By Peter Bunzl, paperback £7.99, 8-12 fiction (reviewed by Polly) A classic but timeless adventure. Lily lives in a house with her father and their mechanical servants who seem to have their own personalities though being made from clockwork. When her genius inventor of a father suddenly goes missing, it’s up to Lily, Malkin her mechanical talking fox and her friend Robert to solve the mystery and avoid the silver-eyed men that stalk them through the shadows. This book mixes magic and clockwork together with the perfect amount of adventure and mystery. All the characters are extremely charming, and Malkin is particularly lovable I have to say. This series is one that I recommend to anyone as the twists and turns of the plot keep everyone transfixed and excited to read more.

By Hiba Noor Khan, paperback £7.99, 8-14 years fiction (reviewed by Octavia) Even though this book is meant for children, it really moved me, and I learnt so much. Based on real events, it tells the story of the Muslims in the Grand Mosque in Paris, and how many Jews they saved during the war. They made papers for them, they warned them of danger, they even went as far as to hide them within the safety of the walls of the mosque before guiding their escape, in the underground networks of Paris. Such a compassionate and eloquently written story, that vividly brings to light, the plight and courage of those perhaps forgotten, despite the magnitude of what they did.

By Maggie O’Farrell, paperback £9.99, grown-up fiction (reviewed by Octavia) I took The Marriage Portrait with me, to read during a long weekend in Florence in the Spring. We stayed in a fresco covered stone apartment, within a private museum. I love taking a book to read, set in the location where I am travelling to. This book was so sensory, portrayed with the artistic detail and emotive energy of a Renaissance painting. The paintings which are so symbolic within the story. A story that begins in the Medici palace. The palace which I was lucky enough to visit whilst there. Lucrezia, the much-overlooked daughter of Cosimo and Eleanora Medici, is sent to marry Alfonso of Ferrara, at a very young age. A beneficial partnership for both affluent, leading families. Her husband she believes, is trying to kill her. I will say no more. But what I will say is this is a mesmerizing novel, that brings to light some uncomfortable historical truths.

By William Boyd, paperback £9.99, grown-up fiction (reviewed by Octavia) I adored the extraordinary journey of Cashel Greville Ross. All in the name of love. Following one’s heart, rather than one’s head, is a risky business. From Cork to London, to the romance and culture of Italy’s Pisa and later Venice. From life on a farm in America and even further yet, to discover the source of the Nile. Putting his life in great danger in exotic, uncharted territory. An unforgettable and stunning story. Completely immersive, charismatic, and charming. A must read.

By Stéphane Carlier, translated by Polly Mackintosh, paperback £9.99, grown-up fiction (reviewed by Clare) A pick-me-up of a book about a young woman working in a Parisian hair salon whose life is changed when she picks up a copy of In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust, left behind by an enigmatic gentleman who drops by for a haircut. Clara becomes completely absorbed by the writing ‘which she feels for a reason she still cannot understand, will make her stronger’. A hymn to the transformative power of books and their ability to open previously undreamed-of new horizons to the reader. A cup-of-tea-on-the-sofa or glass-of-wine-in-the-garden kind of book about unleashing your creativity and embracing what you love in life even if ‘there is no visible, Instagrammable outcome’. This elegant, slender volume written in short chapters would be a perfect book club choice. Serve with tea and madeleines for the full Proustian experience. (If reading this tempts you to read or re-read Proust for yourself, we also stock In Search of Lost Time, Book 1.)