May 13, 2026 – My Sanctuary

“When you’re not getting any, sex is EVERYWHERE. I’ve also developed a paranoia that people can sense that Josh and I haven’t had sex for 180 nights. There are prison sentences shorter than this.”

I haven’t had sex for 180 days.

Josh and I have been together for 10 happy years, so it’s only normal that our sex life has calmed down… right?

But when Josh’s family decide to throw us a surprise wedding, I figure it’s time for us to talk about the elephant in the room – s-e-x.

As the big day approaches, crossing Josh off my to-do list is either going to make us… or break us.

About The Author

My Review

This is a sharp, funny, and unexpectedly moving exploration of identity, desire, and quiet dissatisfaction. Despite its playful title, this novel quickly reveals itself as something deeper than a traditional rom-com. Amy, a tired physics teacher stuck in a sexless engagement and blindsided by a surprise wedding she never wanted, feels achingly real from the first page.

Newnham perfectly captures the exhaustion of emotional complacency—the kind that creeps in when you’re busy being “fine” for everyone else. Amy isn’t quirky or chaotic; she’s worn down, kind-hearted, and slowly disappearing inside her own life. Her tally marks of days without intimacy are both hilarious and heartbreaking, and her internal monologue is soaked in wonderfully awkward British humour.

This story is less about romance and more about self-reclamation. The arrival of Lace adds spark, tension, and much-needed clarity, challenging Amy to question why she settled in the first place. Josh, emotionally distant yet not villainous, is frustratingly believable.

The ending opts for honesty over fantasy, which makes it deeply satisfying. Messy, witty, and painfully relatable, this is a brilliant debut about choosing yourself.

My Rating

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has spent years putting everyone else first. But now widowed, fed up with being taken for granted by her daughter and facing unexpected health worries, she realises she’s lost sight of the woman she used to be.

Then her cousin Rosie proposes a daring plan: move back to the coastal village where she grew up, for twelve weeks of ‘Project Alison’ – prioritising herself, for a change. Alison isn’t sure whether to laugh or cry! But the idea of going home to Kelsea Sands, back to the sea and the beautiful, wide Holderness skies, convinces her to take the plunge.

Soon she’s on a journey of rediscovery, hastened by the unexpected return of Mac – the boy she once knew, now a handsome man with a complicated past. But then come some shocking revelations. Does Alison have the courage to stand up for herself and finally seize the happiness she deserves?

About The Author

My Review

This is a refreshing and heartfelt later-in-life romance that proves love, vulnerability, and new beginnings don’t have an age limit. Alison, newly sixty-two and reeling from health scares and family pressures, retreats to her hometown seeking comfort and control. Staying with her cousin Rosie—an absolute standout and the kind of ally everyone deserves—gives her space to breathe and reassess her life.

Enter Mac, a familiar face from Alison’s past who is navigating his own grief, family strain, and self-doubt. Their connection grows gently and authentically, grounded in shared experiences: loss, complicated relationships with adult children, and insecurities about aging bodies and romance. I loved how normal and tender their bond felt, especially Alison’s first night staying over with Mac—sweet, awkward, and deeply relatable.

Both leads are compassionate to a fault, which made the harsh behavior of certain family members particularly hard to swallow. Still, this added emotional weight and realism. Warm, thoughtful, and emotionally honest, this story is a comforting reminder that it’s never too late to choose yourself—or love.

My Rating