Somewhere in the haze that descended between Christmas and New Year, my husband and I were at my dad and stepmum’s house for a few days. One morning, having gradually reached full capacity for carbs, cheese and socialising, we went for a walk and a coffee. When we got back, my dad asked what we’d all like to do for the rest of the afternoon.
I said, ‘I think I’d just like to sit on the sofa, read a book and not talk to anyone.’ He nodded and replied, ‘that can most certainly be arranged,’ and so off I went to to their study, to rifle through the paperback treasures that could only be in found in the home of two ex-English teachers.
Five hours later, moving only to reach for the several cups of tea my dad silently placed beside me, I’d finished a book. It was probably the most luxurious afternoon I’d had all year. I might ask for it as a Christmas present next year.
I read a lot last year. I started a new ritual of reading in bed before starting my workday. I read a lot of non-fiction, new releases and old favourites. I put them all on this 2025 reading list to hold myself to account, and found myself falling back in love with reading in a way that I hadn’t since I was a teenager hiding under the covers with a torch reading ‘His Dark Materials’.
This year, I’ve pulled together a list of all the books sitting on my ‘To Be Read List’ (which is actually a ‘To Be Read Windowsill’ in my spare room). A big thing for me this year is to return to the old classics I studied at school and university and read them for enjoyment, rather than analysis.
Below, you’ll see the books I’ve already read are at the top, and the ones I plan to read are at the bottom. I’ll keep updating the list with thoughts and opinions throughout the year, but I’d love to hear from you in the comments if you’ve already ready any – or if you think there’s anything I should add to this!
Also, if you’re a reader who’s also a writer, I host a weekly Writing Club on Wednesdays at 8am. It’s online, it’s free and it’s a dedicated hour of writing each week, where the only real aim is to get your words onto the page. You can sign up here, if you like.
Enjoy!
PS. All the links to these books will take you to Bookshop, an online bookshop which supports local, independent bookshops – not Amazon. For anything you buy through these links, I earn 10% on each sale (and Bookshop gives 10% to indie bookshops, too), at no extra cost to you.
BOOKS I’VE READ THIS YEAR
The plot: This is the tale of Martin Gilmour, an outsider who wins a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school – where he sticks out like a sore thumb thanks to the wrong clothes and the wrong accent. But soon, thanks to his decision to befriend the ever popular, ever wealthy Ben Fitzmaurice, and finds himself ‘in’ with the exclusive crowd – eventually becoming the keeper of a secret of Ben’s that will bind the two of them together for the rest of their lives.
But then years later, at Ben’s 40th birthday party attended by the British elite, Martin finds himself wrestling with that old pang on not-quite belonging again. And when things feel uneasy with Ben, Martin starts to wonder if the secret he’s been keeping is enough to prevent Ben from leaving their friendship behind.
The take: This is the book I read in about five hours flat on my dad’s sofa. It hooked me from the start and I had no choice but to fully lock in. It’s intense, gripping and Elizabeth Day really nails her themes of obsession and privilege. It has so much Saltburn energy that I actually had to Google whether the film was inspired by this book.
Get it from Bookshop.org here.
The plot: Two estranged half sisters are thrown together by their extremely problematic dad’s dying wish, which is to leave the daughter he abandoned $5.5 million in inheritance. But there’s a catch. She only gets the money if she attends seven therapy sessions. And unbeknownst to her, these therapy sessions are with her estranged sister – who she’s never met.
The take: This really is such a good exploration of complicated families, grief and addiction. I wanted to shake each of the chaotic characters so many times and talk sense into them, but I loved them and rooted for them all the same.
Get it from Bookshop.org here.
Have you read these books? Did you feel how I felt about them? Did you feel differently? Tell me everything.
BOOKS I PLAN TO READ THIS YEAR
CLASSICS
FICTION
NON-FICTION
The Five (The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper) by Hallie Rubenhold
The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny
Thanks for making it to the bottom of this post. If you’ve enjoyed this post or others I’ve written, I’d love it if you shared it with friends, family or internet pals on your social channels. And if you feel like it’s of value to you, you can upgrade to paid for £5 a month or £35 a year. How lovely.
Can vouch for Fair Play as it is tremendous. And poet says: wot no poems?
I’ve also been reading in bed every morning and it’s the gentlest way to wake myself up. So many of my faves on your to-read list too, I’m excited for you!