April, May & June 2025 Books

What I've been reading...

I can’t believe we are half way through 2025 already. This past quarter I’ve read some incredible books, ones that I will undoubtedly be returning to. I didn’t plan a theme, but looking back, many of these stories are about displacement, identity, and the intimacy between strangers. Some were sparse and dreamlike, others deeply emotional or darkly funny. Whether I was utterly absorbed or left slightly unsure, they all gave me something to think about, and there are definitely a couple that I have been recommending to everyone I know. If you’ve read any of the below, I’d really love to hear your thoughts (please do share in the comments). Here’s everything I read over the past three months, in the order that I read them.

Night Swimmers by Roisin Maguire ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was our April book club pick, which we met in person to discuss and it was the most special evening! Thank you to those of you who came and for sharing such interesting thoughts and ideas.

Night Swimmers is set on the coast of Northern Ireland. The story centres on Grace, a solitary woman who spends her days swimming in the sea and quilting, but her world is disrupted when she rescues Evan, a man recently arrived from Belfast and overwhelmed by grief after the death of his baby daughter. As lockdown descends, Evan’s young son Luca joins them, and together the three begin to navigate a gentle, slow-burning connection rooted in shared loss, resilience, and the healing influence of nature.

This is a novel that feels still and simple on the surface, but beneath lies emotional depth. It explores grief, solitude, and the strange tension between disconnection and closeness that many of us experienced during the pandemic.

This is Maguire’s debut novel, and while much of the prose is quite lovely, there are moments when the writing feels slightly forced or overly deliberate, as if Maguire hasn’t quite settled into her voice. Some passages strive too hard for poignancy and some characters (Lorna, in particular), felt under developed. However, I did find it to be a meaningful and enjoyable book. I really enjoyed the message of enjoying the small things in life, the importance of community and the resilience of the human spirit.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Berry Pickers is one of those novels that gently pulls you in and holds you there. Set between Maine and Nova Scotia, it tells the story of a Mi’kmaq girl who goes missing while her family is working as seasonal berry pickers, and the ripple effects her disappearance has on everyone involved. The novel shifts between the perspectives of Joe, her brother who never stops searching for her, and Norma, a girl growing up in a very different world but with a lingering sense that something about her past doesn’t quite add up.

Peters writes with tenderness and care, never sensationalising the pain at the heart of the story. It’s about family, belonging, memory, and the ache of not knowing where (or to whom) you really belong. The contrast between the two narratives works beautifully, and I found myself utterly invested in both characters.

The writing is superb, and the story itself is compelling, moving and rich with meaning. It’s a really special one, and I am so glad I picked it up.

A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre in just one afternoon, and despite its brevity, it made a big impact on me. Serre’s writing is marvellously strange and playful, following the story of an intense friendship between the narrator and his close childhood friend, Fanny, who suffers from profound psychological disorders.

It's a hauntingly beautiful exploration of friendship and hidden turmoil, almost surreal in a way, and with an unsettling edge, which meant I could not put it down. The writing is striking, compelling and such a unique tone. It was a surprisingly wonderful read despite its dark undercurrents.

Reading this before attending the International Booker Prize ceremony at the Tate added a special context to the experience, and I loved discussing it with the people on my table at the awards. It’s a story that explores ideas of freedom, identity, and the invisible forces that shape our lives, all told with a delicate, hypnotic touch. It’s remarkable is how much the novel accomplishes in such a short space.

It reminds us that we can never fully know even those closest to us, and invites us to reflect on the roles we play and the masks we wear, sometimes quite literally. I found this story to be very powerful.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I picked up The Shipping News by Annie Proulx because it’s a classic that so many readers have recommended, and I was curious, so chose it for our May book club pick. Set in a rugged corner of Newfoundland, the novel tells the story of Quoyle, a man trying to rebuild his life after personal tragedy. The landscape and community around him are vividly drawn, and Proulx’s writing is undeniably rich, poetic, and full of detail that brings the setting to life in a way that almost feels tactile.

What really stood out to me was the way the natural world feels like a character itself, with the sea, weather, and the landscape shaping the rhythm of the story, and reflecting Quoyle’s state of mind. Proulx has a remarkable gift for capturing both the harshness and the subtle humor of life in this remote place.

That said, I didn’t wholly love the book. Quoyle’s journey, while moving, didn’t always grip me emotionally. Still, I appreciated the novel’s meditation on loneliness, resilience, and the search for belonging, and I am glad that I read it, even if I found I wasn’t eager to pick it up every evening.

