Secret Book Swap | Currie | No.6 | June 2025

Books We Swapped:

Twenties Girl – Sophie Kinsella
When Lara unexpectedly starts seeing the ghost of her great-aunt Sadie, a demanding 1920s flapper, life gets turned upside down. As the two search for a missing necklace, Lara juggles romance, career chaos, and Sadie's outrageous fashion advice. Kinsella delivers a funny, heartwarming novel about family, friendship, and letting go.
The Flatshare – Beth O’Leary
Tiffy and Leon share a flat—and a bed—but have never met. Working opposite shifts, they communicate through sticky notes left around the apartment. As their messages grow more personal, a quirky and slow-burning romance unfolds. O’Leary’s debut is a charming, offbeat love story with depth and humor.
The Story Collector – Evie Gaughan
When young Ellie discovers a forgotten manuscript in a rural Irish manor house, she’s pulled into the century-old story of Anna, a woman accused of witchcraft. Past and present weave together in this lyrical, atmospheric novel about storytelling, memory, and women’s voices across time.
All the Colours of the Dark – Chris Whitaker
In a small British town, three teenagers—Saint, Patch, and Vincent—forge an intense friendship under the shadow of poverty, violence, and trauma. As a murder investigation unravels, dark secrets surface. Whitaker’s literary thriller blends heartbreak, suspense, and a coming-of-age story like no other.
The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller
A reimagining of the Iliad, this novel follows the tender, tragic love story between Achilles and Patroclus. From their childhoods to the siege of Troy, Miller blends lyrical prose with mythic scope, capturing both intimate emotion and epic war. A powerful meditation on love, fate, and glory.
Sharp Objects – Gillian Flynn
Reporter Camille Preaker returns to her hometown to cover the murder of two young girls. As she reconnects with her manipulative mother and troubled half-sister, old scars—both physical and psychological—resurface. Flynn’s debut is a chilling psychological thriller exploring trauma, obsession, and family dysfunction.
Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction – Damien Keown
Concise and accessible, this pocket-sized book introduces readers to the history, teachings, and practices of Buddhism. Keown covers core concepts like the Four Noble Truths, meditation, karma, and different Buddhist traditions. Perfect for beginners seeking a clear overview of Buddhist philosophy.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers – Jesse Q. Sutanto
When a dead body appears in her San Francisco tea shop, amateur sleuth Vera Wong jumps into action—armed with homemade dumplings and blunt life advice. As she digs into the case, unexpected friendships bloom. A cozy mystery full of heart, humor, and irresistible characters.
A Life Discarded – Alexander Masters
After finding 148 abandoned diaries in a skip, Masters sets out to unravel the life of their anonymous author. What follows is a quirky, genre-blurring investigation blending biography, true crime, and philosophical musing. A meditation on loneliness, obsession, and the urge to document life.
Throne of Glass – Sarah J. Maas
Assassin Celaena Sardothien is given a chance at freedom if she competes in a deadly tournament to become the king’s champion. As she fights for survival, dark forces stir within the castle walls. Maas launches her bestselling fantasy series with action, intrigue, and a fiercely complex heroine.
The Long Goodbye – Marià Park
Park shares a deeply personal memoir of grief following the death of her partner. Through poetic reflections and raw vulnerability, she explores love, loss, and the long, uneven road toward healing. A tender, bittersweet meditation on memory and moving forward.

Guest - Lea Taylor

We were fortunate enough to be joined by author, poet, playwright and professional storyteller, Lea Taylor. Lea talked to us about the craft of storytelling, how she first became a storytelling and some of her incredible work in that area before rounding off our evening with a short story which had us all transfixed.

Thank you Lea for joining us at The Secret Book Swap!

"I wouldn’t describe myself as your typical, run-of-the-mill author. Wordsmith feels like a better fit. I’m a bit of a mercurial creature, with a whole host of writing strings to my bow — from children’s author to novelist, playwright to poet.

By day, I work as an editor, ghostwriter and writing coach; by night, I run creative writing groups. Occasionally, you’ll find me leading writing or storytelling workshops and the odd retreat.

As a professional storyteller, I’ve always been fascinated by words — how they sound, the impact they have, the weight they carry in our collective and personal consciousness. Over the past 20 years, I’ve written and performed for audiences both nationally and internationally."

Banned Book Reading

Flamer, by Mike Curato

For this month’s banned book reading, and with it being Pride Month, we chose Flamer by Mike Curato.

Flamer is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel that follows Aiden, a 14-year-old Filipino-American Catholic boy navigating bullying, isolation, faith, and the terrifying first steps of understanding that he might be gay. The book is raw, emotional, and visually powerful with bold illustrations.

It’s also one of the most banned books in the U.S. In Tennessee, Flamer was officially the most banned title in 2022, according to PEN America. It was pulled from school libraries for what was described as “sexually explicit content,” but really it’s a story about self-acceptance and survival.

We also shared how Flamer is part of a much wider trend of LGBTQ+ books being targeted right now, especially in states like Tennessee and Florida. Books like This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, Let’s Talk About It by Erika Moen, and Queerfully and Wonderfully Made, a Christian-centered anthology supporting LGBTQ+ teens, have all been removed from Tennessee school shelves in the past year.

We reflected on how even books with no LGBTQ+ content at all like The Complete Book of Cats and Calvin and Hobbes were caught up in broad, sweeping removals in Monroe County as part of the same policy. It really shows how out of control this kind of censorship can become.

Because Flamer is a graphic novel, there aren’t long prose passages to read aloud, but the short excerpt we shared captured the emotional heart of the book. Aiden asking himself:

“What if I’m not good? What if I’m bad? What if there’s no place for me in this world?”

It was great to hear everyone’s thoughts and reflections on this one. Sharing books like Flamer, especially during Pride Month, feels more important than ever.

View preview pages from Flamer

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