Read All About It

Dear friends.  It's certainly a time to hunker down with a good book. We've had so much rain. Nearby Epping Forest is saturated. Apparently arctic air is on the way, so expect dry, cold days by the end of the week.

I love the variety of British weather. I could never live in a place where it was always warm and sunny. 

I've just finished reading the following. I've linked to my Goodreads reviews, and indicated the publication date. 

All the books were provided free of charge as advance digital copies by NetGalley and the publishers, unless otherwise indicated. 

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

Publisher's Description: With exquisite prose and profound insight, Elizabeth Strout captures the way grief reverberates through decades, the comfort found in deep friendships and the freedom that comes when we break free of our secrets. The Things We Never Say is a stunning new novel from one of our most acclaimed observers of the human heart.

Publication date: 7 May 

Faces of the Dead by Chris Nickson

Publication date: 7 April 

Crime/espionage thriller set in Leeds in World War II 

Eight by Paul Gascoigne 

Memoir

I'm currently reading:

People in Love by Claire Daverley

Publication date: 4 June 

Publisher's Description: Tender and compelling, People in Love is a story about what-ifs and maybes, and the moments of misunderstanding that can shape our lives. It’s a book about living one life while musing on another, exploring how our choices shape our relationships and inform our regrets, and revealing, in the end, that the real love story is not always the one you'd expect. 

These are the latest new arrivals.

Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason 

Publication date: 27 August 

Publisher's Description: Hilariously candid and raw, Sophie, Standing There is a bittersweet story of love, loneliness and finding connection in the most unlikely of places.

Secrets Between Friends by Sheila O'Flanaghan

Publication date: 23 March 

I've been an admirer of Irish writer O'Flanagan since her first book. She writes contemporary,  intelligent fiction with great female characters. 

The Water Women by Bonnie Blaylock 

Amazon First Reads 

Publisher's Description: A powerful, emotional, and redemptive novel about the interwoven lives of mothers and daughters and the bonds of an ancient craft that link them through two world wars and beyond.

Publication date: 1 March

Progress with Challenges 

Goodreads target: 110. Currently at 13, three books ahead of schedule.

Non-Fiction Challenge run by Bookd Out: 12 books. Currently at 3.

New books published in 2026 run by The Chocolate Lady. Target 61-100, currently at 10. 

Cloak and Dagger Crime Challenge run by Carol's Notebook. Target: 12-25. Currently at 2. 

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY

My Book Challenges for 2026 

January Books

Linking with these Sites

Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer

Sunday Salon with Deb at Readerbuzz 

Erin at Cracker Crumb Life and Lisa at Boondock Ramblings with the monthly A Book and a Cup of Tea Link Party (first Monday of the month, open all month)

Book Review Linky,  first Wednesday of every month, hosted by Estelle at  Homemade on a Weeknight, and Melynda at Scratch Made Food 

#ThrowbackThursday on the Thursday before the first Saturday of every month at TCL (The Chocolate Lady) for old book reviews 

#WhatsBeenOnYourBookshelf at Deb's World   (3rd Friday of the month)

DON'T MISS OUT

Subscribe for 1 email a week from Is This Mutton for an update on posts you may have missed, or follow Is This Mutton on Feedspot. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky