A new Andrew O’Hagan release is always a highlight in my literary calendar. Some of my favourite psychological portraits I’ve written have been explorations of his characters. So with the release of On Friendship this week from Faber, I was thrilled to once again step into his wonderful writing.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2025 This summer I had the chance to attend the Edinburgh International Book Festival. I've been numerous times over the years but this time was my first with a media/ press pass. With this golden ticket, I was able to take in some wonderous events. This has…

I’m nominated for two UK Book Blogger Awards Thank you so much for the nominations for Creative Excellence and the Book Blogger of the Year for the UK Book Blogger Awards 2025. I pride myself on trying to bring something different to the book review and blogging community - combining my love of…

I'm curating a show about the Two Roberts for Charleston in Lewes. Currently unwrapping artworks being loaned to us by incredibly generous individuals and institutions - it's like Christmas! 'Artists, Lovers, Outsiders' opens Oct 15: www.charleston.org.uk/exhibition/r...

Im nominated for two UK Book Blogger Awards! Thank you so much for the nominations for Creative Excellence and the Book Blogger of the Year. It's been so nice to see your messages and thanks for your votes so far. There's still time to get your votes in. Voting closes tomorrow on Friday 26th Sep’

Once I drop this parcel of ten books off at my new stockist @typewronger Typewronger Books on Leith Walk, I'll only have 4 copies left. It's a bit like the Elves and The Shoemaker. If three people buy one. I can order 25 more. They call this ... bookselling. Help me out, eh? 😂

As the Summer winds down, we’re heading into Autumn with a truly amazing line up of events to keep you busy this month after festival season! You can sign up — and find details about who, where and when — here: www.theportobellobookshop.com/events

I’ve written about making art when it feels like the world is ending, about living truthfully in a homophobic world, about the Two Roberts in the 1940s. And a lot of it feels very…now.

An honour to see one of Scotland's most important living writers speak at The Edinburgh Book Festival. James Kelman read from his newest short story collection: The Story of the Stone. He was in discussion with @hinesjumpedup.bsky.social, a lecturer in Scottish Literature and Kelman expert.

Book review and recommendation! What To Do When You Feel Broken by Dr Laura Williams. Published by @hayhouseuk.bsky.social in 2025.

2025 International Booker Prize: Meet the Winners Panel at Edinburgh International Book Festival. Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi was this years International @thebookerprizes.com winner. The panel celebrated the book & the art of translation. @andotherstories.bsky.social

‘This was the book the judges really loved, right from our first reading’ We're delighted to announce that the winner of the #InternationalBooker2025 is Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. Here's everything you need to know about the book: thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...

2025 has been a year of big releases, particularly from Scottish authors. The Two Roberts by @damianbarr.bsky.social is right up there on my list of most anticipated books. Time to get that preorder placed before it's release on September 4th! @canongate.co.uk

Welcome back #Edinburghinternationalbookfestival I've been plenty of times throughout the years but this is my first under a "media/ press" guise as The Paperback Psychologist. Got a bunch of great authors lined up & will pore over the programme tonight to see what else I can squeeze in.

Watched Darren McGarvey’s Trauma Industrial Complex today at the Edinburgh Fringe. A real & unflinching look at trauma, that challenges current discourses in popular culture & social media. #EdinburghFringe #DarrenMcGarvey

Men in Love - the new book from @irvinewelsh.bsky.social releases today. It picks up where Trainspotting left off. Now we can see what happens immediately after for Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Second Prize. Today was the Edinburgh book launch hosted by the amazing Jenni Fagan.

On my way to see @irvinewelsh.bsky.social in Edinburgh to speak about his new book Men In Love. Buzzing!

So looking forward to Men in Love releasing next week and revisiting these characters. I’m sure there will be lots for me to write about there. Here’s my psychological exploration of Mark Renton from @irvinewelsh.bsky.social ‘s #trainspotting thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2024/12/05/t...

My psychological exploration of Small Things Like These has been the most read of all my posts. It consistently comes out on top in my website stats. It seems that the book really resonated with us all. @faberbooks.bsky.social thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2023/10/14/s...

Michael Pedersen on Muckle Flugga: Isolation, Grief & Lighthouses Following the release of his debut novel MUCKLE FLUGGA, @michaelpedersen.bsky.social speaks to @snackmag.bsky.social about turning lighthouses into legends, the ghost of Robert Louis Stevenson, & more 💙📚 snackmag.co.uk/michael-pede...

Watching Adam Curtis’ latest documentary Shifty right now. So good and up to his usual standard. Mind blown by the covert meaning in a Bucks Fizz song! I do miss his narration though. I hope he brings it back in future films.

My inability to remember the difference between Adam Curtis and Richard Curtis has resulted in making this: i.imgflip.com/9xjtaj.jpg

A psychological exploration of @michaelpedersen.bsky.social’s phenomenal Muckle Flugga. Read a deep dive into the 3 main characters by a Clinical Psychologist. Using formulation to explore character & story to gain new insights @faberbooks.bsky.social thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2025/06/11/m...

A psychological exploration of @michaelpedersen.bsky.social’s phenomenal Muckle Flugga. Read a deep dive into the 3 main characters by a Clinical Psychologist. Using formulation to explore character & story to gain new insights @faberbooks.bsky.social thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2025/06/11/m...

