Letterbox Love #123

Letterbox Love is a way to give all of the books I receive for review some exposure. Summaries are taken from the cover, or Amazon/NetGalley/Goodreads in the case of e-books, unless otherwise stated.

The Girl of Ink and Stars, KM Hargrave (proof)

Forbidden to leave her village on Joya’s coast, Isabella dreams of the unmapped heart of her island. When her closest friend disappears beyond the village walls, she’s determined to lead the search party. Guided by an unfinished map, a beloved myth and her knowledge of the stars, Isabella navigates the dangerous Forgotten Territories. But beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a fiery legend is stirring from it's sleep…

I am SO looking forward to this! And it came so beautifully wrapped from Chicken House – thank you!

The Madwoman Upstairs, Catherine Lowell (hardback)

Think you know Charlotte, Emily and Anne?

Think again.

Samantha Whipple is the last remaining descendant of the illustrious Brontë family, of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre fame. After losing her father, a brilliant author in his own right, it is up to Samantha to piece together the mysterious family inheritance lurking somewhere in her past – yet the only clues she has at her disposal are the Brontës’ own novels.

With the aid of her handsome but inscrutable Oxford tutor, Samantha must repurpose the tools of literature to unearth an untold family legacy, and in the process, finds herself face to face with what may be literature’s greatest secret.

I’m reading this at the moment and LOVING it! Thanks Quercus! Watch out for the blog tour starting this week.

Chasing the Stars, Malorie Blackman (proof)

There’s no official blurb for this yet, so here’s Malorie herself on what the book’s about:

‘I have wanted to write a story inspired by Shakespeare’s Othello for some time – it is my favourite of his plays, full of twists and turns - but, of course, I wanted to do it my way.

I've always been a huge fan of all types of science fiction and I loved the idea of Othello set in outer space, with Othello as a teenage girl!

That’s how the idea for Chasing the Stars was born. It has been such fun, as well as a real challenge to write. I am excited to see it released into the world, to talk to you readers about it and to hear what you think.’

Sounds amazing, right?! Thanks Penguin Random House!

The List, Siobhan Vivian (e-proof)

It happens every September – the list is posted all over school. Two girls are picked from each year. One is named the prettiest, one the ugliest.

The girls who aren’t picked are quickly forgotten. The girls who are become the centre of attention, and each reacts differently to the experience.

With The List, Siobhan Vivian deftly takes you into the lives of eight very different girls struggling with issues of identity, self-esteem, and the judgement of their peers. Prettiest or ugliest, once you’re on the list, you’ll never be the same.

I have wanted to read this since it came out in the US a million years ago so I’m so glad it’s finally hitting the UK! Thanks NetGalley and MiraINK!

Radio Silence, Alice Oseman (e-proof)

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong?

Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside.

But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken.

Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances’ dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past…

She has to confess why Carys disappeared…

Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets.

It’s only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it’s only by being your true self that you can find happiness.

Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.

Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the review copy! Can’t wait to get stuck in!

Sophie