The Island Library Podcast

Welcome to another fun packed week, and this time, we are discussing I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston and With This Kiss by Carrie Hope Fletcher!Will this book be added to the library, or will it make a splash in the ocean?- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Let us know your thoughts on our Instagram or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com- - - - - - - - -We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

Welcome to another fun packed week, and this time, we are discussing Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan!Will this book be added to the library, or will it make a splash in the ocean?++++Our Book Blurb This Week:Daughter of the Moon GoddessGrowing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Let us know your thoughts on our Instagram or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com- - - - - - - - -We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

WE ARE BACK!And for this episode, we are discussing book club books Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun. Will either of these books be added to the library, or make a splash in the ocean?++++Our Book Blurbs This Week:Last Chance BooksNothing will stop Madeline Moore from taking over her family’s independent bookstore after college. Nothing, that is—until a chain bookstore called Prologue opens across the street and threatens to shut them down.Madeline sets out to demolish the competition, but the guy who works over at Prologue seems intent on ruining her life. Not only is he taking her customers, he has the unbelievable audacity to be… extremely cute.But that doesn’t matter. Jasper is the enemy and he will be destroyed. After all—all’s fair in love and (book) war.+ + ++The Charm Offensive Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Let us know your thoughts on our Instagram or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com- - - - - - - - -We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the showSupport the show

IT IS ANOTHER EPISODE. And for this episode, we are discussing The Spanish Love Deception by Elena ArmasWill this book be added to the library, or will it make a splash in the ocean?++++Our Book Blurb This Week: The Spanish Love DeceptionA wedding. A trip to Spain. The most infuriating man. And three days of pretending. Or in other words, a plan that will never work.Catalina Martin, finally, not single. Her family is happy to announce that she will bring her American boyfriend to her sister's wedding. Everyone is invited to come and witness the most magical event of the year. That would certainly be tomorrow's headline in the local newspaper of the small Spanish town I came from. Or the epitaph on my tombstone, seeing the turn my life had taken in the span of a phone call.Four weeks wasn't a lot of time to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic-from NYC and all the way to Spain-for a wedding. Let alone, someone eager to play along my charade. But that didn't mean I was desperate enough to bring the 6'4 blue eyed pain in my ass standing before me.Aaron Blackford. The man whose main occupation was making my blood boil had just offered himself to be my date. Right after inserting his nose in my business, calling me delusional, and calling himself my best option. See? Outrageous. Aggravating. Blood boiling. And much to my total despair, also right. Which left me with a surly and extra large dilemma in my hands. Was it worth the suffering to bring my colleague and bane of my existence as my fake boyfriend to my sister's wedding? Or was I better off coming clean and facing the consequences of my panic-induced lie?Like my abuela would say, que dios nos pille confesados.- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Let us know your thoughts on our Instagram or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com- - - - - - - - -We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the showSupport the show

WOO SEASON THREE! And for this episode, we are discussing book club books Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim and The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni.Will either of these books be added to the library, or make a splash in the ocean?++++Our Book Blurbs This Week:Six Crimson CranesShiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs in her veins. And on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted, but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to contain - no matter what it costs.+ + ++The Prison HealerSeventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan is a survivor. For ten years, she has worked as the healer in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, making herself indispensable. Kept afloat by messages of hope from her family, Kiva has one goal and one goal only: stay alive.Then one day the infamous Rebel Queen arrives at the prison on death's door and Kiva receives a new message: Don't let her die. We are coming.The queen is sentenced to the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals. Aware the sickly queen has little chance of making it through the Trials alive, Kiva volunteers to take her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.But no one has ever survived.And with an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva's heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can't escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Let us know your thoughts on our Instagram or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com- - - - - - - - -We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the showSupport the show

Where is season three? What have you been up to? All of this and more are answered in this extra special Christmas episode, as well as our opening of a special gift from a good friend, BeesBooksMCR. Are you excited we are back? BeesBooksMCR Details:BeesBooksMCR WebsiteBeesBooks Etsy BeesBooks InstagramBeesBooks Twitter- - - - - - - - -What do you want to see more of?  Get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library.Instagram | Twitteror at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com- - - - - - - - -If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a  Patreon if you fancy supporting us or joining our monthly book club. Support the show

