"Sunrise on the Reaping" by Suzanne Collins

I’ll admit that I was a slow uptaker when it came to The Hunger Games. I held off for a long time because, honestly, I didn’t want to read about kids killing kids. And I definitely didn’t want my own pre-teens getting swept up in that world, especially with all the peer pressure at the time to jump on the bandwagon.

But once I did finally get into the series, Suzanne Collins totally won me over. I loved her voice, her attention to detail, the way she builds a world that’s terrifying and believable. I was hooked.

Sunrise on the Reaping just cements all of that. It dives into Haymitch’s backstory (yes, that Haymitch) during the Second Quarter Quell, and wow! It’s intense, clever, and so emotionally layered. Seeing the Games through his eyes adds a whole new dimension to the world and the story we thought we knew. You really feel the trauma, the manipulation, the deep-rooted injustice of it all. You see the power of propaganda and why people gave up.

Collins doesn’t just write a prequel, she deepens the whole universe. Her writing is sharp, the worldbuilding is rich, and the moral complexity hits just as hard as ever. If you're already a fan, this will blow you away. And if you're new to Panem, it’s a brilliant (and devastating) place to start.

"Nobody’s Fool" by Harlan Coben

This one had me hooked from the first page. Harlan Coben is the king of twisty thrillers, and Nobody’s Fool totally delivered. The setup? Wild. Sami Kierce wakes up in Spain next to his dead girlfriend, covered in blood, holding the knife—then runs. Fast forward 22 years, and he's now a PI and a new dad, trying to live a quiet life… until he sees her again. Alive.

Cue the obsession, the spiralling questions, and that classic Coben rollercoaster of suspense. I couldn’t stop turning the pages—every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist hit me sideways. Sami’s guilt, the creeping paranoia, the buried secrets—it all makes for a gritty, fast-paced read that kept me up way too late.

If you love thrillers that mess with your head in the best way, this one's a must-read. Total binge.

Why I Loved The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

This book completely stole my heart. It’s about Fred, an 82-year-old who’s broke, alone, and out of options—until a random mix-up lands him in a nursing home under someone else’s name. I know, it sounds like the start of a wild caper, but it’s actually this warm, funny, quietly powerful story about second chances and chosen family.

Fred is just lovely—kind, thoughtful, a little lost—and watching him find connection and purpose again was genuinely moving. I laughed, I teared up, and I didn’t want it to end. It’s the kind of book that reminds you how important it is to really see people, no matter their age or situation.

If you’re in the mood for something tender and uplifting, give this one a go. It’s a gem.

Listen for the lie by Amy Tintera

I chose to read "Listen for the lie by Amy Tintera" because it's a Reece Witherspook pick. Here are some of the reasons I liked it:

• Darkly funny, twisty, and fast-paced
• Lucy’s inner voice is hilarious and sharply self-aware
• Blends traditional mystery with podcast transcript segments
• Strong female protagonist

Blurb: Lucy can’t remember what happened the night her best friend Savvy was murdered—but everyone, including Lucy herself, suspects she might have done it. Years later, a popular true crime podcast investigates the cold case, forcing Lucy to return to her hometown to uncover the truth—whether she likes it or not.

"Head Cases" by John McMahon

I found myself a new favourite author! John McMahon's writing is as minimalistic as it is compelling. I love the protagonist in "Head Cases" and I'm so glad he's going to feature in another book. Hope this is the beginning of a long and successful series. Move over Jack Reacher and Win Horne Lockwood III, there's a new hero in town.

Blurb:

Gardner Camden is a walking analytical brain with an affinity for riddles, puzzles, and codes. It makes him the perfect fit for the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit of the FBI, a team of five brilliant but misfit agents who are too talented, too extraordinary to fire from the Bureau.

Gardner’s smart, but he’s all business – except for his seven-year-old daughter and occasional visits to his elderly mother, he prioritises his work and justice over everything else, no matter the cost.

A serial killer from one of Gardner’s solved cases, presumed to be long dead, is found murdered, and then soon after, another body with a similar story. The mastermind murderer has left clues and riddles for Gardner and his team – a mathematician, a sniper and weapons expert, a computer analytics specialist, and their leader, a career agent – as they track him across the country. With the threat of PAR dissolving, the team can’t afford to make any mistakes and Gardner must work to solve the riddles before it’s too late.

The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer

"The Impossible Thing" by Belinda Bauer - oh, what a book! Beautifully told, it's one of those gems that slowly tightens its grip on you and then refuses to let go.

From the windswept cliffs of Yorkshire in 1926 to a Welsh village a century later, this novel brings mystery and adventure. The premise (a missing, impossibly rare egg) had me hooked, googling guillemots, images of their eggs, and reasons for their unusual shape; yet it’s the characters who truly make this book. Patrick Fort, with his sharp mind and social limitations, is impossible not to love, and his friendship with Meg and Nick will warm the most cynical heart.

I like books that make you think, and "The Impossible Thing" made me deplore human greed and our lack of empathy for creatures seemingly lesser than us. It also made me reflect on the  way we attach so much value to material objects when, in the end, it’s the people and connections in our lives that truly matter.

Not without a couple of tear-jerking moments, ultimately this is a make-you-feel-good book.

The Housemaid Book Series by Freida McFadden

"The Housemaid" Series by Freida McFadden - how do I describe it? Original in concept (the protagonist is a loveable convicted killer), fast-paced, impossible to put down - and yet I'd call it a light read, in the most positive sense of the word.

You'll fall in love with Millie Calloway (the convicted killer) and you'll fall in love with the author's style of writing. I've read the three housemaid books, and a handful of others by Ms McFadden ("The Surrogate Mother", "The Perfect Son", "The Co-worker", "The Teacher"), and they all deliver a great reading experience.

BTW, I've just discovered "The Housemaid" is available on Netflix. Tonight's entertainment sorted!