Book Review: The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz – Jeremy Dronfield

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A little late, but better than never, I share my thoughts on The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield. This is a true story of a father and son who stayed together despite the odds. Gustav, being sent to Auschwitz at the age of 50 is virtually a death sentence. However, Fritz is determined to stay with his father and so travels with him. Together they face their family being torn apart, years of forced slave labour and many unspoken terrors that so many experienced in the concentration camps of WW2. Many didn’t survive. Do Gustav and Fritz make it out the other side together? 

The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz – Jeremy Dronfield 

Genre: Non-fiction/memoir

Pages: 432

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Harper Paperbacks

Publication Date: 17 Sept 2018

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz

The inspiring true story of a father and son’s fight to stay together and survive the Holocaust, for anyone captivated by The Cut Out Girl and The Tattooist of Auschwitz

‘A powerful and often uncomfortable true story that deserves to be read and remembered. It beautifully captures the strength of the bond between a father and son’ Heather Morris, author of New York Times no. 1 bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz
_______

Even in darkness, love brings hope.

Gustav and Fritz Kleinmann are father and son in an ordinary Austrian Jewish family when the Nazis come for them.

Sent to Buchenwald concentration camp in 1939 they survive three years of murderous brutality.

Then Gustav is ordered to Auschwitz. 

Fritz, desperate not to lose his beloved father, insists he must go too. And though he is told it means certain death, he won’t back down.

So it is that father and son together board a train bound for the most hellish place on Earth . . .

This is the astonishing true story of love and impossible survival.

My Thoughts

The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz  is compulsively readable despite its subject. It’s non-fiction nature meant that I actually found myself more invested in the book as I knew what happened to the characters within was real. It is one thing to explore these subjects in a hypothetical scenario. It is altogether another to know that real people suffered these terrible fates.

What shines through in this narrative is the family closeness. Fritz refuses to be separated from his father despite the reputation of the Auschwitz camp and the risk to life this inevitably involves. 

I don’t read World War II fiction to have the truth sugarcoated. I read the books to read the gritty stories and honest truth of what happened to people there. It is only through knowing what really happened that we can appreciate our past and endeavour to prevent it happening again in future. 

The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz does this very well. Within this book, we hear the tale of a father and son who strive to stay together whatever the odds. Even when they learn Gustav is to be sent to Auschwitz, already infamous to the Jews, Fritz refuses to leave his side. He chooses adversity to stay together with his father so they can look out for one another. 

What I found shocking is that the pair don’t experience the worst part of their captivity at Auschwitz. They are captured and imprisoned in Buckenwald, subjected to labour as slaves. Throughout this book, they are subjected to hard physical labour. Fortunately, both men have skilled trades. Ultimately this goes a long way to making them useful to the administration and preventing them from suffering the worst fate like so many others did in these camps. That is not to say their family is without its strife. Unfortunately, whilst Gustav and Fritz survived to tell their tale, not all in their family were so fortunate. 

Summary 

The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz  is a heart-breaking read. That family would choose to stay together even in the worst of places speaks of an incredible bond. 

Have you read The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz? Do you have any similar recommendations? I shared an alternative recommendation here on my If You Loved This, Read That post. If you have any suggestions for similar reads, I’d personally love to hear about them! 

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First Lines Friday – 13/11/2026

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First Lines Friday was not meant to be my first post of the week. Don’t worry, my review of The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz is coming.

Before that though, I get to future and upcoming read in today’s First Lines Friday. In order to get myself psyched for International 2026 books, I’m featuring one today that could be a little controversial for me. Based on the opening paragraphs, I already have one reservation as to whether I will get on with this book. Before I get into that though, let’s take a look at the introduction and go from there… 

I swear to the ruler of the Albanian Alps, Lekë Dukagjini, that to my dying day, to my dying day I shall not touch a man, I shall not touch a man and I shall preserve my virginal innocence, renouncing for all times the woman in me 

renouncing forever the woman in me 

I will submit to this oath before God, I shall not succumb to the wicked desires of the flesh, and today, before the twelve-man council of elders, I shall take the masculine name Matija as my only given name and may the women cut off my hair and may my dresses turn to ash and may the clothes of a man become one with my back, my legs, my skin

She Who Remains – Rene Karabash 

Genre: Literary fiction  

Pages: 150

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Sandorf Passage

Publication Date: 27 January 2026

Goodreads – She Who Remains

High in the Accursed Mountains, in a village ruled by the ancient laws of the Kanun, Bekja escapes an arranged marriage by becoming a sworn virgin, renouncing her womanhood to live as a man. Her decision sets off a brutal chain of events, destroying her family and separating her from the one she loves the most. Years later, as Bekija – now Matija – tells their story to a visiting journalist, long-buried truths come to light, along with the realisation of all that might have been.

