What We've Been Reading

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (Book one of The Broken Earth trilogy)

I’ve seen The Fifth Season and the rest of the trilogy on many ‘must-read fantasy and sci-fi’ lists over the years and finally decided it was time to see if they were right. And, let me tell you, the hype is real! 

You’re taken on a journey you don’t really expect, following the three main characters as they push forward through the troubles and struggles they face as 'orogenes' (earth movers) of their world. 

I’ve never read anything like this, and so much of the story really took me by surprise. N.K. Jemisin is also amazing at humanising the characters and highlighting certain real-life issues in a fantasy setting. 
I’ve carried on with the rest of the trilogy and they just get better and better and from now on. This is what I’m recommending to anyone who asks me what to read!  

- Alisha

Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture Wars by Ash Sarkar

Minority Rule by Ash Sarkar will make you feel slightly less mad and a little more hopeful that there are good (and organised!) people in this chaotic world. Witty and intelligently written, Sarkar discusses how the ruling classes are weaponizing fear and ignorance in order to distract from the real problems in society by their tactical targetting of racial minorities, refugees and trans people. It's refreshing to have a writer so clearly pick apart contemporary arguments, always bearing in mind the role the mainstream media, big business, and politicians have had in demonising the most vulnerable. Sarkar is a great writer and a great mind, so pick this one up if you're a fan of solid non-fiction. 

- Olivia

Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy

I was recommended Soldier Sailor by a friend and was instantly hooked with Claire Kilroy's compelling writing.
This is the story of a mother's visceral love for her child, and her attempted love for her oblivious husband, and the microscopic yet enormous dramas of trying to raise a child whilst struggling.
This book took me back to the early years of motherhood so vividly that I had to lay it aside several times. It is sad, funny, and rage-inducing all at the same time, and conjoured the sleep deprived wonderment at hopes versus reality and the loss of identity of new motherhood.

- Marianne

Gone by Michael Grant

After reading Suzanne Collins' Sunrise on the Reaping, I have been feeling nostalgic for the books I read as a teenager and craving a dystopian book. So, a re-read of Gone by Michael Grant seemed like the perfect choice. I enjoyed it just as much as the first time around. I love how political but clear-cut a lot of YA and children’s books are. It seems a lot more grim and horrifying to think of all these teens and children abandoned and left to their own devices under the dome now that I’m 28 and not the same age as them. It's no surprise that the series is disturbing, as it came from the same author of Animorphs (their covers alone were nightmare fuel!) I also forgot how much fun the different characters' perspectives are. The ever-looming countdown was just as tense and nerve-racking this time around. If you have never read this series before but enjoy the likes of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner or The Chaos Walking trilogy, It definitely holds up to a great read even as an adult.

- Aishah

If you'd like a surprise read each month picked just for you, why not treat yourself to a Willoughby Book Club subscription? Think of us as your personal book concierges, and let us take the stress out of deciding what to read next.