Beyond The Wand by Tom Felton

They called for a break, and Gambon magicked up a cigarette from out of his beard. He and I were often to be found outside the stage door, having 'a breath of fresh air', as we referred to it. There would be painters and plasterers and chippies and sparks, and among them all would be me and Dumbledore having a crafty cigarette.

From Borrower to wizard, Tom Felton's adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame saw him catapulted into the limelight aged just twelve when he landed the iconic role of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

Speaking with candour and his own trademark humour, Tom shares his experience of growing up on screen and as part of the wizarding world for the very first time. He tells all about his big break, what filming was really like and the lasting friendships he made during ten years as part of the franchise, as well as the highs and lows of fame and the reality of navigating adult life after filming finished.

Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.

I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, so when I found out Tom had a book coming out, I was dying to get my hands on it. Luckily, Sky were giving away audiobook copies to VIP members, and my good pal Kath had a spare hardback she sent me! I flittered between listening and reading, but I prefered the audiobook this time. 

I loved learning more about Tom. There were so many things I didn’t know. The tales from the Harry Potter sets were my favourite parts, I love hearing how much he admired the other actors on set, and in return how much they admired him too. Alan Rickman making the producers get Tom an adult seat so he was the same as the adults on set, he and Michael Gambon sneaking cigarette breaks, Robbie Coltrane playing pranks on Toms mum with the freaky rubber Tom. It all made me smile so much.

But one part that really got me was him talking about Emma. They have a beautiful friendship, and the whole Duck metaphor was just lovely. I’m so glad they're as good friends as they are. 

I didn’t know a lot of the things that Tom went through after the Potter movies, and my heart went out to him listening to it. I’m glad he's doing better now. I really enjoyed this one, and I think any Potter fan would love it too.

What Writers Read by Pandora Sykes

 

In this love letter to reading, curated by Pandora Sykes in aid of the National Literacy Trust, bestselling and beloved writers share their favourite books: the ones they hold most dearly, that they return to time and again and that helped make them the writers they are.

With contributions from: Nick Hornby, Ruth Ozeki, Ann Patchett, Benjamin Zephaniah, Marian Keyes, Elizabeth Strout, Deborah Levy, Tessa Hadley, Elif Shafak, George the Poet, Leila Slimani, Ali Smith, Derek Owusu, Dolly Alderton, Paris Lees, Jojo Moyes, Paul Mendez, Sebastian Faulks, Diana Evans, Meena Kandasamy, Lisa Taddeo, Nikesh Shukla, Taiye Selasi, Monica Ali, Nina Stibbe, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Elizabeth Day, Sara Collins, Damon Galgut, Naoise Dolan, William Boyd, Emma Dabiri, Fatima Bhutto, Kit de Waal.

I loved reading this. I took my time over it and read a few sections at a time, which is what Pandora Sykes says in the introduction. I preferred reading it this way, if I’d read it in one sitting, I may not have taken in as much as I did.

I love hearing what people’s favourite stories and books are, so this book was perfect. 35 different writers talking about their favourite books, and why. It has given me a list of books I feel like I need to read. 

If you enjoy reading things like this, I would definitely recommend this one.

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

 

Two hearts. One love story. An ending you will never forget...

Rune Kristiansen and Poppy Litchfield met as children and swore to be friends forever. As teenagers, their friendship grew into a love that promised to last a lifetime. But their worlds were shattered when Rune was sent home to his native Norway.

Two years later, Rune is back, and Poppy is ready for their happy ever after to begin. But the boy who returns is not the Rune she remembers. What happened to turn her sweet, thoughtful Rune into this brooding stranger? And will the secret Poppy is carrying bring them closer together or separate them forever?

This was Tsundoku Squads first read of 2023, a few of us didn’t read it, but most of us did.

I really enjoyed this, I was pulled in very quickly, and in tears before I hit 10%. The story is filled with emotion from the start, certain points broke me into pieces, others tugged at my heart strings and made me smile. 