My Thoughts…

I picked today’s First Lines Friday feature in the hope it helps get me in the mood to read it. I was talking books with my friends Natalie and Rachael last night, and this one came up. Natalie has heard it’s well received. That got me excited. After a very slow and unsuccessful start with my International Booker Prize longlist reading challenge, I’m looking to turn the tide. This month, I want to read The Director in the hopes that it reverses my bad start. If you’ve not been following my blog, so far I have picked up The Wax Child and The Witch. Both have been DNF’s… 

As much as She Who Remains has been well received, I do have some reservations. The intro has shown me that the book doesn’t appear to follow traditional grammar rules. That’s been a dealbreaker before (Girl, Woman, Other I’m looking at you 👀). I can’t say for sure. I’m just going to have to give it a go. The book is pretty short, which may help me get through it even if I don’t love the narrative style. Mind you, I said the same about The Witch and The Wax Child as well 😂

However, I’m intrigued by the narrative story of She Who Remains. I didn’t even know there was a Balkan custom whereby women could renounce their gender and take male names/identities. It’s this aspect I’m keen to explore and hopefully this will help me over any teething issues with the style. 

Have you read She Who Remains? What do you think of the synopsis?

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Sunday Summary – 8th November 2026

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Happy Sunday friends! It’s been a good and productive week here at Reviewsfeed – the first for a little while. I have several reads I’ve picked up this week to share with you. But, before that, the first thing I do in every Sunday Summary post is update you on the other content I’ve shared in the week so far.

My first post of the week was a monthly wrap-up for reading progress in October. Sadly, it left much to be desired. When you compare my monthly wrap-up with my October TBR, you’ll see not much progress was made in terms of numbers. However, it was a topsy turvy month. I have a lot going on personally at the moment, and I was also sent on a business trip which disrupted my routine further. Nevertheless, I started to see progress towards the end of the month and I’m pleased to confirm that has continued into early November.

This is good news when it comes to my November TBR, which went live towards the end of this week. Even though I have been reading less of late, I’ll never set myself an unambitious TBR. It’s just not in my nature not to; I like having a target to work towards. This month, I have two blog tour obligations, the determination to finish the Throne of Glass series (which I have now seen through to completion) as well as as other non-fiction reads and finally, I hope for a breakthrough with my International Booker 2026 longlist progress… 

Books Read

Kingdom of Ash 

When I updated you in my last Sunday Summary, I had just less than three hours of Kingdom of Ash to listen to. Needless to say, being that close to the end meant I was determined to blitz it and find out what happens at the end of the series. I have to say, I didn’t anticipate some of the twists. That’s a good thing! When you spend so long with the series you get a feel for how you think it is going to end. If the author can still surprise you after all that, I count that as a win.

I’m glad I read the Throne of Glass series and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Will I read more by Sarah J. Maas? I haven’t decided yet. I picked up a secondhand copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses a little while ago. That means I have the opportunity to give it a go in future. However, I have also been told it has more romance and spice in it than Throne of Glass, and that was already pretty borderline for me. I’ll continue with exploring other romantasy reads as this may build up my tolerance for it. For now, I’ll put this decision on hold.

Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween

Last week, I shared a late start of Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween. Naturally, my intention was to pick this up in the immediate vicinity of Halloween. I was a little late to the party, but I have to say it delivered. Sometimes, you need to read something a little bit out of your comfort zone. It’s not often I read books from this particular genre, and especially those that overlap with humour and satire. That said, the times I have dipped into these genres, I have enjoyed the books. Sometimes it’s nice to take things a little bit less seriously…

I finished Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween earlier this evening. It was a good, fun and lighthearted read. With everything going on right now, it made for a nice break and change.

Metabolical 

The next audiobook to tell you about in today’s Sunday Summary is Metabolical by Dr Robert Lustig. If you have read other content on my blog before, you will know that I have enjoyed reading books like Ultra-Processed People and other health/weight related books in the last year or so. 

This latest book I’m picking up in this topic has made for interesting listening so far! It’s actually been a great way for me to revisit the principles of this topic again and start looking at the types of foods I’m eating and what changes I can make to be a little bit better. 

