Welcome back! 

As the leaves begin to change and the cozy weather starts to settle in, we thought we’d give you a hand in transitioning with the launch of our new Autumn Reading Challenge! It’s the perfect way to have that much needed holiday, from the comfort of your own couch. 

Want the chance to win a £30 Uber Gift card? A brand new heated blanket? Or a hamper with some of your favourite snacks?  

Our Autumn Reading Challenge will be running from 1st October until 15th December (both campuses) To break it down, here are some steps on how to enter:

• Pick up a Reading Challenge bookmark from your nearest Library Helpdesk 
• Choose 1, 2 or 3 books from our Reading Around The World Collection, marked with the special globe logo below. 
• Write a short review for each book you complete 
• Collect your stamps and enter the prize draw. Each stamp = one entry 

The more you read, the better your chances of winning. Whether you’re in the mood for a train ride comic or a gripping memoir, there’s a participation level that’s perfect for you. 

Click here to browse the collection. We've also created an interactive map you can use to browse the collection by country.

Visit the Library Helpdesk from Wednesday 1st October to get started. Happy reading and good luck! 

Looking for something new to read? Do you want to experience new countries and cultures (without the hassle of actually travelling)? Try out our Read Around The World collection featuring stories published in many countries across the globe. You can also use the interactive map we've created which lets you find books from different countries in the collection.

Better yet, reading books from the collection can give you a chance of winning prizes! Keep an eye out for our reading challenge running from 1st October - 15th December. More information will be posted soon.

This project has been led by our Library, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Group (LIBDAG) to help diversify our collection and promote authors from outside the UK. Please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion page to learn more about what we're doing to make your library more inclusive.

As the sun lingers at its highest point and the days stretch into golden evenings, the summer solstice invites us to slow down, reflect, and realign. Whether you're basking in the warmth of long afternoons or chasing quiet moments of solitude, this curated list of books captures the essence of midsummer: stories of renewal, revelation, nostalgia, and quiet transformation. Let these solstice reads light your path through the season.

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

Set against the dazzling summer backdrop of an English seaside town, Brighton Rock contrasts sunshine with shadow. This psychological thriller explores morality, youth, and inner conflict through the story of Pinkie Brown, a teenage gangster on the cusp of ruin. A gripping read that reminds us that even in high summer, darkness lingers beneath the surface.

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

A reflective, nostalgic journey through youth, love, and the passage of time, Brideshead Revisited is steeped in golden summer memories and the quiet melancholy of change. Perfect for solstice reading, it captures the beauty and transience of long days, lush country estates, and friendships transformed by time and war.

What to Look For in Summer (A Ladybird Book)

This gentle and beautifully illustrated guide is a celebration of Britain’s natural world in full bloom. Learn to notice the bees, birdsong, meadows, and seasonal shifts that define summer. A calming companion for midsummer walks or nature journaling - ideal for readers of all ages who want to connect more deeply with the rhythms of the Earth.

We Were Liars by E Lockhart

On a sun-drenched private island, a family gathers for their annual summer retreat - secrets simmer beneath the surface in this haunting, emotionally charged novel. As the solstice light casts long shadows, so too do the consequences of memory, privilege, and grief. A perfect pick for fans of mystery wrapped in golden-hour nostalgia.

Spanish Cooking For Beginners by Gabriela Llamas

Celebrate the season of fresh produce and outdoor meals with this vibrant introduction to Spanish cuisine. Full of Mediterranean sunshine, bold flavours, and simple techniques, this cookbook invites you to renew your kitchen rituals. Think gazpacho, tapas, and seasonal joy - summer, plated and shared.

Our Senior Information Assistant, Ume, has written a post all about the Library team's favourite Valentine's Day books.  Read on to see our hot picks!

Oddly enough, pardon the pun but I actually love Valentines Day, to the point where it feels like a second birthday. Any excuse to dedicate some crucial precious time to dive head first into some cookie dough, curl up on my heated blanket with a good book and slap on a face mask, is a win in my book. 

