Alice Peterson

Read This: Alice Peterson

Alice Peterson’s novel, The Saturday Place was selected as the Big Book Club read for Winchester Books Festival in April 2024, and I had the great pleasure of hosting the event where people who had read the book gathered to discuss it with Alice. There were so many things to discuss and Alice was delightful. Keep an eye out on the festival’s website for who we’ve picked for next year’s Big Book Club read. (I’m already excited.) And I’m so pleased that Alice agreed to select three under-read books for Read This. Here’s what she has to say about herself:

I was always ‘Alice the tennis player’. Aged 18, and about to sign a tennis scholarship to America, I experienced pain in my right hand, which developed into severe rheumatoid arthritis – a condition which is incurable. In my early 20s, a friend encouraged me to write my story, hoping it could help me to grieve the loss of my old life. My first book is a memoir about my tennis days and overcoming a harrowing, relentless illness by rebuilding my life as an author. My novels are infused with adversity, love, support, community and friendship. My most recent, The Saturday Place touches on volunteering and homelessness, and how love can heal the most broken of people. Alongside my writing, I am a psychotherapist and counsellor.
Here are Jane’s recommendations:

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Did you know that Winchester Books Festival is organising a Big Book Club Read? On 21st April we’ll be gathering at The ARC in Winchester to discuss Alice Peterson’s novel, The Saturday Place, with Alice in attendance. Bring your whole book club or come on your own – everyone is welcome. I’ll be hosting the event, but I hope that most of the questions will come from the audience, just like a big book club.

‘Upifting, heartwarming and mouth-watering, The Saturday Place is the kind of book we all need now. A tale of friendship and food, it’s bursting with optimism and love. Charming.’ Veronica Henry author of The Secret Beach

‘A tender story of hope, friendship and the power of community.’ – Emily Houghton author of Before I Saw You

‘A warm, wise and really special book… I absolutely loved it.’ – Katy Regan author of Little Big Love

Three perfect strangers who help each other to believe in love again

Holly’s husband died, and she’s lonely. She needs to do something to save herself, quickly. Next thing she knows she’s interviewing for a voluntary cooking job, surprised to be ambushed by a scruffy man who looks like he has a past.

Angus has messed up. He’s lost the respect of his family and has none for himself. If it weren’t for his brother and friend who run the cafÃ©, he’d be sleeping on the streets. Angus is about ready to give up – until he meets Holly, who sparks something in him.

Then Lauren arrives from the homeless shelter. She came to London with nothing but an old train ticket, a teddy bear, and the clothes on her back. With no family, no home, no friends, she doesn’t know what love is. People scare her. She’s terrified of Angus and Holly. At first.

Each of them finds themselves in the Saturday cafe at a time when they need something to grab hold of. It might have to be each other?

We’ll be discussing the book with Alice, including spoilers, so best if you’ve read it first. It’s available from P&G Wells, or there are some book sets available from Winchester library.

Book your ticket for the event, and come with your questions. See you there!