Read This: Books under the Radar is a weekly post usually written by a guest author – often a friend of mine, someone I’ve met on my writerly travels, or an author I admire. But this time I’m delighted that we have a book blogger on, recommending three books she thinks deserve more recognition. If you’re interested in buying any of the books, please click on the covers and give these hidden gems some love. You can see the full list of books which have been selected, on Bookshop.org, where you can have a browse and buy any that take your fancy. Happy reading!

Read This: Jenna Smith

Jenna Smith a force for books! She runs The Book Taster book clubs – groups online and in person around the country where people gather to discuss books. Who better to choose three books which have gone under the radar. And I’m delighted that I will be her guest author for her online book club on 24th November, where we’ll be discussing The Memory of Animals. Here’s what she has to say about herself:

Jenna has been book blogging under the name @book_club_mumma since 2017 & is the founder of The Book Taster- an online and in person book club community which started in 2019. Jenna hosts one online and two in person book clubs a month whilst facilitating 22 Book and Pudding Clubs across the U.K. Bringing people together in bookish conversation and building a community of readers is Jenna’s passion and drive. A mother to two girls and an excitable black Labrador – Jenna always has a book on the go & never re-reads a book or cracks a spine! 

Find Jenna online at:
www.instagram.com/bookclubmumma
www.instagram.com/thebooktaster
www.thebooktaster.com

Here are her recommendations:

A Run in the Park by David Park

Over nine weeks, a group of strangers come together to run. They face unexpected challenges, friendships are forged, and, by the time of their final run together all are left reflecting on life and the events of the past few weeks. 

This small yet mighty book of only 99 pages, is proof that stories do not need to be pages and pages. Sometimes just finding the right words in moderation can captivate a reader. I loved that every character was relatable or provoked an emotion from me. Each chapter is narrated by a different character – sharing their thoughts and feelings whilst cleverly revealing more about their fellow runners. This book shares everyday people, reflecting every day life & the beauty that each day holds. 

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

When Lillian gets a letter from Madison, her roommate from boarding school, pleading for her help with her twin stepkids. She finds it hard to say no. However, there s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames.Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other and stay cool while also staying out of the way of Madison s buttoned-up politician husband. Could this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?

I adored this book! The writing, the quirky storyline, the characters. When I thrust this into the hands of bemused readers- I can see why people look back at me puzzled. Children who spontaneously combust?! Do not let that put you off! This book has a huge heart – whilst tackling some challenging themes. I loved how the writing drew me in & allowed me to devour the story. It made me giggle, cry and feel utter disgust at the behaviour of certain characters. One of my favourite books of all time. This is definitely a book you won’t want to put down – oh, and then want to read all of Kevin Wilson’s books!  

Pew by Catherine Lacey

One Sunday morning, a mysterious silent figure is found sleeping in a church in an unnamed American town. The congregants call this amnesiac ‘Pew’ and seek to uncover who they are: their age; their gender, their race, their intentions. Unable to agree on how to treat a person they cannot categorize – whether to adopt or imprison, help or harm them – this small town is quickly undone by Pew’s terrifying silence. What remains is a foreboding, provocative, and amorphous fable about the world today: our borders and our boundaries, our fears and our woes. 

This book hasn’t left me since I read it a few years ago. It got under my skin and firmly cemented Catherine Lacey as an autobuy author. It is beautifully and mysteriously written which compelled me to turn the pages. This book is utterly engrossing, made me feel on edge throughout and also had me hook, line and sinker. I devoured it in less that 24 hours. It raises questions, answers few but leaves a lasting memory. For fans of Sarah Moss – this one is for you. 

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This is the first Read This where I’ve actually read two of the books: Nothing to See Here, and Pew, both of which I really enjoyed. Is it weird to say that I’ve always been fascinated by spontaneous human combustion? Probably. Let me know in the comments, or let me know if you’ve read any of these. And if you’d like to be told about future Read This recommendations, you can follow me on Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter.

More Read This: Books Under the Radar

Lou Morrish author of Women of War
Francesca Ramsay author of Pinch Me
Sarah Leipciger author of Moon Road
Tim Chapman university librarian
Juliet West author of The Faithful
Lindsay Hunter author of Hot Springs Drive
Gina Chung author of Sea Change
Susmita Bhattacharya author of Table Manners
Vanessa Harbour author of Safe
Freya North author of The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne
Judith Heneghan author of Birdeye
Clare Mackintosh author of I Promise it won’t always Hurt like This
Barney Norris author of Undercurrent
Jo Leevers author of The Last Time I saw You
Alice Winn author of In Memmoriam
Jane Borges author of Bombay Balchão
Anna Mazzola author of The Book of Secrets