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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

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Helen Watts has read 27 of 28 books.

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Helen Watts

Goodreads Author

Born

in Birmingham, The United Kingdom

March 16

Website

http://www.helenwattsauthor.com

Twitter

HWattsAuthor

Genre

Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

Influences

(author:M Morpurgo/8080) (author: P Gregory/9987)

Member Since

March 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/helenwatts

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HELEN WATTS is an author of women's romance fiction for adults, historical fiction for children and young adults, and also short stories for adults and children. Her most recent novel, 'The Second Chance Bookshop', was published by Embla Books in September 2026, and Embla will also be publishing a follow-up novel in Spring 2027.

PUBLISHING CAREER
Before writing fiction, Helen worked in publishing for 25 years, editing, commissioning and producing fiction, non-fiction and poetry titles on a wide range of subjects and topics, for readers of all ages, and in all kinds of forms - from magazines and books to online publications and interactive resources. She has worked for some of the biggest and best publishing houses in the UK, including Scholas HELEN WATTS is an author of women's romance fiction for adults, historical fiction for children and young adults, and also short stories for adults and children. Her most recent novel, 'The Second Chance Bookshop', was published by Embla Books in September 2026, and Embla will also be publishing a follow-up novel in Spring 2027.

PUBLISHING CAREER
Before writing fiction, Helen worked in publishing for 25 years, editing, commissioning and producing fiction, non-fiction and poetry titles on a wide range of subjects and topics, for readers of all ages, and in all kinds of forms - from magazines and books to online publications and interactive resources. She has worked for some of the biggest and best publishing houses in the UK, including Scholastic and Heinemann Educational, and has also written and produced materials for commercial, governmental and charitable organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund, The British Council and the Department for Education.

For ten years, Helen was Editor of Literacy Time magazine, a subscription-based periodical which supported, and thereby enhanced, the teaching of literacy to children at primary school level. She then went on to co-found a company known as The Literacy Club, through which she published magazines, web-based resources and books including the paperback collection Taffy’s Coat Tales by world-renowned storyteller, Taffy Thomas MBE.

However, after years spent shaping other people's words, Helen began to focus more on her own writing. She was commissioned to write educational titles on topics ranging from World War I, The Olympic Games and the football World Cup to cyber-bullying and teenage fashion, and was co-author on a set of three books called Make Phonics Fun (LCP), and on a comprehensive resource file series called Building Blocks (also LCP), which offered themed activities for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

TURNING TO FICTION
Helen turned her hand to children's fiction in early 2012, when she completed the first draft of a historical fiction novel based on the true story of the massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane during the Second World War - an idea which Helen had been tinkering with for almost ten-years following a visit she made to the site of the tragedy in the midst of rural France. Helen submitted the manuscript to a handful of publishers, expecting to wait some months for a reply and being fully prepared for a set of rejections. However, within just a matter of weeks, she received an offer from A&C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury, and One Day In Oradour was born.

This debut novel, aimed at readers age 12 and over, has been nominated for the 2014 CILIP Carnegie Medal for an outstanding book for children and young people and has created a buzz among reviewers and librarians both in the UK and beyond.

Interest in the book also sparked author talks in local secondary schools as part of the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival and the Literally Coventry Book Festival, and Helen was so inspired by the welcome she received, that she developed a programme of talks and historical fiction workshops which is now available to schools all over the country.

Helen’s second novel, No Stone Unturned, was published by A&C Black in Sept 2014, and Helen has also co-written two collections of World War I legends - one for adults and one for children - with friend and former Storytelling Laureate, Taffy Thomas. The collections, published by The History Press and A&C Black respectively, were launched to coincide with the World War I centenary celebrations.

SPARE TIME? WHAT'S THAT?
When she is not writing, Helen spends her time walking her cavapoo, Rula, devouring other people's novels, going to the cinema as often as she can and sailing the canal network with her husband, Jon, on their narrowboat Never Better. Helen has two grown-up children - Jack and Georgia. ...more

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Helen Watts’s books

Average rating: 3.89 · 223 ratings · 43 reviews · 18 distinct works • Similar authors

	One Day in Oradour 3.91 avg rating — 127 ratings — published 2013 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Second Chance Bookshop: An uplifting and heartwarming read of community, friendship and the joy of books for 2026! really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 43 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	No Stone Unturned really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Ghost of the Trenches and other stories by Helen Watts (Goodreads Author), Taffy Thomas 3.29 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2014 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	First World War Folk Tales by Helen Watts (Goodreads Author), Taffy Thomas 3.67 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	One Day in Oradour by Helen Watts (9-May-2013) Paperback 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	[(No Stone Unturned)] [ By (author) Helen Watts ] [September, 2014] 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) – PTCB Exam Practice Guide: 500 Practice Questions with Detailed Explanations 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) – PTCB Study Guide: 500 Study Notes for Accelerated Certification Success 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	[(One Day in Oradour)] [Author: Helen Watts] published on (May, 2013) by Helen Watts (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Helen Watts's Blog

Holiday Reading

One of my favourite things about summer holidays in the sun is the opportunity to read some of the books I have stocked up all year. This year, my family ignored all the scare stories in the media about food shortages and cash restrictions in Greece and headed to Skiathos. We have been to the island two times before and had many happy memories. I am pleased to say that Skiathos visit #3 didn't dis Read more of this blog post »

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Published on August 18, 2015 05:48 • Tags: books, david-nicholls, greece, helen-watts, holiday-reading, skiathos, us

Helen is Currently Reading

Helen Watts is currently reading

The Vanishing of Margaret Small

by Neil Alexander (Goodreads Author)

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Oct 05, 2026 03:40PM

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Helen Watts is currently reading The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 05, 2026 03:40PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Helen Watts finished reading The Games We Play: The new and addictive debut psychological thriller, brimming with suspense for 2026 by Claire Quinn (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Helen Watts wants to read Requiem by Berlie Doherty (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Helen Watts wants to read How to End a Story: Collected Diaries, 1978-1998 by Helen Garner	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 27, 2026 02:39AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of How to End a Story by Helen Garner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — How to End a Story by Helen Garner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Helen Watts wants to read The Season by Helen Garner	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Helen Watts is currently reading The Games We Play: The new and addictive debut psychological thriller, brimming with suspense for 2026 by Claire Quinn (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 26, 2026 01:25AM · like
Helen Watts and 63 other people liked Ella Berman's review of L.A. Women: "I’ve never reviewed one of my own books before but it’s nearly time for me to stop obsessively checking early reviews and I want to honour what a pleasure it was to write this book and to share it with you. It holds such a special place in my heart a" Read more of this review »
Sep 26, 2026 01:19AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of L.A. Women by Ella Berman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — L.A. Women by Ella Berman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Helen Watts rated a book it was amazing L.A. Women by Ella Berman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A fascinating insight into the world of the rich, the famous and the hangers on in LA in the 60s and 70s. It's a slow burn, but keeps you intrigued and the characters are carefully crafted. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, partly because it was so di ...more
Sep 26, 2026 01:16AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of L.A. Women by Ella Berman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — L.A. Women by Ella Berman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Helen Watts liked Rachel Stansel's review of The Second Chance Bookshop: An uplifting and heartwarming read of community, friendship and the joy of books, BRAND NEW for Autumn 2026!: "Childhood friends Imogen, Geri, Joanna and Kimberley for various reasons find themselves reunited in their hometown at 50. Together the support they provide each other as well as to the other members of their book club gives them all what they need t" Read more of this review »
Sep 18, 2026 06:21AM · see review
Helen Watts liked Katrina McQuillan's review of The Second Chance Bookshop: An uplifting and heartwarming read of community, friendship and the joy of books for 2026!: "OMG, what a beautiful story. As a woman in my fifties who helps care for elderly parents, this book felt very special to me. It had me laughing and crying at the same time, and I kept thinking, "Oh my god, that is me!" The author truly understands wh" Read more of this review »
Sep 18, 2026 06:21AM · see review