Secret Book Swap | North Berwick | No.5 | September 2025

Books we swapped:

Small Things Like These – Claire Keegan
Set in a small Irish town during Christmas 1985, this quiet but powerful novella follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man who stumbles across shocking cruelty at the local convent. As he faces a moral dilemma, he must choose between turning away or speaking out. Keegan crafts a deeply humane story about courage, conscience, and the lasting ripple of small acts of decency.
The Library Cat – Alex Howard
In this gentle and heartwarming novel, a young man grieving the loss of his partner takes a job as a library assistant at Edinburgh University. There, he finds unexpected comfort in the form of a stray cat who begins visiting the library. As he reconnects with literature, community, and himself, this memoir-style tale blends warmth, humour, and the quiet joy of healing through books and companionship.
Women of the Dunes – Sarah Maine
On the rugged west coast of Scotland, archaeologist Libby Snow arrives to investigate an ancient burial site, only to uncover long-buried family secrets. Alternating between the present day, the 19th century, and Viking-era legend, the novel reveals the mysterious threads that connect three women across time. A richly atmospheric tale of folklore, forbidden love, and the ways in which history refuses to be silenced.
There Are Rivers in the Sky – Elif Shafak
In this lyrical and imaginative novel, Shafak explores the liminal spaces between memory, myth, and identity. Set against a backdrop of Istanbul's layered history, the story follows a young woman haunted by voices from the past. A novel about inherited trauma, fluid identities, and the resilience of storytelling itself, it blends the magical and the real in Shafak’s signature poetic style.
The Little Book of Hygge – Meik Wiking
A delightful guide to the Danish lifestyle concept of hygge—finding comfort, joy, and calm in everyday rituals. Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, offers insight into why Denmark consistently ranks as one of the world’s happiest nations. From candles and cosy dinners to the art of presence and gratitude, this book is a feel-good companion for anyone seeking more peace and pleasure in their daily life.
The Guest – B.A. Paris
When a friend turns up unexpectedly and asks to stay, Cass and Daniel can’t say no. But as days turn into weeks, their guest’s presence becomes increasingly unsettling. Secrets bubble to the surface, trust fractures, and paranoia builds in this domestic noir that examines how little we may truly know those closest to us. A tense, twisty psychological thriller with Paris’s signature slow-burn suspense.
The Things We Do to Our Friends – Heather Darwent
Clare arrives at university hoping for a fresh start, and quickly falls in with an exclusive, intoxicating group. But as their glamorous world begins to darken, she finds herself caught in something far more dangerous than she expected. A chilling and addictive campus thriller about ambition, belonging, and the seductive lure of power—perfect for fans of The Secret History.
I Am Lorraine – Lorraine McDonnell
In this candid memoir, McDonnell chronicles her journey from pain to empowerment—recovering from trauma, reclaiming her voice, and forging her path as a motivational speaker and wellness coach. Through raw honesty and resilience, she shares how she turned deep wounds into sources of strength, inspiring others to rise beyond the darkest moments.

Guest, Illustrator - Stella Maris

Let me introduce you to, Stella Maris Mongodi, children's book illustrator, designer and coach.

You can read about Stella below and visit her website to get a taster for some of her wonderful work which she brought along and shared with us. It was not only lovely to see the books themselves but wonderful to hear the stories behind the books and characters and how she brought them to life.

Thank you Stella for joining us!

Stella Maris Mongodi began her earthly journey in Italy, where she explored a passion for art under the tutelage of such masters as Carll Cneut and Stefano Moroni. She dabbled with oils and wondered at watercolors, before settling on digital illustrations, steeped in “traditional media flavor”, and sporting a whimsically dreamy, feathery, playful feel, befitting her fairy spirit.

Eventually, Stella wandered off to the British Isles in search of kindred fairies. Finally stumbling upon them in the magical Scottish lands, she decided to put down roots among her own kind.

Between creating engaging imagery to delight young readers, Stella loves to explore her own inner child, zooming about on roller skates, sewing colorful skirts, and befriending her favorite creatures…owls, mice, and an occasional squirrel.

We were joined by Lorraine Mc Donnell, an accomplished entrepreneur, International Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, and Well-Being Consultant dedicated to empowering individuals to discover their inner courage.

Lorraine talked to us about her memoir, I am Lorraine and her own journey with well being.

Lorraine’s story is unforgettable and we were treated to a reading by Lorraine; an extract during her preparation for climbing Mont Blanc.

Her book is a raw memoir, where she bares it all: laughter, tears, breaking points, and the strength to rise again. It’s an incredibly powerful read and we are so grateful for Lorraine taking the time to join us and introduce us to her story.

Find out more

Banned Book Reading

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou

This month we talked about Banned Books Week UK, which returns this October for the first time since the pandemic. It is being led by Index on Censorship, a London-based organisation that has been defending free expression since 1972. We shared their reminder that:

“We don’t champion books because we always agree with them… We champion them because books must be a space where ideas, even deeply uncomfortable ones, can be explored.”

We discussed how the return of Banned Books Week UK feels appropriate given some of the stories we’ve shared earlier this year and we talked about how whilst the situation here in the UK is different to others we’ve talked about in the US, even small decisions can shape what stories are seen and heard. As Index put it, “curation is never neutral.” Protecting readers from harm without shutting down whole voices is not always simple, but it matters.

We also shared how the situation in the U.S. is far more severe. In Florida, hundreds of titles have been pulled from classrooms and libraries, including Slaughterhouse-Five, Forever…, The Diary of Anne Frank and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

First published in 1969, Caged Bird was Angelou’s first autobiography, placing the experiences of a Black girl growing up in the segregated South at the centre of American literature. It has been praised and challenged in equal measure ever since.

For our reading, we chose a short passage where young Maya recites a poem in church and feels, for the first time, that she belongs. It was a lovely moment to end on and a reminder of why stories like Caged Bird still need to be read, shared, and talked about.

More about Banned Books Week UK

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