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Receiving a book as a gift is possibly one of the loveliest things to experience as a reader. As a child, the books given to us as presents influence our reading tastes for years to come, shaping our literary journeys one suggestion at a time. As adults, we can often forget how special a well-considered bookish gift can be. It's a portable message of love and care, from a person who has taken the time and thought to select a title especially with you in mind. Bookish presents don't need to be ostentatious or loud. They can be as simple...

Christmas Gift Guide Christmas is fast approaching, and at The Willoughby Book Club we're excited for the festive season! The Christmas tree is up, the office is decorated, and the Santa hats are firmly on our heads as the book elves select titles for you and your loved ones! If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the gifting options out there, we invite you to make yourself a lovely cuppa, have a sit down, take a well-earned deep breath, and explore some of the gorgeous gifts available from the Willoughby Book Club this Christmas.  For the person who loves reading, but you don't know what...

Kala by Colin Walsh I read Kala on the glowing recommendation of Marianne and it didn't disappoint! It's a literary thriller, a coming-of-age narrative, and a brooding noir, as well as an absolute masterclass in characterisation. There's beautiful, thoughtful prose, but also an investigation into the underbelly of society in the small, fictional, Irish town of Kinlough. Following the Mush, Helen and Joe, childhood friends, are confronted with the discovery of the body of their friend who went missing twenty years previously. Going back and forth in time from the present to that fateful summer so long ago, the secrets...

As half term has arrived, we thought we'd read outside our normal parameters and dive into some children's reads for a change. We all loved reading as youngsters and couldn't wait to spend a few hours with some of the books we have on our office bookshelves, to see if we could appreciate them just as much as adults. Spoiler: we were not disappointed! The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge The 'Beast' series by Chris Judge is a personal favourite of mine. Every book is always funny and well written. It's very enjoyable for both the reader and the child being read to! It's...