Since reading the likes of Ultra-Processed People, I have not bought any jar or pre-made sauces, making my own from scratch. This is just one example where I have made a change to my habits. Will Metabolical influence my cooking and the food I eat again? In a way, I hope so. When it comes to the food on our shelves, I think there is a gross lack of understanding on the effects these types of foods have had on the human body. In reality, convenience food has only been around for the last few decades. Understanding how this has impacted our health is still in its infancy. If there’s anything I can learn to help influence my own health for the better, then I’ve taken something away from this book! 

Caesar: The Commander’s Blade

Finally, I made a start with Peter Gibbons’ Caesar: The Commander’s Blade this evening. I haven’t read much of this book, so I can’t really offer much in the way of my thoughts on it so far. It’s good timing actually. Earlier today I watched the film Gladiator (2000) with the other half. It wasn’t a deliberate choice, but I have to say it has primed me to pick up this book perfectly. I have a blog tour coming up a little bit later this month for The Commander’s Blade. I’m also really excited to pick up this book as I have read Peter Gibbons books before, but this is his first foray into Roman history. 

More to follow on this one, but I have high hopes 🤗

Books Discovered

I’ve added a couple of books to the digital TBR this week. Be assured they aren’t added to the physical list. I have enough books already without more hitting the wallet.

The first of these is a review copy of a book called Hive by D.L. Orton. By the sounds of the synopsis, it’s a sci-fi time travel-esque storyline that I’m quite intrigued by. I have no particular review deadline for this book, but naturally I don’t want to leave it too long. No doubt I’ll be bringing this to your screens shortly. 

The second book I added to my TBR is one I can read in my own time. I quite enjoy broad-topic science books. This is Life is a book that covers a broad array of subjects, from the creation of the Earth to searching for life elsewhere in the universe. It’s been a while since I read something of this ilk, so I’m looking forward to being able to give this one a try. 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Next week has to be a better reading week. I have deadlines. So, here’s the plan in order of priority:-

  • Try to finish my current audiobook, Metabolical. Total time left is 7hrs 
  • Start listening to The Director if I finish Metabolical
  • Continue reading The Commander’s Blade by Peter Gibbons
  • Start Dungeon Crawler Carl

Blog

My first post of the week will be a book review for The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz. Naturally, it’s a tricky topic, but one I enjoy reading about. If you are also a fan of the period of history and reading personal accounts and experiences from those who spent time in the concentration camps, stay tuned. I hope I can inspire you to pick up this memoir. 

I’m bringing back my First Lines Friday series later this week. As to the book I’m going to feature, I have no idea yet. Let’s keep my options open and hopefully something jumps out at me nearer the time. 

Finally, I’ll be back with another Sunday Summary this time next week. I’ve had a good week, and I can only hope I continue the good progress and enjoyment with my recent reads. My recent DNF’s have contributed to my slow progress, of that I have no doubt. That’s why I’m focusing on more fun reads with my November TBR. 

Summary 

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary update! It’s great to have some more positive news for a change. I’m optimistic this change in the right direction can only continue. 

What is your latest read?

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Monthly TBR – November 2026

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in the last eight weeks or so. All will become clear in due course. However, my intention for November is to prioritise reads I’m excited to pick up as opposed to ones I feel obligated to read. 

I’m hoping for a bit of a return to reading progress. Whether that happens remains to be seen. That being said, I will never go into a monthly TBR setting myself little to no list. I know myself, and I know that I thrive when I have a deadline or target to achieve. This month, I have two blog tours which will be my last two tours of the year. Around that, I have a book that featured on my 2026 resolutions post, an international book of prize that I hope will break the bad run I’ve had so far, as well as a new romantasy series to start. 

Intrigued? I hope so! Take a look at what made the cut for my November monthly TBR! 

November 2026 Monthly TBR

Fixed Reads 

Kingdom of Ash

Goodreads

It feels weird to talk about a book I’m planning to read in November, having already finished said book. However, I am finally glad to share that I have finished Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series! Finishing kingdom of Ash took a little bit longer than planned. I believe this was due to be a September finish? Alas, it felt victim to my decreased reading progress in the last couple of months. That’s no reflection on the book, as I quite enjoyed this one. It was interesting to see how the series panned out, especially as it took us off on some twists towards the end that I didn’t anticipate.

So, I start today’s monthly TBR with a completion to share. May the progress continue!