I loved Poppy, and rooted for her so much all the way through. The mission she is on (you’ll know when you read it, not a mission I know but something similar), is such a beautiful one, something I think people would do and it would make them smile. Memories to revisit, love to remember.

If you like heartbreaking love stories, this is one for you.

The Neighbours Secret by Dan Clark

 A NEW NEIGHBOUR. A NEW FRIEND. A NEW THREAT.

At first it was exciting to see the new neighbour move into the vacant apartment across the way... then it quickly changed.

Grace and Mike have lived in Church Place for almost four years. It's their home, they're settled and are extremely content.

When the new tenant asks for Grace's help during a time of need, she's happy to assist as it gives her an opportunity to learn more about the woman.

It isn't long until Grace and Mike discover who she really is.

Only now it may be too late…

Thanks so much to Dan for sending me an arc of this book, and HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!!!

Ok so I started this one slow, why? I don’t know, honestly not sure. But when I got back to reading it I devoured the last 70% over 3 days! What a story, with twists I did not see coming. I liked the characters Grace and Mike, they seem normal happy folk, that is until the new neighbour Jade starts stirring things up. I didn’t see where this was going, there are little things I missed and didn’t pick up on, but some strange goings on make you wonder whats happening.

This is the first of Dan’s books I’ve read and won’t be the last.

Thanks again Dan!

The Vintage Shop of Second Chances by Libby Page

 

Among the cobbled streets of the Somerset town of Frome, Lou is embarking on the start of something new. After the death of her beloved mother, she takes a deep breath into the unknown and is opening her own vintage clothes shop. 

In upstate New York, Donna has just found out some news about her family which has called into question her whole upbringing. The only clue she has to unlock her past is a picture of a yellow dress, and the fact it is currently on display in a shop in England. 

For Maggy, she is facing life as a 70-something divorcee and while she got the house, she's not sure what to fill it with now her family have moved out. The new vintage shop in town sparks memories of her past and reignites a passion she's been missing...

Together, can these three women find the answers they are searching for and unlock a second chance at a new life?

I was thrilled to be asked to be on the book tour for Libby’s new book! I was on the tour for The Island Home and loved it, so was very excited to read this one. 

I absolutely loved it. I devoured it over maybe 3 days, and fell in love with the characters. I think Maggy is my favourite . I loved how she and Lou ended up being such good friends, I’m glad their paths crossed in the way they did. I wanted so much for Maggy, and it went exactly the way I thought it would. 

The story of the dress was so interesting, I was desperate to know what happened! It sounded so pretty, The shop sounded beautiful, somewhere I’d like to visit. I can imagine it being so homely and welcoming. Libby is so good at writing characters and making you love them, I don’t know how she does it!  But all 3 ladies were such lovely characters, they seem like the type of ladies who would be happy to let anyone join them and have a good chat and a laugh.

Thanks so much to Orion Publishing for my beautiful proof, and for asking me to be on the tour. And thanks to Libby for writing such a lovely story.

The interview by C.M Ewan

 

It's 5 p.m. on a Friday. You have been called to an interview for your dream job. In a stunning office thirteen floors above the city below, you are all alone with the man interviewing you. Everyone else has gone home for the weekend.

The interview gets more and more disturbing. You're feeling scared. Your only way out is to answer a seemingly impossible question. If you can't... what happens next?

So my husband has been reading this book for months. He is not a reader at all but it grabbed his attention on ibooks, hes slowly been making his way through it. He spied it in a Charity shop for 50p and said he was buying it for me as he really thought I’d enjoy it. I don’t think he expected me to jump right in and finish it before him.

I really enjoyed this one. I loved chatting to my husband about it too until 

I got past where he is and had to keep my mouth shut. 

The idea of this was so freaky! Imagine being in that situation? I was glued to the pages, I liked Kate, and I was eager to know what happened in her previous job. I kind of expected a few things and was right, but some stuff I didn’t see coming. 

If you enjoy fast paced thrillers I think you’ll like this one. I hope Mr Dee enjoys it when he finishes it.