As one would expect, most bloggers are good writers. Some bloggers however are excellent writers and these, like the three authors here, are the ones that stand out. Two of the three women here had a writing career that pre-dated their blog; the third is an author as a consequence of her blog.

Here are three brilliant books by bloggers.

 Friends Food Family, Sasha Wilkins

Friends Food Family is a recipe book by Sasha Wilkins. Her blog, LibertyLondonGirl is one I’ve followed for several years now and it’s still among my favourites.  It’s hugely successful and Sasha herself is an influential, respected journalist across several media. She has worked on, among many other publications, the Wall Street Journal and has made numerous tv and radio appearances. In her blog, Sasha writes about fashion, style, flowers, food, family, her travels and her sausage dog. It’s beautifully and intelligently written and her Instagram feed is a visual treat.

I bought this book back in 2014 when it first came out. As well as recipes, it contains notes about eateries, antique markets and farmers’ markets from around the world; a reflection of Sasha’s peripatetic lifestyle. It feels a little like a journal particularly because she took a lot of the photographs herself. The recipes are neither complex nor lengthy and are full of fresh, seasonal ingredients as well as store cupboard staples. There are ideas for everything from simple kitchen suppers to weekend entertaining and posh picnics. The dishes look spectacular but not showy. It’s aspirational because everything looks beautiful, the tablescapes are enchanting and the food is enticing. But it’s all achievable and that makes it a very appealing book indeed.

I have several favourite recipes, including LibertyLondonGirl’s Salad. This is a quick-to-put-together simple salad of onion, avocado, chickpeas and halloumi. (But of course an avocado recipe would appeal to another blogger). Sasha’s brownie recipe is a family favourite and if you love Ferrero Rocher, you will adore The Ambassador’s Cake.

Aphrodite’s Closet, Suzy Turner

Suzy Turner is a Yorkshire girl who has lived in Portugal since she was ten. Her blog is a fabulous mix of style, beauty, travel and food. Suzy is a former journalist and editor and is also a yoga teacher. I’ve never met her, but she’s a fellow forty-plus blogger who is always incredibly kind and supportive with thoughtful comments. Her Instagram feed is an honest and unpretentious ray of Algarve sunshine and that in itself is a breath of fresh air.

Aphrodite’s Closet is Suzy’s twelfth book. It fits in the chick-lit genre and I read it from start to finish in one sitting. The novel tells of Agatha Trout who inherits a corner shop from her eccentric Great Aunt Petunia. When Aggie decides to relaunch it as an “adult-shop,” called Aphrodite’s Closet, it raises quite a few eyebrows in the small town of Frambleberry. It’s a dream to read and it has some very humorous, almost slapstick moments, which made me chuckle. Not only that, Suzy’s description the shop’s interior decor has made me want to reach for the paintbrush. But deep down the book tells of female friendships and of changing mindsets and I loved every word of it.

Mumboss, Vicki Psarias

Vicki Psarias is one of the world’s leading parent bloggers. She started her blog Honest Mum in 2010 after a traumatic birth which saw her lose both her confidence and her identity. It resonated with thousands and it continues to grow exponentially and features style, recipes, parenting tips and interviews with Wonderful Women. Vicki is a guru in the world of blogging and vlogging. A force of nature, her infectious enthusiasm and generous support of fellow bloggers is second to none.

Mumboss is Vicki’s first book and it was born out of the incredible success of Honest Mum. It is her honest and open guide to surviving and thriving at work and home. You don’t need to be a mum to benefit from its wisdom either. It is full of sound advice, presented in logical and easy to read sections. She tells how to build a business from your passion and how to deal with negativity. She advices how to become your own best publicist, a chapter that I found particularly informative. My other favourite chapter is about blogging, vlogging and how to build an online business, and lot of which can be transferred to other businesses and careers. Vicki inspires confidence and gives countless tips for managing the work/parenting/life balance and her go-getting attitude and unashamed ambition is something I envy enormously.

This is a brilliant book and one I refer back to over and over, a must-read for anyone in business, whether or not you are a parent.

And Finally…

And thank you for the suggested reading after my previous book review post in which I recommended three books to read over summer. Please do recommend more here in the comments, (any genre, fiction or non-fiction, old or new, apart from sci-fi/fantasy). I’m reading one now that a lovely lady recommended and which will be in my round of reviews.

And by the way, the glasses in the very top photograph, and those below, are my very first pair of reading glasses, the SI-30113 by STEPPER. They are comfortable and lightweight, both very important qualities when selecting frames for reading glasses.