The Commander’s Blade

Goodreads

The first of my blog tour obligations for November falls around the 17th of the month. That is for Caesar: The Commander’s Blade. Peter Gibbons is an author I have read books by before. He also has excelled previously in the genre, and I’ve enjoyed all of his Warrior and Protector books (Warrior and Protector Book 1 here) – although I’re just realised I missed the last one earlier this year.

I signed up to this blog tour because of my experience with this author and their work to date. Not only that, but I really enjoy the genre that this book comes from. With reading being slower pace than usual, I need every incentive I can find in order to pick up a book against competing priorities.

I enjoy historical fiction, so I’m excited to try a historical fiction series with a brand-new set of characters and events to enjoy! 

Sword Brethren

Goodreads

Sword Brethren is another historical fiction novel that I’m reading for a blog tour later this month. My review for Sword Brethren is due around 28th November, so I have some time to pick this up. 

Sword Brethren overlaps with a genre I’ve read before, but it is a little different in terms of setting. Christianity and Paganism are aspects of the narrative that are key to the story. Sounds a bit reminiscent of The Last Kingdom to me! It’s for that reason I’m looking forward to trying this one. Sometimes, different is what you need. 

Metabolical 

Goodreads

My next audiobook for the month is Metabolical by Dr Robert Lustig. I actually started this audiobook today, so I haven’t got too much to share with you in terms of reading progress. What I can say is that I’ve enjoyed the introduction to this book. The author has suggested that some of the content of this book has been easier to share since he has left his profession, that he’s calling out things that would get him ‘cancelled’ were he still in employment. 

Whether that is true remains to be seen. I hope those comments aren’t a gimmick in order to encourage readers to read on and then fail to deliver. However, I’m cautiously optimistic. If nothing else, I’m looking forward to a non-fiction audiobook. It’s been a little while since I picked up one of these, and it certainly been a while since I’ve picked up a book of this topic. Historically, I’ve enjoyed reads like Ultra Processed People which overlaps with the same concept. 

Will I enjoy Metabolical as much? Will it lean into more of the science like I hope it will? We can only hope so. 

Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween

Goodreads

Not long ago, I sought help choosing a Halloween novel this year. Whilst I had hoped to read a little more of Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween in October, I’m prioritising it now! 

The darker themes combined with a lighter, satirical tone are good fun. I’ve not long started this book by indie author Michael Da Clarke. I don’t read very seasonally, but I do try to make an effort now and then. Hopefully my thoughts land with you at a time when you can pick this up in the mood. Autumn and the dark nights make it spooky season… right?! 

Mood Reads

The Director 

Goodreads

My next International Booker Prize 2026 longlist read is The Director. If I don’t jive with this one, then I’m seriously concerned for the rest of the list. So far, reading progress with my International Booker Prize to date is not going well. The Witch lost my interest, so did The Wax Child. I had high hopes for both, so it’s fair to say I’m now a little less confident about some of the other reads on the list. 

The Director is a historical fiction novel set around World War II. It’s a period I love, so I think it’s the best book on the International Booker Prize longlist that can turn the tide. 

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Goodreads

Last month, I set out plans to read Dungeon Crawler Carl for a change of pace. I still plan to do that. I didn’t get to the book last month, but the First Lines Friday I shared not long ago piqued my interest. 

Dungeon Crawler Carl sounds like a lighter read. Post-apocalyptic, fantasy comedy? Talking sassy cats? Sign me up! 

On a serious note, I’m looking forward to reading something a little different, and maybe discovering a new series to delve into. 

Eve

Goodreads

Way back at the beginning of this year, I set out a fixed reading list I wanted to tackle in 2026. One of these books is Eve by Cat Bohannon. 

I’ve tried a few times to get to Eve, and I hope this is the month I achieve that goal. It’s one of the chunkier books on my reading list. It’s also the only physical book on my November monthly TBR. Funny, how I go through different phases with book formats. This month, I’m mostly digital books. 

I’m looking forward to reading Eve in part for the change of reading type. However, the female body and its influence on evolution is a topic I’m interested in. No doubt I’ll learn a thing or two as well… 

Caraval

Caraval

Goodreads 

I asked for a romantasy book recommendation, and my friend Natalie delivered! 

I’ve seen plenty about Stephanie Garber and even Caraval itself. It was even on my TBR once upon a time. I suspect it fell off due to its romantasy ties and that historically, I was less open to the genre. As it stands, I’m still experimenting with it. Fortunately, I purchased a digital copy of Caraval way back when anyway. So, I’m in a great place to give this first book a go and see if I want to read the rest of the trilogy, and from there, her other books. 

