Back in June, when the shops opened again, I made the most of a day off and went straight to Waterstones. I was beyond excited, not only to be in a bookshop again but to talk to someone about books again. And I mean properly talk to, not just at. I whizzed round the shelves, breathed it all in and before long had an armful of books to somehow lug home. Just before I couldn’t carry anymore, a voice behind me recommended just one more. A book that had come out during lockdown and deserved a whole lotta love.

She recommended Kester Grant’s The Court of Miracles to me as a re-telling of Les Miserables, from Eponine’s perspective. Think historical revolution turned into musical but remixed with assassins creed but dial up the strong female characters. And with text in English and in French too? I was sold.

I sat in the park that very afternoon and devoured most of this book. It was absolutely brilliant. I wouldn’t say you even need to be familiar with the plot of Les Mis to enjoy it, but there were rather serendipitous moments when you realised that a character had been created out of a line from a song, or phrases that were said in the play* also occurred in the book. *Or the film, which was also great I won’t hear otherwise.

It’s been a ratherhectic few months for me, I’m currently in the process of moving house (!!!) AND I’ve just started a new job (!!!!) so finishing this book has taken a while, but I’m still loving every word.

I didn’t get your name, and it’s been a few weeks now so I’m not even sure what you look like (I’m so sorry!) but thank you wonderful women of Waterstones for making the rest of my lockdown so magical. Spending time at home doesn’t feel so suffocating when you can take a trip to France in the pages of this book.