Jocelyn Howarth

Jocelyn Howarth, a bookseller at Waterstones, is one of our trusted book reviewers. With her extensive knowledge of bestsellers and emerging titles, she brings a keen eye for what’s trending in the literary world. Her thoughtful reviews offer readers fresh perspectives on everything from contemporary hits to hidden gems.

A bit about me

I am a recent graduate from Royal Holloway University of London, having studied a BA in
English with Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing. My passion for reading and
writing has persisted so strongly throughout my life that it was inevitable I would pursue it in
education, and I take great pleasure it putting words to a page, whether it be fiction, analysis,
or reviews.
My love of stories knows no bounds, but the genre I find myself most connected to is fantasy.
Classic or modern, high or low, whimsical or gritty, there’s something about the excitement
of entering a whole new world with endless possibilities.
Beyond books, I enjoy spending time outside on my own or with friends and family (and
their dogs!), always looking for new places to hike. I also love to play piano and to sing, and
spend a lot of time listening to many different genres of music – another method of
storytelling which I greatly value in its variations.

My Favourite Book

Though an impossible question to answer, I would have to assign The Book Thief by Markus Zusak as my all-time favourite. It has been a most beloved book to me for over a decade: the war-torn setting, the innocence of youth, the quiet resistance of those seemingly powerless,
all come together to create a heart-wrenching yet beautiful story. Plus, it is told by a most unique narrator: Death himself.

  • My favourite poet

    Christina Rossetti – my first exposure to Rossetti was ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, a poem-turned-hymn which I found both haunting and entrancing. I studied ‘Goblin Market’ at A-Level, which left a lasting imprint due to the rich language, clever imagery, and heavy warning disguised in the eccentricity of the story.