Shelf Life

What do you get when you combine female empowerment and exciting twists and turns? A delicious novel from author Andrea Bartz! Available from 24 March, it's no surprise that 'The Herd' is on dozens of ‘must read’ and ‘best books of 2020' lists.

It’s clear after only a few pages why Andrea is a master of mystery and surprise. The story follows four characters - Eleanor, Hana, Katie and Mikki - who all play important but different roles at The Herd, a female co-working space in Manhattan. At first glance, The Herd seems to be the perfect community for women in need of mentoring and support, but when Eleanor, The Herd’s founder, goes missing on the eve of a big announcement, it’s up to her friends to find out the truth behind all Eleanor's secrets as well as the ones that the three women have been keeping from each other.

Just like ’The Lost Night,’ Andrea’s latest novel gives us more relatable characters, endings that are thrilling and exciting and showcases how much the past can haunt and cripple us in the present.

I absolutely loved ’The Herd’ and so enjoyed talking with Andrea about what inspired her to write this book, how the wants and needs of women are evolving and the role that co-working spaces like The Herd play in society today.

Andrea's website: https://www.andreabartz.com/

If you love beautiful stories as much as I do, then you will absolutely love 'In West Mills' by De'Shawn Charles Winslow, which was published in June 2019.

In less than a year, this stunning debut novel has not only received praise from dozens of other incredible authors but 'In West Mills' was recently nominated for an L.A. Times Book Prize. For anyone else who read and loved this book as much as I did, you’ll definitely understand why 'In West Mills' is so special and worthy of all the praise and nominations.

Set in West Mills, North Carolina, this novel introduces readers to characters who jump off the page and possess voices so rich and real that it feels like you are actually in West Mills. The story begins in 1941 and follows the struggles and blessings of Azalea Knot Centre, a young woman living in West Mills who, alongside her friends, Otis, Pep and Valley, is just trying to live life to the fullest and doesn’t take kindly to everyone thinking they know what’s best for her. Spanning across 46 years, we see Knot take on new adventures but she never loses her spirit or sight of who she truly is.

I loved this book so much and had so much fun talking to De’Shawn about his beautiful gift as a storyteller, whether it’s ever too late to tell someone you love them and how he wants his characters to live on in our hearts and souls I really hope you enjoy this episode!

Buy 'In West Mills' in hardcover here: https://www.bookpeople.com/book/9781635573404

Pre-order 'In West Mills' in paperback here: https://www.bookpeople.com/book/9781635575286

De'Shawn's website: https://www.deshawncharleswinslow.com/

Fancy going to Greece without getting on a plane? Do you love a tragedy that will break your heart and makes you laugh? Then you'll love Honestly, We Meant Well, the latest book from Grant Ginder.

This story follows The Wrights: Sue Ellen, Dean and Will who appear to be the perfect family. One the surface, everything seems great, particularly when Sue Ellen receives an invite to lecture to a tour group on the Greek island of Aegina.

But then disaster strikes and everything changes.

From Berkley, California to the famous ruins of Greece, this book takes readers on a fantastic journey with characters who will make you laugh, break your heart and think hard about how the past can be the key to the future, even if it’s a different one than you imagined.

I really hope you love this episode!

Buy Grant's book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/honestly-we-meant-well/grant-ginder/9781250143150

I could have definitely used 'The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney' when I was a teenager. If, like me, you love books full of humour, tenderness and beautiful relationships, then you'll adore this fantastic debut novel by Okechukwu Nzelu.

Nnenna is a 16-year-old growing up in Manchester and has so much grit as she navigates the ups and downs of womanhood alongside her mum, Joanie. Their relationship is certainly very special but Nnenna’s curiosity to learn more about her father, Maurice, who Joanie refuses to discuss, is tested, particularly as Nnenna learns more about her father and his Nigerian culture.

I absolutely loved 'The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney' and had so much fun chatting with Okechukwu about teenager anxiety, the powerful dynamics between all the characters in the book and why we tend to believe the doubts in our heads, especially when they are confirmed by those we love most.

It’s no surprise that Okechukwu’s debut has been recommended by the i Paper, the Guardian, Metro and many others. Oh and by beloved authors such as Candice Carty-Williams, Andrew McMillian and Bernardine Evaristo.

I really hope you love this episode!

You can buy Okechukwu's book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-private-joys-of-nnenna-maloney/okechukwu-nzelu/9780349701059

If you are looking for a book that feeds your heart, soul and mind, then 'From Scratch' by the incredible Tembi Locke is for you.

This stunning memoir features love, food, family and loss. Whether you believe in love at first sight, you will definitely fall in love with 'From Scratch'. The book transports readers to the streets of Florence, where Tembi met professional chef, Saro. What began as young love soon blossomed into a truly beautiful relationship, even when Saro’s family initially disapproves. Tembi and Saro forge on to build a happy life in California, complete with successful careers and a beautiful baby girl named Zoela.

