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What I Ate In One Year (and related thoughts)

By Stanley Tucci, paperback £10.99, adult non-fiction (reviewed by Clare) Food, family, film stars: a glimpse into Stanley’s kitchen complete with the sort of delicious daily detail that delights anyone who’s even slightly nosy about other people’s lives (and what they eat for their tea). Featuring Harry Styles and Robert Downey Jr dropping round for dinner, tempting descriptions of feasts, snacks, film set catering and what’s in Stanley and his wife Felicity’s big shop to cater for a family weekend in Cornwall. Fans of Stanley’s Instagram will be reassured to know that cocktail hour figures prominently. Written in diary form, this is a gossipy joy to dip into and the next best thing to securing a dinner invite chez Tucci.

The Crisp Sommelier: The Ultimate Guide to Crisp and Drink Pairings

By Neil Ridley, hardback £12.99, adult non-fiction (reviewed by Clare) One of those genius ideas that makes you wonder why nobody thought of it before. Meticulously researched (with very specific brand suggestions), this creates flavour sensations by pairing drinks, both alcoholic and non, with the perfect crisp to bring out the best in both with surprisingly delicious results. A stylish friend of mine used it as the basis for a smart drinks party. Monster Munch Pickled Onion with your gin cocktail? Prawn Cocktail Skips with your sparkling rosé? Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. Lots of fun, it also makes the perfect host/ess present together with a (perfectly paired) bottle and a bag of crisps.

The Wildest Dream Bookshop

By Gracie Page, paperback £9.99, teen fiction (reviewed by Octavia) As a lover of Cornwall and of course independent bookshops, this was the perfect teen romance. A really sweet story set in a sleepy seaside town. London girl meets surfer boy and some other lovely local characters, whilst helping to save her aunt’s eccentric, yet idyllic bookshop.

Wild Thing

By Sue Prideaux, paperback £12.99, adult non-fiction (reviewed by Octavia) Paul Gauguin has always been my favourite artist. I loved studying him as part of my degree. Even though I mainly read fiction, I really enjoyed ‘Wild Thing’. Here he is bought to life once more but this time using new material and family archives to challenge some preconceived ideas about him, his lifestyle and thus artistic influences.  

6-7 YEARS BOOK GROUP

Notso Hotso by Anne Fine It was funny and weird. I loved the book. It was one of my favourite books.

7-8 YEARS BOOK GROUP

Elspeth Hart and the School for Show-offs by Sarah Forbes It was my favourite book ever! I read it on the day I got it. I really like the characters and I love the story. I can’t wait to read the next book. It was written fantastically and in a way that you can’t stop reading it. It is very descriptive and funny. My favourite character is Miss Crabb.

8-9 YEARS BOOK GROUP

Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St John One of the greatest mystery novels in the whole space of time! Kat Wolfe investigates opens a whole world of suspense and mystery with a great plot.

10-12 YEARS BOOK GROUP

School for Skylarks by Sam Angus Lyla Spence is not prepared for school. Mop doesn’t believe in school so why should she? But when one turns up on the doorstep she is made to join as they are her guests. Then when she thinks all is foggy, she meets a friend called cat and soon there is a horse in the Maharajah’s room and ice skating in moonlight, as well as a terrier who likes eating socks! Bravery, courage and hope is what gets her through her new school life. I loved this book and I would really recommend it.

12-13 YEARS BOOK GROUP

Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine Iris has never met her father and has grown up to believe that he abandoned her and didn’t care. But now he wants to meet her as he’s on his death bed. He has a priceless art collection that he wants to hand over to her, along with many secrets…

TEEN BOOK GROUP

S.T.A.G.S by M.A. Bennett If you like mystery books, then this one is definitely for you. Nine students and a very deadly weekend can be more than anticipated as a deadly disaster. Join Greer on the hunt for acceptance. Will she be accepted by the Medievals? Maybe Henry? Huntin’ Shootin’ Killin’. Sometimes the answer lies in something too deep to control. Lies will be told, because the truth is too deadly. Some invitations you just shouldn’t accept…

11AM SATURDAY 4TH MAY – BOOK SIGNING AND FUN WITH JO EMPSON

Who will be crowned the most beautiful of all at the Jungle Jamboree? Lion, Leopard, Hippo, Bird or Zebra? The jungle creatures all try to change themselves in this beautiful book, bursting with wild splashes of colour and hilarious animal antics. But Fly has a surprise in store – soon the animals learn that they are lovely just the way they are, and that kindness is the most beautiful thing of all. Join Jo Empson author / illustrator of Jungle Jamboree in an interactive storytelling session and even make your own beautiful animal finger puppet to take part in a Jungle Jamboree!

Authors for Oceans

In support of some of our favourite authors; Lauren St John, Michael Morpurgo, Katherine Rundell and Piers Torday, to name just a few, we will NOT be giving plastic bags with books. AUTHORS4OCEANS, OCEANS ARE NOT RUBBISH launches today… please support them and this brilliant campaign to save the oceans! Authors4Oceans

Just a Little Dinner

By Cecile Tlili, paperback £12.99, adult fiction (reviewed by Octavia) ‘Just a Little Dinner’ is a really elegant read. A dinner party in a Parisian Apartment, one very hot summers evening, where its guest’s desires and downfalls, feelings and fears are so vividly portrayed with such accomplished writing. It is also a beautifully produced little book.