Magpie by Elizabeth Day

When will I ever learn? ‘Thrillers’ rarely thrill. And thrillers that revolve around the gaslighting of the main female characters have been done to death. The premise for Magpie was enticing and a neat twist early in the book kept me reading, however, by the time I got three-quarters of the way through, it took another turn for the ho-hum.

2/5

In My Room by Jim Lucey

Lucey’s memoir examines ‘recovery’ from his perspective as a psychiatrist. The title of the book comes from the idea that his relationship with his patients is confined to his consulting room, but in reality their world, and his own world, extends well beyond that. It’s an interesting idea. It’s worth mentioning at this point that I am obsessed with Orna Guralnik’s gorgeous consulting room in Couples Therapy (a stark comparison to the boxy, windowless room I work in).

Anyway, the book uses case studies to offer insights on mental health – there’s nothing particularly new here, but Lucey’s gentle and sensitive tone will appeal to many, and might help ease some stigma around particular aspects of mental health, notably seeking treatment.

3/5

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

A fairly predictable story about the life complexities members of a single family are grappling with. I almost abandoned this early (it was straying into what some call ‘women’s fiction’ or ‘domestic fiction’ but an early and surprising element to the story kept me reading (listening). Notably, this novel is a light look at the theme of shame, and what we endure.

2.5/5