Would you like to see the cover of my next book?
It's bright, it's yellow, it's The Vintage Shop of Second Chances cover!
It’s been a while since I last dropped a ‘hello’ into your inbox. I don’t know about you, but this autumn has felt long (I’m writing this on another grey day with barely any daylight) and quick at the same time (um, how is it nearly Christmas?). My son started nursery in September and since then has brought home a whole cocktail of germs. It’s felt like one endless cycle of illness, a pass-the-parcel of coughs, colds and stomach bugs.
Which is one of the reasons why it’s been such an antidote to work on preparations for my next book, The Vintage Shop of Second Chances.
This month I’ve been out and about delivering review copies of the book to indie bookshops, something I haven’t done in person since my debut novel The Lido came out. Booksellers do such an important job of recommending books to readers and it’s been so nice to meet some lovely bookish folks in person and talk to them about my new book.
And I am VERY excited to now be able to share the finished cover. It’s bright, it’s cheerful, it’s YELLOW. It feels very fitting for this book where yellow is used throughout as a metaphor for joy. If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll also know it’s just very me. All my books have so much of myself in them but this one in particular feels really personal: it’s set in my hometown of Frome, Somerset, it draws on my background in fashion and love of vintage clothing and it is packed full of friendship, love and community spirit.
So here it is! What do you think?
The Vintage Shop of Second Chances is available for reviewers to download on Netgalley now and I’m delighted to see it’s already been getting some great reviews. Here are some snippets to give you a flavour of the book…
“Heartbreak, humour and excellent storytelling, what more could you want from a book?”
“Absolute sunshine in a book”
“Absorbing, sentimental and engaging”
What I’m reading
Thanks to the weather and wanting to snuggle inside I’ve been doing a lot of reading recently and have read some absolute crackers. I’ve been thinking about All My Mothers by Joanna Glen ever since finishing it. It’s such a beautiful exploration of family and friendship and the setting totally transports you.
On a recent trip to Paris I devoured After Paris by Nicole Kennedy and loved the depiction of female friendships over many years featuring all the ups, downs and struggles that women sometimes keep hidden even from those closest to them.
Jane Fallon’s Worst Idea Ever had me hooked: when one woman sort-of-accidentally starts catfishing her best friend it all goes very wrong. One of those books where I kept having to give my husband updates about the plot because I was so invested. Another read that had me similarly engrossed was The Herd which told the story of two best friends with very differing views on vaccinations, and what happens to their friendship and their lives as a result.
Next I’m very excited to be reading an early copy of Veronica Henry’s next book (out in February) Thirty Days in Paris. Veronica’s books are always such a treat and the Paris setting of this one ticks all my boxes for a joyful escapist read. And is it too early to talk Christmas books? I LOVE Christmas books. To me they are the literary equivalent of sitting down with an entire tub of Quality Street in front of the fire. I’m currently eyeing up Cathy Bramley’s Merrily Ever After.
Things I’m loving
I am so in love with my new coworking space that I joined back in September. It is a special hub especially for writers and has totally transformed my working life (conversation with adult humans! Escaping the house and the endless laundry!). If you are a Somerset-based writer or know one (you don’t have to be professional, just someone looking for a quiet place to work) I would highly recommend The Write Place. Joining this friendly community has reminded me of a novel I really enjoyed recently, The Hub by Nicola May - all about a coworking space and the colourful characters who work there.
Apologies if you’re someone who doesn’t like to hear the C word (get your mind out of the gutter, I mean CHRISTMAS) before December, but now that Halloween is over I am in full festive mode. I am hankering after this gorgeous Santa hoodie for my toddler and am trying to think of an occasion worthy of this ridiculous but wonderful Mrs-Claus vibe dress.
This weekend I spent a wonderful morning wandering around the Frome Independent, a market celebrating independent businesses that takes over my town once a month. Even the rain didn’t dampen the buzzing, community-focused atmosphere. I love the market so much that it features in my next book! If you haven’t already read my guide to Frome, then have a read for some tips about my favourite local places.
It’s gorgeous!!
I’ve just ordered ‘All my Mothers’ from the library- thank you.
Cute Santa hoodie! Vinted have some excellent Boden pieces, some still with tags.
Happy new book! X