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Larger venue needed for literary duo event

Saturday, 10 January 2026 09:44

Catherine Newman and Rachel Joyce

An author event at The Grove Bookshop has proved so popular it's moving to a larger venue.

An Evening with Catherine Newman and Rachel Joyce will now take place at Church House, All Saints' Church, Ilkley, from 7-8.30pm on Thursday, 5 February, with more tickets now added.

The two authors will be in conversation with Grove Bookshop bookseller and writer Emily Devane, about the theme of family in their novels.

Fans of Sandwich and We All Want Impossible Things will enjoy Catherine Newman's forthcoming novel, Wreck. The novel follows Rocky (the same Rocky we met in Sandwich) as she navigates the challenges of caring responsibilities, health worries, and a troubling local accident. Catherine writes beautifully about the hilarious, heartbreaking messiness of family life.

Rachel Joyce has written bestselling books including The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Miss Benson's Beetle. Her latest book, The Homemade God, is a darkly compelling story about the hairline cracks that appear in a family after the death of its artist patriarch. The novel comes out in paperback early next month, coinciding with the event.

Manager Mike Sansbury said:

"We're really thrilled that Catherine is coming to Ilkley as part of her very brief UK tour with her new novel Wreck. It's also a delight to welcome back Rachel for the paperback launch of The Homemade God."

Copies of both books will be available on the night, and the event will be followed by a book signing.

The change in venue has enabled the bookshop to accommodate a larger audience, but space is limited, so book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are £10 and are available via Eventbrite, the website www.grovebookshop.com/events, or in the bookshop.

Church House is a 5-minute walk from The Grove Bookshop, and is a fully accessible venue with WC facilities and limited on site parking.

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