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@writersreview 📚

@writersreview.bsky.social

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Reviews of fiction and non-fiction by an impressive line-up of author and bookseller guests, hosted by Adele Geras, Linda Newbery and Celia Rees. Q&As with authors. Writers Review Publishing launching in 2025. www.reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

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@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"A mind near broken, repaired through the curative hard task of art and creativity." Guest Graeme Fife chooses STILL by Paul Sanders: part photography tutorial, part memoir about Sanders' mental breakdown and recovery through mindful photography. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/09/gues...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Graeme Fife: STILL - a mindful practice for photographers, by Paul Sanders

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Octavia E Butler was one of the first Black woman writers of sci-fi. Guest Sarah Lefanu celebrates the reissue by Headline of KINDRED, Butler's "dazzling, disturbing" tale of time-travel and slavery. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/09/gues... @headlinebooks.bsky.social #scifi #slavery #greatreads

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Sarah LeFanu: KINDRED by Octavia E Butler

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

New novel imminent from Writers Review Publishing! Here Linda Newbery reveals the cover for The Hide, by Owen Gent, and talks about how well it conveys the book's themes. lindanewbery.substack.com/p/cover-reve... @lindanewbery.bsky.social @owengent.bsky.social #TheHide #WritersReviewPublishing

lindanewbery.substack.com

Cover reveal: The Hide

I know, a contradiction ...

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Guest Jon Appleton reflects on the excellence of women writers in Australia in the 1980s & celebrates the reissue of THE WELL by Elizabeth Jolley: 'wickedly funny, harrowing, mischievous, moving.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/09/gues... #ViragoModernClassics #ElizabethJolley #Australianwriters

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Jon Appleton: THE WELL by Elizabeth Jolley

Book reviews by writers or independent booksellers, with occasional special features. We choose our own recommendations: fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, poetry, nature writing. We hope you'll enjoy our selections and keep coming back for more. Follow us on Facebook, X (Writersreview1) and Bluesky (@writersreview.bsky.social). Our new venture, Writers Review Publishing, launched in April - see website link in sidebar and Q&As with the authors.

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Congratulations to @johnironmonger.bsky.social on publication of THE ANGEL OF ST PIRAN - a page-turning eco-thriller that asks questions about animal communication, habitat destruction & trophy hunting. Q&A here! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/08/spec... @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Special feature Q&A: John Ironmonger on THE ANGEL OF ST PIRAN

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Welcome to new guest Peter Crawley, whose choice is a wartime memoir of resistance and courage that demands to be read. "...the awakening of spirit, the blossoming of defiance and the hardening of determination not to be beaten by the ranks of evil." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/08/gues...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Peter Crawley: THE JOURNAL OF HÉLÈNE BERR: a Young Jewish Woman's Life in Occupied Paris, translated from French by David Bellos

Reposted by @writersreview 📚

Linda Newbery 📚✍️🌳🐝 🦊🦋📷Ⓥ @lindanewbery.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

On Substack: art in various forms in my adult fiction. Egon Schiele, painting, stonecarving, calligraphy, photography, and a taster of my forthcoming novel, THE HIDE. lindanewbery.substack.com/p/paint-ink-... #WritersReviewPublishing #newfiction #TheHide

A painting, Vier Baume (Four Trees) by the Austrian artist Egon Schiele. Four horse chestnut trees against a glowing sunset.

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Congratulations to Jane Dalton, journalist and now author, on her compelling first novel, THE SECOND LIFE OF ANTHONY B. It looks at bereavement, secrets, adaptation, new chances - and the possibility of an afterlife? Jane discusses her book in this Q&A. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/08/spec...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Exciting news - our WRP author Sheena Wilkinson is shortlisted for the CAP awards in Ireland with Miss McVey Takes Charge. Congratulations and good luck to Sheena - this is WRP's first shortlisting! substack.com/@sheenawilki...

Sheena Wilkinson (@sheenawilkinson)

I was quite scared to self publish book 12 after eleven trad published books. But I have never regretted it!

