August’s Read: ‘The Painter’s Daughters’ by Emily Howes

In true chaotic-neutral book club fashion, it’s the 30th July and I’ve just realised I never blogged about our July pick, I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue. Between the final weeks of school, tutoring, pet-sitting an ADHD cockerpoo and probably misplacing my own phone six times this week, the blog post flew the coop.
Rest assured, I’ll post a full review once I finish reading, so you’ll get my thoughts very soon...

Now onto August...

This month’s pick is quiet, stirring and layered with emotion: The Painter’s Daughters by Emily Howes isn’t your typical summer read, but that’s exactly why it stood out. Eloise and Alice return to their coastal childhood home after their father's death, and through memory, grief and the unravelling of buried truths, we get a portrait of sibling ties as delicate as brushstrokes on canvas.

The book actually found me first as it was gifted to me by the mother of one of the wonderful students I worked with this year while preparing for his GCSEs. She is actually old friends with the author, so that was quite exciting to learn!

It’s a story of what’s said, what’s held back and how the places that shaped us come alive again in unexpected ways. Howes’s writing is tender and textured, just waiting to be unpacked at our next meeting so I can’t wait!

We’ll be gathering on Friday 25th August, and whether you’ve read every page or just skimmed chapter one, there’s a seat (and probably a snack) waiting for you. However, this month, we will be hosting the author (either at the meeting or on another day depending on what her schedule is like), so do try and get stuck in!

And speaking of choosing stories... our poll for September’s pick is now live over on Instagram and in our Facebook group. We’ve got some brilliant contenders lined up, so pop over and cast your vote because your voice really helps shape our reading journey.

On a separate note, while updating my media pack today, I stumbled across photos from last July’s Big Bookish Brunch with Ericka Waller and was reminded of what a joy that was. I’d love to host another one soon, so if you’re a brunch enthusiast or have a publisher or author in mind for a lively meet-up, keep those ideas (and appetites) coming.

Lastly, I’m thrilled to share that we’ve got something exciting bubbling behind the scenes: a new collaboration with Michael Joseph Books for our October pick! More details soon, but if you love cosy crime and clever plots, you’ll want to stay tuned.

See you soon, book lovers! RSVP, vote and please remind me to charge my phone…