Sue Thomas

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 Longlist The longlist for the The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 was announced yesterday. As a huge fan of historical fiction, this is always an exciting moment, seeing books I've loved appear on the list or discovering new titles. This year I've read eight of the twelve books on the list. One (The Artist) is in my TBR pile and the remaining three (

Announced yesterday, the twelve fantastic books on the longlist for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 @walterscottprize.bsky.social #WalterScottPrize #books #historicalfiction #booksky

Introducing an outstanding new voice in literary fiction: a sensual, sharp, and utterly compelling campus novel about grief, reinvention, and the ripple effects of telling lies.
We loved this debut from Grace Murray in Jan! 💙📚
#BlankCanvas is out now from Fig Tree @penguinukbooks.bsky.social

Beauties! I have been eyeing the Wendy Cope (love her) and Stevie Smith! I feel a purchase coming on... 😁

Thank you @orendabooks.bsky.social for this proof of #UnderTheBlazingSun by Jenny Lund Madsen tns by Paul Russell Garrett. Out 21st May.
I adored Jenny's debut #ThirtyDaysOfDarkness and am thrilled to see this is a sequel. I cannot wait! #MurderByTheBook 🔎📚💙

Thank you @orendabooks.bsky.social for this highly anticipated proof of #ThornbyManor by the lovely Stephanie Bramwell Lawes which is out 23rd April! 💙📚
I'm so excited about reading Stephanie's debut! Just my cup of Gothic-laced tea! ❤❤❤

Thank you @orendabooks.bsky.social for this fab proof of #Catherine by the lovely @essiefox.bsky.social which is out 12th Feb.
Looking forward to sharing my thoughts about this Wuthering Heights retelling soon as part of the @annerandomthings.bsky.social #blogtour 💙📚

Thank you @edpr.bsky.social for this intriguing proof of #WhatReallyHappenedToMe by Ellie Barker, which is out 23rd April from Vinci Books
This sounds fab! Looking forward to diving into Grace's story! 💙📚

Thank you @edpr.bsky.social for this copy of #TheGirlWithTheSuitcase by the fab Lesley Pearse which is out in paperback from @michaeljbooks.bsky.social 26th Feb. It sounds right up my historical fiction loving street! 💙📚

Thank you @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social for this gorgeous proof of #ACottageInTheCountry by Katie Fforde which is out 12th Feb! I cannot wait to lose myself in another of Katie's lovely escapist stories. What a treat! 💙📚

Thank you @louiseswannell.bsky.social @headlinebooks.bsky.social for this fab proof of #MainCharacters by Bobby Palmer which is out 2nd July.
I'm really looking forward to reading Bobby's new novel with the @squadpod2021.bsky.social in July.
Tissues at the ready to catch the inevitable tears! 😭💙📚

If you enjoy time-slip stories set in Greece, then #TheIslandBetweenUs by @dougiemchaleauthor.bsky.social is for you. We really enjoyed this novel, part of McHale's Hellenic series, in Jan. 💙📚

Out now from Vinci Books, fans of Victoria Hislop will love it!

Here are our thoughts:
@edpr.bsky.social

In January we were thrilled to get acquainted with Detective Elea Baker in #TheIceAngels - the first gripping instalment of a brand new crime series by @carolinemitchell.bsky.social

What an opener! We loved it!

Out now from @penguinukbooks.bsky.social

Here are some of our thoughts... 💙📚

A pleasure! What a fabulous finale to the trilogy! 🔥

The Hope (The Forcing Trilogy Book Three) by Paul E. Hardisty The Hope (The Forcing Trilogy Book Three) by Paul E. Hardisty. Published 29th January 2026 by Orenda Books. From the cover of the book: T...

Welcome to my stop on the @annerandomthings.bsky.social #BlogTour for #TheHope by Paul E. Hardisty - the concluding part of the absolutely epic #TheForcing trilogy. 🔥

Out now from @orendabooks.bsky.social 💙📚

brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-...

January's #SquadPodBookClub took us on an emotional journey into love, loss and a band in crisis with The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead and we LOVED IT! 💙📚🎸
Out now from @headofzeus.bsky.social
Here are some of our thoughts...

