Review: Ghost Wedding by David Park (2025)

Blurb

For fans of Sebastian Faulks, Donal Ryan and Anne Tyler comes this beautiful novel following two troubled men, separated by nearly a century, bound by the ghosts of their past

When George Allenby is put in charge of building a lake in the grounds of an imposing Irish manor house, he intends to do the job as swiftly as possible and return to Belfast. Allenby is still wrestling with his time as an officer during the First World War, burdened by the many things he could have done differently.

Almost a century later, Alex and Ellie are preparing for their wedding, sparing no expense to hire a venue overlooking the very lake Allenby built all those years ago.

Like Allenby before him, Alex is haunted by decisions he made in the past. Now, with the wedding drawing ever closer, he is at a crossroads. Telling the truth might free him from his guilt; it might also take away everything he cares about, including Ellie.

In this masterful portrait of love and betrayal, David Park reveals the many ways the past seeps into the present: destructive, formidable, but also hopeful, in the moments of fragile beauty that remain.

Review

Many thanks to the publisher and the lovely Squadpod for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review – once again, my apologies for the delay!

Somehow, I have never read any of David Park’s books before now. But I was intrigued by this book just from the title, and when I read the blurb, I knew it was right up my street. Historical fiction with a dash of magical realism is my bag, both as a reader and a writer, and the way the ghosts of the past slip into the present in this novel has given me food for thought for my own work-in-progress, which is always a thrill.

The story centres around a dual timeline narrative: George Allenby constructing a lake at Manor House in the early twentieth century, and Alex and Ellie planning their wedding on the same site nearly a hundred years later. However, there are many other hints and teasers of further stories, as the ghosts teeming around the various settings jostle for position. The theme of buildings, with both Allenby and Alex working in roles related to construction and properties, and the echoes of the lives that have walked through them, is powerfully explored, and there is an atmospheric hum to the narrative that suggests layers of existence piling up on top of each other in an almost archaeological formation.

I really felt for the characters, in all their complex, messy, human knottiness, particularly George, Cora, Alex and Ellie – there is a realism to the portrayal of the two couples at the centre of the book that offsets the more experimental, lyrical ‘ghost’ scenes. And yet in every case it is the past that creeps in: George is haunted by his experiences in the First World War; Alex by a secret he can’t escape from. There’s an ache to the griefs and memories carried by all of the characters, a bruised realness to their secrets and traumas. And yet it is a hopeful novel, too, exploring the power of love and connection.

The story is so carefully constructed, showing incredible skill and poise from the author. In the main narratives, the two love stories that play out across time are brought together in a way that is stunningly beautiful and clever. The prose throughout the book is elegant, precise, melancholic: this is a moving, intelligent, careful exploration of the liminal spaces between human existence. It’s a book that lingers – I will be thinking about it for a long time. I am looking forward to exploring more of David Park’s work now I have finally discovered him, and I highly recommend Ghost Wedding as a great place to start if you’re also new to his books.

Ghost Wedding by David Park is published by Oneworld and is available to purchase here.

Review: Cat Fight by Kit Conway (2025)

Blurb

When the peace shatters in suburbia, the claws come out . . .

Coralie King, Emma Brooks and Twig Dorsett are friends. Sort of. They’re neighbours on an exclusive Sevenoaks estate who get along. It’s convenient.

But one May bank holiday, Coralie’s husband insists he saw a panther on the bonnet of his car. And cracks between the elite of the Briar Heart Estate begin to emerge.

As the summer wears on and there are more sightings, the big cat frenzy reaches a fever pitch. Tensions between neighbours threaten to boil over. Everyone is watching their back. But is the real predator a seventy-kilo cat with razor-sharp claws? Or is the actual danger of a much more domestic variety?

Review

I am very grateful to the publishers and the lovely Squadpod for my ARC of Cat Fight, which I received in exchange for an honest review. Apologies for the delay in posting this – at least it means this glorious book is already out and you can get your paws (sorry) on it straightaway!

I was sold right from the start by the premise – I’m a Big Cat geek myself, having spent part of my childhood in southern Africa (one of the best days of my life involved watching a leopard fall out of a tree and then stalk sheepishly away as if to say ‘I MEANT to do that;’ another involved cuddling a rescued cheetah named Gigi) – and since moving back to the UK, I’ve always been fascinated by wild cat sighting stories in this country. The book does a brilliant job of playing up the unverified, wafting rumour element – we don’t know who to believe, and there are so many delicious twists in the story, and yet of course, as readers, we find ourselves willing the stories of the Sevenoaks Panther to be true.

The twists and turns of the plot are such an integral part of the fun of this novel, so it’s hard to say too much about the story itself, except that there are plenty of surprises to be had. Come for the excellent premise, stay for the brilliantly observed character dynamics of the Briar Heart Estate set – the ensemble cast is populated with complex, varied characters who interact with all the veracity of the weight of shared history and too much knowledge of each other – these are neighbours whose lives have become intertwined, whose relationships teeter on the edge of dysfunctional right from the start, and then plunge headlong over the cliff. It’s enormously entertaining, in a voyeuristic, almost guilty pleasure way, which feels apt for the dynamics of the Estate itself.

If ever there was a book that’s perfect for summer reading, it’s Kit Conway’s debut novel. Set over one long, hot summer in a privileged Kent community, the story simmers with tension, the aforementioned character dynamics, and a wonderful sense of everything building to an explosive conclusion. This book really pulls you along; there’s an energy to it that’s sexy, dangerous and addictive, and it becomes more and more intriguing and shocking – set aside a proper chunk of time to devour the final chapters, as you won’t want to stop once you’ve started! This is an elegantly constructed, tautly written story that more than delivers on its excellent premise, and I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Kit Conway.

