able to take home (and keep) any girl he wants.

Not so ideal timing then for Daisy to realise that it's James and NOT Fin who is the one for her. 

He is the one that thinks she's funny, beautiful and smart. He gets her sense of humour, he thinks she's gorgeous, he just gets her.

But as always with James he has other girls interest in him, and Daisy has SO many insecurites with men.

With a little coaxing from Maya, Daisy trusts herself enough to let James know that she might just be interested, but it might be too late.

And then in the worst possible timing, Fin decides to try it on with Daisy as he's not 'gelling' with his current girlfriend.

Daisy of course will realise that she's no longer interested in Fin and tell him to get lost. Won't she?

I absolutely adored this funny, quirkly novel and I look forward to more from this author.

The Project is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review - the Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge by Rachel Hore

The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge by Rachel Hore

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Release date: 26 July 2026

Back cover blurb: Nancy Foster has harboured a devastating secret that shattered her professional and personal life. On meeting her, journalist Stef Lansdown realizes that she has the power to restore Nancy’s reputation and to heal the wounds, if only Nancy will trust her. But someone else wants to get to the bottom of the story first, someone who doesn’t want it to be told. Set in the beautiful environs of the Norfolk Broads in 2010, and in London in the '40s and ‘50s, when life for career-driven women was so different, The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is Sunday Times multi-million copy bestselling author Rachel Hore’s utterly compelling new novel, interweaving the past and the present.

Stef is feeling prickly after a break up and not sure that she wants to go home. But then a research opportunity presents itself and she can't not.

Stef is a journalist, working on a book about Women in Science and is intrigued by Dr Nancy Foster's potential story. 

For she was one of the leading scientific researchers of the 1950s and then seemingly disappeared from that world.

Dr Nancy Foster is adamant that she does not want to be in Stef's book until she meets Stef and gets to know a little about her. 

As their friendship strengthens, Nancy begins to open up to Stef, until she decides to tell her everything she wants to know.

Nancy's grandson Aaron is fiercely protective of his grandmother, and naturally suspicious of Stef and her motives. But he also warms to Stef as he gets to know her and understands why she wants to write the story that she does.

This is a beautifully written novel about female scientists and the struggles that they have faced in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is available now via Amazon online and all good bookshops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review - When You Looked Away by S.M. Govett

When I Looked Away by S.M. Govett
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Release date: 9 July 2026

Back cover blurb: Laura is ready to start a new chapter. Between her messy divorce with her ex-husband, and moving in with her new fiancé, her son Benjy and her successful writing career have been her only constants. Until that fateful day. The afternoon starts like any other. Laura collects Benjy from school, then heads upstairs to write. It’s not until the sun is setting that she realises the house is quiet. Too quiet. It’s not until she sees the footprints in the garden that she knows something is terribly wrong.  One set is undeniably Benjy’s. It’s the other set that strikes fear in her heart – those of an adult. Someone who took her son, right from under her nose… DI Stratton is called to investigate. She must trust no one - and suspect everyone. Even Laura. After all, doesn't her latest story follow a boy the same age as Benjy? One that takes a devastating turn...

Laura Forrester is a hugely sucessful author, often absorbed in her writing and detached from reality. Sometimes forgetting to check on her Son, Benji after school.

But then he is 11, and should be able to fend for himself to a certain extent.

Laura is well into her latest edit when she realises she hasn't prepared any dinner, and then comes the shocking realisation that her Son is missing. After a frantic search, Laura discovers that the worst possible outcome has happened, Benji is dead.

Seemingly taken from the house, led to nearby waters and drowned. The Police arrive quickly and work to understand the facts.

Ted, Benji's soon to be Step Father, Laura's fiancee is a teacher, and quickly becomes the prime suspect.

Formerly known as Simon Hunt, accused but never charged with the abuse of three young boys before moving away from the area he lived in previously. It transpired that one of the boys was later found dead in almost identical circumstances to Benji.

Laura can't believe it. Doesn't want to believe that Tim is capable of such horrific crimes.

But Ted has a ready made list of excuses, and more importantly he has an alibi. Which leads the detectives to their next prime suspect, Benji's actual Father, Laura's ex Richard. A stereotypical narcissistic arsehole.

But even he wouldn't have hurt his own son, surely?

Turns out, he also has an alibi as he's been sleeping with Laura's neighbour. Confirming the reason he lied about his whereabouts, but also justifying his reason for being near the crime scene.

Which leaves Laura herself. Could the Mother be the true killer? Has she confused fiction with reality and somehow killed her son in the name of her latest novel?

When You Looked Away is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review - The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Kate Riordan

The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Kate Riordan

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Release date: 30 July 2026

Back cover blurb: It’s been years since Rain went home. To many, growing up on the Tanglewood estate, nestled in a beautiful corner of the Cotswolds countryside, seemed like a dream. But for Rain, memories of her childhood there are forever tainted by what happened that summer. The wild party. The body… Now estranged from her mother, and all ties to Tanglewood, Rain thought she’d moved on. Yet when another dead body is found at Tanglewood, she knows she must face her past. Rain has long held suspicions that what happened that summer wasn’t an accident. It was murder. And now's her chance to prove it.

Tanglewood.