Watch this space for how I get on with this one. I’m contemplating setting this up as a readalong on StoryGraph or Fable. If you’re interested in reading it with me, let me know! 

Summary 

Fingers crossed for a month of better progress with November’s monthly TBR. If necessary, I’m prepared to go off script and mood read if it keeps books in front of my eyeballs this month 🤣 

What do you have planned for your monthly TBR? Do you set a TBR, or do you prefer to mood read? 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – October 2026

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Last month, reading progress was so dire I didn’t even bother putting out a monthly wrap-up post. Whilst progress in today’s monthly wrap-up for October is marginally better, it leaves much to be desired. Most of my October TBR remains unread or unfinished… 

Nevertheless, I have my reasons, and I hope so share those with you soon! It’s been a busy month – and I was away for a business trip as well. This month, things started a little off-kilter. I also have another DNF to share this month. That certainly didn’t help matters. However, with some recent wins and a long-standing read near completion, I’m hoping for a turn of the tide. 

Let’s see what I did get to in October… shall we? 

Books Read 

Debt Reckoning

Goodreads 

At the very end of September, running into October, I prioritise my read, or rather listened, of Debt Reckoning. There’s nothing like a deadline to make me pull myself together and get a book in front of my eyeballs. Well, eardrums I suppose in this case? 

As much as I suggest the deadline made me read this book, it was an entertaining read. I wasn’t entirely reading it out of obligation. Debt Reckoning is an interesting political thriller that looks at real world issues today. I learned some things about how governments and stock markets are interlinked in ways I wouldn’t have appreciated before. So, it was fun. I learned something, and there is plenty of action to keep readers engaged. 

Have you read it? If you want to find out more, here’s the link to my review.  

One More Hour of Daylight 

Goodreads 

A second blog tour obligation followed, not allowing me to slack on pace of reading. Again, to say this book was an obligation only would not be fair to the book. I signed up to it because One More Hour of Daylight fits into my favourite sub-genre of historical fiction… world war 2! 

I loved this one. The action. The tension. The humanity shown in periods of dire conflict. One More Hour of Daylight is a cleverly written book and one I absolutely recommend to fans of the genre. Go take a look at my review of this one here. 

The Wax Child

Goodreads 

The Wax Child is sadly a less successful note in today’s monthly wrap-up post. My attempt to read this year’s International Booker longlist isn’t going so well. So far, I’m 2 down, and both were DNF’s… 

I lost momentum with The Wax Child. Initially, I enjoyed the unique perspective. However, along the way I got bored and lost interest. I tried, I really did. I gave it several weeks, but in the end couldn’t psyche myself up to continue. 

Kingdom of Ash 

Goodreads 

A slow-burn read over the last couple of months is the final book of Sarah J. Maas’ Kingdom of Ash. Finally, I’m coming to the end of the book! Alas, I don’t get to QUITE talk about that in today’s monthly wrap-up… 

I left off the end of October with just a fraction less than 3 hours of audio left. That puts me around 90% progress. To give you an idea of how much I’m excited to get to the end, I’ve already listened to half of what’s left! No doubt I’ll listen more later before bed, maybe tomorrow to finally finish it. 

For a book and series that isn’t necessarily ‘my thing’, I’ve enjoyed this one. I hope I can find more books like it, as it’s been fun to broaden my horizons. 

The Language of Liars

Goodreads 

My final read and completion of the month is a book that I picked up with the intention of reading more 2026 releases this year. 

And I’m glad I did! Reading something short, as well as different served me well here. It gave me the incentive to read without deadline or obligation. Just for the love of it. It helped being back somewhat to normal routine after my business trip. 

The Language of Liars was a great read because it combined three great loves – science fiction, linguistics and dystopia. If you’re intrigued by this combination I was, please give it a look. You won’t regret it! 

Summary 

A relatively quick monthly wrap-up, but an honest one at least. Have you read much in October? Are you enjoying spooky/cozy season with a book or few? 

Let me know the last book you read in the comments! 

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Sunday Summary – 1st November 2026

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This week has gone fast! I’ve enjoyed a bit of a blogging holiday this week, so today’s Sunday’s Summary is my first and last post of the week. It’s been for a reason. My last few Sunday Summary updates have been light on reading progress. In an attempt to rectify that and tick off some completions before the end of the month, I chose to suspend posting so I could focus on reading. And, it has been a productive change. I have enjoyed other things as well, but you’ll see the difference in the updates I share in this Sunday Summary. 

