Don’t Look Away by Rachel Abbott

TW: death, murder, kidnapping, violence, abuse, blood, trafficking, abusive relationship, stalking, gaslighting

🧠

This was the perfect crime thriller to loose myself in on an evening. The pacing was perfect, keeping me hooked and the pages flying by. It is twisty, but also very character-focused and draws strength from its relationships.

Regeneration by Pat Barker

🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, war, violence, PTSD, traumatic flashbacks, gore, psychological torture

This is a book simmering with rage and defiance, asking what ‘regeneration’ means for shell-shocked soldiers in wartime. Barker delves deep into standards of masculinity, weaving in subtle explorations of sexuality, in stark contrast with the physical and mental effects of the horrific trauma of the trenches.

The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson

⭐️(side character) 🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: abuse, abusive relationship, susbtance abuse, rehab, blood, violence, death, murder, poisoning, blackmailing, affair, cheating

I absolutely adored this book. I raced through it and loved that blend of cosy Golden Age style of crime stories with a social commentary of the dark side of fame and fandom. It was just dynamite and I knew I needed more, so instantly requested the follow-up and my review is further down!

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

⭐️🧠

TW: death, violence, suicidal thoughts, grooming, sexual abuse, rape,  paedophilia, child abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, manipulation

This was such a stark and brutally honest take on the Romeo and Juliet narrative, one that exposes the violence enmeshed in the ‘romance’ of Shakespeare’s tale. Something that I have never fully considered is the true age of Juliet, which makes for horrifying reading here.

Full review here.

A Very Lively Murder by Katy Watson

⭐️(side character) 🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, murder, racism, sexual assault, suicide, rape, blackmailing, gaslighting, sexual harassment, violence

Watson has concocted an excellent recipe for success here. I enjoyed how Watson kept that dangling exploration of fame, legacy and learning to live within your own light. There is an extreme danger to weaponised nostalgia, which is often used against marginalised people and Watson is keenly aware of this. 

Full review here.

The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach

⭐️

TW: cancer diagnosis, terminal illness, sexism, racism

With this and Not Here To Be Liked, Michelle Quach just hits that sweet spot of YA contemporary romance and coming of age narratives that I adore. This takes a slow-building, chemistry-filled romance and combines it with a poignant exploration of family and legacy.

Full review here.

Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould

🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: grief, loss of a family member, emotional abuse mental illness, PTSD, memory loss, cancer, death, animal death, child death

This is a beautiful meditation on grief and Gould captures that devastation of a gradual loss, spun out over many years and through different forms. This underpins the entire narrative, essentially asking what you would sacrifice to rectify your mistakes and return to a moment lost forever in time. It is a thoroughly modern take on the classic ghost story.

Full review here.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

⭐️🏳️‍🌈 (I cannot deny the undertones)🧠

TW: racism, death, blood, gore, murder, violence, micro aggressions, classism, sexism, gaslighting

This book is phenomenal.

Wellington leaves scorched earth in her wake with this biting, bloody and brilliant take-down of structural inequalities. This satire is exceptional and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Full review here.

Disobedient by Elizabeth Fremantle

🧠

TW: rape, sexual assault, violence, execution, murder, death

This was a gut-wrenching, vulnerable and searing read that I found incredibly hard to read at times. The characterisation was brilliant, particularly around Artemisia with her talent, her drive and determination that is shattered by a horrific, violent act.

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: death, war, violence, self harm, suicidal ideation, marital rape, pregnancy loss, drowning, torture (not overly graphic), child harm and death (young teen), internalised homophobia, ableist language

Parker-Chan’s writing could burn the world down. This is an incredible conclusion to the gunpowder trail started in She Who Became the Sun. Just magnificent in every way.

Full review here.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

🧠

TW: sexism, death, sexual assault, drowning (and details about drowning), dependency on pills

From one phenomenal book to another, Ava Reid is an author I am obsessed with. This is a masterclass in pacing, characterisation and tension, with a beautiful meditation of stories and who gets to have an authorial voice.

Full review here.

Girlcrush by Florence Given

🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: sexual assault, hate comments, death threats, biphobia, homophobia, sexism

I enjoyed aspects of this, particuarly how Given delved into the toxicity of online culture, biphobia and a later awakening to queerness. However, the characterisation did not hook me enough and I was not the biggest fan of the writing style.

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

🧠

TW: death of a parent, stalking, murder, serial killers, blood, grief

This was the perfect beach read – tense, taut and thrilling. It was like watching a cat and mouse game unfold before you eyes, trying to guess each plot twist and how the story would evolve. I also enjoyed the exploration of the ethics of true crime narratives, forgetting the victims and who gets to control the narrative.

The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan

🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, violence, murder, PTSD, flashbacks, serial killer

I was quite enjoying this sapphic horror, where nothing and no one can be trusted. It was tense and claustrophobic, with a throughline of the exploration of the impact of trauma and how it ripples across time. Then the last third happened and I hate to say, but it really destroyed my enjoyment of this book.

Mister Magic by Kiersten White

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, violence, indoctrination, religious trauma

This book creeped me out. That mix of weaponised nostalgia and the inherent creepiness of old children’s TV shows going wrong just builds and builds; an unrelenting and terrifying force. Excellent work from White.

Full review here.

Damned If You Do by Alex Brown

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, violence, murder, gore, abuse, abuse of a child, physical abuse

This took me by surprise. It was bold, brave and brilliant. The mesh of a devil’s deal with the oncoming storm of destruction heading their way, plus a nuanced depiction of the aftereffects of abuse and trauma was excellent. I also loved the soft, sweet sapphic romance intertwined, with a definite focus on the cost of survival.

Full review here.