Book Mail Round-Up 💌

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 Wardrobe Department by Elaine Garvey:

Mairéad’s life in the gritty, bustling West End theatre is a world of needles, threads, and backroom struggles.

She spends her days mending costumes and avoiding the unspeakable harassment backstage, but her heart is still tethered to the remote home she left behind in Ireland. Caught between the damp grass of Leitrim and the chaotic streets of Soho, Mairéad grapples with the girl she once was and the woman she hopes to become.

With sharp honesty and a unique blend of warmth and sharpness, The Wardrobe Department is a tale of power, abuse, and the courage to face the past.

As Mairéad wrestles with the oppressive forces around her, she must also confront the unsettling truths of her history.

Elaine Garvey’s writing is both impressionistic and vivid, drawing readers into a world where every stitch of fabric tells a story of survival and transformation. If you’re drawn to stories of resilience, change, and personal growth, this is one you won’t want to miss. Elaine Garvey is a voice you’ll want to follow.

Thank you so much to the team at Canongate for sending me a finished copy of the book. The book is out now and available to purchase.

Buy the book here.

Buy the Kindle book here.

Support a local and independent bookshop and buy the book here.

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One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad:

In this searing critique of Western values, One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This explores the growing disillusionment of Black, brown, and Indigenous communities, as well as a new generation that once believed in the promise of Western ideals.

Drawing on Omar El Akkad’s own journey as an immigrant and journalist, this book confronts the collapse of Western powers—America, the UK, France, and Germany—and the failure of these countries to uphold their espoused values.

A heartfelt breakup letter to the West, El Akkad’s narrative reflects the deepening divide felt across college campuses, city streets, and global borders.

This book is a call for accountability, change, and the creation of a better future, transcending the failures of the past. One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This is the book for our time, capturing the heartache and hope of a generation seeking something more.

Thank you so much to the team at Canongate for sending me a finished copy of the book. The book is out now and available to purchase.

Buy the book here.

Buy the Kindle book here.

Support a local and independent bookshop and buy the book here.

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We Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill Brown:

Doncaster may be a punchline for some, but for Rach, Shaz, and Kel, it’s home—a place where friendship is everything.

Best friends since childhood, they’ve faced the ups and downs of growing up together, from sneaking into nightclubs to taking pregnancy tests. But as they grow older, their bond is tested by secrets, unspoken tensions, and the pressures of life pulling them in different directions.

Set in the heart of South Yorkshire, We Pretty Pieces of Flesh immerses you in a raw, unforgettable portrait of friendship, betrayal, and the complexities of adolescence. Written in a vibrant South Yorkshire dialect, it brings Doncaster’s schoolyards, alleys, and nightclubs to life, capturing the gritty realities of growing up in a place often overlooked.

At its core, this book is a deep dive into the lives of three characters, each with their flaws, dreams, and struggles. If you love character-driven stories that explore the messiness of being human, We Pretty Pieces of Flesh will resonate deeply.

It’s got everything: relatable life struggles, a gritty yet intimate setting, and the kind of raw, honest portrayal of people that makes you feel like you're right there with them, living their complicated, unpredictable lives. It’s the perfect read for anyone who craves real-world authenticity in their fiction.

Thank you so much to the team at Vintage Publishing for sending me a finished copy of the book. The book is out now and available to purchase.

Buy the book here.

Buy the Kindle book here.

Support a local and independent bookshop and buy the book here.