The Guinea team is always on the lookout for a good summer read, especially for when we are lounging by the pool, on the beach or even stuck in the airport!

So when we saw there was a modern, gender swap retelling of the classic Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby, we were intrigued.

Gatsby by Jane Crowther brings this tale up-to-date by immersing us into the world of the rich and famous, of influencers and social media, with elements of IG v's Reality.

It's already on our 'to be read' pile and we just can't wait!

Who doesn't love a picnic on a lovely summer day? Though I'm sure we all have childhood memories of sheltering in the car from the rain, getting crumbs everywhere and dropping filling on our best outfit, rather than the outdoor occasion that had been envisioned when packing the food!

And I'm sure those memories also include limp sandwiches, boring beige pastries and crushed crisps, but now-a-days, picnics are elevated beyond the basic and filled with variety and flavour.

There are some lovely recipes out there, but the Guinea Team can't help but be tempted by this recipe which combines two absolute classics - Ploughman's Scones!

Served with ham and mustard, or cream cheese this would make a delicious addition to any picnic basket.

If you enjoyed last month's recommendation 'Outrageous' about the Mitford sister's and are after another period costume drama of a similar era to fill the void, why not give Bookish a try.

Bookish stars Mark Gatiss as an unconventional book shop owner, who helps police solve crimes in 1946 London. It has already been commission for a second series before the first has even aired and as we have some Sherlock fans here at the Guinea team, they have high hopes this is a good indication this is going to be a binge worthy watch!

Premieres 16th July 8pm on U&Alibi

This is a lovely app recommended by Guinea team member, Sarah, who enjoys nothing more than having a nice relaxing sit *sunbathe* in the garden listening to the birds.

However, while we may think we know the coo of a pigeon, the chatter of sparrows or trill of a blackbird, there is always that unknown bird call you can't place and here is where the Merlin app is so marvellous, simply push a button and it will let you know, with an image, what birds it can hear.

What is truly remarkable is the ones it can detect, yet you can't see, which then undoubtedly leads to a leisurely bit of bird watching.

Emma, another of our Guinea team, is convinced she can hear an owl at night, but has yet to spot one, but now with the Merlin app can hopefully identify if it is indeed and owl and what species it may be.

We are absolutely loving our new Eva pink blouse. A perfectly, crisp, cotton blouse, which is a refreshing pop of colour alternative to the classic white. 

An ideal piece for your day to day wardrobe, but it can also be dressed up for a lunch with the girls or a special supper.

Fabulously versatile, we have styled it here with shades of beige, blush, and pink to show a neutral palette doesn't have to be a bland palette.