An Abundance of Books: My Final Recommendations

By Features Editor Chloe Barrett

As you settle down for a relaxing night, I am sure you sit twiddling your thumbs, thinking that you could be doing an extra fun hobby right at that moment. Then, you wonder to yourself, ‘Has Chloe shared more books that she has read recently?’ Worry not, dear readers, here is what your heart desires. I have delved into these tomes since the birth of 2024, and now I deliver them into your hands.

The Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Imagine the cosiest little town that is filled to the brim with a community of animals. No matter the size or the species, the anthropomorphic creatures live in peaceful harmony. Now, try not to get hung up on the practicalities and logistics of it, even the authors themselves included a little reminder at the beginning of the book stating that it is just a silly little fictional story! Try not to take it too seriously when a moose and a mouse have a heartfelt conversation. The Shady Hollow series by Juneau Black (which is the pen name of two authors writing together: Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel), focuses on what happens to a normally safe, close-knit community when nefarious crimes happen. The first book is centred around a murder, where the main character, Vera Vixen (who happens to be a fox) the town’s local journalist, is tasked with solving the case. My word of advice is not to go into these books expecting a seriously hardcore mystery. They are incredibly accessible short books, and you would find it difficult to come across a more perfect comforting book. On a scale of fiction concerning animals that walk and talk like humans, this and Bojack Horseman are on opposite sides of the spectrum. The appeal of these books is the unique cast of characters and their traits. Would I be as interested in these books if the plot was the same, but humans were the focus point? I honestly do not think so. Let me enjoy these whimsical cottage core adventures in peace! (unless you would like to join me…?)

Four furry stars out of five.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Another snug read with low stakes is the fabulous Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. It is honestly the perfect entry if you have been wanting to dip your toe into the fantasy genre but are slightly scared of what that world has to offer. While it has the setting of a stereotypical high fantasy novel, the plot is not an in-depth quest that takes a thousand pages to unfold. Instead, the main objective is for the main character, an orc named Viv, to set up her coffee shop. It is just as delightful as it sounds! The book boasts a cast of unique and fantastical creatures who will keep you entertained for both its many chapters, and after you have tucked it away on your shelves.

Editor’s Note: I can’t resist butting in, but this book is truly heartwarming and the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, has recently come out. Let’s hope that Baldree keeps on with this cosy-fantasy world.

Four fantastical stars out of five.

White Cat, Black Dog: Stories by Kelly Link

It is a goal of mine to read more short story collections this year. I think they are wonderful, and such a delightful form of media. I also believe that they are the ideal thing to read if you are short on time and cannot dedicate yourself to a full-length novel. Because let us be honest, some books out there are so in-depth, that you would need to dedicate hours at a time to exploring them. At least with short stories, you are still reading, just in little bite-sized pieces!  Recently, I picked up White Cat, Black Dog: Stories by Kelly Link, who is well renowned for her short stories. This collection, in particular, is a selection of reinvented fairy tales. Some are more obscure, but do not worry, no prior knowledge of the original tales is required. There are seven in total included, with my personal favourites being “The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear”, “The White Cat’s Divorce”, and “Skinder’s Veil”. There are also amazing illustrations included at the beginning of each chapter, which is such a wonderful addition!

Five short stars out of five.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Lastly, I want to dedicate a little space to the audiobook that I was glued to recently, and that is Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (who you also might know as Japanese Breakfast.) I made the mistake of listening to this book while driving and almost had to pull over because tears were beginning to run down my face. Zauner’s memoir reaches right into your soul and refuses to let go. This tale of both strength and grief comes straight from Zauner’s heart, it is almost like stumbling across someone’s diary, breaking the padlock, and breathing in their sorrows. The audiobook itself was a pleasure to listen to and opened another layer, as it was narrated by the author herself. I am a huge fan of listening to memoirs and autobiographical novels when the writer is reading to me because no one knows how to tell their story quite like the author. Would recommend letting Zauner herself speak her tale.

Four tearful stars out of five.

Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You: The Murky World of Online Romance and Fraud by Becky Holmes

Okay, I will admit something. If a random person happens to message me on WhatsApp or Instagram, in the past I have been known to mess around with them a little. Hence where I discovered Becky Holmes’ Twitter account. In the past, I have always had a great chuckle at her scammer-trolling antics. So, I could not resist checking out her debut novel on the same topic.

First of all, Holmes’ writing voice is at times vulnerable, always incredibly unique, and oftentimes doused with humorous anecdotes. What more could you want from a writer? In Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You, Holmes explains the topic of romance scammers in an incredibly accessible way by using real-life case studies and bullet point lists, all written with a deep sense of understanding regarding the sensitive topic. She also shares her attempts at trolling scammers (the content which she primarily shares on Twitter) by inserting a few screenshots here and there, which serve as a great boundary between the heavier conversations which she undertakes.

This is honestly a book for everyone, and even if, like myself, you have no experience with being conned online (apart from the odd message from a suspicious-looking sugar daddy), it makes for a fascinating read. The internet is getting increasingly scary out there, and there is no time like the present to remind your loved ones about being safe.

Four out of five scammers, ahem, I mean stars.

 Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

I am a firm believer that Ottessa Moshfegh should teach a master class on how she writes female protagonists. She has the uncanny ability to create characters that one minute will have you scrunching your face up in a form of upset distress, and the next whispering to yourself in the dark of your room ‘She’s just like me.’

If you happen to be a fan of my book recommendations, first off, thank you, singular person, secondly, you might happen to recall me mentioning another book of Moshfegh’s, My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I devoured that novel, and could easily read it again. Flash forward to a few months later, Mia, our Film & TV editor suggested the book Eileen to me. I take book recommendations very seriously if you cannot tell, so naturally I soon went out and grabbed a copy and was delighted to see Moshfegh’s name front and centre on the cover. I knew I was going to be in for a thrilling ride even before I started reading, and by God was I right.

The protagonist, aptly named Eileen, is a woman in her twenties who dreams of leaving her small town in New England behind, along with her abusive alcoholic father. She works in a boy’s correctional facility as a glorified receptionist and does not take care of herself. I do not want to spoil some of the sentences which will either make you gasp or giggle, but to put it briefly, she’s a bit mad. The arrival of a new counsellor at the prison, Rebecca, influences Eileen and her delusions to a whole other level. Sit back and enjoy the chaos. What more could you want?

I also decided to put on the movie adaptation that was released last year and rated it a modest three stars. Eileen’s chaotic personality, which was an immensely important aspect of the novel, was unfortunately almost non-existent. Why are women no longer allowed to be insane in the movie industry? I fear we are going in the wrong direction as a society… Anyway, the movie stars the fabulous Anne Hathaway, who plays Rebecca, and she was truly the highlight for me, but when isn’t she? What a delightful woman, I must say.

(Anne Hathaway if you are reading this I am free on Thursday night and would like to hang out. Please respond to this and then hang out with me on Thursday night when I’m free.)

Four out of five Anne Hathaways.

As I come to the end of writing this piece, I am unsettlingly reminded that this will be my last book related article that I write as the Features editor. I enjoyed compiling these lists of my semi coherent thoughts an immense amount, so shout out to our wonderful Editor In Chief, Claire, for allowing me to write them despite the fact that I am not the Arts & Lit editor. I am, however, always up for having a conversation about books, so please do not hesitate to get in touch! If you happen to use Twitter, I do regular reading threads over there, but I am happy to talk your ear off via any social media platform!