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@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Regular contributor @cindyjefferies.bsky.social revisits Margaret Drabble, finding her reading experience very different after so long an interval. "What a lot I had missed..." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/08/gues... #MargaretDrabble @canongate.co.uk #greatreads #rereading #favouritesrevisited

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Cindy Jefferies: THE NEEDLE'S EYE by Margaret Drabble

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A new novel is on the way from #WritersReviewPublishing! On Substack, @lindanewbery.bsky.social writes about the importance of a good cover ... and the anxiety of waiting. Though THE HIDE's cover is in the very capable hands of @owengent.bsky.social. We'll post it here when it's ready! #bookcovers

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@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

New contributor Jude Hayland praises Arnold Bennett's THE OLD WIVES' TALE: "a masterpiece that has long been overlooked as Bennett appears to have slipped out of bookish fashion" yet "as relevant now as when the novel was published in 1908." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/08/gues...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Jude Hayland: THE OLD WIVES' TALE by Arnold Bennett

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

On the blog today: an interview with @suepur.bsky.social, whose first novel for adults, AN ORDINARY WAR, is out now. Based on her father's experiences as prisoner-of-war in Poland, it's a moving story of suffering, endurance, recovery and love. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/08/spec...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Special feature: Q&A with Sue Purkiss about her first novel for adults, AN ORDINARY WAR

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

We're proud to publish our 6th title! Congratulations to Sue Purkiss, whose first novel for adults, AN ORDINARY WAR, is a moving and compelling tale based on her father's experiences as prisoner-of-war in Poland. See Q&A with Sue on the blog on Monday. #WritersReviewPublishing @suepur.bsky.social

Book cover showing a soldier in greatcoat looking at the fence and control tower of a prison camp, in a snowy landscape.

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

A summer round-up on the blog today: Adele, Celia and Linda share their best recent reads, including books by Margaret Forster, Kathy Slack, Terry Hayes and @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/07/summ... #greatreads #summerreading #bestreads

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

SUMMER ROUND-UP by Adèle, Celia and Linda

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Reposted by @writersreview 📚

Linda Newbery 📚✍️🌳🐝 🦊🦋📷Ⓥ @lindanewbery.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

At @writersreview.bsky.social : Adele, Celia and I share our best recent reads. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/07/summ... #art #cooking #thrillers #photography #summerreading #readingrecommendations @celiarees.bsky.social

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

SUMMER ROUND-UP by Adèle, Celia and Linda

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

How we began and how we've grown! @lindanewbery on 10 years of Writers Review, our many guests, and how it led to Writers Review Publishing... substack.com/@lindanewber...

Linda Newbery (@lindanewbery)

Writers Review’s tenth birthday - how it all started, with thanks to Scillonian III, Compton Verney and writer friends

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Linda Newbery 📚✍️🌳🐝 🦊🦋📷Ⓥ @lindanewbery.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

open.substack.com/pub/lindanew... How Writers Review began - 10 years ago, and how we've grown! Thanks, Patrick Gale, for being our birthday guest. @writersreview.bsky.social

open.substack.com

Writers Review's 10th birthday -

how we got there, thanks to Scillonian III, Compton Verney and writer friends

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

It's our 10th birthday, and we're delighted to welcome Patrick Gale as our special guest, sharing his favourite walk, film, ideal day & more. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/07/10th... #authors #authorinterview #PatrickGale #favouriteauthors

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

10th Birthday Special Feature: PATRICK GALE tells us what's on his radar

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Guest Alice Jolly has won the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction with The Matchbox Girl - here she chooses 4 novels set in/after the Nazi regime in Germany and asks 'What would you have done?' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/07/gues... @alicejolly.bsky.social #Nazism #SecondWorldWar

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest feature by Alice Jolly: WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? - a round-up

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

"Her research was always meticulous but her real talent was to make her characters come alive on the page." We mourn the loss of our friend Mary Hooper, author of fiction for children and young adults, in this tribute by @celiarees.bsky.social. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/07/reme...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Remembering MARY HOOPER, 1945 - 2026, a tribute by Celia Rees

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

On the blog: guest Laura Parker finds much to intrigue & inform in THE TATTOOED HILLS by @jonwoolcott.bsky.social reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/06/gues.... #chalkfigures #downlands #chalk #landart

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Laura Parker: THE TATTOOED HILLS - JOURNEYS TO CHALK FIGURES, by Jon Woolcott

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Congratulations to @sheenawriter.bsky.social - MISS MCVEY TAKES CHARGE is longlisted for the CAP Awards for indie books. That's great news - and a first for Writers Review Publishing. Good luck with the next stages, Sheena!

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Welcome back, writer & editor Jon Appleton, who reflects on his admiration for #AnnPatchett and enjoys her latest novel, Whistler. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/06/gues... @parnassusbooks.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social #greatreads #AmericanFiction

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest feature by Jon Appleton: 'This is the Time We Have' - my decade with Ann Patchett

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Lovely post by Nick Manns, on seeing landscape & settlements with fresh eyes after reading Hoskins' classic. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/06/gues... @littletollerbooks.bsky.social

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Nick Manns: THE MAKING OF THE ENGLISH LANDSCAPE by W G Hoskins

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Regular contributor Cindy Jefferies enjoys this musical memoir by Carolins Sanderson: 'a wonderful journey full of fascinating asides.' . reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/05/gues... @boundlessbookshops.bsky.social #music #classicalmusic

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Cindy Jefferies: LISTEN WITH FATHER - HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE CLASSICAL MUSIC by Caroline Sanderson

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Happy birthday, Writers Review Publishing! We launched our first 3 titles last April - now there are 5, with more on the way. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/04/writ... #writersreviewpublishing

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

WRITERS REVIEW PUBLISHING marks its first birthday

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Patrick Gale never disappoints - we've reviewed several of his novels. Here's @lindanewbery.bsky.social on his latest, LOVE LANE. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/04/love... @tinderpress.bsky.social #postwarBritain #sexuality #greatreads

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

LOVE LANE by Patrick Gale, reviewed by Linda Newbery

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Nick Hodges enjoys Alfred Wainwright's Memoirs of Fellwanderer, finding many a contradiction in 'AW', beloved companion on many a hike or ascent. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/04/gues...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Nick Hodges: MEMOIRS OF A FELLWANDERER by Alfred Wainwright

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Latest indie bookseller feature: Sam Barnes of Books & Ink, Winchcombe, talks about her settings, specialities & plans. And a beautiful holiday let above the shop! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/book... #bookshops #indiebookshop

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Bookseller feature: Sam Barnes of Books & Ink, Winchcombe

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Guest Ann Jungman considers 'political correctness' from her experiences as teacher, publisher & author. Is it helpful, or a hindrance? reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/gues... #childrensbooks #childrensfiction #politicalcorrectness

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest feature by Ann Jungman - 'political correctness': help or hindrance?

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Regular contributor Jane Rogers admires Alice Jolly's 'extraordinarily ambitious' novel: 'a truly heart-breaking coming of age story' set in 1930s & 40s Vienna. #Nazism #neurodivergence reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/gues... #Vienna #WorldWar2 @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social ##greatreads

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Jane Rogers: THE MATCHBOX GIRL by Alice Jolly

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Welcome to Wren James, who talks about writing as activism and how their own writing led to the formation of the Climate Fiction Writers League. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/spec... #clifi #climateawareness #climatefiction

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Special feature: GREEN RISING and the Climate Fiction Writers League, by Wren James

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Today's post has brought this treat! We're looking forward to reviewing it soon. Thank you @tinderpress.bsky.social and Patrick Gale! #LoveLane

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Guest @cindyjefferies.bsky.social finds much to ponder in FORBIDDEN NOTEBOOK. 'I found Valeria in turns heroic, pathetic, irritating & impressive ... a woman of her time, in a country that's lost a bruising war'. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/gues... #Rome #Italy #1950s

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Cindy Jefferies: FORBIDDEN NOTEBOOK by Alba de Céspedes

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

A lovely bookshop feature today: how @paulmagrs.bsky.social & partner Jeremy saved their local bookstore. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/02/book... #indiebookshop #Manchester #Community #PandasBooksandRecords #independentbookshop

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Bookshop Feature: PANDA'S BOOKS AND RECORDS in Levenshulme, South Manchester, by Paul Magrs

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Welcome and congratulations to Jamila Gavin, winner of the Nero Book Awards children's prize with MY SOUL, A SHINING TREE. Here Jamila talks about her inspiration & influences, and how a short story became a novel. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/02/gues... #FirstWorldWar #IndianArmy #WW1

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest feature by Jamila Gavin: the research and influences behind MY SOUL, A SHINING TREE, Nero Prize category winner

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Why isn't Etta Lemon better known for being one of four women who founded the #RSPB? Tessa Boase's engaging biography is an illuminating sweep of social history that gives Etta the acclaim she deserves. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/02/etta... @lindanewbery.bsky.social #birds #conservation

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

ETTA LEMON: The Woman who Saved the Birds by Tessa Boase, reviewed by Linda Newbery

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Excellent article by our regular contributor Jane Rogers on Fire-ready. Does she shape her material for political purposes? 'I hope I never do. To quote the great short story writer Anton Chekhov: the role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.' morningstaronline.co.uk/article/what...

morningstaronline.co.uk

What are short stories for?

