Last weekend I attended a book event with my mother in law.
We went to see bestselling author Louise Candlish, promoting her latest novel ‘A Neighbours Guide to Murder’.
When she told me about it I thought, why not! At the time I hadn’t read any of her books, but I had seen the TV adaptation of her novel ‘Our House’, which was really good. I started to listen to her latest book, on Spotify a few days before the event.
It was a brilliant talk and it was really interesting to hear about her writing process, how she comes up with her ideas and themes, and her work making some of her books into TV adaptations.
One of my ‘Reading Intentions’ for the year was to attend more book events, so I was really pleased this came up.
She was really friendly to talk to and very obliging when it came to signing books.
I bought a physical copy of her latest book so that I could carry on reading it. I also bought a copy of her novel ‘ The Only Suspect’ because she said in that book are her favourite and best twists, 2 of them, and I love a twist in a thriller so I was sold! She signed this for me too!
I wanted to set some reading intentions for 2026. I find Reading Challenges, although fun, quite tricky to stick to, especially set titles as I think my book choice (unless it’s for Book Club) is quite driven by my mood and what I fancy at the time, as well as releases in certain months.
Intentions: ‘A mental commitment to a specific course of action, aim, or purpose, guiding behaviours.’ (Google, ai 2026)
So, here are my no pressure 2026 reading intentions…
Try to read at least 4 books a month.
Try and read at least 2 different genres each month.
Try and read/listen to 1 audiobook each month.
Try and re read at least 3 of my favourite books.
Try and read 3 classics.
Try and read 2 books out of my comfort zone.
Go to some non Book Club, book events.
Try and read at least 30 minutes a day.
What are your book goals or intentions for for 2026?
📚
Whatever you choose, I wish you luck! And a fun and enjoyable year of reading.
I think I will do an update halfway through the year.
It’s exactly a month since Christmas day, today!!! WHATTTT. CRAZY.
So, here is this year’s bookish themed Christmas Haul 🎄 📚
I’m very lucky! 🤗 and very happy to have some brilliant books to start the yeat with.
Magical and one of my favourite chapters from ‘The Philosphers Stone’ I only need the Hermione one now!Excited to see if its worth the hype!I love this series so I can’t wait to read book 3.The only Paula Hawkins I haven’t read yet!The coolest tree decorations. Love these!!A little book holder! Love this. So handy!Cute & cosy! Perfect.My friend made this for me!!! Shes so clever!! I can’t wait to fill this up when I next go book shopping. And some lovely vouchers! Now I have a reason to go boom shopping woohoo!!
I hope you got some lovely books this year! No better present than a book imo 😊
Another day, another bookish post! This is my complete 2025 list of booms that I read. So if you are looking for any recommendations, look no further.
I’ve added a little code to sort the books a little and represent the variety of formats I have read in and why I chose certain books.
Colour code:
Green: One of my ’25 books for 2025′
Red: Book Club Books
Blue: Borrowed Library Books
Bold: my favourite book that month
DNF – means ‘did not finish’
I have put either ‘Audible’ or ‘Spotify’ next to my audiobooks, so if you see that its the audio version.
DISCLAIMER: ’25 books for 2025′ was a little challenge I set myself – I almost read half of the books I needed to but, I did trail off a little towards the end of the year keeping up with Book Club Books and my seasonal reads. But 11 isn’t bad.
