We adore Irish authors … there’s just a warmth and feeling and that lovely sense of humour. So yay for The Guest House by the Sea by bestselling Irish writer Faith Hogan – set in a guest house overlooking the Atlantic, it’s the uplifting story about discovering love, friendship and the healing power of the Irish sea air. Head of Zeus
It’s finally Spring … we need light and bright and witty. And it’s there in abundance in Hannah Rothschild’s High Time. An outlandish comedy of morals and manners, a collection of outrageous characters in a highborn British family, it’s madness, mayhem and mischief run amok! Bloomsbury
Pure romantic escapism bliss! Jenny Colgan’s The Summer Skies sees a young (and obviously gorgeous) pilot return home to the Scottish Islands to take over her ill grandfather’s local route – ferrying locals across the beautiful islands of the archipelago. But bad weather forces her to crash land on a remote island – where she’s forced to take shelter in the cabin of the gruff and reclusive ornithologist. No guesses for what happens, but delightfully enjoyable anyway. Sphere
A drunk. A bully. And a mother who plucks up the courage to leave, and give her children hope for the future. Then add in a lesson that goes horribly wrong, and you’ve got one of Lesley Peare’s typical page-turners. Make a coffee, settle down on the sofa and enjoy every page of Betrayal. Penguin
Two for young adult bookclubbers
Cheerfully irreverent, bitingly funny, and filled with romantic charm, Cara Tanamachi’s The Second You’re Single is all about navigating the most romantic month of the year, and how love always seems to arrive when you least expect it. Freelance writer loathes Valentine’s Day. She’d rather stay at home with a package of bacon and bottle of tequila. And her pledge to stay single in the month of romance sees her inspiring her readers to #gosolo. Then – had to happen – a gorg man from her past pops up and the mutual attraction is real. But can she #gosolo AND get the guy? Macmillan • A former pop star finds herself back in the spotlight – along with an old flame from her past – in this friends-to-lovers meets enemies-to-lovers romance from the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask, the sensational TikTok romance! Pop star Kate is living the dream as America’s number one pop star, until one night she cheats on her Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of an adored boy band, with another of the band members. There goes her relationship and her career. Years later, she’s offered to star in a Broadway show by he-with-whom-she-cheated … and the chemistry’s still hot! Once More With Feeling … all love, boybands and second chances. Piatkus
The second book in Karen Swan’s The Wild Isle series, The Stolen Hours is a spellbinding historical novel following The Last Summer. Set in 1929, on a small Scottish Island, it’s the story of a reluctant engagement. A forbidden romance. And a murder. Macmillan
All books available at Exclusive Books or online at exclusivebooks.co.za
Imagine the oohs and aahs as the book club girls see these! The Musgrave Inspirit Roadhouse Shake – a chilled crème-based gin fizz that sings with blackberry and rosewater flavours. Rosy, lemony, creamy, and cheeky. And, bonus, non-alcoholic. You’ll need, for each person, 50ml Musgrave Inspirit, 2 teaspoons of blackberry jam, 10ml sugar syrup, 15ml fresh lemon juice, one sprig of rosemary and 25ml fresh cream. Put them into a shaker, with loads of ice, and shake madly for 15 seconds or so. Double strain into a chilled glass, then top with chilled tonic water. Garnish with a blackberry and a rosemary sprig. Musgrave Rose Water Infused Inspirit, 0% alcohol, R249 from musgravespirits.com
Compiled by: Kym Argo
