I am of the generation of children who in the lead up to Christmas would sit down with my mum's Freeman's catalogue and go through the toy section, making notes of the presents that I wanted father Christmas to get me. I would then hand the list (by now usually covering 2 sides of an A4 sheet) to my Mum. She would have a chat with Santa, checking if I had been good that year. This habit has clearly stayed with me, as I do love nothing better than going through a catalogue and turning the pages down of items I like the look of.

Christmas reference aside, it's now summer and the new summer catalogue published by the Booksellers Association and Independent Booksellers is available detailing lots of lovely books for those hopefully soon to be holidays. I've dutifully gone through and made a note of the ones that have made it onto my list, some of which I will be purchasing in the near future. You can pick up a copy of the catalogue from your local Independent Bookshop. Also, here is date for your diaries. 19th - 26th June is Independent Bookshop Week. So why not check out what your local bookshop is up to and maybe make a cheeky purchase or two?

Non-Fiction

There is no Planet B by Mike Berners-Lee

The big-picture perspective on the environmental and economic challenges of our day, laid out in one place, and traced through to the underlying roots - questions of how we live and think

Readers to the blog may be astonished that I read any non-fiction at all. I do occasionally and this one piqued my interest.

What Would You Do if You Weren't Afraid? by Michal Osman

Tik-Tok and ex-Facebook leadership development coach Michal Osman reveals the secrets to living a meaningful, successful and joyful life, using her unique personal growth methodology based on the life changing principles of Jewish wisdom.

True confession time, I have already bought this. I love a good self-development book with the best of them.

Eat Bike Cook: Food Stories and Recipes from Female Cyclists by Kitty Pemberton-Platt & Fi Buchanan

Kitty's witty, illustrated food diaries have lit up Instagram with their honest visualisations of what female cyclists eat to fuel their rides. Here they've inspired 40 delicious recipes created to meet the energy demands of cyclists.

Full disclosure, I am most definitely not a cyclist. But I am fascinated by Triathletes and what they eat. The Instagram account is great.

Zest for Life Cookbook by Kathryn Hawkins & Kate Moseley, Illustrated by Steve Lee

A Zest for Life is packed full of colourful, energising recipes, made with ingredients that taste great and also help you to feel great! Each recipe features a full-page photograph and easy to follow steps

Whilst I may not be a cyclist, I do enjoy eating apparently. This looks lovely. Think fresh, summer, tasty food. I usually baulk when healthy recipes are mentioned, but these look yummy.

Girl in the Walls by A.J. Gnuse

The Miniaturist meets Where the Crawdads Sing in this haunting, suspenseful and beautifully written gothic debut

Two brilliant books mentioned in the blurb and it's gothic as well. What is not to love?

The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex

A heart-stopping novel inspired by true events. The Lamplighters is the story of 3 men who vanish from a remote lighthouse. The sea has kept its secrets, until now.

I'm seeing this everywhere and the premise sounds fascinating. The author has moved the story to the 1970s and present day.

The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain

A Parisian editor is drawn into a murder investigation when an unknown thriller author is shortlisted for prize

Could this be this year's Rules for Perfect Murders? I'd better read it and find out.

Falling by T.J.Newman

You just boarded a flight to New York. The are 143 other passengers onboard. What you don't know is that 30 minutes before the flight your pilot's family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die

I love to read a good thriller when I am on holiday and will read this if we are allowed to go to Barbados. Although reading this on an 8 hour plane ride may not be my brightest idea. 😂

Children's Books

The catalogue also has a wide selection of some great children's novels, all helpfully have a suggestion of an age the book would be suitable for. I've picked a couple for you today.

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle (for ages 11 and up)

Powerful WW2 story inspired by real events. A 12 year old boy is left alone to guard a silverback gorilla's cage in a deserted city zoo. For fans of Goodnight Mister Tom and War Horse

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron (for ages 12 and up)

A young, Black woman embraces her extraordinary powers and discovers a deadly, family legacy in this contemporary, diverse, feminist fantasy by Cinderella is Dead author Kalynn Bayron

Mirabelle Has a Bad Day by Harriet Muncaster illustrated by Mike Love (for ages 5-8)

Mirabelle is having a BAD DAY! Everything is going wrong and when her brother eats the last biscuit, Mirabelle loses her temper, with dramatic consequences! Will Mirabelle be able to turn her bad day round?

And that concludes my picks from the catalogue! I hope you've enjoyed a sneak peak into what I hope to be reading soon. I will be back on Tuesday with a book review of a book that was so close to being a 5 star read. Have a great weekend.