Books Read

Kingdom of Ash 

After weeks of only making an hour or so of progress, I have made a concerted push with Kingdom of Ash today. Whilst I am not quite at the finish line, as of today’s Sunday Summary I have a fraction less than 3 hours left. It’s helped getting back into the habit of listening to audiobooks on the way home from work, as well as having a weekend at home. I’ve been out of routine and that hurt audiobook progress. 

This weekend alone, I’ve listened to over 5 hours and I’m getting to the exciting conclusion. It’s inspired me to quickly wrap-up Kingdom of Ash so I can appreciate the ending fully. I feel there are some surprises to come yet, so looking forward to seeing how what looks like the final battle will play out! 

The Language of Liars 

A relatively short read on my October TBR is The Language of Liars. With the hopes of a quick read and the motivation from the completion, I finally started (and finished) this book this week. 

At 160 odd pages, it was the quick win I needed. Not only that, but it was a fantastic read as well. For the short page count, it was impactful and an interesting mash-up of sci-fi and espionage plot with a linguistic and cultural heart. 

Honestly, The Language of Liars is a bit of a different read. It’s exactly what I needed! 

Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween

A little behind schedule, I started Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween today. It’s still seasonal, and I always read spooky season books after the event 😂

This book is one I am reading for the purpose of providing a review. It also leans into slightly different genres compared to my usual. Paranormal meets satire as victims seek their own karma/justice. I can’t comment too much on this one yet; I’ve only just started it. My plans are to continue reading this one tonight and over the coming days. It’s another relatively short book. At 255 pages, it should also give me a quick win boost and set November off to a great start. 

Books Discovered

Technically, I did purchase a book this week. However, it is a cookbook, so not really the type you’d pick up cover to cover 😅 that doesn’t count then, right? 

On the plus side, I’m hopeful I can start cooking Western Chinese takeout meals at home soon. And, I used a voucher, so it didn’t hit my wallet… 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Next week has to be a better reading week. I have deadlines. So, here’s the plan in order of priority:-

  • 100% need to finish the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash 👑
  • Start my next audiobook, Metabolical
  • Continue Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween
  • Continue Radical Candor by Kim Scott
  • Start Dungeon Crawler Carl

Blog

Given a week of better progress, I’m going to phase myself back into blog content next week. My plan is to go slow though. I’m currently busy at work and I’m conscious there may be at least one late night early next week. So, unless I have a good day tomorrow I likely won’t post until Wednesday or Thursday at the earliest.

It’s the penultimate month of the year! Naturally, I’m due to share my monthly wrap-up for October and my November TBR this week. I’ll try to get my monthly wrap-up out tomorrow as it isn’t going to be that long a post. Progress has been slow 😂 Otherwise, Wednesday or Thursday for that. 

Depending on the timing of October’s monthly wrap-up, I’ll publish my November TBR as soon as I can after that. I’ve got plenty of books I’ve not got to so far this year. Some of those will likely end up on the list, alongside two final blog tour obligations for 2026. 

Last, but by no means least, my next Sunday Summary goes live at the end of the week. Fingers crossed my run of good reading progress continues, or maybe even improves? I can only hope so anyway! 

Summary 

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary update! What have you been reading this week? Have you got any books you are trying to prioritise before the end of 2026? 

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Sunday Summary – 25th October 2026

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Happy Sunday! It’s been a busy week, and not in productive ways to that I can talk about in today’s Sunday Summary post. I’ve been away with work, then spent my weekend doing house errands and the rounds with family and friends. 

So, not much reading done. Again 😅 this is becoming a bit of a habit! 

I even operated on a reduced schedule blogging this week. As I knew I was away for several nights and away from my usual set up, I postponed publishing any content until I was back home. This week’s post is great for WW2 historical fiction fans looking for book recommendations. If you’re looking for a new read, check out my If You Loved This… Read That! post. 

Books Read

The Wax Child

I’ve officially run out of steam with The Wax Child. For the last two weeks I’ve tried to finish the book, with no success. It’s different, unique, but doesn’t hold my attention. It’s a short book, that’s what frustrates me. I’m 70% in too, but I don’t want to pick it up anymore. I’ve tried several times, and with my already limited reading time, I can’t justify hanging on anymore. 