All Fours by Miranda July ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read All Fours by Miranda July while sitting on a beach, and somehow that felt perfectly appropriate. There’s something about the book that feels a little bit like a guilty pleasure - sensual, messy, and just a touch over-the-top in the best way. The sex scenes were absolutely intense and unlike anything I’ve read before. Miranda July depicts desire and intimacy with such honesty and vividness that it’s impossible to look away. The rawness and feminism at the heart of these moments make them feel bold and groundbreaking.

The story follows a 45-year-old married woman who sets off on a solo road trip from L.A. to New York, only to stop just a few hours in and never make it any further. What begins as a temporary detour turns into a strange and intimate escape as she checks into a motel, befriends locals, and throws herself into a surreal, often erotic series of encounters. It becomes a story about identity, autonomy, aging, and the thrill of stepping outside the life you've built.

While the book has this addictive, almost electric energy, I have to admit the way the story unfolded didn’t entirely work for me. Some of the plot developments felt uneven or left me a bit unsettled, not quite as satisfying as I’d hoped. But despite that, the characters and their tangled emotions kept me hooked throughout.

What I really appreciated was how July isn’t afraid to be messy and real. There’s an edge to the novel, a kind of fierce vulnerability wrapped up in wild, complicated relationships that makes it stand out.

The Safekeep by Yale van Der Wouden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Twenty pages in, I already new I was going to love this book. I am still finding it difficult to put my finger on what exactly makes me consider a book perfect for me, but I think it’s when it’s quietly powerful, introspective, and beautifully written. The poetic, meditative prose invites you to slow down and feel the weight of every thought and memory.

Set in the Netherlands in the 60s, the story follows Isabel, a reclusive woman living alone in the family home. She spends her days tending to the house, wrapped in the silence of routine and memory. That stillness is disrupted when her brother’s new girlfriend comes to stay, and her presence unsettles the careful order Isabel has built. What begins as a simple visit soon stirs up buried tensions and long-suppressed emotions, forcing Isabel to confront her past.

What surprised me most were the two unexpected plot shifts that unfold so naturally, adding layers of complexity and depth without ever feeling forced. They kept me hooked, eager to see how the story would evolve, although I would have happily kept turning the pages even if it was purely character driven with little happening.

Van der Wouden has a remarkable ability to explore themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time with incredible sensitivity, while asking you to reflect on what it means to hold onto the past while trying to move forward.

I adored how thoughtful this novel feels, it’s the kind of story that stays with you in the quiet moments afterward.

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad was our June book club pick. Our meeting isn’t until later this week, but there is so much to discuss, I’m really looking forward to it. I truly loved this book and I have already added it to my “favourite books of all time” list. It’s an incredible novel, and immediately captured my attention with its lyrical prose and layered storytelling. The book follows a young woman, Sonia, navigating the complexities of identity, love, and belonging amidst the backdrop of political turmoil and personal loss. What I found truly remarkable was Hammad’s ability to weave the personal and the political so seamlessly. I also really appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the political context involving Israel and the Palestinian people, particularly the situation in the West Bank, which felt especially poignant given the ongoing conflict.

Sonia travels to Haifa to spend time with her sister, but ends up taking part in a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. I have always been particularly drawn to narratives that centre around acting or the lives of actors, it’s one of the many reasons Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is one of my all-time favourite novels. I enjoyed the sections that were written in the style of a play script - Hammad does this not only for the parts where the actors are actually performing Hamlet, but also just for some scenes of dialogue within the story - I felt it added a bit of fun and variety to the reading experience. Admittedly, this thematic focus likely contributes significantly to my love of the book.

The writing is brilliant, with a tone that is contemplative and deeply affecting. There’s a gentle tension throughout the novel, as Sonia’s internal struggles mirror the larger conflicts surrounding her. Hammad’s nuanced exploration of displacement and the search for home resonated with me profoundly, offering insights into the fragility and resilience of human connection.

Enter Ghost encourages you to sit with its complexities and contradictions. Hammad has an amazing way of capturing the emotional intricacies of relationships, whether familial, romantic, or political. The way she wrote the dynamic between Sonia and her sister, Haneen, was so clever and real. This is a book that feels both timeless and urgently relevant, and I already want to read it again.

Let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading recently and don’t forget to use the ‘chat’ section of this Substack to talk all things books!

Lots of love,

Tanya xx