It's an extra special episode this week as we read V.E. Schwab's, Vicious and A Darker Shade of Magic in collaboration with Arthur from 2 Cents Critic . If you head to 2CC, we've also read Gallant, (or find this episode here).Do you think these books will be added to our libraries, or will they make a splash in the ocean?- - - - - - - - -Our Book Blurbs This Week:ViciousTen years later Victor has escaped from prison and is determined to get his revenge on the man who put him there, aided by a young girl with the ability to raise the dead. Eli has spent the years hunting down and killing every EO he can find, convinced that they are a crime against God, all except his sidekick, a woman whose power is persuasion and whom he cannot defy. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the arch-nemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?+ + A Darker Shade of MagicMost people only know one London; but what if there were several? Kell is one of the last Travelers - magicians with a rare ability to travel between parallel Londons. There’s Grey London, dirty and crowded and without magic, home to the mad king George III. There’s Red London, where life and magic are revered. Then, White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. But once upon a time, there was Black London.... - - - - - - - - -Have you read these books and want to share your views? Please get in touch for a shoutout in our next episode. Instagram | Twitteror at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com- - - - - - - - -If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

Can you believe it's the end of season two? Neither can we, so to celebrate, here are some books we haven't read for the Island, a special gift from a good friend, BeesBooksMCR and some Fun Questions from one host to the other. What's your favourite episode from this season? And, what are you hoping we read next season? BeesBooksMCR Details:BeesBooksMCR WebsiteBeesBooks Etsy BeesBooks InstagramBeesBooks Twitter- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

No new book this week, but we have a gift which will hopefully have you in stitches. Season two is coming to a sad end, but we have a couple more special things up our sleeves. Today we present, Season Two Outtakes from The Island Library Podcast. So if you've ever been wondering what gets cut from episodes, here you have it.  - - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

This week we discuss the books, House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland & Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin. Will either of these books be added to the library, or make a splash in the ocean? - - - - - - - - -Our Book Blurbs This Week: House of HollowIris Hollow and her two older sisters are unquestionably strange. Ever since they disappeared on a suburban street in Scotland as children only to return a month a later with no memory of what happened to them, odd, eerie occurrences seem to follow in their wake. And they're changing. First, their dark hair turned white. Then, their blue eyes slowly turned black. They have insatiable appetites yet never gain weight. People find them disturbingly intoxicating, unbearably beautiful, and inexplicably dangerous. But now, ten years later, seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow is doing all she can to fit in and graduate high school on time--something her two famously glamourous globe-trotting older sisters, Grey and Vivi, never managed to do. But when Grey goes missing without a trace, leaving behind bizarre clues as to what might have happened, Iris and Vivi are left to trace her last few days. They aren't the only ones looking for her though and the world that returned them seemingly unharmed ten years ago might just be calling them home.+ + Serpent and DoveTwo years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage. Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this joint book podcast episode, we discuss Ace of Spaces by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé . Ace of Spades Blurb: Hello, Niveus High. It's me. Who am I? That's not important. All you need to know is...I'm here to divide and conquer. - Aces Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is revealing the darkest secrets of two students. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can't escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn't afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they're planning much more than a high-school game..As always,  will this book make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?- - - - - - - - -Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this book club podcast episode, we discuss Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. Legendborn Blurb: After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw. The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.As always,  will this book make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?Bloodmarked (Book 2) In The Series Due out July 2022 - - - - - - - - -Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this podcast episode, we discuss two fabulous new books: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty and Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney. As always,  will either of these books make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?- - - - - - - - -Apples Never Fall: The Delaney family love one another dearly - it's just that sometimes they want to murder each other. . . Joy Delaney and husband Stan have done well. Four wonderful grown-up children. A family business to envy. The golden years of retirement ahead of them. So when Joy Delaney vanishes - no note, no calls, her bike missing - it's natural that tongues will wag. How did Stan scratch his face? And who was the stranger who entered and suddenly left their lives? What are they all hiding? But for the Delaney children there is a much more terrifying question: did they ever know their parents at all?+ + Rock Paper Scissors: Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. An anniversary they’ll never forget.Adam and Amelia are spending the weekend in the Scottish Highlands. The remote location is perfect for what they have planned. But when their romantic trip takes a dark turn, they both start to wonder – can they trust the one they’re with? Because every couple tells little white lies. Only for Adam and Amelia, the truth is far more dangerous.- - - - - - - - -Have you read either of these books?  Get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this podcast episode, we discuss two fabulous new books: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and The Frequency of Us by Keith Stuart. As always,  will either of these books make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?- - - - - - - - -The Inheritance Games: Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.+ + The Frequency of Us: In Second World War Bath, young, naïve wireless engineer Will meets Austrian refugee Elsa Klein: she is sophisticated, witty and worldly, and at last his life seems to make sense . . . until, soon after, the newly married couple's home is bombed, and Will awakes from the wreckage to find himself alone. No one has heard of Elsa Klein. They say he was never married. Seventy years later, social worker Laura is battling her way out of depression and off medication. Her new case is a strange, isolated old man whose house hasn't changed since the war. A man who insists his wife vanished many, many years before. Everyone thinks he's suffering dementia. But Laura begins to suspect otherwise . . .- - - - - - - - -Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this book club podcast episode, we discuss books: Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.Small Pleasures: 1957, the suburbs of South East London. Jean Swinney is a journalist on a local paper, trapped in a life of duty and disappointment from which there is no likelihood of escape. When a young woman, Gretchen Tilbury, contacts the paper to claim that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, it is down to Jean to discover whether she is a miracle or a fraud. As the investigation turns her quiet life inside out, Jean is suddenly given an unexpected chance at friendship, love and - possibly - happiness. But there will, inevitably, be a price to pay.+ + Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: Lily is the daughter of a humble farmer, and to her family she is just another expensive mouth to feed. Then the local matchmaker delivers startling news: if Lily's feet are bound properly, they will be flawless. In nineteenth-century China, where a woman's eligibility is judged by the shape and size of her feet, this is extraordinary good luck. Lily now has the power to make a good marriage and change the fortunes of her family. To prepare for her new life, she must undergo the agonies of footbinding, learn nu shu, the famed secret women's writing, and make a very special friend, Snow Flower. But a bitter reversal of fortune is about to change everything.As always,  will either of these books make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?- - - - - - - - -Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this podcast episode, we discuss books: Not Like The Movies by Kerry Winfrey and Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon.   Not Like The Movies: What happens when your life is a rom-com...but you don't even believe in true love?Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early-onset Alzheimer's, she's pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time—or interest—in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that's about to premiere in theatres across America...and happens to be inspired by Chloe and Nick Velez, Chloe's cute but no-nonsense boss. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn't so sure her own story will end in a Happily Ever After. + + Instructions For Dancing: Evie Thomas doesn't believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually. As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything--including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he's only just met.Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk?As always,  will either of these books make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?In this episode, we mention a spoiler, which we cut from the episode. If you'd like to listen, please follow this link. - - - - - - - - -Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this podcast episode, we discuss books: All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue and Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.   All Our Hidden Gifts: After Maeve finds a pack of tarot cards while cleaning out a closet during her in-school suspension, she quickly becomes the most sought-after diviner at St. Bernadette’s Catholic school. But when Maeve’s ex-best friend, Lily, draws an unsettling card called The Housekeeper that Maeve has never seen before, the session devolves into a heated argument that ends with Maeve wishing aloud that Lily would disappear. And Lily isn’t at school the next Monday, Maeve learns her ex-friend has vanished without a trace. Shunned by her classmates and struggling to preserve a fledgling romance with Lily’s gender-fluid sibling, Roe, Maeve must dig deep into her connection with the cards to search for clues the police cannot find—even if they lead to the terrifying Housekeeper herself. + + Malibu Rising: Malibu, August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva. The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the centre of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. As always,  will either of these books make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?- - - - - - - - -Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 4 pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this special book club episode, both Laura and Jo read Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar.  Everyone likes Humaira "Hani" Khan—she’s easy-going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship…with a girl, her friends absolutely hate—Ishita "Ishu" Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.As always,  will either of these hosts pick this book for their shelf? Or will it split the sand?- - - - - - - - - DID YOU KNOW? Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 3 pm (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly book club. Support the show

