About

Worthy Reads began as @worthyreadss on Instagram in March 2022 — a place to log every book I read with a photograph and a short, honest review.

Four years and sixty-something books later, the format hasn't changed. Author. Title. A score out of 10. A few paragraphs of opinion. The photos are always real — books on cafe tables, on benches in parks, on the carpets of friends' flats, in the windows of indie bookshops in London, Mexico City, Cuba.

This site is a permanent home for those reviews. It's also, eventually, going to be a place where other people can do the same — log their reading, photograph their copies, share lists with each other, and find the next thing to read from someone they trust rather than from an algorithm.

What you'll find here

Reviews — every book I've reviewed, filterable by year, rating, or list.

Lists — the NYT 100, prize shortlists, and yearly roundups. The lists I'm working through.

Why "Worthy"

Not every book is worthy of your time. The score is honest. A 7 is a recommendation. A 9 is rare. A 10 is something you'll think about for years.

Where to buy

Independent bookshops are one of the great pleasures of a high street, and they need our support. If everyone who loves books bought just one title a month from a local indie rather than a big retailer, it would make a real difference. If a bookshop closes, it rarely comes back.

When you can, buy local. Most independent bookshops will order anything for you. If you're buying online, Bookshop.org is my recommendation — every review on this site links directly to it. It's a certified B Corp that donates a share of every sale to independent bookshops. Hive is another good option, letting you direct your sale to a specific local indie.

Second-hand bookshops deserve a mention too. Oxfam Books is a good starting point, and a well-stocked charity bookshop is one of the best places to spend a slow afternoon. The charity gets the money, the book gets a new reader, and you might find something you'd never have thought to look for.

Affiliate disclosure: links to Bookshop.org on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Every purchase also donates to independent bookshops.

Get in touch

DMs are open on Instagram. Recommendations welcome.