A name that conjures thoughts of Woodstock and Glastonbury - the usual 70's stuff. And also Karl Lund.

Famous for one epic vinyl album, Lily of the Valley.

Rain wanted to escape Tanglewood as soon as she was able. She has always had a poor relationship with her Mother, who was more interested in drugs and sex with Karl than looking after her own daughter.

Now Rain is working for Dan, who is making a documentary about the 70's music scene, and in particular events like 'the gathering' at Tanglewood. 

Infamous for never actually taking place.

Now, 30 years on, Karl is planning a gathering anniversay, and a performance of 'the' album in full.

Rain doesn't want to go back to Tanglewood, but Dan doesn't know she grew up there, it isn't something that she ever speaks of, but he knows that she is local to the area and can potentially get something interesting for the documentary.

And then a young woman, Willow, is found dead on the Tanglewood estate and despite never wanting to return, Rain finds that she is curious. 

Especially when it transpires that there was another death on the estate, some 30 years previously...

The Last Time I Saw Her Alive is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review - the Quickening by Claire McGowan

The Quickening by Claire McGowan

Publisher: Corsair

Release date: 9 July 2026

Back cover blurb: The Hope Party's new laws have transformed Great Britain: the countryside rewilded, children's rights prioritised, and births on the rise. But freedom is fading. Karen has learned to navigate this new world, keeping her head down as her fertility is constantly monitored. As her husband's career thrives, while hers stalls. As her son is drawn into misogynist groups. Like everyone else, she's too frightened to speak up. Until her teenage daughter reveals a life-changing secret: she's pregnant. With abortion and contraception banned, her future has gone up in flames. But Karen won't let this happen - Charlotte is going to have the life she lost. Karen turns to her sister Isobel, a doctor who's initially reluctant to help. But when they learn Charlotte's pregnancy is ectopic and life-threatening, the stakes skyrocket. The three women go on the run, getting deeper into danger with every hour that passes. With powerful enemies on their tail, they will risk everything in a desperate fight for freedom, and for life.

The year is 2040. 

Not too far away from where we are that you can't imagine it, and yet seemingly impossible because Britain as we know it has changed beyond belief.  

The new government and its laws promote new life, at any cost.

Following an unspecificed pandemic (we all know which one really), Britain's birth rate is at an all time low, the country is on it's knees and the so-called 'hope' party, give, well, hope to the masses.

At first its changes are subtle, but then the laws become harsher and the reality of living under them, terrifying (there are definitely echos of Nazi germany in there).

When Karen's daughter finds out she is pregnant, she wants an abortion. She is young, about to go to University, and doesn't want to have a baby.

The trouble is, under the Hope Party rule it is literally impossible.

Unless she wants to be arrested and placed into protective custody or worse.

Then she discovers that the pregnancy is ectopic and that her own life is also in danger. Karen knows that she must do something to help her daughter. 

She just doesn't know what...

The Quickening is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review - The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann

Release date: 2 July 2026

Back cover blurb: When writer Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, she falls immediately for its scenic beaches and New England charm – and even harder for Van Whittaker, a gorgeous, fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast. She meets his friends: Augusta, old money and uptight; Fran, drowning in everyone else’s problems whilst keeping two kids (and an inebriated husband) afloat; and Bailey, who is sexy, confident… and inconveniently pregnant with Van’s child. Determined nothing will dull the shine of her new romance, Caroline joins the friends as they run wild through Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, gossiping on beaches while their children paddle, and playing risky games. It seems the fun will last forever – until it doesn’t. As decades-old friendships and marriages begin to fracture, Caroline’s place in their world is called into question. And with all the group’s most tightly held secrets at stake, who knows what might come out?

I adored Jenny Jackson's debut, Pineapple Street, and was super excited for her second novel. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed! A beautifully written novel about love and friendship...

When you are young adults and still friends with those you went to school with and have spent half of your life with, it seems like your friendship group is inpenetrable. And to a certain extent, it might be.

When Caroline Lash, daughter of the famous author Gwendoline Lash moves to Greenhead on a writing retreat she is doing so solely because she doesn't want to be accused of nepotism. She is not her Mother. They are very different people.

On the train to New England, Caroline first crosses paths with a man she later learns is Van Whittaker. Local to Greenhead, and essential to Caroline. She quickly falls head over heels for him. He is just so different from any other man she has met, or dated.

Quickly they become inseperable, and then he introduces her to his friends. Bailey, Fran, Augusta, Colin, Eben, Mark and RJ. These people have known each other since they were tiny. Their friendship group wants to be welcoming, you can tell this by how nice they are being. But ultimately they make Caroline feel like an outsider.

Which let's be honest. She is.

She doesn't know Greenhead, wasn't bought up there. And these guys have a lot of history. Some more than most. Particularly Van and Bailey, who hooked up during in High School, and have continued on and off ever since.

And then Van drops a bombshell. 

Bailey is pregnant and Van is the Father. He is adamant that they are not in love. They slept together just one time recently prior to Caroline's arrival in Greenhead. They're not in a relationship, and don't intend to be. Caroline shouldn't feel threatened. 

But she does..

Is this the start of everything unravelling? Or has Caroline found her happy ever after?

The Shampoo Effect is available now Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgally in exchange for an honest review.