Hello and welcome to She Reads Novels. My name is Helen and I’m a book lover from the North East of England.
The title of my blog is inspired by a line from Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s 1864 classic The Doctor’s Wife – “She had read novels while other people perused the Sunday papers”. This isn’t completely true, as I do sometimes read the Sunday papers – but I have to admit I would rather be reading a novel!
I particularly enjoy discovering 19th century classics and immersing myself in long historical fiction novels, but I do read other genres too. To give you an idea of the sort of books I like, some of my favourite authors are: Daphne du Maurier, Dorothy Dunnett, Alexandre Dumas, Rafael Sabatini, Sharon Penman, Georgette Heyer, Wilkie Collins, Agatha Christie, Anthony Trollope, Thomas Hardy, the Brontës, Guy Gavriel Kay and Mary Stewart. This blog is a place for me to post reviews of all the books I read and to share my thoughts on reading in general.
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Contact me
X: @shereadsnovels
Bluesky: @shereadsnovels.bsky.social
Instagram: shereadsnovels
My Goodreads profile (feel free to add me as a friend)
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The picture I am currently using for my WordPress avatar (the image you’ll see beside my name when I reply to comments) is Inseparables, a painting by Australian artist Florence Fuller.
She Reads Novels 
Hi Helen,
I came onto your site looking for ghost novel reviews (since that’s what I’m doing as well as writing), but I see a lot more here. Turns out, you read many of the same books I do, and you have already read books on my to-read list. I look forward to perusing your site!
Deb
http://www.peninherhand.wordpress.com
Hey, I have nominated you for the Versatile blogger Award. Congratulations! http://tothebalcony.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Hey there! I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award!
I hope that you do not mind but I have nominated you for the Shine On award. Take a look at what its all about.
Hi, hello! I sort of come across your book blog and I think it’s cool. I’m looking forward to perusing your reviews and all now 🙂 hope you don’t mind that I add you on Goodreads
hi!!!!! I also luve to explore in the novels…I just love to create an reading aura beside me….I like ur blog….plz update some good novels to read as I’m new to blogging…..
Ahoy!
I found my way here through bookbridgr.
It’s always nice to find a fellow Brit’s blog to follow!
😀
Nice to meet you, Sarah Clare! Thanks for following.
I have literally been scrolling through your reviews for the past hour. I really like your taste in historical fiction and historical fantasy. I have now added Guy Gavriel Kay, Ursula K Le Guin, and Dorothy Dunnett to my authors to read list. I thought I had read everything Eva Ibbotson wrote, but clearly she wrote adult works I haven’t read yet. You certainly have a fabulous blog.
Hi Fariba, thanks for your kind comment – I’m glad you like my blog and have found some new authors and books to add to your list!
Hey Helen,
I really enjoy reading your blog, so I’ve nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award. I hope you like it :).
Best, Emmie
Thank you Emmie!
Hey Helen, nice blog. I work at Record and we’re currently looking for freelancers. I think you’d be a nice addition to our roster.
We pay our freelancers 70% of the advertising profit that their articles generate. If you’re interested, send your info at http://www.newsrecord.co/opportunities. If you mention that I commented on this article, you’ll be accepted right away.
Evan
Check out my blog at:
http://www.ink2quill.com
I2Q
FYI Helen, I have nominated you for the 3-day-3-quote challenge, if you are up for it: https://weneedtotalkaboutbooks.com/2018/04/24/3-day-3-quotes-challenge-day-one/
I came across your blog by sheer chance. Just searching Linda Holeman brought me here. I bookmarked your site because it’s full of great info for readers! Thanks!
Thanks, Cookie! I love Linda Holeman’s books.
I discovered your blog recently and am very much enjoying it. You are a reader to be admired.
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
I stumbled across your blog while looking up something about Nest fetch Rhys (I tend to look things up as I read historical fiction to help me better place or imagine the subject) & low & behold I found a kindred reader in you!!! Looking forward to taking time to go back thru your blog & adding to my list- we appear to have read a lot of the same so I’m always looking for something ‘next’!
Thanks for commenting, Richelle! I also look a lot of things up while I read – it’s one of the things I enjoy about reading historical fiction. I hope my blog can help you find some new books and authors to add to your list.
I am writing this in October 2025 so I hope that you might see it. I loved Miss Buncle and Five Windows but like you, have found the quality and formulaic nature of her novels does vary. So, I have been put off by some of the ones I started to read but then stopped. Recently I bought three vintage First and Second Edition copies of Music In The Hills, Amberwell and Five Windows on ebay. I started Music In The Hills today but the author had written a note yto say it was following Vittoria’s Cottage but could be read alone. So far it is engaging and I am imagining the Borders countryside so easily. The characters are plausible and interesting. Have you ever read any of O.Douglas’s novels. She was Anna Buchan, John Buchan’s sister and her books are pure comfort and joy but also acerbic and engaging. All about the Borders area and a similar time and place for their setting. Hello for Australia and thank you for this helpful post.
Thank you for commenting! I liked Vittoria Cottage but I’m ashamed to say I still haven’t found time to pick up Music in the Hills. I’m pleased to hear you found it engaging, with interesting characters – I’m sure I’ll read it eventually, although I also have copies of some other Stevenson novels I’m hoping to read soon. No, I haven’t read anything by O. Douglas yet – I’ll add her to my list of authors to try. Thanks!
I tried to leave my comment above on your post about Vittoria’s Cottage but it wouldn’t let me so I pasted it onto this page. That painting by Florence Fuller is perfect for those of us who love, love, love to read. By a fellow Australian, as well.
It’s a lovely painting, isn’t it? Glad you like it!