LoveReading Says
Plenty of people (myself most definitely included) have been swept away by the pressures and expectations to work towards big life milestones: getting that promotion, finding a relationship, hearing those wedding bells and welcoming a bundle of joy into the world. This is how we are introduced to Amy, scrolling through the perfect lives she sees on Instagram while waiting for her boyfriend to pop the question. What actually happens lands her not only single in her thirties but a contestant on a gameshow where she must compete with a cast of other women to get off "the shelf" and be crowned as "The Keeper".
The Shelf is an anti-Love Island held in the Big Brother house, where the six women, each with their own values and personalities demonstrate that the most important thing in life, love and relationships isn't to "keep C.A.L.M" but to stay true to yourself, your values and you requirements for a relationship.
I loved the dynamics between all of the different women, the differences in their life stories, motivations and plans for the future. The Shelf clearly demonstrates that you don't have to fit any stereoptype to be a strong and independent woman. I laughed and cried with them as they participated in each outrageous task and the absurdity of the (male) production staff and presenters. This is a bright and entertaining plot that still manages to hit on key and thought-provoking points about what it means to be a woman and single, at any age and life stage.
I found that the most powerful part of this book is the differences between each of the contestants, and the message comes from each of them undergoing their own journey and revelations: whether you want a more traditional role in your relationship, or to strike out on your own, don't settle for anything that compromises your core requirements for a happy and healthy relationship. A bright, feminist read that will have wide appeal amongst women.
Charlotte Walker
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Helly Acton Press Reviews
I absolutely LOVED The Shelf. One of those delicious books you just can't put down. So many gorgeous witty one-liners. Utter PERFECTION! - Marian Keyes
Fun, fresh and thought-provoking - Lindsey Kelk
I haven't been so immediately sucked in by a novel IN YEARS. Not only is the idea brilliant and original, but Helly's writing is also compelling and hilarious. The Shelf is a must-read and I cannot recommend it highly enough - Lucy Vine
[One of] the hottest summer reads ... a plot that shouldn't work on paper, but really does. - Cosmopolitan
The Shelf is just as addictive as reality TV but twice as juicy! Shocking and hilarious, I devoured it and I just want more - Carrie Hope Fletcher
Fun, thought-provoking and unapologetically feminist . . . the perfect antidote to lockdown life - Daisy Edgar-Jones
Couldn't put it down once I started! Fell in love with the characters and how they each challenge the idea of what a perfect woman should be! - Michelle Elman AKA @Scarrednotscared
I really loved it! Subversive, feminist and a real breath of fresh air. I inhaled this! - Laura Jane Williams
I absolutely loved it - such a clever concept, so well executed and with a perfect ending! Such a clever, brilliant book! - Katie Fforde
You know when you put your whole life on hold, because you're so absorbed in a book? That. So original and sparkly, the freshest, funniest book, I adored it!! It made me feel strong and empowered and wonderful - Claudia Carroll
As addictive as they come ... a witty, life-affirming page-turner. A breath of fresh air. - Woman & Home
Will keep you laughing page after page - Helly's sharp, funny and fast-paced prose is a delight to read. - My Weekly
The Shelf is honestly such a delight. The concept in itself is genius, but the execution is even better - both laugh-out-loud funny and full of heart. I loved it! - Katie Lowe
This is the kind of book that can be swallowed in a day. It is an astute and entertaining analysis of the ways in which women live under society's microscope and a moving depiction of the sisterhood. It made me laugh and made my blood boil - definitely the signs of a successful book! - Sara-Ella Ozbek
On the surface, this book has massive appeal for anyone who loves reality shows and dreams of their fifteen minutes of fame, but it goes much further than that ... an uplifting book which flips the tables and shows the women in an empowering way - The Bookbag
Fascinating, funny, gut wrenching and not just a rollicking read but belongs on the school curriculum - Anna McPartlin
A fabulous romp of a novel - Clare Pooley
An all-too-relatable feminist novel about accepting ourselves and not leading a life we THINK we should based on what society is telling us - @OurWomensWrites
Fun, light-hearted and genuinely warming read . . . an ideal summer lockdown read - Candid Book Club
Really entertaining read ... a feminist takedown of reality TV - STYLIST
Fascinating! - Daily Mail
A story of friendship, feminism and solidarity - Prima
EDITOR'S CHOICE: An entertaining take on the obsession with coupling up and settling down. - The Bookseller
If you're ready for a slice of exhilarating entertainment to ease the darkness of a year of crisis then feast your reading eyes on this funny, feminist and wonderfully original tale of self-discovery from a fresh new voice in women's fiction. - Lancashire Evening Post
A brilliant read - Bella
A fresh, funny read ... there's a satisfying bite behind the satire here. - Wiltshire Living
Witty, compelling and great fun - Surrey Life
A hoot of a novel - Pat Kenny, Newstalk FM
A gripping, eye-opening and clever read that will have you hooked from page one ... witty and heartwarming - Shemazing.net
Funny, feminist and utterly addictive,... the kind of novel you will race through in one sitting ... Love Island meets Bridget Jones ... original and fresh ... A perfect heart-warming read for this summer. - Press Association
This summer's hottest read ... [a] feminist page-turner - Irish Mail on Sunday
This brilliant novel is a really fun read. Very entertaining! - Jo Whiley
A smart takedown of reality TV, with satirical bite. - Sunday Mirror
Fresh and funny, with satirical bite and a feminist message. - Best
Fantastic...If you've ever binge-watched Love Island, the funny, feisty story is for you. - The Sunday Post
