Happy New Year, fellow readers!As 2025 becomes 2026, I decided it was time for a quick reflect on the books I've read this year, including those that I haven't had time to post about. Don't worry, there are never that many of them, despite my best intentions!
So, here we go...
- 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman (2012) - Life-affirming story of how a grieving man's broken heart is inadvertently mended by his needy neighbours. Highly recommended.
- 'The Satsuma Complex' by Bob Mortimer (2022) - Surprisingly brilliant novel by a cheerful comedy legend.
- 'Jude the Obscure' by Thomas Hardy (1895) - Surprisingly depressing novel by a cheerful Dorset legend. Full Review
- 'Bliss and Blunder' by Victoria Gosling (2023) - Excellent reinterpretation of the Arthurian legends for the 21st century. Full Review
- 'The Salt Path' by Raynor Winn (2018) - This is still a great book, despite the controversy.
- 'Relight My Fire' by CK McDonnell (2025) - Slightly disappointing addition to the Stranger Times series, but still good. Full Review
- 'Everything Must Go: Why We are Obsessed with the End of the World' by Dorian Lynskey (2024) - Interesting exploration of the cultural influence and storytelling psychology behind the English-speaking world's fascination with The End. Not as good as 'The Ministry of Truth', but still thought-provoking.
- 'Windswept and Interesting' by Billy Connolly (2021) - Some light relief from one of the great comic storytellers.
- 'The Painter's Daughters' by Emily Howes (2024) - A vulgar novel that makes a slither of gossip into literary fact. OK if you don't read historical fiction to learn facts.
- 'Time and Time Again' by Ben Elton (2014) - A light-weight read with high-concept message. Really enjoyed it, and loved the ending.
- 'Hexy B*tch: Tales from My Life, the Afterlife, and Beyond' by Daisy May Cooper (2024) - Proof you should never read a book based on an excellent pun.
- 'I Hope this Finds you Well' by Natalie Su (2024) - Brilliant office-based romantic comedy novel. Highly recommended. Full Review
- 'Ghosts of the British Museum' by Noah Angell (2024) - Before I read it, I was surprised to find it in a discount book shop. Full Review
- 'The Warlock Effect' by Andy Nyman (2023) - Tale of magician turned Cold-war spy that seems to have undeservedly slipped under the radar. Loved the first section, less enamoured once Warlock got entangled in espionage, but still a tense and invigorating adventure. Would happily read more from Nyman.
- 'The Unusual Suspect: The True Story of a Modern Day Robin Hood' by Ben Machell (2021) - Couldn't afford his new hardback, so got myself a copy of this instead. A naïve and morally-driven autistic man from a complex rural background tries to make the world a better place in a terribly misguided way, with awful consequences. An insightful and compassionate human story that deserves to be widely read.
- 'Perfect' by Rachel Joyce (2013) - Beautiful and tender novel of relationships and mental health.
- 'The Ministry of Time' by Kaliane Bradley (2024) - Original, genre-defying book that spans sci-fi, sex and social commentary. Recommended. Full Review
- 'You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here' by Dr Benji Waterhouse (2024) - Billed as a comic memoir of NHS psychiatry, I found this too tragic and depressing to be funny.
- 'What the Chinese Don't Eat' by Xinran (2006) - Collection of Guardian columns from the writer of the excellent 'Good Women of China'. Offers some interesting insight into Chinese culture, but not enough substance to make it worth the effort.
- 'The Murder at World's End' by Ross Montgomery (2025) - Very good murder mystery with comic elements and a sweary old lady, all set on an island off Cornwall.
Seeing them listed like this, I'm surprised to see how much fiction I've read this year. Father Christmas has been kind and brought lots of new reads to start 2026, so the big question is...
Now, what next..?
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year and a healthy, hopeful and happy 2026.
