It's starting to be 'Cuddle up with a book' season...
- Hazel Butterfield
- 07 October 2026
'If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.' - Haruki Murakami,
Sex and the Ex by Melanie Cantor
Sex and the Ex is a warm, witty, and entertaining exploration of second chances, proving that relationships rarely fit neatly into the boxes we create for them. Melanie Cantor asks what happens when an ex-spouse reappears in your life and emotions you thought were long buried refuse to stay in the past.
The novel follows Hannah, whose carefully rebuilt life is disrupted when circumstances force her to share a home with her former husband, Charlie. Cantor balances humour with genuine emotional insight, making a familiar premise feel fresh. Hannah is independent and determined, while Charlie's return brings both comic chaos and difficult reminders of their past. Their interactions sparkle with the tension that only shared history can create.
Cantor skilfully captures the reality that relationships do not simply end when divorce papers are signed. Memories linger, habits remain, and unanswered questions resurface. Rather than presenting romance as straightforward, she explores the messiness of love, forgiveness, and rediscovery. The story is often laugh-out-loud funny while still making room for vulnerability and reflection. It is a thoughtful reminder that time and humility can foster a greater understanding of each other's experiences.
While delivering all the charm and chemistry readers expect from contemporary romantic fiction, the novel also offers an honest look at how people evolve and whether love can survive past mistakes.
Sex and the Ex is an uplifting, funny, and heartfelt read for anyone who enjoys romantic fiction with real emotional depth. It reminds us that some endings are not truly endings, and that sometimes the person you need to move forward is the one you thought you had left behind. A charming and satisfying novel about second chances, family, and finding your way back to love.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
In a world increasingly dominated by texts, emails, and social media updates measured in characters rather than thoughts, The Correspondent feels like a gentle act of rebellion. Virginia Evans has written a novel that reminds us of the intimacy of letter writing and the value of taking time to express ourselves fully.
Through the letters of Sybil Van Antwerp, Evans creates a layered portrait of a woman reflecting on a life shaped by love, loss, friendship, and regret. The novel's greatest strength is not simply its epistolary format, but its celebration of a disappearing art form. Each letter feels thoughtful and deeply personal, revealing character and emotion in ways that modern communication rarely achieves.
A quiet nostalgia runs through the book, not as sentimental longing, but as recognition of what has been lost as communication has become faster and more abbreviated. Sybil's correspondence captures conversations that unfold over pages rather than screens, allowing thoughts to be explored rather than merely exchanged. Reading these letters feels like discovering a treasured collection of lives preserved in words.
Evans' prose is elegant, warm, and quietly accomplished. The letters are witty, reflective, moving, and occasionally sharp, reflecting the complexities of real relationships. In an age of instant communication, the novel reminds us that some emotions deserve patience and space. The novel also highlights how writing can be more than communication; it can become a record of a life.
A charming and moving tribute to the art of letter writing, and a timely reminder of the depth and beauty that emerge when we take the time to truly put our thoughts into words.
Death & Croissants - Ian Moore
If you missed this week’s show (or just want to do it all over again), pop on to Mixcloud and buckle up…
The Way Home by Amanda Prowse
Amanda Prowse’s The Way Home is a beautiful and deeply affecting novel that lingers long after the final page. As always, Prowse writes with extraordinary emotional insight, but this story feels particularly powerful in its exploration of how our identities can become tied to beliefs, ambitions and priorities that no longer truly serve us. At its heart, The Way Home is a reminder that digging our heels in is not always an act of strength. Sometimes it is simply fear disguised as determination. Prowse expertly examines how we can spend years clinging to what we think we need because we have never dared to pause, reassess, and ask ourselves whether those desires still align with who we have become.
What resonated most was the novel’s recognition that personal growth often comes from letting go rather than holding on. As we age, wisdom should bring the courage to challenge old thought patterns, question long-held assumptions, and understand our true motivations. The characters’ journeys reflect this beautifully, demonstrating that changing course is not a failure but a sign of self-awareness and emotional maturity. The delivery of this story is simply breathtaking. Time and again, Prowse captures moments of vulnerability, reflection and revelation with such honesty that they feel profoundly real. Her prose is both tender and insightful, drawing the reader into the emotional landscape of her characters and encouraging us to examine our own lives in the process.
The Way Home is more than a compelling story; it is a thoughtful meditation on change, self-discovery and the freedom that comes from re-evaluating what really matters. A moving, wise and beautifully written novel that reminds us that sometimes the greatest journey is the one back to ourselves.