Sign up to our newsletter The Bookish Drop
Introducing our free Bookish Drop newsletter, and why if you love books you need to subscribe.
Have you ever wished that there was a one-stop shop for all things book recommendations and book news? Well, wish no more because The Bookish Drop is here to satisfy all your bookish cravings (specific books and sweet treats are not included, sadly).
Catherine Shuttleworth, Danielle Kate Wroe, Talya Honebeek and Zoe Delaney will send you the latest book-related news straight to your inbox once a week.
What will be in The Bookish Drop each week?
Well, if you want to know the insider gossip about new releases months before they're available on shelves, or want exclusive interviews with authors, or to find your new favourite indie writer who you can tell all your friends about, The Bookish Drop is perfect for you.
We're curating bookish news into one easily digestible newsletter so you don't have to trawl the internet looking at different sources, because we've already done it for you.
Books that you may be avoiding because of their Goodreads rating - we'll convince you to read. We'll find social media posts that you're going to be interested in and love, helping you build your bookish communities.
Free of charge, we'll curate book news from around the world that you'll be interested in. Book nooks of your dreams, genres you've never even thought to pick up before, and so much more directly to your inbox.
And, what's more, you can participate in polls, tell us where you read from to feature in our 'Book Nook of the Week' section, and let us know about book clubs you want to shout about, your favourite places in the UK to grab a coffee and read, or even just let us know what sorts of things you want to see from us in the future.
We're building a bookish community, and we want you to be a part of it.
How do I sign up to The Bookish Drop?
The Bookish Drop will be published on Substack, an independent platform with no ads, making for a cleaner reading experience than on many other websites.
You can read the newsletter there on desktop or the app, or simply from your email inbox. So not only do you not have to go searching for the news itself – or wait for the algorithm to decide this is what you might like to see – you don't even have to search for the newsletter.
Once it's live it's sent directly to you to read at your leisure.
No doomscrolling, no ads, no clutter, just the book news and reviews that matter to you.
Sign up below for the free Bookish Drop newsletter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
I'm a romance author - these are the 10 best romance novels to read this summer
Author Katie Ginger, who writes contemporary romance as Annabel French, has shared her top reading recommendations for this summer There's nothing quite like delving into a good book, and with the sunny days and balmy evenings of summer, it's the perfect time to enjoy some outdoor reading. While everyone has their favourite genres, romance novels are arguably the best books to read during the summer. They're fun, easy to follow and often set in sun-drenched locations. If you're on the hunt for your next favourite romance novel, author Katie Ginger, who pens contemporary romance as Annabel French for Avon, HarperCollinsUK, has shared her top reading picks for this summer. Her latest novel, The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop, is a slow-burn, grumpy-sunshine love story that's ideal for anyone seeking some summer escapism. Here are Katie's top 10 romance recommendations. For more book suggestions, reviews, and news, click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack. 1. Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood "There's a reason Ali Hazelwood is one of the biggest names in romance right now and her latest read described as 'what is wrong meets what feels right' definitely won't disappoint. "With an older man/younger woman dynamic and a destination wedding in Sicily, this forced-proximity romance is going to sizzle like the Sicilian sun!" You can buy Problematic Summer Romance here. 2. Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter "Lynn is an absolute auto-buy author for me. Her books are always full of witty banter, red-hot chemistry and gorgeous heroes. So this one about a professional cleaner and featuring some of my favourite tropes (forced proximity and fake dating! ) sounds perfect to curl up with on a sun lounger." Get your copy of Maid for Each Other here. 3. Back in the Saddle by Maggie Eckersley For those in the mood for a cowboy romance, Back in the Saddle by Maggie Eckersley is the one for you. "Cowboy romance anyone? please! Perfect for fans of Lyla Sage, get your spicy, grumpy-sunshine fix here. She's done with love; his ranch is on the the yearning commence." You can buy Back in the Saddle here. 4. The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold by Ally Carter "You've got to wait until August for this one, but when it's described as an action-packed, second-chance rom-com about two rival spies who join forces in order to stay alive, you just know it's going to be worth the wait." Buy The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold here. 5. Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn "My life literally changed the day I read my first Meghan Quinn novel, and I can't wait for her next release to hit the shelves (and my Kindle)." "Featuring a woman who pretends she has a husband and an unhappy marriage and then ends up in therapy with the fake husband she's roped in to help her, this will definitely have you laughing out loud. Maybe not one to read on public transport in case you end up snorting your coffee through your nose!" Till Summer Do Us Part is available for purchase here. 6. When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa "Friends-to-lovers is another of my all-time favourite tropes (yeah, I know, I have loads!) and this gorgeous romance about two friends who promised never to date someone the other disapproved of sounds absolutely perfect. Playful and sexy but with masses of heart this might just be your next favourite read." When Javi Dumped Mari can be purchased here. 7. It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan "Another gorgeous romance full of warmth from this absolutely brilliant author. This one's about a creative executive who tells a whopper of a lie and has to call in a favour from the last man she'd ever want to to fix things." It's a Love Story is available for purchase here. 8. Not Part of the Plan by Lucy Score "Who doesn't love a reformed playboy? Somehow it's always more rewarding when they mend their ways and realise what love actually is, and Lucy's latest offering of a bad-boy photographer and feisty small-town heroine will definitely have all the spice and all the feels too." Not Part of the Plan can be purchased here. 9. My Big Fat Vampire Wedding by Jessica Gadziala "If you love something with a touch of the supernatural, then this one described as an Addams Family vibe romcom could be for you. "Pandora's a vampire who needs to marry by her birthday in three months' time or she won't inherit the ancient family fortune, and regular human Victor's her husband of choice. But as her crush on him grows, and their big fat vampire wedding looms, will their promise of 'till death do us part' be fake after all?" You can buy My Big Fat Vampire Wedding here. 10. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry "No summer reading list would be complete without an Emily Henry book, so I've had to include her latest offering. Another perfectly written love story about two writers vying to tell the tale of a reclusive heiress, but with more plot twists and secrets than an episode of Succession!" You can buy Great Big Beautiful Life here. Katie Ginger writes contemporary romance as Annabel French for Avon, HarperCollinsUK. Her next book, The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop, a slow-burn, grumpy-sunshine love story, will be published in June 2025. Follow her on Instagram for everything romance reading and writing.
Daily Record
14-06-2025
- Daily Record
'Stephen King's two under-appreciated novels that left me in tears'
Stephen King has written hundreds of novels, but two of his most under-appreciated books have left one reader in tears - and they're not the ones you'd expect Stephen King's plethora of spine-chilling novels, from The Shining to IT, and Cujo, have cemented his place in popular culture. Yet, some of King's works remained under the radar, often overshadowed by his more famous titles or because King chose to write them under a pseudonym. His alter ego Richard Bachman was responsible for penning titles including Rage (1977), The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), The Running Man (1982), Thinner (1984), The Regulators (1995), and Blaze (2007). There's a particular novel originally released under King's alias that ranks as one of my all-time favourite reads, a book so poignant it left me absolutely heartbroken, though now it typically appears bearing Stephen King's name. Which books unexpectedly drew tears from me? It was Blaze and Elevation. I approached them with no inkling they'd stir such emotion, unlike The Green Mile, which I believe is bound to make any reader weep. Blaze The plot of Blaze, revolves around Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell Jr, a mentally challenged petty criminal. Following the death of his partner in crime, George Rackley, Blaze is set on realising their ultimate scheme: kidnapping the child of an affluent family. Despite George being dead, Blaze perceives his voice directing him, as King unfolds the saddening backstory intertwined with the gripping narrative of the abduction and Blaze's attempts to outsmart the law. All I can urge is please, please, please, disregard the 3.77/5 review score on Goodreads and give this a chance. If you're someone who only reads books that are four stars and above, I'm going to need you to trust me with this one, because it's worth it. It's not my favourite Stephen King book of all time, but it pulled at my heartstrings in a way that I've never experienced before. The empathy I felt for Blaze was unparalleled. His upbringing was tough, and as a result, he's had a difficult adulthood. You should detest him, loathe what he's done, but King's writing implores you to think a bit deeper about it. Stop taking life at face value, and ponder more about why people behave the way they do. Sometimes you don't have to see the world in black and white, and it is in the grey areas that we find the most empathy for our fellow humans. I really connected with that message! Elevation It bagged a Goodreads choice award in 2018 for being 'Readers' Favourite Horror,' which is a tad confusing, actually, as I found it more of a tale about humanity, rather than horror. The story trails Scott Carey, a middle-aged man who is experiencing a mysterious and unexplained phenomenon: he is steadily losing weight, but his appearance does not alter. No matter how much he weighs on the scale, his body looks the same, and he can wear the same clothes. Even more peculiarly, objects he carries or touches lose weight along with him. The book, with its length, is more akin to a novella. Yet, it packs so much into its pages, and the ending, though unexpected, left me heartbroken. It's bound to stir your emotions, particularly with the rapid character development within such a brief span of time. The novel taught me never to take anything for granted. It may sound cliché, but we must live each day to its fullest. Whether you're heading to the office or simply living your daily life, romanticise every aspect - because one day, we'll all be gone.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- The Independent
