‘Sharp, charming and passionate . . . It is this eye for the rhythms and textures of life — of millennial digital media, of the death by a thousand cuts offered by workplace racism, of Maryland suburbia — that makes this novel vivid and inviting’
New York Times Book Review

* * * 

 She’s stayed quiet for too long. 
Now it’s time to speak her truth.

Until twenty-four hours ago, Mickey Hayward was living the life she’d always dreamed of:

- Working as a full-time writer for a trendy media company (tick)
- In a committed, loving relationship (tick) 

Now she’s fired, tossed aside for a younger, more ‘agreeable’ Black writer. Sick of always being overlooked and undervalued, she responds with an online letter detailing the racism she’s faced within the industry. But when it’s met with overwhelming silence, and her girlfriend suggests they go on a break, Mickey’s carefully crafted life starts to fall apart.

As Mickey flees to her hometown, the simplicity of her old life – and the arms of an old flame – are all too tempting. But her life in New York refuses to be forgotten. And when a media scandal turns Mickey’s post into a viral sensation, suddenly everyone wants to hear what she has to say.

It’s what Mickey’s always wanted – isn’t it?

Intimate, witty, and deeply sexy, Homebodies is a testament to those trying to be heard and loved in a world that refuses to make space for them.

* * *

Praise for Homebodies

‘Sharp and heartfelt and keenly observed – I devoured this book’ Katie Cotugno, New York Times Bestselling author of Birds of California

‘I saw so much of myself in her utterly delicious and sometimes aching story’ Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, author of the New York Times bestselling The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois

‘Denton-Hurst dazzles with her stirring indictment of racism in media and its insidious effects on Mickey. . . Emotionally and politically resonant, this is not to be missed.’ Publishers Weekly

Homebodies, By Tembe Denton-Hurst, Read by Marcella Cox

What if performative goes beyond inner-outer dualism?
Some proposals from the feminist group Nemesiache
text by Sara Guidi

This article is part of the project Our Truths Flow Together With the Waves

What if performative goes beyond inner-outer dualism?

‘The desert hides dark secrets…’ 

 MARRAKECH 1966

Vicky Baudin steps onto a train winding through Morocco, looking for the grandmother she has never met.

It’s an epic journey that’ll take her to the edge of Atlas Mountains – and closer to the answers she’s been craving all her life.

But dark secrets whisper amongst the dunes. And in unlocking the mystery of Clemence’s past, Vicky will unearth great danger too . . .

Five-star reader reviews for Night Train to Marrakech

‘A love story and a thriller all in one’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Epic storytelling’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Utterly spellbinding’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A book to lose yourself in’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fabulous, heart-stopping read, absolutely unputdownable in places’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Full of mystery and drama’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Political tensions, murders and love, this book has them all….’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Full of twists and turns’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A historical novel, this is also a suspenseful thriller' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Atmospheric, drew me into the souks of Marrakech’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is a story of family, friendships, love and war’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An utterly atmospheric, gripping read that transports you to Marrakech . . . a real page-turner’ SUSAN LEWIS

‘A world of stunning beauty and extreme danger . . . Dinah Jefferies is at the top of her game’ GILL PAUL

‘A mouthwatering read, intense and emotional. I loved it. Its characters hooked me irresistibly and stole my heart . . . a wonderful, heart-wrenching tale of love, danger and bone-chilling secrets’ KATE FURNIVALL

‘’The seductive colours, sights, sounds and aromas of Marrakech, with a hidden, darker side, are so powerfully evoked that you are instantly transported there’ LIZ TRENOW

Available to pre-order now!

Night Train to Marrakech, By Dinah Jefferies, Read by Stephanie Racine and Juanita McMahon

The debut cosy culinary crime thriller from Suk Pannu, creator of BBC Radio 4’s Mrs Sidhu Investigates and writer for Goodness, Gracious, Me and five series of the Emmy Award winning Kumars at No. 42 

 Mrs. Sidhu – unofficial Aunty to everyone, caterer, and amateur sleuth from Slough – spices up the lives of Berkshire's elite with both her mouth-watering dishes and her sharp detective skills. But when she stirs up trouble among the rich and ruthless, she finds herself an outsider in her own community.

Banished to the kitchen by her boss and sentenced to an endless loop of aubergine bhajis, Mrs. Sidhu seizes the opportunity to whip up a new recipe for success – getting a job as a private chef at an exclusive celebrity rehab retreat. But when a therapist is found dead in the quiet village, Mrs Sidhu’s appetite for mystery is rekindled.

As the plot thickens, it becomes clear that the killer is picking victims through a twisted raffle at the village fete. Is a vengeful spirit returning to exact a horrifying revenge, or is there an impostor among the residents hiding a deadly secret?

Praise for Dead and Scone

‘Stuffed with warmth and wicked, cross-cultural observations, Dead and Scone is a dollop of cosy crime goodness’ Vaseem Khan, bestselling author of The Malabar House series

‘I loved it. Suk Pannu stands out as a writer with real depth and insight into human nature. Mrs Sidhu – Slough's answer to Miss Marple – is a wonderful creation’ S.J. Bennett, bestselling author of The Windsor Knot

‘A terrific read

Mrs Sidhu’s ‘Dead and Scone’, By Suk Pannu, Read by Maya Saroya

Between The Cave And The Cosmos:
Le Nemesiache's Eruptive Creativity
text by Giulia Damiani

This article is part of the project Our Truths Flow Together With the Waves

Between The Cave And The Cosmos

If you're not a patron you can get the full episode by visiting patreon.com/workstoppage and support us with $5 a month.