The couple eventually reconcile with Saro’s family just as he faces a formidable cancer that consumes all their dreams. The story chronicles three summers Tembi and Zoela spend in Sicily as they piece together a life without Saro and find solace and nourishment - spiritually and literally - at the dining table.

This is the love story that stays with you forever. 'From Scratch' was one of my favourite books of 2019. I had so much fun chatting with Tembi about her beautiful story. Enjoy!

Buy Tembi's book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/from-scratch/tembi-locke/9781501187650

Tembi's website: https://www.tembilocke.com/

If you love original, beautiful and extremely enjoyable stories, then you will love Cygnet by Season Butler. Published by Dialogue Books in April, Cygnet is a brilliant debut novel and one of my favourite books of 2019.

It’s set on Swan Island - a very unique place to live, particularly for The Kid, a seventeen-year-old, who is stranded with the island’s community of old age separatists. With no guarantee of when she'll see her parents again, The Kid experiences ups and downs of being unwanted by the elderly residents and much to her disappointment, her family.

I absolutely loved this book and my chat with Season. We talked about Cygnet, the important themes woven throughout the story, such as climate change and ageism, and why it’s absolutely vital that younger and older generations band together to take on the challenges of the world.

We recorded in the very busy Waterstones Hitchin so you'll hear shoppers around us. But our conversation is definitely worth a listen!

Enjoy!

Buy Season's book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/cygnet/season-butler/9780349700328

It's official: only four months to go until the Texas Book Festival rolls out the red carpet for almost 300 beloved authors and thousands of avid readers from around the world. The festival has been going for almost 25 years and is one of the largest and most prestigious literary festivals in America.

In this episode, I chat with literary superstar and director of the festival, Julie Wernersbach. It was such a treat to chat with Julie about why the festival continues to be a favourite for authors, readers and visitors to Austin, the fantastic work that the non-profit does each year and to find out about some of the incredible authors who will appear this year. Books and Texas - what more could you want?

Put on your boots and let’s two-step over to Texas!

Festival website: https://www.texasbookfestival.org/

2019 Festival Lineup Sneak Peek:https://www.texasbookfestival.org/2019-festival-lineup-sneak-peek-fifteen-authors-were-excited-to-introduce/

Are you a Geraldine, Rachel or Sunny? How about a lovely combination of all three? If, like me, you are looking for a funny and extremely relatable book to help you navigate your 30s, How Could She is exactly what you need.

In this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with Lauren Mechling about her brilliant debut novel, friendships, new and old, careers and what it means to be a women in 2019.

Whether you are considering a full career change like Geraldine, exploring what it truly means to go it alone like Sunny or hoping to refresh your image like Rachel, I truly believe that How Could She will resonate with every 30-something woman around the world.

Witty, hilarious, painfully sad and honest, Lauren has given us a truly wonderful debut novel. I love this book and our episode. Enjoy!

Buy Lauren's book here:https://www.waterstones.com/book/how-could-she-a-novel/lauren-mechling/9780525559382

''If the dominant LGBT narrative of the 20th century was a gay boy in the country buying a one-way bus ticket to the Big Apple, the untold story of the twenty-first is the queer girl in Tennessee who stays put.''

Just one of my favourite lines from Samantha Allen's fantastic travel memoir, Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States. This book, which was published in March, takes readers on an incredible journey through Red State America.

Whether Samantha is in Provo, Utah, where she began her own journey as a Mormon college student, or with Jess Herbst, the first openly transgender mayor in Texas history, it feels like you are in the backseat alongside Samantha and her friend, Billy.

Real Queer America gifts us with a much-needed spotlight on the extraordinary LGBT communities in states such as Utah, Texas and Indiana.

Today as a happily married transgender woman, Samantha is the perfect champion and author to put these stories in the hands of allies around the world.

I loved every second of this book and I was so honoured to chat with Samantha about her fantastic debut. I really hope you enjoy our episode.

Buy Samantha's book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/real-queer-america/samantha-allen/9780316516037

Do you love characters that make you laugh, cry and ache all at the same time? Do you love historical fiction that transports you so you can hear from important voices of the past? Do you love beautiful storytelling?

If you answered yes to one or all of the above, then you must read Yvonne Battle-Felton's debut novel, Remembered. Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, this incredible novel, published by Dialogue Books in February, is all these things and more.

I was so honoured to chat with Yvonne about Remembered, the important themes throughout the book and why these characters - Spring, Tempe, Edward, Ella, Agnes and many more - stay with you long after you close the book.

My favourite book of 2019 and a fantastic episode. Enjoy!

You can buy Remembered here:www.waterstones.com/book/remembered…n/9780349700502