Books We Swapped:
The Girl with the Louding Voice – Abi Daré
Fourteen-year-old Adunni dreams of getting an education and finding a way to speak up for herself. Instead, her father sells her into marriage, and when tragedy forces her to flee, she finds herself working as a housemaid in Lagos. Despite the hardships and injustice she faces, Adunni refuses to be silenced. A moving and inspiring story about courage, determination and the power of education.
Rock Paper Scissors – Alice Feeney
After years of marriage, Adam and Amelia Wright are struggling, so when they win a weekend away in the Scottish Highlands, they hope it might be the fresh start they need. But Adam has face blindness and has never been able to recognise even his own wife, while Amelia has been writing him a secret letter every anniversary. As the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that neither of them is telling the whole truth. A twist-filled psychological thriller about marriage, secrets and deception.
When Cora takes her newborn son to be registered, she faces a seemingly simple decision: what should she name him? But with her controlling husband insisting on a family tradition, the choice becomes far more significant than she could have imagined. The novel follows three possible versions of the family's future, each shaped by the name Cora chooses, exploring how one seemingly small decision can change the course of a life.
Growing up in Niddrie, in the east end of Edinburgh, means learning to navigate a world where poverty, crime, gang culture and violence are part of everyday life. In this gritty real-life account, Alex Brown reflects on his childhood and the challenges facing his community, but also the friendships, loyalty and strong women who helped him through. A powerful and personal insight into growing up in one of Edinburgh's most troubled neighbourhoods.
When eighteen-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, her two best friends are charged with her murder. As the trial begins, rumours of bullying give way to something darker, with whispers of rituals, obsession and a teenage pact. Heart surgeon Matthew Phillips is called up for jury duty, but as the girls reveal an unexpected defence, he begins to question everything he thought he knew. A gripping legal thriller full of twists and uncomfortable questions about truth and justice.
Actually, I'm a Murderer – Terry Deary
It's 1973, and four strangers find themselves sharing a train carriage on the night train back to Newcastle. When an unremarkable man casually announces that he's a murderer, none of them could imagine what the next twenty-four hours will bring. With a death, blackmail and more than one criminal act to contend with, local police officer Aline finds herself watching a very unusual cast of suspects. A darkly funny, twisty crime mystery from the author of Horrible Histories.
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist working in a world that has little time for women who refuse to fit the mould. After life takes an unexpected turn, she finds herself hosting a popular television cooking show, where her unconventional approach to recipes soon becomes something much bigger. As she teaches women to question the status quo, Elizabeth proves that science, ambition and a little rebellion can change everything. Funny, sharp and full of heart.
When an alien arrives on Earth in the form of Cambridge professor Andrew Martin, he has a very specific mission: eliminate anyone who knows about a mathematical breakthrough that could change the universe. But as he becomes immersed in human life, he discovers things he never expected, including love, family, poetry and the strange beauty of being alive. A funny, moving and thought-provoking story about what it really means to be human.
Carrie Soto Is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Carrie Soto has spent her life becoming the greatest tennis player the world has ever seen, breaking records and winning twenty Grand Slam titles before retiring. But when a younger player threatens to take her record, Carrie makes the decision to return to the court at the age of thirty-seven, with her father coaching her once again. Determined to prove she still has what it takes, she must confront her reputation, her rivals and the sacrifices that come with greatness.
The Correspondent – Virginia Evans
Sybil Van Antwerp has spent much of her life putting her thoughts and feelings into letters, writing to friends, family, authors and even people she has never met. Through this collection of correspondence, we gradually discover a fiercely independent woman reflecting on her past, trying to repair family relationships, opening herself up to love and confronting a loss she has carried for decades. A tender, funny and deeply moving story about connection, regret and the things we leave unsaid.
A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
Ove is a grumpy, rule-following man who believes the world is full of idiots and takes great pride in keeping his neighbourhood in order. But beneath his prickly exterior lies a man dealing with loss and loneliness. When new neighbours arrive and repeatedly disrupt his carefully controlled routine, Ove finds himself drawn into their lives in ways he never expected. A funny, touching and heartwarming story about friendship, community and second chances.
Swimming in the Dark – Tomasz Jedrowski
In 1980s Poland, Ludwik returns from university to a country shaped by political oppression and uncertainty. During a summer holiday, he meets Janusz, and the two young men fall deeply in love. But when they return to Warsaw, the realities of life under the Communist regime force them to make difficult choices about their future and their relationship. A beautifully written story of love, identity, freedom and the courage to live truthfully.
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library – Michiko Aoyama
In a Tokyo community library, the enigmatic librarian Sayuri Komachi has a remarkable ability to understand what visitors are really searching for in life. Whether they're feeling stuck in their career, struggling with family changes or searching for a new purpose, she offers each person an unexpected book recommendation that might just change everything. A gentle, uplifting novel about the magic of books, fresh starts and finding your way when life doesn't go quite to plan
Our Guest , Alex Brown
Alex Brown is an author originally from Edinburgh and now based in East Lothian. He writes darkly comic Scottish crime fiction alongside children’s books, including the Snoozlewhoosh series. Known for sharp humour, fast-paced storytelling and distinctly Scottish settings, his writing blends gritty themes with wit and memorable characters.
Thank you for joining us Alex and bringing us all in to the Niddrie Universe!
Hit Me!
HIT ME is a darkly comic Scottish crime thriller series by Alex Brown, set within Edinburgh’s criminal underworld.
Through his books, ‘HIT ME!’, ‘HIT ME: Rise of the Bingham Butcher’ and ‘HIT ME in the Niddrie Mains’, Alex explores gang rivalries, revenge, loyalty and power struggles with fast-paced storytelling, sharp dialogue and gritty humour.
The books combine crime, action and dark comedy, offering a distinctly Scottish voice and an unpredictable take on modern gangland fiction while building a tense and atmospheric world across the series.
Book Talk
This month, our banned book talk explored an area of book banning and removal we hadn’t spoken about before, the use of artificial intelligence to help decide which books should be removed from school libraries and classrooms.
We talked about reports from PEN America and the Houston Chronicle in both 2025 and 2026, about how schools have been using AI to assess books against new legislation.
In some cases, AI has recommended removal based on previous bans, misunderstood content or even invented material that wasn't actually in the books.
One example from 2025 was The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, an award-winning young adult novel about the Holocaust. It was caught up in an AI-assisted review at a Texas school district and temporarily suspended from classroom teaching before being reinstated.
We read an extract from the novel, reflecting on the importance of remembering history and the irony of a book about prejudice and persecution being caught up in an automated screening process.
We discussed the various problems with allowing AI to influence decisions about what children can read, particularly when it can misunderstand context or get things completely wrong and once again, we asked: who gets to decide what we're allowed to read?
Only this time we had to add in an additional follow up question - how do we ensure we don’t lose human judgement in those decisions?
Join us at future secret book swaps: