In this cosy, beautiful little book, full of delicate illustrations, Bryony Hill recounts her experiences with nature and, in particular, with robins. Indeed, one day one robin enters her house and, after that, an entire family of these lovely little birds takes residence in her kitchen. Personally, I really love robins and I find them fascinating, so I deeply appreciated this book, which is full of emotional reflections on the concepts of home, love, and loss.

What a lovely, short and quick read and with wonderful illustrations. The robins are something lovely to write about and read and this book I read very quickly as it is such a charming book. It was a wonderful treat to read a book like this, it is certainly a feel good book, delightful and it made me smile. Love it.

Thank you NetGalley and The Book Guild for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is as sweet as the first sounds of the Robin's song after a long cold winter.
I loved how with each passing day the Robin gained trust and confidence enough to build her nest
where she knew she was loved and would be safe, something we all long for. My late father was a
bird lover and avid bird watcher to the many birds who flocked to his feeders every day. I though of
him as I read this book, knowing how much comfort and company the birds gave to him each and every day.

Robins in My Kitchen is a beautifully written, often meditative, enchanting diary by Bryony Hill of her experiences having a breeding pair of robins (Erithacus rubecula) raise and fledge a family in her kitchen over a number of months. Released 28th Nov 2024 by The Book Guild, it's 88 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

The author has such a gentle and direct, honest and unvarnished way of writing and description. She does a great job of recording and conveying the personalities of the small birds who, for a while, were a big part of her daily life. In addition, the book is enhanced by her simple and elegantly rendered drawings, picturing the small moments she experiences with her little feathered housemates.

Four and a half stars. It's a very short book, but would make a delightful choice for public library acquisition, or a gift for a nature loving friend.

Like a robin, this short book is small but perfectly formed. I imagine most of us enjoy the antics of garden birds on a bird feeder or bird table and are perfectly willing to embrace the idea of extending our living space into the garden. However, I’m not so sure I’d be equally thrilled if a bird were to decide to nest inside my house and certainly not in the kitchen. Imagine the mess if a pigeon or a seagull were to make so bold as to invite herself indoors to build a nest! Fortunately, robins are much more fastidious.

Robins in My Kitchen by Bryony Hill would make a perfect gift for a birdlover. Robins are one of our best-loved garden birds and this charming tale of how a pair of robins found their way into an artist’s heart and home should have many fans. Many thanks to The Book Guild and NetGalley for a free digital review copy. I only wish I’d been able to read and review it before Christmas as it would have made the perfect stocking filler. However, it is not a specifically Christmas-themed book, despite the robin’s frequent depiction on Christmas cards, so it would be a wonderful gift at any time of the year and, at only 88 pages, it can be read in one sitting but is worth returning to for the illustrations alone.

Bryony Hill was the perfect person to welcome a pair of robins into her kitchen. Her father made friends with a jackdaw during active duty in WWII and the family home she grew up in became a sanctuary for abandoned chicks and other birdlife waifs and strays. She was no stranger to sharing her home with birds, so when a female robin flew through the kitchen window and decided to build her nest between the meat platters on a kitchen shelf, Hill was entranced and began to share photos of the process on her social media. Interest grew, particularly after she wrote a letter to the glossy monthly Country Life, telling the story of her visiting friends.

This little book charts the progress of the nesting, laying of eggs, hatching of chicks and the general toing and froing of a pair of robins that put their trust in the author. In response, she provided them shelter and a constant supply of mealworms and other delicacies. In the process, the birds and their offspring worked their way into her heart and she built up a personal relationship with them, worrying about them, letting them affect and share her life and space.

What makes this even more special is that Bryony Hill is an accomplished artist. Her journal of a season living in the company of robins is liberally sprinkled with her delightful delicate watercolour illustrations of the robin family (and a few of her hens), reproduced in grey tones. It’s like reading illustrated letters from a friend if that friend was Beatrice Potter and telling you about her nature observations.

Although the book does contain some background information about robins, these are rather random facts rather than something that you would find in a birding handbook or encyclopaedia entry. That isn’t at all what I had hoped for, but in retrospect, I wish there had been a chapter about the stories and legends told about robins. There are legends about why the robin has a red breast, including one about Jesus and the crown of thorns. I’m sure there are more and I think that would have made another interesting addition to this charming book. I’m so glad I had a chance to read it.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

What an incredible and beautiful book. Robins are my favourite bird and there is something so majestic when I watch them in my garden. This book is such a beautiful account by Bryony and I have learnt a lot myself. Thank you so much for such a beautiful book. I definitely want to get this in hardcopy!