As a way to let you all get to know our Library staff a little better, a way to know who exactly is handling your queries, ordering your books and making you feel comfortable within our space, here are some of our teams’ favourite books.  All of the books below, are books that our team members are absolutely smitten by, the kinds of books that we would love to throw over to you if we had the chance (perhaps not literally, that would really hurt). 

I hope you enjoy reading our entries as much as we have loved curating this collection together. Luckily for you, most of these books are actually available within our very own collection, so feel free to have a ponder once you’ve finished reading.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton – chosen by Adam Gillison, Casual Information Assistant  

This book is special to me as it was one of many recommended to me by my mum, an avid reader whose attendance at a local literary class was an important activity in later life.  

It’s short – often described as a novella – but intense and dramatic, full of love, need and tragedy – and set in landscapes vividly and beautifully described. You can find this title on our library shelves at Horsforth, at shelfmark 813.5 WHA 

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

I really enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. It’s set in 1950's America (I like most things retro) and is a (kind of love) story between two chemists that also touches on societal norms around women in the workplace and society. 

It’s not soppy and made me laugh and feel sad in equal measure and is narrated by a dog (it works, trust me). There’s also a mini series on Apple+ but I’d recommend reading the book first.  This title is on order, and will be available in the Library soon!

Very Good, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse – selected by Robert Taylor, Casual Information Assistant 

This collection of 11 short stories written in the 1920's is P.G. Wodehouse at the peak of his powers, and contains some of his defining work as a comedic writer. 

 Every page is filled with at least one simile or exchange that will bring a smile to your face. Effortlessly brilliant prose - not to be read in a public place for risk of emitting loud snorts of laughter unexpectedly.  

This book will be a good friend to anyone in need of cheering up. This title is on order, and will be available in the Library soon!

Violeta, by Isabel Allende

Situated in an unnamed South American country (assumed to be Chile), this is the story of Violeta de Valle born in 1920 and spanning her life through to 2020 .  

As it was set against a backdrop of an ever-changing political and social climate,  I found it really interesting how these events helped form the stories.  The characters provide accounts of fortunes won and lost, loves, and survival.  All in all this book was all-consuming and epic.  Currently on order, coming soon to the Library!

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte – chosen by Donna Irving, Liaison Librarian

Being a wild moorland creature myself, I love this book. People mistake it for a love story, its so much more than that.  The moors influence the bleakness of the novel and its characters and helps create the conflict between Cathy’s culture and nature. If you live a dark gothic story, read this. Find this on the shelves at Horsforth, shelfmark 823.8 BRO

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – selected by Umerrah Bray Dunrod, Senior Information Assistant 

You know the author has done a great job when you find yourself cheering on the villain. This is the definition of a page turner, a book you will truly lose sleep over.  

I initially watched the film, of course but after strolling across a fluorescent orange copy for 50p in a charity shop, I had to give it a chance. It’s a dark, sick tale of revenge and the lengths a person will go to achieve it.  The complexity of the heroine, Amy Elliott, alongside her husband Nick, and the unravelling of their marriage, will truly make you question where your sympathy is rooted from. Currently on order, coming to the library shelves soon!

The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer – chosen by Ann Kelly, Senior Information Assistant 

This book was recommended to me by my husband whilst we were on holiday because he found it entertaining and humorous.   

This is a well written and light whodunnit with twists and turns.  It’s warm hearted and funny, with well-drawn characters.  It was fabulous, weird, witty, clever and had me turning the pages to find out more and what happens next.  Really loved this book and looking forward to the sequel - The Hotel Avocado. This title is currently on order.

Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier – selected by Pauline Illingworth, Information Assistant  

This is a book about first love set in the early twentieth century.  I first read it at school when studying for ‘A’ level French and later re-read it in English.  What gives added poignancy is that the author died early in the First World War, shortly after writing the novel. Find it on the shelves at Horsforth, at shelfmark 843.912 ALA

We hope our selections may have inspired you to find a new literary love on Valentine's Day! Why not tell us some of your all-time favourites, too?