Friend of the show and head of our discord reading group Pat joins us this week to discuss one of their recent books, Confessions of a Union Buster by Martin J. Levitt and Terry Conrow. This book chronicles the life and tactics of one of the lowest, most disgraceful occupations out there, the union buster. Seeing the inner workings of those agents of the ruling class who make it their life's mission to hold down the working class gives us a window into how their campaigns operate today. Even though the campaigns described in the book are from decades ago, many of the same exact tactics are still in use at places like Starbucks and Amazon.

Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX 

Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee

Preview: Confessions of a Union Buster Pt 1

From #1 NY Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes a deeply powerful and emotional story about struggling to overcome your past and find where you belong. 

 A story about friendship, survival, and finding your voice

Growing up, Mallory Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it's been four years since her nightmare ended, she's beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. Now, after years of homeschooling, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at a public high school. But she never imagined she'd run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn't seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn't take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet soon it becomes apparent that she's not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider's life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.

The Problem With Forever, By Jennifer L. Armentrout, Read by Amy Landon

Don't miss this next emotional tear-jerker of motherhood, friendship and what family really means to us all. Pre-order now! 

 One mistake could change their lives forever…
My life is a mess. My marriage is falling apart, and I’d hoped the arrival of our baby girl would bring us closer together. Yet, as she grows, I see less of a resemblance to my husband, stirring unsettling questions.

I was hoping a visit from my friend, Victoria would bring some stability. With her seemingly perfect life in Spain, she embodies hope for a brighter future.

But our reunion has taken an unexpected turn. And when a shock diagnosis shakes our family further, Victoria doesn’t know it yet, but she might just hold the key to saving our family.

But if I want her to help, a big secret has to come out. Revealing the truth risks everything – my marriage, our friendship, our families. Can we weather this storm, or will it shatter us beyond repair?

An emotional and powerful novel of motherhood, friendship and what family means to us all. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and Susan Lewis.

Praise for Emma-Claire Wilson:
‘Beautiful, emotional and hopeful, but have tissues to hand.’ Liz Fenwick

‘Tragic but ultimately uplifting.’ Katie Fforde

‘A heartfelt and suspenseful tale of an agonising life-and-death dilemma…this is a family drama that doesn’t shy away from sadness and conflict but powers towards an ultimately hopeful conclusion.’ Ali Mercer

‘An emotional story which broke my heart but was beautifully uplifting and filled with hope.’ Emma Cowell

‘This Child of Mine is an emotionally-charged, beautiful, and poignant story that will stay with me for a very long time. Wilson had me sobbing from the very first page, and I couldn't put the book down. An absolute triumph of a debut.’ Natali Simmonds

When You Were Mine, By Emma-Claire Wilson, Read by Eilidh Beaton and Rebecca McClay

The truth is waiting to be told …
'STUNNING … I barely dared breathe as I raced through it' SANTA MONTEFIORE

*** 

 Cornwall, 1934.

Violet Ellis is living in the shadows of her father’s ruined reputation. So, when wealthy widower James Atherton offers her employment, she immediately begins the treacherous journey to his home on the remote Cornish island of Aoife’s Bay – despite the bone-chilling allegations surrounding his late wife Elizabeth’s death.

In James’s company, Violet begins to feel the love that has been missing all her life. But when anonymous letters start to plague the bay’s residents, threatening to expose what really happened to Elizabeth, Violet feels the hostility towards her grow. She has an unsettling sense of being watched in her new home, and as the mysteries of the island draw her in, she starts to fear she might never find a way out …

***

Sweeping across London, Oxford and the wilds of the West Country, this novel is perfect for fans of Amanda Geard, Louise Douglas and Lucinda Riley.

***

PRAISE FOR SECRETS OF THE WATCH HOUSE:

'Spine-tinglingly good' Amanda Geard

'You'll be obsessed by the mystery, haunted by the shadows and beguiled by the love. Just brilliant!' Natasha Lester

'Glorious' Rachel Burton

'I loved the mystery, the setting, and the love story. Fabulous!' Kathleen McGurl

'A multi-layered, captivating mystery' Gill Paul

READERS HAVE BEEN SWEPT AWAY BY JENNY ASHCROFT:

'Sweeping, thrilling, heart-rending' Louise Douglas

'Gripping … the characters became so real and the atmosphere so tense that I felt I was there' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'So romantic, so epic, so tear-jerking' Lorna Cook

Secrets of the Watch House, By Jenny Ashcroft, Read by Hannah Genesius

We read ‘There’s no after school club for the moons of Jupiter’ by Britta Benson and the poems ‘The Train’ and ‘Traivel’ by Colin Bramwell, from his collection 'Foeer Pessoa'.

Photo by Manny Moreno on Unsplash. This podcast was supported by Creative Scotland.

June 2025: The Road Less Travelled

Publishers of award-winning fiction and non-fiction audiobooks for adults and children. Listen to exclusive clips from our books and free audioook extracts here on Soundcloud.

We share stories, poems and online resources to help keep us all reading, writing and connecting. As well as this podcast, we offer online Zoom meetings and a weekly newsletter. Find out more on our website http://www.openbookreading.com

New tracks tagged #reading group