Also on our reading pile this month...
- #LoveAndOtherBrainExperiments by Hannah Brohm
- #TheFirstTimeISawHim by Laura Dave
- #PaperSisters by Racgel Canwell
- #IntoTheMidnightWood by @anmccollum.bsky.social
Stay tuned for our thoughts! 🤩💙📚

It's all change, with a brand new Book Club pick for the SquadPod!
This month, our pick is the psychological masterpiece #MyHusbandsWife by @alicefeeney.com which is out now from @panmacmillan.bsky.social 🔑
We're big fans of Alice's twisty novels, so we're really looking forward to this! 🤩💙📚

January 2026 Reading Round-Up January 2026 Reading Round-Up It's been a nice gentle start to the year, with ten books that get your pulse racing, and really stir the em...

It's been a nice gentle start to the year, with ten books that get your pulse racing, and really stir the emotions! 💙📚

You can find your way to my thoughts about them here:
brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/01/janu...

Stop All The Clock's: Poems Of Love And Loss by W.H. Auden Stop All The Clock's: Poems Of Love And Loss by W.H. Auden. Published 20th November 2025 by Faber Books. From the cover of the book: Stop...

One for the book lovers who sobbed over 'that' scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral! 😭 Welcome to my review of #StopAllTheClocks a brand new collection of W.H. Auden's poems about love and loss. Out now from @faberbooks.bsky.social 📚💙
❤🕰💔
brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/01/stop...

2026 has kicked off with an absolutely fabulous debut as our January pick - Room 706 by @ellielevenson.bsky.social which totally blew us away! Here are some of our thoughts! 💙📚

Out now from @headlinebooks.bsky.social this is one you do not want to miss! 🎉

Anatomy Of An Alibi by Ashley Elston Anatomy Of An Alibi by Ashley Elston. Published 13th January 2026 by Headline. From the cover of the book: Two women. One dead husband. An...

Welcome to my stop on the @annerandomthings.bsky.social #BlogTour for the fabulous second novel from Ashley Elston - #AnatomyOfAnAlibi

Out now from @headlinebooks.bsky.social 💙📚

brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/01/anat...

Thank you @penguinbooksuk.bsky.social for this gorgeous copy of #TheFirstTimeISawHim by Laura Dave - sequel to the bestselling #TheLastThingHeToldMe (now on Apple TV+).
Out now from Century Books.
I'm looking forward to reading this with the @squadpod2021.bsky.social ladies next month! 🤩💙📚

Thank you @quercusbooks.bsky.social for this copy of #WaitingOnAFriend by Natalie Adler, which has me intrigued!
Out 26th May from riverrun books. 💙📚
Looking forward to exploring this inventive debut with the @squadpod2021.bsky.social in May! 🤩 #SquadPodBookClub

Thank you @QuercusBooks for this proof of #TheDangerousStranger by Simon Mason - the latest instalment in the fab DI Ryan Wilkins series. Out 22th March from riverrun.💙📚
I'll be tucking into this gem with the @squadpod2021.bsky.social gang in March. #SquadPodBookClub 🤩

Thank you @helenatowerspr.bsky.social @lararosetamara.bsky.social for this gorgeous proof of #TheStoneSisters by Eleanor Buchanan, which is out 12th March from @headlinebooks.bsky.social
This sounds right up my street, and it's the start of a brand new series! I cannot wait! 💙📚

Thank you @alicedewing.bsky.social for sending me a copy of #Strangerland by Monika Radojevic, winner of the #MerkyBooks New Writers' Prize. Out 5th March from Merky Books. 💙📚
I'm so looking forward to reading this powerful debut with the @squadpod2021.bsky.social gang in March!
#SquadPodBookClub

The Island Between Us (The Hellenic Collection) by Dougie McHale The Island Between Us (The Hellenic Collection) by Dougie McHale. Published 29th January 2026 by Vinci Books. From the cover of the book: ...

Welcome to my review of #TheIslandBetweenUs by @dougiemchaleauthor.bsky.social - 🇬🇷💙📚

Out 29th Jan from Vinci Books @edpr.bsky.social

What a cracking novel to wind up this month's @squadpod2021.bsky.social #SquadPodBookClub line-up!

brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...

Hidden In Shadows (The Åre Murders Book Two) by Viveca Sten Hidden In Shadows (The Åre Murders Book Two) by Viveca Sten. Translated by Marlaine Delargy. Published 5th December 2023 by Amazon Crossi...

Welcome to my thoughts about #HiddenInShadows by Viveca Sten, translated by Marlaine Delargy - book two in The Åre Murders series. 💙📚

Out now from @amazonpublishing.bsky.social

brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/01/hidd...

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Spaces still available for my FREE online workshop on Saturday - aimed at new writers but all welcome! ✍️