It’s time to move on… 

Kingdom of Ash 

One evening whilst in Dublin I listened to just over an hour of this audiobook. I couldn’t sleep, and unfortunately I was in a front-facing street with at least one nightclub and no double-glazed windows. The AirPods went in to try and help me drift off. It only partially worked… 

Progress has been slow with this audiobook, but I did enjoy dipping my toe in this week. However, I’ve been out of routine the rest of this week so unfortunately that’s all I managed. Onwards and upwards for the next seven days! 

Radical Candor

It’s barely worth mentioning, but whilst I was away on my course this week I also took my copy of Radical Candor with me. Some of the course content overlaps with the book, so I made a very cursory start. 

Radical Candor isn’t even explicitly on my October TBR, so I’ll likely dip in and out of it up until the end of the month and then officially record it in my November list.

Books Discovered

Given my topsy-turvy week, I’ve not added any new books to my reading list. Not that I didn’t have opportunities. However, what I lacked was space in my suitcase 😅😂 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Next week has to be a better reading week. I have deadlines. So, here’s the plan in order of priority:-

  • Continue and maybe finish the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash 👀
  • Read Radical Candor by Kim Scott
  • Read The Language of Liars
  • I need a change of tone, shall we start Dungeon Crawler Carl?

Blog

I desperately need to get back into a reading habit to progress my October TBR. So, I’m giving myself the week off. No, not from work. Sadly. 

Next week, I’m going dark until next week’s Sunday Summary. It’ll give me a chance to pick up some pages, maybe finish a book or two ahead of month-end. I know I may also have a busy few evenings towards the end of the week. So, best not to overcommit. 

Summary 

So, I won’t see you now until my next Sunday Summary. Can I turn my reading luck around? Will my next International Booker read fare better than the last two? I hope so! 

How has your reading week gone? What progress have you made?  

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If You Loved This… Read That! #1

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Welcome to my brand-new series here at Reviewsfeed – If You Loved This… Read That! If you loved a particular book, genre or aspect of a story and are looking for a recommendation, look no further! In today’s post, I’ve got some recommendations for fans of historical fiction novels! 

In order to make these posts relevant to you readers, my recommendations in this series are going to have a clearly disclosed theme here at the top of the post. If the theme isn’t for you, then fair play. Maybe the next one will give you a much sought recommendation instead. No pressure. I’d rather that than make a random, non-specific post that isn’t cohesive. 

So, historical fiction. I’m going to narrow it down further to books that look at the experiences of life in during WW2. Life in the concentration camps. Life during the war. If you are a regular reader here at Reviewsfeed, you will know that this a top genre and topic I love to read about. So, I hope you like today’s recommendations. And, if you have any recommendations I don’t feature today, don’t forget to give your recommendations to future readers down in the comments!

If You Loved This… Read That!

If You Loved The Book Thief… 

Read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

SimilaritiesDifferences
– children protagonists
– Learning/understanding of motives behind war throughout book
– Highlights harsh reality of life in Germany 
– Heartbreaking stories 		– The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a shorter novel
– Bruno lacks understanding throughout the book and is a passive character, unlike Liesel

If You Loved The Diary of a Young Girl… 

Read The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz

SimilaritiesDifferences
– Auto/biographical
– Intimacy with real life experiences 
– Discrimination against Jewish people/culture		– Family closeness during adversity
– Hiding vs capture
– Survival

If You Loved All The Light We Cannot See… 

All The Light We Cannot See

Read One More Hour of Daylight

SimilaritiesDifferences
– Consequences of war for both civilians and enlisted soldiers 
– Day in the life of… 
– Balance of perspectives and impacts on the ground		– Blind protagonist vs sighted
– Well-known title vs new release
– Setting

OR

Rose Under Fire

SimilaritiesDifferences
– Captured pilot
– Adversity as a result of service to British Armed Forces
– Unique female protagonist in circumstances
– Cleverly written narrative – blind protagonist vs plot twists		– Circumstances in war / freedom vs captivity
– Nationality and setting of story

If You Loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Read the Sequels Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters

  • You may not realise The Tattooist of Auschwitz is kind of a series
  • Based on very different tales/underlying experiences but written to overlap
  • Afterwords include interviews from the underlying individuals or perspectives featured in the book

Summary

Have you read any of the historical fiction books? Do you have any If You Loved This… Read That! recommendations?

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Sunday Summary – 18th October 2026

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Happy Sunday all! It’s the end of another week, so that means it’s time for another Sunday Summary update! 

Whilst I got off to a slow start with my blog post schedule this week, however I did share both planned posts in the end. My first post of the week was a list of my top five reads under 300 pages. If, like me right now, you’re finding short books far more approachable, here’s a list of my favourites. Have you read any of these? Do they take your fancy? 