This is such a beautiful little book and I absolutely loved it. Bryony tells the story of a family of robins who nested in her kitchen and brought up their babies in diary form and it is lovely to read each entry with all the beautiful illustrations. I love robins and have had the privilege of them nesting in my garden which is also in Sussex and getting to know the adults who were bold enough to come into my house on occasion. This book is quick to read but so worth it and I hope that the author has lots more encounters with her robins in the future.

Unlike any book I’ve ever read. Just darling! So sweet and just a wonderful read. Highly suggest! Excited to read more from this author.

Robins in My Kitchen is a lovely diary style nonfiction book about the author’s daily life with robins that have set up a nest in her kitchen. The mother bird fearlessly brings moss, twigs and other building materials into the woman’s house through an open kitchen window and builds a nest for her babies on a dish shelf. Mr. Robin also comes in to help.


Eventually the eggs hatch and we see Mr. and Mrs. Robin sharing the parental duties of feeding the babies. I loved reading the daily progress of the fledglings and how descriptive it was.


Black and white illustrations add to the nostalgic feel of the book.
Reading this book was a true treat and made me feel closer to nature. What a joy to be chosen by the robin family to have a nest in their house.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an absolutely delightful account of a robin family setting up home in the authors kitchen. One day a robin flies into the house and finds the perfect spot to read her young; she builds her best on a Welsh dresser, behind a meat plate, carefully watched by Bryony Hill, who documents it on social media, and gains a following. Mrs Robin is quite undaunted by any other occupants in the kitchen, but Mr Robin is a little more cautious and takes a while to trust people.

It is a short book, told in diary format with some lovely illustrations, not only of the robins, but if various other garden birds. Also, facts about the robins, as the author seeks advice on how best to help raise them safely.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

This is a delightful, heartwarming story with appropriate illustrations. It is a quick read. Hill uses a diary format which is a good way for readers to see the robins' progress unfold. I enjoyed how the author used personal stories, as well as facts about robins, which were quite interesting. The story is likely to be a delight for bird lovers.

A true and magical heartwarming tale, perfectly illustrated and written.
As a huge admirer of Robins and being very protective over those that reside just opposite my house, this book filled my heart with so much joy!
A lovely little read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

"Robins in My Kitchen" by Bryony Hill is a heartwarming story about a robin family making their home on the author’s kitchen shelf. Told in diary form, the book captures Bryony’s journey as she watches the robins build a nest, lay eggs, and raise their hatchlings. Filled with personal anecdotes, robin facts, and the author’s charming illustrations, it’s a delightful read for bird lovers. Bryony’s love for nature shines through, making this book a touching celebration of hope, trust, and the beauty of wildlife.

Robins in My Kitchen by Bryony Hill is a thoroughly engrossing and sweet true story about the author's relationship with darling robins in her kitchen, of all places. She grew up loving nature so clearly well suited for her role as surrogate grandmother to her avian family. One spring, a robin flew into her bedroom and was obviously scouting the surroundings. After several days of this, mosses and other materials began to materialize on the floor and shelf in Bryony's kitchen. To her delight, the robin returned again and again and soon a nest was built with both Mr. and Mrs. Robin hard at work. Weeks later, tiny eggs appeared, then hatchlings, then fledglings which meant a pile of pillows to land on. Bryony discusses the fastidiousness of the parents in keeping the nest clean, her worries when she didn't see the birds for periods of time, robins' intelligence, and chats and snacks. Their interactions were clearly enriching.

I like the list of robin facts included which taught me more about my most beloved bird species. The accompanying illustrations by the author add a personal touch of whimsy and nostalgia. If only we had our own Mr. and Mrs. R. and children in our house! The lessons we can learn about nature, birds and life are priceless. It is easy to understand Bryony's fascination and passion for her robin family under her care. If it had been another household, things may have been very different. They trusted her from Day 1.

Talk about a refreshing book, so full of hope and promise! I adored it.

My sincere thank you to The Book Guild and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this charming and tender book. Pure gold in the hands of bird lovers.

A very quick but enjoyable read and a lovely true story. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced read.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the opportunity to read Robins in my Kitchen by Bryony Hill. Magical and totally delightful. I loved it.

This is a beautifully written book filled with amazing illustrations. It’s a short story about robins who make Bryony’s kitchen shelves there new home. It’s in diary form and is a delight to read, loved every page. A perfect book for any bird lover. 5 star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.