Cat Fight by Kit Conway is published by Bantam and is available to purchase here.

Review: Where Snowbirds Play by Gina Goldhammer (2025)

Blurb

Was it pure chance that he had run into her so soon? Philip had never believed in destiny, and his father had believed in nothing but his own genius. And yet…

From the moment recent Oxford graduate Philip takes the helm of a new marine life institute in Palm Beach, his presence revives old feuds and sparks rivalries among the wealthy resident snowbirds, many of whom have invested heavily in a biotech company soon to be exposed for insider trading. It quickly becomes clear that Philip’s quest for atonement on the behalf of his father will embroil many of the community’s most prominent members.

Interwoven with snippets of real-life drama from an insider-trading scandal, Where Snowbirds Play paints a compelling portrait of the lives of the privileged, and what happens when their world is turned upside down.

Review

I am always intrigued by the new offerings from Renard Press and its imprint Hay Press – they’re an independent publisher that never fails to disappoint, pushing the boundaries and offering readers something out of the ordinary. I was delighted to be offered a chance to read and review this book, receiving an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I apologise for the lateness of this review – life has been life-ing recently, as indeed it does for the characters in Gina Goldhammer’s brilliant novel!

The novel follows a group of wealthy residents in Palm Beach, with the new arrival, Philip, providing an outsider’s perspective that helps the reader orientate themselves amongst this extraordinary cast of characters. It is a world of luxury and privilege, but there is so much more going on beneath the surface, and one of the things I loved about this book is how many different aspects are at play. We’ve got the voyeuristic thrill of seeing how the very rich spend their days, with elaborate parties and eccentric pursuits, but also the secrets and griefs of the inhabitants, from Hannah Caulfield’s struggle to improve the life of her terminally ill son, to Sunny Sloan’s tragic past, and against these personal trials and tribulations, we also get a sense of the environmental crises lurching ever closer. Philip’s role at the Marine Institute and the ominously worsening weather both provide opportunities to reflect on wider issues that go beyond the tightly-knit lives of the characters. It takes a very talented writer to weave all of these elements together, and Gina Goldhammer pulls it off with panache.

This really is an original book, with a flavour all of its own. There’s a dash of The Great Gatsby in the luxurious setting and Philip’s admiration for Hannah; a concern with the natural world that reminded me of some of Barbara Kingsolver’s work; and some wonderfully nineteenth century melodrama from the lovesick Philip, particularly when combined with the incoming storms – he’s like a 1990s Heathcliff brooding among the palm trees! It’s a heady mix, and Goldhammer’s skill with natural description and character development make this a very rewarding book to spend time with. I highly recommend Where Snowbirds Play to anyone looking for a book that’ll push them outside their usual comfort zone and provide a rich, fascinating reading experience.

Where Snowbirds Play by Gina Goldhammer is published by Renard Press and is available to purchase here.

Review: Hail Mary by Funmi Fetto (2025)

Blurb

* A Harper’s Bazaar ‘Best New Short-Story Collection’ for 2025 *

A stunning collection of short stories capturing the lives of nine Nigerian women, each very different, each determined to fight for themselves.

Meet Ifeoma. She’s been ready to leave her violent husband for some time, but her plans for a quiet departure take an unexpectedly gruesome turn…

Nkechi, a housemaid for a rich Lagos family, bears the weight of her Madam’s wrath when she discovers her husband’s dark secret.

In London, Riliwa meets Mary, a guardian angel full of advice, wisdom and practical support as she navigates her unfamiliar new home. But it soon becomes clear that Mary’s kindness comes at a price.

Passionate, raw, full of heart and humour, these are stories about women who will not be broken by the challenges life puts in their way.

Review

I have been falling back in love with short stories this year, so I was thrilled to get the chance to read this debut collection from Vogue Style Editor Funmi Fetto. Huge thanks to the publisher and the Squadpod for my beautiful finished copy, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of stories presents a series of portraits of Nigerian women, taking us back and forth between Nigeria and the UK. From Ifeoma in 2 Samuel 6:14, planning her escape from her abusive, religiously zealous husband, to young Lara arriving in London for the first time in Trip, from Nkechi negotiating the perilous whims of her Madam and master in House Girl, to Riliwa in the eponymous story Hail Mary seeking advice from a ‘fixer’ for immigrants like herself, there is such a wide range of experiences in these raw, emotionally charged stories, and it’s impossible not to be as captivated by them as the narrator of Wait is to the irresistible magnetism of Ngozi.

I loved all of the nine tales in Hail Mary, but my standout favourites are: Unspoken, an incredibly powerful story of trauma and how it is buried; Dodo is Yoruba for Fried Plantain, in which a widow rediscovers her love of Nigerian food and cooks up a storm (mouth-watering descriptions that will make you hungry as you read!); and Underneath the Mango Tree, Kemi’s story of her battle with infertility. These are brave, resilient, complex characters making their way through a world that throws obstacles at them at every turn, and there is such a tender mix of fierceness and vulnerability in these women – it’s both moving and inspiring to read their stories, to hear their voices lifting off the page.

Funmi Fetto excels at one of the trickiest aspects of the short story form: the sting in the (lizard’s!) tail. One of the signs of an excellent short story for me is when I do a sharp intake of breath after reading the last lines, and with this collection, that happened several times. It never feels contrived or forced, but it lends such an elegant shape to the carefully wrought, emotionally rich stories that are woven across the pages of this outstanding debut collection. I will be eagerly looking out for more from this author in the future, and I highly recommend getting your hands on this wonderful book.

Hail Mary by Funmi Fetto is published by Oneworld and is available to purchase here.