This week's round-up of beautiful book mail!
I'm excited to begin sharing a roundup of the book mail I've received recently. I can't wait to delve into these books and share my thoughts through reviews!
The books in this week's round-up are:
The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune:
In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright hit rock bottom. His parents are gone, his older brother has cut ties, and he’s lost his job as a journalist in Washington, D.C. With nowhere else to turn, he retreats to his family’s remote cabin in the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon, seeking solitude and a sense of direction.
But the cabin isn’t empty. Inside, Nate discovers Alex, a mysterious stranger and a peculiar 10-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader—an extraordinary child with a power that defies explanation.
As dark forces close in, determined to claim Artemis at all costs, Nate must confront his past and decide whether to fight for a future he never imagined. Alongside Alex and Artemis, he becomes part of an unlikely family bound by love, sacrifice, and a shared mission to protect what truly matters.
Packed with secret government agencies, conspiracies, cults, comets, and even a few crashed helicopters, this is a strange, hopeful, and heartwarming tale of family, connection, and the extraordinary in the everyday. Perfect for fans of Stranger Things.
Thank you so much to Olivia-Savannah at Pan Macmillan for sending me an advance reader copy of the book!
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My Friends by Hisham Matar:
My Friends is a profound exploration of exile, identity, and the enduring bonds of friendship and family. As a boy in Benghazi, Khaled becomes captivated by a strange short story broadcast on the radio—one about a man devoured by a cat, written by the mysterious author Hosam Zowa. Years later, Khaled’s obsession leads him far from Libya to the University of Edinburgh, where he pursues a life of knowledge in a world vastly different from his own.
When Khaled attends an anti-Qaddafi protest in London, the demonstration turns tragic, leaving him injured and stranded in England. Unable to return home, he must navigate life as an exile, knowing that even a phone call to his family could put them at risk. A chance encounter with Hosam Zowa draws Khaled into an intense and transformative friendship that sustains him as the Arab Spring begins to shake the foundations of his homeland.
Hisham Matar’s My Friends is a devastating meditation on the nature of longing, belonging, and how time tests relationships and identity. With exquisite prose, Matar weaves together history, politics, and personal reflection, exploring how exile shapes the soul and fractures the heart.
Thank you so much to the team at Penguin General for selecting me as part of the influencer programme!
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Spiral by Bal Khabra:
Elias Westbrook is struggling to navigate life as an NHL rookie. Burdened by relentless media scrutiny and unfair accusations of being a playboy, his reputation continues to spiral, fuelled by the tabloids and harsh fan criticism over his failure to score his first career goal. The constant attention even extends to the women he’s seen with, bringing them unwanted harassment and threats.
Sage Beaumont, the niece of renowned NHL coach Marcus Beaumont, faces her career setback. A talented ballerina, Sage’s dream of performing in Swan Lake is dashed—not because of her abilities but because of her low social media following. In an industry now driven by online presence, her skill alone is no longer enough.
When Elias and Sage cross paths, they devise the perfect solution: a fake relationship. For Elias, the arrangement will silence the press and restore his privacy, while Sage will gain the online attention she needs to advance her career. It’s a straightforward plan—until genuine feelings begin to complicate the carefully constructed façade.
This book blends fan-favourite tropes such as fake dating, slow-burn romance, forced proximity, and found family into a heartfelt and engaging story. Elias and Sage are unforgettable characters: Sage is confident, witty, and determined, while Elias, refreshingly shy and reserved for a hockey player, is gentle and endearing. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their journey is filled with humour, warmth, and charm. Perfect for fans of romance with depth and light-hearted banter, this book delivers on every level.
Thank you so much to the team at Bloomsbury Circle for selecting me to receive an advance reader copy of the book!
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Overcoming: A Workbook PR Box by Penguin Books:
Penguin Books has kindly sent me a beautiful PR box featuring Overcoming: A Workbook, the interactive companion to Michelle Obama’s The Light We Carry.
Designed as a practical toolkit for navigating life’s challenges, this workbook is filled with creative activities, reflective writing prompts, and habit-tracking tools to inspire personal growth and self-care.
The box contained:
💜 A copy of the journal 💜 A dark chocolate brownie 💜 Hot Tea Mama samples
With Michelle Obama’s signature warmth and wisdom, Overcoming encourages readers to embrace their “small power,” prioritise wellness, and strengthen relationships, all while offering a space for meaningful reflection.
I’m so excited to dive into this stunning resource and put its tools into practice!
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