Being Bookish

This week, I’m joined by author Victoria Prince to talk about her gloriously escapist debut novel, The Chalet Girl, which is released on 4th December 2025 by Penguin. It's a sparkling, sexy, snow-dusted romp that channels the glamour, drama, and irresistible excess of classic 80s bonkbusters.

Set in a luxury Alpine resort where secrets simmer beneath the snow, and desire is as dangerous as a black-diamond run, The Chalet Girl follows three women navigating ambition, temptation, and the intoxicating world of the ultra-rich. Think Jackie Collins glitz combined with Jilly Cooper mischief, all wrapped up in Victoria’s fresh, funny, fiercely readable voice.

Victoria and I chat about the inspirations behind the book, from retro paperbacks with gold-foiled titles to the larger-than-life heroines who strutted through the stories of Collins and Cooper. We get into writing bold characters, crafting deliciously chaotic plotlines, and bringing back the unapologetic glamour and fun of the bonkbuster.

If you’re into big personalities, snowy scandals, and fiction that lets you escape into a world of outrageous luxury and even more outrageous behaviour, this episode is for you.

So grab a hot chocolate, get cosy, and let’s head up the mountain together.

Victoria's Instagram

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Victoria's other Instagram

This week, I am joined by regular visitor Lorraine, and we tend to do, we're talking horror. This time it's the tension and fear induced by Stephen King’s 1980 novella The Mist, a claustrophobic tale of survival, fear, and the monsters both outside and within.

When a strange storm rolls into a small Maine town and an otherworldly mist swallows everything in sight, a supermarket becomes ground zero for a group of trapped townsfolk struggling to make sense of the horrors lurking just beyond the glass.

Lorraine and I dig into the tension, the razor-sharp social dynamics, and the way King turns an everyday setting into a pressure cooker of paranoia. We’ll talk creature design, human collapse under stress, and why this particular novella still feels unnervingly relevant decades later. If you’re into atmospheric dread, moral grey areas, and speculative horror that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page, this one’s for you.

So brew a cuppa, get cosy, and let’s step into the mist together.

The Body

Misery the book

Misery the film

This week I’m diving into Daughter of the Moon Goddess, a 2022 fantasy tale inspired by Chinese mythology, rich with celestial intrigue, forbidden love, and the journey of a young woman determined to challenge the gods themselves.

Forced to flee her home on the moon, where she lived in exile with her mother, Xingyin must navigate the perilous world of immortals, uncover her family’s secrets, and fight to free her mother from eternal imprisonment.

As always, I’ll be talking about the character development, world-building, and emotional depth, plus my feelings on the romance. If you love lyrical storytelling, Chinese mythology, and heroines who forge their own destiny, this one’s for you.

And stay tuned for my review of Darker Days by Thomas Olde Heuvelt—a dark, unsettling tale where folklore and fear collide.

So brew a cup of tea, get cosy, and let’s talk books.

This week I’m diving into If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon, a sweeping tale of betrayal, reinvention, and 1980s glamour. It follows Tracy Whitney, a young woman whose perfect life unravels after a devastating betrayal, forcing her to rebuild herself from the ground up. From a prison cell to glittering European cities, she transforms into a woman of wit, charm, and courage, making a new life for herself on the outside.

As always, these are just my personal thoughts. I’ll be chatting about the storytelling, pacing, and how Sheldon captures both the excess and the empowerment as we follow Tracy’s journey. If you love stories of resilience, revenge served with style, and a dash of romance, this might be one to add to your TBR.

And stay tuned to the end of the episode for a quick review of Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, the third in her Assistant to the Villain series, and a playful, fantasy-tinged romance that adds a lighter twist to the week’s reading.

So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

Flowers in the Attic

Mel

Easy Connections

Raye's Instagram

This week I’m diving into Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider, a relatively recent romantasy release set in a world divided by sea and shore, where magic, loyalty, and love collide. Political intrigue, magical powers, manipulation and a lost princess have important roles to play.

As always, these are just my personal thoughts. I’ll be taking a look at how the world-building, pacing and romance contribute to the story, and of course, the entire episode is 100% spoiler-free.

Not every book is for every person, but could this one be for you?

And stay tuned to the end of the episode for a quick review of The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis, a witty, magical contemporary fantasy that’s full of charm and chaos.

