Category: Book Reviews
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Review – Unwell Women – Elinor Cleghorn
A history of medical history through the lens of women, or, how women have been severely mistreated medically throughout history. Utterly brilliant yet continuously miserable.
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Review – Necessary Fiction – Eloghosa Osunde
A beautiful group of stories and characters that shows us what it means to be queer in Nigeria today. One of the most beautiful and quotable books I’ve read this year.
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Review: Black Cake – Charmaine Wilkerson
A novel of uncovered family secrets and the lengths people go to for survival. I enjoyed the premise of this one, there was a lot going on and lots of twines to unravel.
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Review: Give Him to Me – Dorothy Koomson
Robyn witnessed the murder of her mother by her father and watched the world protect him, now she wants to track him down and is going through everyone connected with the case. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Kez and her cases, this is another brilliant one.
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Review: As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow
Layla feels like she can’t leave Syria while she can still be of use in the hospital, but the revolution is getting closer and it’s only a matter of time… A devastating story of revolution and the hope that can blossom in the darkest of times.
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Review: Every Smile You Fake – Dorothy Koomson
Finding a child in the back of her car is about to be Kez’s smallest problem as pieces of this puzzle begin to slot into place. Utterly addictive and totally brilliant.
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Review: The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
After Star witness the murder of her friend, she’s called to be a witness and the importance of using her voice becomes apparent. I mean, how do I even review this book? It’s a modern classic!
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Review: Human Rites – Juno Dawson
Chaos draws near as this trilogy comes to a close, the Hebden Bridge witches are back with a bang! A fitting ending for an exciting trilogy with great rep and twists and turns.
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Review: Mongrel – Hanako Footman
Three women, three tales of identity and belonging. A stunning novel that has me hoping Footman will be writing for years to come.
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Review: The Girl With the Louding Voice – Abi Daré
Adunni just wants to finish her education, but life has never dealt her the fairest hand. This is beautifully written with distressing but necessary topics, a modern classic.
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Review: Poyums Annaw – Len Pennie
A collection of poems centring feminine rage and the female experience and most of all, love and hope. This is a brilliantly passionate collection and perfect follow up after her debut.
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Review: Rebel Hearts – Tanya Byrne
There’s two approaches to teaching about the climate, empathy or anarchy and Ren and Pearl are on opposite sides, but for how long? A super sweet romance that fans of Tanya Byrne are going to eat up!
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Review: All the Tomorrows After – Joanne Yi
Winter is on her way out, she has a plan, but plans get upended and life never quite works out the way she expects. Utterly stunning and heart-breaking, perfect for those that love to feel everything in a book.
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Review: Your Tears Fall Like Pearls – Adukeh
A beautiful debut poetry collection, overflowing with grief.
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Review: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
Fleeing from your past will always catch up with you, but never in the way Lucy expected. Boulley’s best work to date and a brilliant return to Sugar Island.
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Review: Sweet Heat – Bolu Babalola
Picking up five years after Honey & Spice, Kiki and Malakai are forced back together in situations they couldn’t have imagined. Babaola proves yet again why she is one of my favourite authors ever, a stunning book.
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Review: Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi
A story of racism and colonialism that passes through generations, quite literally. An exquisite piece of writing that everyone needs to read.
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Review: Conversations on Love – Natasha Lunn
A collection of conversations on love with both experts in the fields and authors, covering everything that comes under the umbrella of love. There’s some really beautiful parts of this book and while not everything will resonate with everyone, you’ll find that you need to hear.
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Review: Good Intentions – Kasim Ali
A novel centred around endearing characters with good intentions but none of the follow through. A brilliantly written piece with important coverage on mental health, well worth a read.
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Review: Reframing Blackness: What’s Black about “History of Art” – Alayo Akinkugbe
A brilliant and important argument defending the narrative for not separating Black Art from the rest of history, but actively including it. Beautifully written and accessible for all readers, art fanatics or not.
The Bookish Mindset 