Staying In

Read Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer

Our book reviewer Belinda Bamber has a recommendation to share: Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer. ‘If you’ve ever tried to support a beloved friend or relative suffering serious illness, you’ll know how hard it can be to get it right. And perhaps you also know how crestfallen and rejected you feel if you get it wrong, even in the smallest detail. Psychotherapist Philippa Perry wrote that she was “enraptured” by it, but in all honesty, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read Ann Packer’s new novel, Some Bright Nowhere, in which Claire’s husband Eliot finds himself competing with her friends to care for her in the final weeks of her eight-year-long illness from cancer. But from the moment I read the first page, I couldn’t stop until the end. Insightful, illuminating, never mawkish or sensational, I don't know how Packer made such a gripping tale from this material. Part of it is her understanding of how our tangled human relationships remain tangled even at the final curtain. Part of it is her perception that “heroism” in a crisis can sometimes mean stepping back, unselfishly, into the shadows. The book invites self-reflection: what are we projecting in our longing to be helpful? And if we’re the one who’s seriously ill, do we have the courage to speak up for what we really want?’ Out now

Going Out

Stay At The Newman, London

We were among the first to stay at Fitzrovia’s buzziest new opening The Newman this month. The 81 rooms are quiet and comfortable with art deco styling and either cool views down Newman Street or quiet private balconies at the back of the hotel. And while the chic design by London studio Lind + Almond, the cocktails in Gambit Bar and the signature age defying facial in the spa are all superlative, it’s the staff that really make this place a must-visit. Hotel bosses partnered with Saira Hospitality to train and hire individuals with barriers to employment from the local community, providing them with the knowledge and skills to build a career in hospitality via a pop-up hospitality school. The result: the warmest welcome and a super-approachable team bursting with local knowledge, creating a relaxed feel in an ultra-luxe setting. Rooms from £695, opening offers include dining or spa credit. thenewman.com

Property Of The Day

While the world wages war over Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for a Brontë-inspired manor house to hit the market. Home to the family who employed Charlotte Brontë as their governess, it is said that the property’s owner John Sidgwick inspired Jane Eyre’s dark and brooding Mr Rochester.

On the market for £1.15m, holroydsestateagents.co.uk

Little Luxury

If your skin is feeling a little lacklustre right now, get your glow back at Harley Street clinic Dr Haus, which has recently added the rejuvenating Exion treatment to its roster. The non-invasive facial is designed to boost natural hyaluronic acid production naturally using pioneering micro-needling technology. Better still, it’s pain-free and can be performed within 30 minutes – a lunch break treat, perhaps? Book at drhausdermatology.com

Competition Time

Now’s your chance to win £1,000 to spend at ABI Interiors. From expertly engineered tapware to beautifully crafted cabinetry hardware, this is your opportunity to invest in pieces that combine performance with elevated design. Enter here

Psssst…

One for the South West locals: Parsons Green favourite Aragon House has reopened following a revamp, complete with stylish interiors and a refreshed menu (the leek and hot honey taleggio ravioli is our pick).

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Forget to spoil your pet tomorrow. It’s National Love Your Pet Day, which surely calls for an extra long walk or a new toy.