"What is love anyway, can anybody love anybody anyway?"

- Howard Jones, 1983. 

 

Love is a conundrum and as we welcome in February, The Reading Den takes a deep dive and explores tales of the heart with its 3 Bright Ideas. 

 

Our Book of the Moment, 'The Land in Winter' by Andrew Miller transports us back to post war Britain. It's the Big Freeze of '62 turning into '63. Two neighbouring couples find themselves caught in blizzards as their lives begin to unravel. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025, Miller's novel explores themes of survival and human connection. Coming top in many book clubs 'must read' for 2026, this novel certainly blew us away to a world transformed by nature's icy grip. 

 

Our Missed Opportunity choice move us to warmer climes for a wedding party when the subject of love should be top of mind. 'The Wedding People' by Alison Espach is a sharp and dark romance in which an unexpected drama unfolds in a week of indulgent nuptials. Love in the modern world is complicated and Espach astutely captures what this looks like in a funny and entertaining novel. One for the weekend break or indulgent 'me time'.  And then lots of discussion in book club and amongst good friends! 

 

Our Wild Card, 'Paradise Logic' by Sophie Kemp is an alternative read. A debut novel offering the chance to understand the modern dating world. This is a bold, somewhat crazy and refreshingly new look at the complexities of navigating the dating scene, trying to find a partner and then be ‘the perfect girlfriend.’ And maybe love?

 

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For people who love books.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​