When I was reading Olive and Olive, Again, it was clear that although Elizabeth Strout’s books are standalone works, there are also times where older characters or places make appearances in other novels. So, I figured I should probably start at the beginning of the books and work my way through - hence Amy & Isabelle. It’s an interesting story and incredibly well written, supreme and precise observations about life and although a slow pace, you’re never bored.

Loved the style of this. Short, sharp scenes piecing together a crime novel with a new duo of cops at the helm that you can’t help but love. It was very visual, you can tell the author has experience of television, the way it was pieced together. Just small things like focusing on two bit-part characters before the main ones walk in… Anyway, I liked it and the story was good - I did guess the twist, but it unfolded very well with a thrilling ending and hopefully a good lead in to the second book.

This is a kids book but I really loved the idea and had to have a look for myself. Illustrations take us through the life of one street - starting with primitive huts and hunter-gatherers, right through Roman times, Viking invasions, the Industrial Revolution, modern times and even looking to the future. I wasn’t sure the pictures were clear enough to fully engage (maybe a digital problem?) so I would have struggled with the fun Where’s Wally style questions on each page, but as a concept this is brilliant and well executed.

Another fabulous Jacqueline Wilson book, I couldn’t really remember the first of this series very well, but it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t have a lot to do with it. The three friends this time are dealing with looks, appearance, modelling, food, and of course, self-esteem. It was quite obvious from the start where this story was going, but I thought it was so well done - the steps towards an eating disorder were taken so gradually that you felt the same as the protagonist all the way through. It surely wasn’t a big deal to do this, and she still had the common sense and it was all fine. Wasn’t it? Very well done.