Fiction is at the heart of the “Friend”, and we love to read as much as we love to share our stories with you. Here you’ll find some of the reviews of recent reads from our “On The Bookshelf” pages, to help you pick your next great new novel! Enjoy – and do let us know what you think when you’re done . . .
Book Reviews
All Book Reviews Posts
![Book recommendations 2024 including The Wakes, Seven Summers, The Clock Stopped Dead, This Could Be Us and The Little Penguin Bookshop](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2024/04/shutterstock_1707965908-2xx-mcq4wr3m-361x243.jpg)
5 Brilliant Books To Read This April!
![Book laid on its spine with pages folded into each other to make a heart shape](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2023/02/Heart-book-2g76h9asu-361x243.jpg)
Top 10 Books To Read For Valentine’s Day
![book cover for The Winter Garden](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2023/01/The-Winter-Garden2-35uk5po13-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: The Winter Garden
![Letter tiles spelling out 'historical fiction' on a table](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/12/shutterstock_1468305302-1q60iu06d-361x243.jpg)
Our Favourite Historical Fiction Books
![Midnight In Everwood paperback cover mock up on snowy midnight background](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/12/MidnightInEverwood-social-media-asset-jo8eghhj-361x243.jpg)
Midnight In Everwood: An Interview With Author M. A. Kuzniar
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/11/20221123_153133-1u4fc442w-scaled-e1669300424207-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The End Of The World Survivors Club”
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/11/12.-AS17-137-21004PAN_For-online-use_Credit-NASA_JSC_ASU_Andy-Saunders-232023gsk-361x243.jpg)
An Interview With Andy Saunders: Apollo Remastered
![Hands holding a book on a blanket in front of a wood fire](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/11/shutterstock_165712463-2wnsm2unv-361x243.jpg)
Books To Curl Up With This Month
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/10/shutterstock_1502742164-Converted-3icrgfms6-361x243.jpg)
Spooky Books To Read For Autumn
![Graphic for Bookshop Day with cartoon family buying books at a book shop, orange wording reads 'BOOKSHOP DAY' and 'BOOKS ARE FOR EVERYONE'](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/09/Books-Are-For-Everyone-Twitter-Facebook-vx8ydak4-361x243.png)
Top 5 Book Recommendations For Bookshop Day
![The Fabled Coast cover on map backkground](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/08/The-Fabled-Coast-2jn7irk4c-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The Fabled Coast”
![The Horizontal Oak book by Polly Pullar standing against plant pots in a garden](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/07/IMG_20220714_074844_4-1k63dewv1-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: The Horizontal Oak by Polly Pullar
![Songbirds by Christy Lefteri book cover](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/05/MicrosoftTeams-image-5-357kxbhnr-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “Songbirds” by Christy Lefteri
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/05/The-Angels-Game-3ccua8xo6-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The Angel’s Game”
![Stack of books against a bookshelf backdrop](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/04/shutterstock_1274296330-12fj6xhw9-361x243.jpg)
Our Top 15 “Must-Read” Books
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/04/MicrosoftTeams-image-5-4qqett5c-361x243.jpg)
“The Art Of Holy Week & Easter”
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/03/9780571374212-2u3wlm1f9-250x243.jpg)
Book Review: “A Terrible Kindness” by Jo Browning Wroe
![The Woman Warrior](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/02/The-Woman-Warrior-2img7s4zu-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: The Woman Warrior
![The Muse](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/03/The-Muse-1-1kaokq6g9-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: The Muse by Jessie Burton
![For book review](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/02/shutterstock_437994868-36him3ttc-361x243.jpg)
“Anxious People”, By Fredrik Backman
![spymaster](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/02/spymasternew-29foqcyme-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “Spymaster” by Helen Fry
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/01/Twyford-21wn6im6v-361x243.jpg)
“The Twyford Code”, By Janice Hallett
![kidnapped](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/01/IMG_0685-2-1hd0q2uc3-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
![the whistling](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/01/the-whistling-2qnv7jwmc-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The Whistling” by Rebecca Netley
![Christmas At Thompson Hall](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/12/Screenshot_20211220-131622_1-2huvup349-361x243.jpg)
“Christmas At Thompson Hall & Other Christmas Stories”
![stargazing](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/12/stargazing-2ftdqvq29-361x243.jpg)
“Stargazing” by Peter Hill
![king richard](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/11/Nixon-21wn3mxn0-361x243.jpg)
“King Richard”, by Michael Dobbs
![Pachinko](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/11/20211115_100023-16ij6mwdv-361x243.jpg)
“Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee
![cecily](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/11/CECILY1-1e662my71-361x243.jpg)
“Cecily” by Annie Garthwaite
![The Apollo Murders](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/10/Untitled-1-cnjtrge0-361x243.jpg)
“The Apollo Murders” by Chris Hadfield
![One For The Blackbird One For The Crow](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/10/IMG_20211001_082152_4-361x243.jpg)
