The Shelf by Helly Acton

Whether you’re jetting off somewhere hot and sunny or having a staycation, one thing every summer holiday needs is a really good fun read and one that I’d highly recommend is The Shelf by Helly Acton.

This was a bit of a “Bookstagram made me do it” purchase and to be totally honest I wasn’t sure if I’d like it. I don’t watch a lot of tv and I don’t watch reality tv shows so I did wonder whether I’d connect with this but I really did.

Meet Amy, she’s been dating her boyfriend for 2 years. When he tells her he’s taking her away on a special holiday she hears those wedding bells and starts planning for the big proposal. Unfortunately for her, he has other ideas. Instead of a fabulous holiday she finds herself on the set of The Shelf, a new Big Brother style show where she, and five other women, are brutally dumped.

One of the women will be crowned “The Keeper” and win a life changing amount of money but in order to do so, they have to compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks.

This is such a fun and feminist read. It’s highly addictive too, I read it no time at all and really enjoyed it. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments but it also had my blood boiling at points because most of the men were just awful! While it is a fun read, it’s also thought provoking. I loved the storylines for each women who are all at different points of their lives and yet have so much in common.

Definitely one I’d recommend. It’s fresh, original and highly entertaining. Helly has another book coming Spring next year and I can’t wait to read it! I love her writing and can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.

What’s your idea of perfect summer holiday read?