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The Party by Tessa Hadley I remember seeing this in a bookshop and thinking, ‘that’s a pretty cover!’. I know, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but sometimes it just can’t be helped, and luckily, it’s such a lovely little book that’s easy to digest in one sitting or on your travels. A coming-of-age story focused on two sisters in postwar Bristol, you’ll be immersed in a tale of adventure, awkwardness and anxiety, as you join the sisters in the weird in-between of being a teen and moving into adulthood. The sisters learn new things about themselves and...

Just like that, 2025 is upon us and we find ourselves surrounded by resolutions and good intentions for the year ahead. Whilst we are big believers in reading just for the love of it and with no outcomes in mind, it can be useful to set some intentions to help keep us on track toward our goals. Most of us here at Willoughby keep a note of the titles we read each year too, and it is lovely to be able to look back on a year of reading come December.  What reading resolutions have you set for the coming...

It's a brand new year, and it's time for the 2025 Willoughby Book Club Reading Challenge! Read along with us and tackle as many or as few prompts as you feel like this year. Read widely, let your eyes be opened to new books and authors, and most importantly, have fun. We don't have rules. Books, e-books and audio books all count. Raid your TBR piles, borrow from your library or from your friends, ask their recommendations and please ask us too. We'd love to hear about your reading this year, so do let us know how you're getting on,...

Despite the seeping cold and darker days, we think winter is one of the most magical times of the year. The solstice, which takes place on the 21st December, represents the longest day on the calendar and has been celebrated for thousands of years all over the world, marked by a variety of folk festivals and religious and pagan rites. Some of our favourites include.....Roman festival/Indian  festival/Stonehenge/New Grange People who celebrate the winter solstice often see the period as the opportune time for new beginnings, so why not follow suit! Perhaps you need to kick start your reading habits, ready for...