Next, I asked you for romantasy reading recommendations yesterday. I’m coming to the end of my readalong of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I would like to explore more of the genre, so I gave you some tips on things I’ve enjoyed about Throne of Glass that hopefully will help you give me a recommendation for another book or series to try. If you have any recs, please let me know! 

Books Read

The Wax Child

Last week I shared my hopes to finish The Wax Child. However, as of this Sunday Summary, I’m here to tell you I am still reading it 🫣

I haven’t read much this week. I’ll hold my hands up to that. Heck, I haven’t even listened to any audiobooks this week. Truthfully, I’ve been doing more in the way of life admin this week ahead of some exciting plans in December. Then, my friends came around for a spontaneous meet-up on Thursday evening. Also, my other half has had a full weekend off with me for maybe the second time this year?! We get odd weekends where we overlap a day, but seldom both! So, we’ve made the most of it by spending time with one another. 

Today we went out for lunch together. Made a cake. Ran some errands. It’s worked out pretty timely actually, but more on that a little later in this Sunday Summary post. 

So yes, I have picked up The Wax Child this week. But only in short stints. I do intend to finish it tonight – I promise! I desperately want a fresh start next week. 

Books Discovered

There’s no movement in terms of my TBR. Whilst I have purchased a book this week, it is one already on my TBR. I purchased it as I think it’s going to be somewhat relevant in the next few days. As I said, it was already on my reading list already, alongside other self-development books. This one I’m prioritising, as some pre-work I’ve been given for a course I’m on next week includes content relating to this book. 

 I’m talking about Radical Candor by Kim Scott. 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Next week has to be a better reading week. I have deadlines. So, here’s the plan in order of priority:-

  • Continue and maybe finish the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash 👀
  • Finish The Wax Child by Olga Ravn – can I manage it tonight (ever get the feeling of déjà vu)? 
  • Read Radical Candor by Kim Scott
  • Read The Language of Liars

Blog

I’m only going to commit to two blog posts next week, and give myself a few days off. Why, do you ask? Well, the truth is I’m going away tomorrow for a few days to another office for a personal development course. I have made some plans the evenings I’m away, but I’ll also be without my laptop. For ease, I’ll maybe draft some content but not publish it until I’m back Thursday. What is that post going to be? I’m in the mood for offering some recommendations (only fair given I’m asking for romantasy recs in return). So, I’ve got an ‘If you Like X, Read Y” post in mind. 

On Sunday, I will of course be back with another Sunday Summary update. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to use some time I’ll be travelling and away from home to do some reading. 

Summary 

That’s today’s Sunday Summary wrapped up. Have you had a good reading week, or a slow one like me? 

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I’m a Fake Romantasy Reader – Recommendations Needed!

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I’m a Fake Romantasy Reader. It’s a popular genre right now. I’ve dipped my toes into the genre with Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series. However, my read and readalong of that series is very quickly going to come to a close. I’m reading the last book now, so the question is… what next? 

So, I’m here to ask your help. I want to try more of the genre, but I confess there are elements of Throne of Glass and others I am less keen on. If you are a huge fan and are well-read in the genre, I would love a recommendation from you on what to pick up next! 

What I’m Looking For

I find books that are too character-driven and lack action don’t engage me. I like there to be a REASON a character is going on their journey. Likewise, I don’t like a book that is too busy. I’ve DNF’d fantasy books in the past like Gardens of the Moon because it jumps around too quickly and we don’t get any chance to invest in any character or subset of characters. 

What I’d Like in Romantasy 

  • Plenty of action to keep the plot moving and exciting
  • I love magic systems and complexity to a fantasy world
  • Characters to spend time with and get invested in
  • The more epic the fantasy, the better. Think multi-perspective, action spanning the whole map kinda deal
  • Overlap with another loved genre would be great – historical, sci-fi are examples

What I Wouldn’t Like in Romantasy

  • I’m not a big romance fan or reader, something light-touch on the romance would be preferred
  • Reading anything to explicit or graphic will make me cringe – it will be a reason I DNF a book
  • I’m not hugely fussed on Fae/supernatural character types, though not a deal-breaker

So… give me recommendations! 

Do you know a book that fits this brief, wholly, in part, or a book that you think might challenge my perspective? 

If so, drop me a recommendation in the comments and tell me why you think I’ll enjoy it. I’m open to try and push my boundaries, so let me know what I can read to reverse my fake romantasy reader status! 

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