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Dark Lies the Island by Kevin Barry The Heart in Winter was one of my top reads of 2024, and I have been eagerly reading other Kevin Barry titles since then. He's such a brilliant writer and probably one of my favourite Irish authors (alongside Donal Ryan and Claire Keegan of course!). I loved this collection of short and sharp stories, which encompass a 'real ale' day out, an ill fated romance, OAP criminals and other such random, yet original stories. They are dark and gritty, but wry, funny and beautifully and empathetically written. Having read his more recent publications,...

We were recently discussing the quandary of getting a young child into reading (or back into reading!) when they are hesitant or reluctant to pick up a book. Encouraging a regular reading practice for fun or for learning can be really tricky, but with a few tweaks, we believe any child can become a lifelong reader. We all adore books here at Willoughby, but we have all experienced various states of reading slump over the years. Life is busy and distracting, so it is inevitable that our reading journeys will have some form of ebb and flow over the course...

On 26th March 2025, The Willoughby Book Club were so excited to be featured on Lorraine!  Amy Dowden curated the Ultimate Gift Guide For Mother’s Day and Lorraine’s team reached out to us to ask if we could be included in the lineup. And of course, we said yes! You can watch the full clip on YouTube here, or on ITV here. In the clip, Amy showcased some popular Mother’s Day products and recommended The Willoughby Book Club as the go-to book subscription service! Amy Dowden’s Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide! Featured amongst the likes of Champneys, Elizabeth Scarlett and...

Mother’s Day is  almost here, and we’re excited to shout about the lovely mums in our lives! We all know one day will never be enough to beam and gloat about our favourite women, but it does give us the opportunity to treat them in the best way we know how: books! So, how about foregoing the chocolates this year and opting for an interesting read instead? We’ve compiled a varied list of books that mothers of all tastes will enjoy, so read on for some curated gifting inspiration.