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Marianne Chala
Reading Romance, and some Valentine's Day reading suggestions - The Willoughby Book Club

Reading Romance, and some Valentine's Day reading suggestions

Valentine's Day is upon us once again, which inevitably means the Willoughby team have been discussing the romance books we've read or considered recently. Our first loves will always be books, and the characters brought to life through the magic of words. Our interests and reading preferences, when it comes to the romance genre, are rather different. Where one of us might prefer general fiction with love as a theme secondary to friendships or familial relationships, another would prefer romance front and central to the plot. Romantic fantasy or 'romantasy' is a particular favourite genre for one of the Willoughby...

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Marianne Chala
Meet the Team - The Willoughby Book Club

Meet the Team

Marianne I'm the Director of The Willoughby Book Club, and I'm so proud of our team and the service we offer. My career has taken me on a meandering path through bookselling in the UK and Ireland, and I am so excited to be able to bring all my experience to bear at The Willoughby Book Club, offering curated reading subscriptions. Access to books and reading is one of my favourite soapboxes, and I love being able to donate a book for each subscription we sell. When I'm not messing about with books I like painting and am inspired by...

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Marianne Chala
What We've Been Reading - The Willoughby Book Club

What We've Been Reading

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch Prophet Song was 2023's Booker prize winner, and Paul Lynch's fifth novel (and first Booker win). I don't often read prize winning books. I can fall into the trap of thinking they'll be too clever or experimental for me, so I'm sure I miss out on some fantastic titles because of it! Anyway, whether you love to keep abreast of prize winners or rarely touch them, take it from me, you NEED to read this one! Set in a dystopian near-future Ireland, this is the story of an ordinary, upper-middle class wife and mother of four,...

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Marianne Chala
What We've Been Reading - The Willoughby Book Club

What We've Been Reading

With both our reading intentions for the year in mind AND the Willoughby Book Club Reading Challenge prompts, we're off! We've all started the year in a flurry of reading, and have all made the most of the cold, dark evenings by enjoying the company of some good reads. What have you been enjoying recently?   A Touch of Mistleoe by Barbara Comyns Barbara Comyns was a really fun discovery of mine towards the end of 2023. A Touch of Mistletoe, a forgotten classic republished by Daunt Books, alongside the equally wonderful Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead, is a...

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