Catriona Paget

I read to get into other people's heads, so I'm always looking for character-led fiction, particularly those in the contemporary book club, upmarket, or crossover literary spaces. I love reading about unusual character dynamics, or events that rupture the status quo for an individual, relationship, or community. Stories that focus on people grappling with the pressures of societal expectations, such as Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth, or a challenge to their principles or beliefs, such as Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin are also particularly welcome.

I'm on the lookout for energetic and life-affirming upmarket contemporary fiction that finds the joy in existence even as it explores the pitfalls of it, and novels that are infused with humour, a witty cast, and brilliantly sharp dialogue. Think Still Life by Sarah Winman, Sandwich by Catherine Newman or The Wedding People by Alison Espach. I'd also love to see elevated rom-coms or anything that sets sharply contrasting characters on a collision course and dives into the development of their relationship, in the vein of shows like Grace and Frankie, or Chidi and Eleanor in The Good Place.

I'm interested in contemporary literary novels that take a familiar story, such as a love story or coming of age drama, and elevate it into the extraordinary through close character study and while I don’t like to read too many stories that are oppressively bleak, I do have a special place in my heart for any novel that can make me cry.

Some other authors who’s work I love include Coco Mellors, Caroline O'Donoghue, Khalid Hosseini, Alice Winn, Monica Heisey, and Nussaibah Younis. I'm not looking to take on any SFF, horror, or YA / children's books.