Looking Glass Sound is a very strange book. Catriona Ward is one of my favourite authors and a master storyteller and this book was ambitious. It wont work for some readers, but I think she really pulled it off. It's hard to talk about without spoilers! Part coming of age tale, part story of revenge and trauma, it's a book about obsession in many forms. This is one of those books that you'll either love or hate - I can't imagine there's much middle ground! I ended up absolely loving it, despite being tempted to DNF at about 30% (there's a massive shift in the story that I found quite dull). I'm a huge advocate for DNFing but this is a rare case where I'm SO glad I didn't.

I'm a huge fan of Moira Fowley-Doyle's YA books and was so excited to read her adult horror stories! The dreamy magical realism that I've come to know and love from her is absolutely astonishing in this book - her stories are gorgeous and impactful and sometimes downright creepy. I'd highly recommend this to fans of sapphic books, horror, and magical realism.

I loved Kalynn Bayron's ode to slasher flicks! This book is a love letter to the genre, but still twists the common tropes on their head and follows a final girl who knows all the rules. This book was an absolute delight to read - I'd love more YA horror books from her.

The second instalment of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold  series is just as magical as the first, with a new set of characters looking to revisit the past. I love that between the customers stories we get some development in the lives of the people who work in the cafe too.  

A fantastic start to what promises to be another amazing series from Chakraborty. I will always have a weak spot for books set at sea and this is no exception. This is an absolute riot to read with loveable characters, amazing banter, and a fabulous adventure. I listened to the audiobook and would highly recommend it - the narrator does a great job of bringing Amina to life. One of the best books of 2023!

Another amazing book from Laura Purcell. I loved the relationship between the three female main characters and the themes of obession. She does an amazing job of bringing the settings, especially the Mercury Theatre, to life. Haunting, but not in the way you'd usually expect from one of her books. Instead, this is unsettling and creepy and will stick in your brain. I think this will be one of my favourites of the year!

An interesting nonfiction book about witch trials that predate Salem. I listened to the audiobook and had a good time with it, but it hasn't stuck in my mind much since reading it.