In this special joint-bookish episode, both Laura and Jo read The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna.  In this world, girls are outcasts by blood and warriors by choice, but, will this book make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the colour of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.- - - - - - - - - DID YOU KNOW? Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 3pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly bookclub. Support the show

In this podcast episode, we discuss the books: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman and A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown.  Anxious People begins on New Year's Eve with 'House Tricks' estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage. For Ana-Lena and Roger, busy buying up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, it's something else to talk about. For Julia and Ro, panicky parents-to-be, it's yet another worry. Lonely bank manager Zara only came here for the view. While 87-year-old grandmother Estelle seems rather pleased by the company . . . As the police gather outside, the anxious strangers huddled within to try to make the best of a very sticky situation - but could it be that they have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye?+In A Song of Wraiths and Ruin,  Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home, but when a vengeful spirit abducts his younger sister, Nadia, as payment to enter the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom. But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated and grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition. When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a heart-pounding course to destroy each other. As always,  will either of these books make it onto the shelf? Or will it split the sand for these two hosts?- - - - - - - - -Have you read this book, get in touch to let us know your thoughts or if you have any book recommendations you'd love to see us tackle, let us know on any of the below as we're always looking to expand our library. Instagram | Twitter or at our email theislandlibrary@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - If you fancy joining us at our virtual book club,  you can find more information at theislandlibrary.com and click the tab 'Book Club'. We meet once a month on a Sunday at 3pm  (London Timezone).We have a Buy Me A Coffee link below if you fancy supporting us, or saying thanks, and a  Patreon if you fancy joining our monthly bookclub. Support the show