The Upstairs Window

A newsletter about books. Reviews, recommendations and round-ups of literary, horror, mystery and speculative fiction.

By Blair

· Launched 2 years ago

Let me read it first

10 more underappreciated books

More cult classics and under-the-radar favourites you may not have read

Jun 11

14

4

2

LatestTopDiscussions

Will Maclean’s novels are the best of modern British horror

Exploring hauntology and the role of time in my favourite book of the year so far

May 7

11

3

1

March and April 2026 reading notebook

Spring has sprung! Welcome to my first (and possibly only) reading round-up of the season.

May 1

12

1

1

SPRING BOOKS BUMPER ISSUE

I’ve read 7 new books due to be published in April, May and June, and I’m here to tell you which you should put on your wishlist and which you can…

Apr 9

14

2

January and February 2026 reading notebook

Books about books, cognitive warfare, an art-world dog, lost media (again)

Mar 10

9

1

The best books of 5, 10 and 15 years ago

Finding out if I still agree with my past self

Feb 22

8

1

2

Three books I have feelings about

Love, dislike, confusion & considering what I want to get out of a novel

Jan 27

10

4

1

The best books I read in 2025

Favourites – runners-up – films, TV, a really good podcast – reflections on the year in cultural consumption

Dec 31, 2025

30

5

1

Up next in 2026: new books, good and bad

What I’ve read, what I thought and what’s on my wishlist

Dec 23, 2025

12

1

The last reading notebook of the year

Before we’re deep in ‘best of 2025’ season, I wanted to write about what I’ve been reading in these last couple of months of the year.

Dec 13, 2025

12

4

1