So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

Episode Links

Warrior Princess Assassin

Shield of Sparrows

Katrina's Review of Fifty Shades of Grey

What do you do as a reader when things change in your life that you have no control over? You pick yourself up, of course, and head to the bookshelf for something to read to get you through it. At least that's the plan.

So, when my life took a bit of a meh turn this week, I did exactly that, but what books did I pick up?

The episode is a little shorter, but still, books are at the core, so join me with a cup of tea and hear my thoughts as I go through the books that get me through.

This week I am really happy to have had the opportunity to chat with author Heidi Swain who is the Queen of Seasonal Romances. Her latest novel, All Wrapped Up, takes us to autumn in the town of Wynbridge, where love may (or may not) be in the air for the latest residents.

We're talking all things bookish, including inspiration for her novels, love of all things seasonal, and the fact that All Wrapped Up is her first venture into autumn in her books.

All Wrapped Up would make a really great Hallmark movie and has a cosy Gilmore Girls, community village/town feel.

Episode Links

Heidi's Instagram

Buy the book

An Interview with the Author

Intro music by Darren Curtis

This week I’m diving into the brand new romantasy Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer, a sweeping fantasy full of danger, betrayal, and uneasy alliances.

The story starts off as the tale of two people marrying for political gain, to merge their two kingdoms, both of which are in danger. Slowly, the story develops: a perilous journey, assassination attempts, political intrigue, palace secrets. Trust becomes as valuable as survival. It’s an adventure laced with romance, loyalty, and the constant threat of blades in the dark.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on how the story unfolds, from the complex palace relationships, the anger and frustration, the jealousy and the tension of life on the road as talks of peace break down and accusations are made.

As always, I remain spoiler-free and always honest. I'll be talking about the characters, the fantasy, the romance and the tropes, and all without straying from the family-friendly path or revealing any huge spoilers.

And if that weren’t enough, I’ll also be giving a shorter review of Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong, a romantic comedy full of witty banter, false identities, and the delightful chaos of love turning up where you least expect it.

So, if you’re after a mix of fantasy adventure and light-hearted romance, make yourself a cuppa, get comfortable, and let’s talk books.

Featured Episodes

Shield of Sparrows

Fourth Wing

Iron Flame

The Games Gods Play

Intro music by Darren Curtis

This week I’m travelling to Lancashire to join a witch and her found family in the cosy fantasy A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. This one is equal parts heart and magic, as we follow Sera Swan while she discovers what is most important to her after being exiled from the Sorcerer's Guild following a huge rule infraction! Since then, she's built a new life running an inn that only appears to those who truly need it.

With a backdrop of enchanted rooms where petals fall from the ceiling, a house full of eccentric misfits, and the ever-present shadow of the Guild, this story offers gentle humour, found family warmth, and the quiet ache of desperation to get back what was lost years before. At the heart of it all is Sera, a heroine who has to decide not just whether she wants her magic back, but whether she’s ready to open herself up to let people into her life.

As with every episode, while I’ll be touching on the views of others to keep things balanced, ultimately, the opinions here are my own. I’ll be talking through the world-building, the cast of characters who make the inn feel alive, and whether the romantic thread kept me invested, or if it had me rolling my eyes.

Everything remains completely spoiler-free and 100% honest, because what’s the point otherwise?

And don’t forget to stay tuned for a second, shorter review. I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. Think bookshops, quiet rebellion, and a story about finding a place to belong.

So, pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

Somehow it happened, we've passed the halfway mark for 2025 (where did the time go)! That means it's time to take a look at my reading journey so far (yes, I know it's a bit late).

So, in this episode, I’m reflecting on the books that have shaped the last six months, the highs, the lows and everything in between. Well, not quite everything, that would take a little bit too long!

I’ll be talking honestly about what worked for me, what didn’t quite hit the mark, and why.

Of course, there was that one stand-out read that should already be placed on a podium somewhere, and I am going to be working up to that one, because it's special...and if you haven't read it already, maybe you should...I can’t wait to tell you why it’s stayed with me long after the final page.

Plus, if you’re already planning your next few reads, I’ll also be sharing the titles I’m most looking forward to for the rest of the year. Whether you’re here for inspiration, reflection, or just to compare notes, if you find joy in a good book and love to talk about them, you're in the right place. Sit back, relax and enjoy my six-month check-in, a month late!

Mentioned Episodes

Brat: An '80s Story by Andrew McCarthy

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor