You've never read a book like this before! 

Thank you so much, that's amazing, what a lovely review - it's almost like an out-of-body experience hearing someone talk about my book in such detail for 15 minutes, and absolutely getting it too! It's made my day, thank you!

Please stop. Im falling in love with each book you praise on this channel at this point. My wallet is CRYING.

british. funny. gritty. dark. full of surrealism, I'm sold. your reviews are so engaging. 🌞

In the countryside, no one can hear you scream.... This sounds like just my kind of book, reminiscent of those wonderful English rural horror setups with the pub landlord saying "We don't 'ave strangers 'ere...". Onto the tbr it goes.

This sounds incredible! I do get intimidated by surrealism and dreamlike stories, but I'd like to try it because of how you are describing the writing and humor and pageturnerness of it

Having watched it a couple of times now: I'm going to look out that Rick & Morty episode, it sounds right up my street! I must admit, I've only ever seen one, a few years ago (I'm more of an Adventure Time lad): I can't remember it exactly, but it was about new members of their family appearing, and the 'real' family members being unable to tell because they'd had false memories implanted, or something like that. It was really philosophically fascinating, I'll have to track down more. I'm right with you on surreal books being written in an experimental style... I have very little patience with such shenanigans too, I always think it's important to have *something* that grounds the reader. If weird stuff is happening, I want to feel like it's really happening to real people whose company that we like, and that it's not some vague, free-floating conceptual notion. It's the same with experimental films - I love a weird film in which bizarre things happen, but not when it's also confusing and features people who walk around with expressionless faces and never react to any of it. I much prefer things like Daisies or Celine & Julie Go Boating. Funny women are much better guides through a dreamlike story than expressionless cyphers! Spot-on with my upbringing too - it sounds like we had a very similar time, albeit on the opposite side of the country (I was East Midlands, around Grantham way) and probably a couple of decades apart. But I grew up in a tiny village with no shop or pub, and despite having lived there my entire life from a baby, always feeling like I didn't actually belong there. I wasn't from farming stock; my parents were from the city (Dundee and Nottingham); and while I was technically rural Lincolnshire through and through, I also wasn't. We weren't shunned for being outsiders - people were generally very nice and my parents were well-liked and took part in the community, but I always felt like the weird kid who didn't get the other kids, and they didn't get me, apart from a couple of close friends. But I think that does give you a unique insider/outsider perspective on rural life - I'm not so close to it that I can't look at it objectively; but I'm also not a city lad who's peering in at it through the window. Very interesting thoughts on the themes and whatnot. I'd say it's much more philosophical and experiential than it is political. Someone I know took it as a comment on Brexit - which is completely unintended (the story actually predates Brexit), though I'm quite happy if readers take that from it. Generally, though, it's mostly about the philosophical themes and what the characters experience, and how the two intersect. Anyway, thank you again for taking the time to read it and for making such a thoughtful and fascinating video! - Adam

I’m so glad to hear that they do actually get to Almanby… I’m 230 pages in and I’m struggling, I was living in fear that they may never even get there and leave me disappointed 😂

This sounds incredible! It was already on my radar but now I am definitely picking this up. I went to dead inks books for the first time recently and it was such a great shop, I'll definitely be picking this up on my next visit 😊

I ordered this yesterday - looking forward to reading it!! Thanks for your review.

What a fantastic video and review! I too read it in a couple of days and I don't really 'do' reading (drawing takes up too much time!) I'm so pleased to see so many people enjoying this book - the author is my brother!

This sounds amazing, buying asap 🙌

This book sounds like exactly what I've been looking for over the past couple of months. I read The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste in March and have been searching for a book with similar vibes. Lost in the Garden sounds like the perfect book to fill this need. Thank you for a lovely review!

I am looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for the recommendation.

You completely sold me on this book 😍

Part of your description of this book reminds me of ST:TNG episode The Inner Light, where Picard lives an entire lifetime in a few minutes while caught in an energy beam.

Im intrigued and as its more than a pamphlet, it will also keep me out of trouble for more than a day or two 😄

Every time I see a new review from you, I tell myself, ok, you can watch it but you're not buying it until you've read the books you have. And then I watch it and buy it! 🤣

I just bought the ebook 📚✨ this sounds wonderful

I just finished this book and I absolutely devoured it in 24 hours. It was so good

I pre-ordered this book on your recommendation and I’m currently reading it. I just love it so far 🥰 also the cover and the quality of the print is really good

Apart from the british thing "John Dies at the End" sounds like it has a similar tone /execution.

The first thing that comes to mind when you say something wrong with people in a little British village is Hot Fuzz. Which might not be the vibe with this book but I can't help making the connection

About the part of the book you associated with “Rick and Morty” episode (I’m gonna be subtle with the words to be spoiler free): Cristopher?

It reminded me of paradise rot by Jenny Hval

Did it have a slight ‘day of the triffids’ vibe ?

Could you tell me the “language level” of this book? I’m almost sold by your video (as always), but there’s no translation to my mother language. I read books in English and understand them pretty well (as well as your videos), but I’m wondering if the surrealistic aspect of the narrative may increase the difficulty of the text.

Hey Willow. Have you read Strega?

Just out of interest, what makes a novel English and not just UK representative and are they a separate and distinct thing? Like are Ali Smith seasonal quartet books English, UK, or are the books split between those representation. I don’t think this is a distinction that most in the US can’t even tease out or understand.

This sounds perfect for me. 🖤🪻🌷🌹🌻

This really sounds like a book that could deeply change me.

Thank you, Willow! This sounds like it’s right up my alley! I love Shirley Jackson and somehow your description reminds me of her. The normal isn’t as normal as it seems and bizarre things happen… in a normal way.

you have said everything and more about this book that i have been trying to say to people since i finished it. its stuck with me and its all i wanna think about its a whole world. and just like you said with the reading and getting angry, i was so scared it would happen with this book as its quite long and i put it off for months after buying it then read it in 3 days. so happy to find a creator who explains books in a way i understand to help me stay loving reading instead of being scared of it. and i have been yapping for England about how this needs to be a A24 film

Cheers for recommending this book, I think it may be one of the best things I’ve ever read 💖

I think you mentioned it in one of the videos so I precomended it. Got it yesterday.

one of my favorite reads this summer ... so fun ! :)

On the list, thank you

Can you make a list of specifically "folk" horror books recommendations?! Love your reviews and trust your taste!

Keep to reality man and write Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men? Planted headless in someone's else's garden