Terry Moran launches Substack to continue doing ‘important work' following ABC News ouster
A day after ABC News parted ways with longtime correspondent Terry Moran following his 'world-class hater' tweets about Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, Moran announced that he was joining the growing chorus of former TV anchors and hosts who have launched their own Substacks. 'For almost 28 years, I was a reporter and anchor for ABC News, and as you may have heard, I'm not there anymore,' he said in a video posted to social media and his own personal Substack account. In the post titled 'Independence Day,' the former Nightline anchor suggested that he would be going the independent route for the time being, following in the footsteps of other veteran broadcasters and reporters who have recently found themselves sidelined by mainstream news networks and legacy press outlets. 'I'm here, with you, on Substack, this amazing space. And I can't wait to get at it, to get at the important work that we all have to do in this time of such trouble for our country,' he stated. 'I'm gonna be reporting and interviewing and just sharing from you, and hoping to hear from you as well.' Moran did let his followers know that it could be a while before he actually starts producing content on a regular basis. 'So, it'll be a few days, maybe a little bit longer, got to get some stuff sorted out, but can't wait to see you,' he concluded. The now-former ABC News anchor and correspondent is adding his name to the expanding list of prominent names who have turned to Substack and similar subscriber-based platforms as television news networks and media conglomerates continue to slash costs amid dwindling ad revenues. Jim Acosta, the former CNN anchor who left the cable news giant earlier this year rather than accept a move to the dreaded midnight shift, encouraged Moran to follow in his footsteps and join Substack earlier this week. 'Come on in, Terry. The water is warm,' he told Vanity Fair. With other TV news vets such as Joy Reid, Don Lemon, Chuck Todd and Chris Matthews all creating their own online programs – not to mention one-time MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan starting up his own Substack-based media company Zeteo – Vanity Fair spoke to some who have recently taken the dive into independent journalism. 'My advice to Terry or any other legacy media person who goes independent is this: You have spent your whole life as a buyer. People came to you with information, job offers, etc. Now you are a seller,' former CNN analyst Chris Cillizza said, adding, 'My view is that as an independent news creator, you have to be in a lot of places at once.' Moran's Substack announcement also came shortly after anti-Trump digital media empire MeidasTouch – which just hired Katie Phang after MSNBC canceled her show – publicly pitched him to join the network. 'There's a seat at the table for you, Terry,' MeidasTouch founder Ben Meisalas declared in a video posted to social media. 'Help lead the next era of journalism—one that doesn't flinch when democracy is under threat.' The journey from broadcast television to Substacking has been quick for Moran, who was suspended by ABC News on Sunday after he sent out a late-night screed savaging Trump and his deputy chief of staff Miller. 'Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred,' Moran wrote in the since-deleted tweet. 'He's a world-class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.' He added: 'The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism. It's not brains. It's bile.' With the administration demanding that the network take action against Moran and MAGA media calling for him to be fired, ABC News announced on Sunday morning that he was 'suspended pending further evaluation' as his post 'does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards.' Moran, who had just sat down with Trump for a newsmaking and high-profile interview six weeks earlier, found himself fired two days later. Progressives and liberals savaged the move and accused the network of once again capitulating to the president, specifically noting that the network had paid Trump $15 million late last year to settle a defamation lawsuit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos. In the end, though, the decision to cut Moran may have had as much to do with economics as it did with criticism over his tweets, which also reportedly resonated within the halls of the ABC newsroom. 'The fact that Moran was at the end of a contract cycle — his deal was set to expire on Friday, according to a person briefed on the matter — made it easier for ABC to take swift action,' CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter reported on Tuesday.
