A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Towes

SUMMER READS LET’S DO THIS

In this month’s newsletter, we’ll be highlighting some of our fave summer books — both those that we can’t wait to get our teeth into and others that we’ve read and loved both recently and from summer’s been and gone.

Because I’m just back from hols, I feel somewhat in the right spirit and I wanted to draw your attention to this superb book by Miriam Toewes. I read this novel whilst staying in a little guest house on the outskirts of Dubrovnik many moons ago and it was the perfect summer read. It’s the story of sixteen-year-old Nomi who is part of a religious Mennonite community in Manitoba — a community which both her mother and sister have left. It’s called East Village but it’s very much not the East Village of New York where Nomi would prefer to be living.

I adored Nomi’s voice and her as a character; how she navigates her fractured family in a repressive community, whilst remaining loyal to her dad. How she hopes for more in her future and always manages to see the funny side, with her brilliant wit and fresh sense of humour. This book is a real gem and one that I always recommend because it’s not one that I think has been nearly as widely appreciated as it ought to have been.

We’ll be highlighting a few of our top summer selections on the grid but do make sure you check out our newsletter and subscribe if you haven’t for the full list, hitting inboxes later this month — you can find it on our website, link in bio ~ S

Order your copy here.