“One For The Blackbird, One For The Crow”, By Olivia Hawker
![The Word Is Murder](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/08/IMG_20210802_104629_0-361x243.jpg)
“The Word Is Murder”, By Anthony Horowitz
![historical crime](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/07/shutterstock_1145261477-361x243.jpg)
Book Reviews: Our Historical Crime Recommendations
![books by friend writers](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/07/shutterstock_1435804232-361x243.jpg)
Five Great Books By “Friend” Writers
![science fiction stories](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/07/shutterstock_408176395-361x243.jpg)
“Friend” Favourite Science Fiction Stories
![still life](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/07/f4d2e3d0-0eda-457a-94d2-dfb852988c9e.__CR00970600_PT0_SX970_V1___-361x243.jpg)
“Still Life” by Sarah Winman
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/06/IMG_20210628_100344_9-scaled-e1625052957755-361x243.jpg)
“A Scurry Of Squirrels” By Polly Pullar
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/06/GreenKidsCook-03-361x243.jpg)
“Green Kids Cook” By Jenny Chandler
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/06/Crown-Agent-361x243.jpg)
“The Crown Agent” By Stephen O’Rourke
![project hail mary](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/06/project-hail-mary-1-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “Project Hail Mary” By Andy Weir
![The Lost Art Of Letter Writing](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/06/The-Lost-Art-Of-Letter-Writing-361x243.jpg)
“The Lost Art Of Letter Writing” By Menna Van Praag
![](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/06/IMG_9533-2-361x243.jpg)
“Pan’s Labyrinth” by Guillermo del Toro & Cornelia Funke
![Find Them Dead](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/05/Find-Them-Dead-361x243.jpg)
“Find Them Dead” by Peter James
![non-fiction books](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/05/shutterstock_167369549-361x243.jpg)
The “Friend” Favourites: Non-fiction books
![novels](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/04/shutterstock_1898322439-361x243.jpg)
Our Favourite Award-winning Novels
![thriller](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/04/shutterstock_1891571626-361x243.jpg)
Love A Good Thriller? So Do We!
![bone china](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/04/Bone-China-Cover-361x243.jpg)
“Bone China” by Laura Purcell
![promised land](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/04/IMG_20210407_101932_5-1-361x243.png)
“A Promised Land” By Barack Obama
![The Shape Of Darkness](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/03/The-Shape-Of-Darkness-image-361x243.jpg)
“The Shape Of Darkness”, by Laura Purcell
![Our Fathers](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/03/20210310_120424-1-361x243.jpg)
“Our Fathers” By Rebecca Wait
![williams](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/03/IMG_0722-361x243.jpeg)
“Williams: A Different Kind Of Life” By Virginia Williams
![daughters of night](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/03/DoN-361x243.jpg)
“Daughters Of Night” By Laura Shepherd-Robinson
![the thursday murder club](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/02/TTMC-361x243.jpg)
“The Thursday Murder Club” By Richard Osman
![pioneers](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/02/IMG_8322-2-361x243.jpg)
“O Pioneers!” by Willa Cather
![those who are loved](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/02/TWAL-361x243.jpg)
“Those Who Are Loved” By Victoria Hislop
![the vanishing half](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/02/20210203_152302-1-1-361x243.jpg)
“The Vanishing Half” By Brit Bennett
![moby dick](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/01/moby-dick-header-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “Moby Dick” By Herman Melville
![crime and punishment](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/01/candp-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “Crime And Punishment”
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Book Review: “The Family Upstairs” By Lisa Jewell
![the foundling](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/01/Foundling-cover-1-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The Foundling” By Stacey Halls
![polar bear](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/12/The-Polar-Bear-Explorers-Club-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club”
![The Murmur of Bees](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/12/The-Murmur-of-Bees-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The Murmur Of Bees”
![travelling to infinity](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/12/jane-hawking-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “Travelling To Infinity”
![the shack](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/12/20201201_194315-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “The Shack” By William Paul Young
![written in bone](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/12/wib-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “Written In Bone” By Sue Black
![his bloody project](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/11/IMG_7512-2-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “His Bloody Project” By Graeme Macrae Burnet
![shadowplay](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/11/00151079-400x400-1-361x243.jpeg)
Book Review: “Shadowplay” By Joseph O’Connor
![a history of women in 100 objects](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/11/historypic-361x243.jpg)
Book Review: “A History Of Women In 100 Objects”
![halloween](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/10/shutterstock_1502076527-361x243.jpg)
Some Brilliantly Spooky Books For Halloween Night
![jack](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/peoplesfriend/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/10/Jack-361x243.jpg)