Book of the Week: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Reviewed by our resident Hunger Games lover, Franca 💜

“I have been tasked with the impossibility of summing up my (spoiler free) thoughts on Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins in one short Instagram post. Where to begin?

Possibly at the beginning. Sunrise on the Reaping follows a 16 year old Haymitch Abernathy who has been chosen to fight to the death in the 50th Hunger Games. Normally, 24 tributes are selected, a boy and a girl from each of Panem’s 12 districts, but this year it’s a Quarter Quell and there are twice as many tributes. The odds are definitely not in Haymitch’s favour. His one objective? Get home to his mother, his brother, and his girl. This soon proves more difficult than he had anticipated. Haymitch isn’t one to sit still and be told what to do and his defiance of the Capitol quickly gets him in trouble with Panem’s most powerful man, President Coriolanus Snow. I shall not reveal what happens next, you must read for yourself.

As someone whose favourite Hunger Games character has always been Haymitch Abernathy (and Effie Trinket, of course) I was scared to say the least. Would this book be able to live up to my expectations? Would Suzanne Collins be able to do my favourite tortured soul justice? The answer to both those questions is YES.

Collins does not provide us with a whole lot of information about Haymitch’s past in the original trilogy. We learn very little about his family and how he won the games. What we know for certain is that he has never been able to recover from the horrors he witnessed, drowning his sorrows in white liquor and sleeping with a knife under his pillow. But how did he get there?

My friend Persephone and I have spent many late nights speculating about Haymitch’s past. (I can hear you calling us nerds through the screen, don’t think I can’t.) Did his father die in a mining accident, or did he abandon his wife? What happened to his family? His girl? Were they sent away, burned, tortured? Who was this mysterious girl Haymitch loved all those years ago?

Sunrise on the Reaping answers all the questions fans of Haymitch Abernathy have been dying to know. And then some.

The book touches on themes such as the abuse of power, the sacrifices needed to change a system, the importance of music and most importantly propaganda. We learn things about Haymitch we, the reader, didn’t know because Katniss didn’t know them either. When we encounter him for the first time, Katniss has a certain idea of him, an idea that has been planted in the minds of Panem’s population by Snow to tell a specific story, a story that fits his narrative of who the district people are. Haymitch’s acts of the defiance have been successfully erased by Snow and his gamemakers, making sure that the new generations don’t get any ideas.  

In this newest Hunger Games book, we learn why Haymitch is so set on helping Katniss, his personal connection to her and an old promise he made long ago. It connects the dots between The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the original trilogy and gives us a much more nuanced look into the world of Panem. It made me cry actual tears as I got to the end, a true testament to Collins’ writing, and I simply could not put it down.

I always encourage people to read in release order rather than chronological so if you have read this review and are intrigued but have not read The Hunger Games, I urge you to go and buy all three original Hunger Games books, a bottle of wine, a box of tissues and a therapy session and get started. If you already have read the originals but never got around to reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, fret not. Although I would recommend reading TBOSAS (because it is amazing and I love it) you can get away with simply watching the movie (which is also excellent) so you don’t miss out on too many of the easter eggs Collins has so cleverly planted in this novel. And if you are an adult reading this, thinking these books are not for you, you are mistaken. Reading The Hunger Games as an adult is a scary experience as you realise much of it isn’t really a dystopian nightmare but something happening in our world today.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable (though emotionally damaging) read that I would recommend to anyone who loves their protagonists with a little – or a lot – of trauma.

 Run don’t walk to your local bookstore and get yourself a copy.”

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Book of the Week - The Healing Season of Pottery by Yeon Somin

Wonderfully reviewed by our very own Rikke (Trying to convince her to make a line of cups for the shop 😉)

“As an amateur potter, I was immediately drawn to The Healing Season of Pottery by Yeon Somin because of its title and cover. This quiet, beautifully written novel explores healing, self-discovery, and the transformative power of creating art.

The story follows Jungmin, a relatable protagonist—weary yet hopeful—seeking meaning beyond corporate burnout. Alongside her, a diverse cast of characters finds their way to the pottery workshop, each bringing their own personal struggles and stories that intertwine with Jungmin’s journey.

Through these interactions, the novel gently explores themes of self-discovery, love, forgiveness, and the quiet courage it takes to start over. The detailed descriptions of the pottery-making process serve as a powerful metaphor for Jungmin’s personal growth, illustrating how shaping clay mirrors the reshaping of her life.

Rather than a dramatic, action-packed plot, the story unfolds in a gentle, reflective manner—much like a slow afternoon spent working with clay. Yeon Somin beautifully captures both the challenges and joys of pottery, from moments of frustration to the deep satisfaction of creating something meaningful.

This book is perfect for anyone who appreciates stories about creativity, growth, and second chances.”

Happy Reading!

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Book of the Week - Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

We are lucky enough to have this wonderful review written by our friend Fufi, on the very day this long awaited new novel is published.
Thank you Fufi ❤️

”I had been waiting for this book impatiently, and it was worth every second. A story about four women whose lives intertwine isn’t new, but the way Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells Chiamaka, Zikora, Kadiatou, and Omelogor’s stories is something else entirely.

There’s so much depth, kindness, and honesty in the way she writes. I didn’t always agree with the women, but I understood them. Their stories felt real, full of both beauty and pain, told with such generosity that I saw the best and worst of human nature in them. Nothing is overdone, yet the emotions hit hard.

There is a quiet power in how the novel unfolds, where even moments of brutality—both in love and hurt—are conveyed with an almost intimate subtlety. Reading this felt like sitting across from someone who was sharing the deepest truths of their life, raw and unembellished, yet never cliché. These women are flawed, their love is imperfect, their lives are at time messy, and that is precisely what makes them unforgettable.

I’m obviously a big admirer of Adichie, and this book pulled me in just like I had hoped. I don’t want to say more than what’s in the blurb, because I think this book is an encounter. You have to meet these women yourself with an open heart.”

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Book of the Week - There Lives a Young Girl in Me Who Will Not Die by Tove Ditlevsen

Reviewed by our very own Franca

Happy Reading!

“Tove Ditlevsen remains, to this day, one of Denmark’s most profound and impactful writers. Her raw and honest writing has moved generations of readers and will hopefully continue to do so for years to come.

As a young woman, I feel incredibly connected to her earlier works. Those where she writes about loneliness, love, loss, and those awkward little in between moments. She reminds me of how far we’ve come and how much work there still is to do. Her words make me feel seen, understood and much less lonely. Ditlevsen had a raw talent, a way with words, which is difficult to describe but easy to appreciate.

I am fortunate enough to be able to read her work in the language it was organically written in (danish) but these translations are equally as beautiful and should not be disregarded.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves Patti Smith or Joan Didion or simply has a love for poetry. What a wonderful writer Tove Ditlevsen was.”

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