Liz and Michelle go shopping!
These are the books, products and services that we love.
Lessons in Chemistry
Bonnie Garmus
It’s no wonder it has been named Book of the Year by the Sunday Times, New York Times, Oprah and numerous others and that it ‘sparks joy on every page’. (Elizabeth Day)
Sharply observant, witty and charming. A flawed but brilliant protagonist, chemist Elizabeth Witt fights for women’s rights in the workplace and empowerment in the ‘stepford wives’ era of the 50s and early 60s. What a thought-provoking, visually entertaining contender for any book club.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary
Loved Tiffy and her odd sleeping arrangement with a flatmate she hasn’t met. Secondary characters are strong too with an obsessive boyfriend causing trouble. Tiffy’s gradual realisation of how she was manipulated and controlled is really well written and a topic that we would love to discuss on the podcast. It’s now a series on Paramount + starring Jessica Findlay Brown and I managed to watch the first three episodes the other day. Loved it.
It reminded me of another fabulous book Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris from several years ago which really woke me up to the fact that relationships can be far from what they appear on the outside.
The Wild Card
Judy Murray
Using her inside knowledge and decades of observation within the tennis world, podcast guest Judy Murray creates believable characters, with a sub-plot of abuse of power between coach and young female player.
Abigail Paterson gets a wild card for Wimbledon after many years away from top tournament play and, with determination and maturity, shows that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
How to Stand Up to Sexism
Toni Hargis
Toni joined us on the podcast earlier this year and shared some great tips on how to deal with sexism. This is such a great book for women! How To Stand Up To Sexism delivers comebacks to everything from microaggressions to outright insults and worse, giving you the perfect response at your fingertips every time! Born out of the authors' personal and professional experience, this book delivers truly practical options, going beyond the usual vague suggestions to "talk to the person" or "take the matter up with HR" that beg the question "YES, BUT HOW?"
The Housemaid
Freida McFadden
Who better than a housemaid to observe the crazy stuff that goes on in a rich household. She sees everything. Throw in an attic bedroom that only locks from the outside and a female boss that seems to be a pathological liar with a very odd daughter and there’s a book to dive into!
This is just perfect for a beach read (or a British rainy summer afternoon). Read it in less than 24 hours as it hooks you from the minute you start. Always love a good thriller and this one has twists and turns I just didn’t see coming. Great news - there's a sequel. Diving into that one this week.