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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ...

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...

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

BOOKS OF THE YEAR Part 3: chosen by our contributors

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...

BOOKS OF THE YEAR part 2 - chosen by our contributors

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

And I chose the gem that is Clear, by Carys Davies. A great range in this books of the year selection from @writersreview.bsky.social

BOOKS OF THE YEAR Part 1 - chosen by our contributors

Great recommendations here! In the first of three roundups, our contributors choose their Books of the Year (not necessarily published in 2025). What's your best read this year? Tell us in the comments! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/book... #greatreads #BooksoftheYear #bestreads #whatsyours

Guest review by Cindy Jefferies: THE MAGICIAN OF TIGER CASTLE by Louis Sachar

Today: Cindy Jefferies enjoys Louis Sachar's latest, but questions why it's being marketed as his first adult novel. "I was expecting the jacket to demonstrate that this was a departure for Sacher ..." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/gues... #LouisSachar @cindyjefferies.bsky.social

Want to know Linda Newbery's Top 3 Books of 2025? Linda's top 3 reads of 2025 include The Poet's Wife and two other amazing books. Discover what makes these books unmissable!

Here are 3 of my best reads of 2025 (though a whole month to go!) What are yours? Do please add in the comments! shepherd.com/bboy/2025/f/... @guyshrubsole.bsky.social #judithallnatt #barbarakingsolver
#greatreads #booksoftheyear #booksof2025 #TheLieoftheLand #ThePoetsWife #DemonCopperhead

Guest review by Tania Pettet: THE WOMAN WHO WENT TO BED FOR A YEAR by Sue Townsend

This week: new guest Tania Pettet recommends #SueTownsend. "A master of voice — from Adrian Mole to The Queen and I, she writes with a kind of democratic empathy that sees everyone’s absurdities without cruelty." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/gues... @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

Guest review by Lesley Glaiser: FIRE READY by Jane Rogers

‘Usually when I pick up a collection of stories, I dip in at random, but with Fire Ready, I read greedily through from beginning to end.’

✍️ Lesley Glaister on Jane Rogers’ latest Cli-Fi collection for @writersreview.bsky.social

📃 reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/11/gues...

Guest review by Lesley Glaiser: FIRE READY by Jane Rogers

Guest Lesley Glaister admires Jane Rogers' climate-themed short story collection, FIRE READY: "Marvellously eclectic ... fuelled by anger about climate change but shot through with light & hope." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/11/gues... #clifi #shortstories @commapress.bsky.social #greatreads

Guest review by Lesley Glaiser: FIRE READY by Jane Rogers

At @writersreview.bsky.social: guest Lesley Glaister praises Jane Rogers' short story collection, FIRE READY. 'Marvellously eclectic - fuelled by anger about climate change but also shot through with hope." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/11/gues... @commapress.bsky.social #clifi #JaneRogers

SPECIAL FEATURE: Q&A with Sheena Wilkinson about her new novel MISS McVEY TAKES CHARGE

We're proud of the fourth book brought to you by #WritersReviewPublishing! Here's a lovely Q&A with author @sheenawriter.bsky.social about her novel, feelgood feminism set in 1930s Yorkshire. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/11/spec... #greatreads #marriagebureau #matchmaking #romance #greyhounds

An invitation to Writers Review a weekly literary blog

On #Substack, Linda Newbery writers about how WR started, what's happened in the nearly 10 years since, and where we are now. substack.com/@lindanewber... @lindanewbery.bsky.social #bookreviews #reviewsbywriters #readingrecommendations #WritersReview #Q&Afeatures #authorinterviews #roundups

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

Today's post: Adele Geras praises Sarah Perry's memoir about her father-in-law's death. "I was knocked sideways ... have often thought about it since & agree with the rave reviews it's received." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/11/deat... @vintagebooks.bsky.social #SarahPerry #death #bereavement

Guest review by Graeme Fife: THE MIGHTY DEAD - WHY HOMER MATTERS by Adam Nicolson

Regular contributor Graeme Fife admires Adam Nicolson's THE MIGHTY DEAD. "Nicolson, in this enthralling book, introduces Homer in a way entirely apt to the invention and broad sweep of the original." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/11/gues... #Homer #classics #AncientGreece #AdamNicolson

Guest review by Susan Elkin: DRAYTON AND MACKENZIE by Alexander Starritt

Returning guest Susan Elkin recommends Alexander Starritt's tale of close male friendship, & wonders why it wasn't a Booker Prize choice: "Intelligent & compelling ... I loved it." reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/10/gues... @swiftpress.bsky.social #greatreads #malefriendship #friendship