A heart-chirrupingly sensational review of Muckle Flugga just unfurled in @theguardian.com thanks to literary supremo Michael Donkor. ‘It is weird, rambunctious and repeatedly demands the reader surrender to its particular wildness.’ 🪸🐦‍🔥💫💘🪻 Full review 🗞️: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

@blindboyboatclub.bsky.social tonight in Edinburgh. I've spent the past few months obsessively listening to his podcasts so what a treat to see him live. Even better that he was joined tonight by @michaelpedersen.bsky.social Fascinating, heartfelt and hilarious in equal measure.

So looking forward to listening back to Stephen Fry & @michaelpedersen.bsky.social talk Muckle Flugga. I’ve loved immersing myself in the book these last few months. Just about ready to send off my psychological portraits on their voyage. The boat is packed & about ready to set sail.

‘Muckle Flugga is so vivid, intense and fiercely tragic-comic that it often threatens to take the breath away, writes Joyce McMillan‘ in The Scotsman. This review of Muckle Flugga totally knocked my polkadot socks off. Online now and in print come Saturday. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Great to see @garrettcarr.bsky.social’s The Boy From The Sea have it's US launch. I can't recommend this wonderful book enough. I thought it timely then, to share my psychological portrait of Brendan Bonnar again. @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2025/03/31/t...

Have you read the @thebookerprizes.bsky.social International shortlisted On The Calculation of Volume? Read my psychological exploration of Tara here: thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2025/05/01/o... @faberbooks.bsky.social @ndbooks.bsky.social

For this month only The Boy from the Sea is £1.99 on a Kindle. "This warm and funny debut asks big questions about family, masculinity, class and responsibility,' The Times. As read on BBC Radio 4 A Sunday Times Best Book of 2025 An Observer Best Debut of 2025

On The Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle. A Psychological Portrait of Tara Selter. @faberbooks.bsky.social @thebookerprizes.bsky.social thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2025/05/01/o...

New podcast. This is a diligently researched thesis open.spotify.com/episode/42m2...

Took my kids to see Revenge of the Sith At the cinema today for the 20th anniversary. We’ve been working our way through all the #StarWars films in release order so it was very lucky for this to have aligned so they can watch it for the first time on the big screen.

A book blog from the perspective of a Clinical Psychologist. Taking Clinical Psychology out of the therapy room & into the pages of books. Using psychological formulation to explore character and story. Read all of my fictional formulations at my website: thepaperbackpsychologist.com

I’ve only recently started listening to @blindboyboatclub.bsky.social but it’s quickly become my favourite podcast. Who knew the history of onions or Madeira cake could be so fascinating! I find it equally stimulating and soothing for my brain. Can’t wait to see him live in Edinburgh in June.

Delighted to see On The Calculation of Volume I has made it to the @thebookerprizes.bsky.social International shortlist. Thank you to @faberbooks.bsky.social for the copies. I adored these books. Both release on Thursday so go and treat yourself to these phenomenal books. #internationalbooker2025

The @thebookerprizes.bsky.social #internationalbooker2025 Shortlist is now out!

So looking forward to this. A direct sequel to Trainspotting! @irvinewelsh.bsky.social

Thanks to the Paperback Psychologist for this study of The Boy from the Sea's Brendan Bonnar. There are some keen insights, however the article is full of SPOILERS so steer clear if you're thinking of reading the novel.

The Boy From The Sea, @garrettcarr.bsky.social A Psychological Portrait of Brendan Bonnar. The Boy from The Sea landed on the literary shore, much like the book’s protagonist, Brendan Bonnar: unexpected, mysterious, packed full of heart and special. Read my psychological exploration of the book:

I'm told that The Boy from the Sea has just gone into its second printing. Thank you readers and thank you Picador for producing such a fine-looking hardback.

For anyone that wanted the link to my BBC Scotland Upload Interview it's here. I'm on at 6:18s My dad tells me it's wonderful 🙈 I'm trying to pluck up the courage to listen! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Alistair Braidwood speaks with @writerkcampbell.bsky.social about her latest novel THIS BRIGHT LIFE, published later this month by @canongate.co.uk. They also discuss Lewis Grassic Gibbon & Hugh MacDiarmid, & the impact of Campbell’s 2022 novel PAPER CUP. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTun...

I'm honoured to be on BBC Upload today on the BBC Sounds App at 3.30pm talking about my honest motherhood poem 'The Place To Eat' (I'd say parenthood, but in this case it's not).This comes from my chapbook Motherbunnet which is due for a second edition release next week. #WritingCommunity #poetry

An evening with Fern Brady in conversation with @michaelpedersen.bsky.social at Edinburgh Uni. Great to see authors of my two of my favourite pieces of memoir/ non-fiction on stage together.

My full post which uses a Cognitive Analytic Approach to explore Agnes Bain can be read in the link below. This is taken from the @thebookerprizes.bsky.social winning novel by Douglas Stuart. thepaperbackpsychologist.com/2022/09/15/s... #douglasstuart #shuggiebain #booksky

Here's an example of a letter that accompanies the previous post's Cognitive Analytic Therapy formulation. In this I summarise my thoughts on Agnes Bain's story in a similar way to a therapeutic letter that may be written in psychological therapy. #shuggiebain #douglasstuart #booksky

This is an example of a CAT map from #ShuggieBain. A way of formulating someone through the prism of relational themes. There's less info in the diagram compared to my other formulations but can be read in conjunction with accompanying text or a letter which we would write to a client in therapy.