I’VE been asked if I shape my material to serve political purposes, and the answer is I hope I never do. To quote the greatest short story writer of all time, Anton Chekhov: The role of the artist is ...

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Have you seen, or are you thinking of seeing, H is for Hawk? To tempt you, or for comparison after seeing it, here's Nick Manns' excellent, thoughtful review for the blog. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2024/09/gues... #HisforHawk #NickManns #WritersReview #filmandbook #falconry #grief #bereavement

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Welcome to new contributor Nicki Thornton, bookseller-turned-author. She chooses Belinda Bauer's 'masterpiece of storytelling ... so much humanity, dealing with big, tricky subjects as well as a mystery plot.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/01/gues... #BantamBooks #NickiThornton #crime #mystery

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Nicki Thornton: THE IMPOSSIBLE THING by Belinda Bauer

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

We've published 4 books now, with 3 more (so far) coming in 2026. If you read & enjoy one of our titles, we'd really appreciate a review or mention on Amazon, Goodreads or elsewhere - every kind word helps them to reach readers! More about our books & authors at www.writersreviewpublishing.co.uk

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

We welcome Paul Magrs to the blog in March, talking about his new bookshop, Panda's Books and Records. Meanwhile here's his radio play to mark 10 years since the death of #DavidBowie, based on a real-life experience ... recommended! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... @paulmagrs.bsky.social bsky.social

Drama on 4 - The Goblin King and Me - BBC Sounds

A story about a real-life encounter with David Bowie, marking ten years since his passing.

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Congratulations to the category winners in the Nero Book Awards - Benjamin Wood, Claire Lynch, Jamila Gavin and Sarah Perry! Sarah's Non-Fiction winner is reviewed here by Adele Geras: Overall winner announced 4th March. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/11/deat... #NeroBookAwards

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

DEATH OF AN ORDINARY MAN by Sarah Perry, reviewed by Adèle Geras

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

This sounds fascinating! GOD'S SECRETARIES (great title) - the writing of the #KingJamesBible by the amazingly prolific #AdamNicolson, praised by Graeme Fife: 'deft portraits of characters, strengths, quirks and all'. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/01/gues... @harperperennial.bsky.social

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Guest review by Graeme Fife: GOD'S SECRETARIES - the Making of the King James Bible, by Adam Nicolson

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Something different this week! Paul Dowswell reassesses 2000 AD after finding a stash of the comics in his attic, and explains why he finds it more appealing than Superman, Spiderman etc. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/01/spec... #comics #superheroes #PaulDowswell #JudgeDredd

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Special feature by Paul Dowswell: THRILL POWER - in praise of 2000 AD

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

First guest of the year! Lawyer-turned-author David Breakell, talks about the motivation and inspiration behind his first historical novel. "It took a long time to unlearn the way a lawyer drafts a document…" reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/01/spec... #thriller #Genoa #DowerHouseBooks

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

SPECIAL FEATURE Q&A: David Breakell talks to John Case about THE ALCHEMIST OF GENOA

Reposted by @writersreview 📚

plantbasedfuture 🌿🌿🌿 @plantbasedfuture.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Top garden designer Cleve West is a great advocate for animals & #plantbased eating. He's currently featured in the #RHS magazine, The Garden. Find out more about his focus on compassion & sustainability here at @writersreview.bsky.social. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/06/lock...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

Special feature: Q & A with garden designer Cleve West on THE GARDEN OF VEGAN

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Here's the final and even bigger batch of Book of the Year choices by our reviewers - all authors or independent booksellers. Excellent and wide-ranging choices here! Thanks to ALL our contributors, all authors or independent booksellers. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/book...

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

BOOKS OF THE YEAR Part 3: chosen by our contributors

@writersreview 📚 @writersreview.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Here's Part 2 of our Books of the Year roundups - great recommendations here by authors & booksellers. What's your best read of the year? Please tell us in the comments! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/book... #greatreads #BooksoftheYear #readingrecommendations @booky.bsky.social

reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

BOOKS OF THE YEAR part 2 - chosen by our contributors