January
It’s a wonderful life: Illustrated Edition
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
I died on a Tuesday By Jane Corry
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
Sleep by C L Taylor
This year’s for you and me by Emily Bell DNF
February
The Other Tenant by Lesley Kara
A Company Of Liars by Karen Maitland (Audible) 1/2
Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding (Re-Read)
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (Re-Read)
Friends Forever by Danielle Steele
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime by Mark Haddon
March
With This Kiss by Carrie Hope Fletcher
A Company Of Liars by Karen Maitland (Audible) 1/2
The Doctors Wife by Daniel Hurst
Ward D by Freida McFadden
The Wake Up Call by Beth O Leary
April
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara
The Girls by Lisa Jewell
I haven’t been entirely honest with you by Miranda Hart (Audible)
The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
May
Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain
The Tenant by Freida McFadden
The Boy Who Lived by David Holmes
(Audible)
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
The Dallergut Dream Department Storeby Miye Lee
Return to the Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
(Audible)
June
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
(Audible)
The Split by Sharon Bolton
Traitors Gate by Jeffrey Archer
July
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
Book Boyfriends by Lucy Vine
Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer 1/2 (Spotify)
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
August
Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden
Little People, Big Dreams: Lenny Henry
Blind Spot by Paula Hawkins (Quick Read)
Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer 1/2 (Spotify)
A Gypsy in Auschwitz by Otto Rosenberg
The Story Spinner by Barbra Erskine (Audible)
Blackout by Emily Barr (Quick Read)
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
Strange Houses by Uketsu
September
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose (Novella)
The Crash by Freida McFadden
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis
A Slow Burning Fire by Paula Hawkins
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
October
Future boy by Micheal J Fox (Audible)
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain
Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow by Victoria Walters
November
The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan (Audible)
The Christmas Holiday by Phillipa Ashley
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore (Spotify)
The Cinnamon Bun Bookshop by Laurie Gilmore (Spotify)
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stoneby J K Rowling – Full Cast Audio Edition (Audible)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling (Audible) 50%
The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson
December
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling (Audible) 50%
All We Want For Christmas by Phillipa Ashley
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore (Spotify)
Not another Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
Total no of Book Club Books: 8
Total completed books of my ’25 for 2025′ challenge: 11
Total no of books altogether: 63
A great year of reading! Here’s to more in 2026 😃📚
‘Not Another Bloody Christmas’ by Jo Middleton ‘All We Want For Christmas’ by Phillipa Ashley ‘The Christmas Tree Farm’by Laurie Gilmore‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ by JK Rowling
Here is my second book review for blogmas. I have been trying my best to read as many Christmas books as I can throughout the season, and I thought I would review a couple for you.
Let’s take a look!
📚 Book Information
Title: The Christmas Clue
Author: Nicola Upson
Genre: Mystery/Detective
Pages: 192 pages
Publication Date: 9 September 2025
Series: Stand alone book
🕯️ Why I Picked It Up
I walked past the display in my local waterstones and I just thought it looked so festive. It also sounded like a cool and unique festive read, a far cry from the usual romances.
🎁 Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Christmas Eve, 1943. Anthony and Elva Pratt arrive in a snowy English village to run a murder mystery game – and instead discover a real murder.
The Pratts had planned for festive cheer, despite the wartime shortages: with Elva’s map of the hotel and Anthony’s prop weapons to use as clues, the guests in their parlour game would move through the rooms to figure out whodunnit.
But when Anthony discovers the cook’s sister Miss Silver beaten to death, they instead find themselves investigating a shockingly real crime. The hotel manager Mr Browning is trying to keep the peace but the guests are agitated, Colonel Colman is about to take over the hotel for the war effort – and the mysterious Mrs Threadgold hasn’t been seen at all.
In games, there’s only one victim – but this is real life. Can the Pratts puzzle out this Christmas mystery before it’s too late?
❄️ What Could Have Been Better
I actually don’t know to be honest. I loved the Cluedo inspiration, the appearance of the real creators of Cluedo, the mystery element, the quaint setting, the Agatha Christie vibes. It did exactly what it said on the tin.
🎅 Christmas Spirit Rating
🎄🎄🎄.5 / 5 Christmas Trees
🧣 Who Would Enjoy This Book?
Fans of Cluedo, Fans of Agatha Christie and a well written murder mystery.
🎁 Final Thoughts
This was a great festive whodunit perfect for those who enjoy the board game Cluedo and love a good old traditional murder mystery. I love the different elements of Cluedo included in this story, featuring thr original makers of Cluedo. That was my favourite childhood board game and I loved this murder mystery written in amongst it.
Here is my first book review for blogmas. I have been trying my best to read as many Christmas books as I can throughout the season, and I thought I would review a couple for you.
Let’s take a look!
📚 Book Information
Title: The Christmas Holiday
Author: Phillipa Ashley
Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Publication Date: Nov 10th 2022
Series: Stand alone book
🕯️ Why I Picked It Up I chose it because I loved the front cover, although its not conventional Christmas colours I do like pink and I like the cute Christmassy scene on the front.
🎁 Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Krystle didn’t have a normal childhood and longed for warm family Christmases with presents under the tree. Now she makes sure everyone else has the perfect Christmas she never had, bringing beautiful decorations to cheer as many people as possible.
With her festive business booming, she decides to celebrate by renting a secluded house in the Lakes, with a plan to make this the ultimate yuletide getaway.
But fate immediately throws a spanner in the works in the form of a broken-down car, a flooded river and Max; a man who despises Christmas.
Krystle becomes determined to show Max the joys of the holiday. She won’t take no for an answer.
Can she melt Max’s Grinch-like heart? And can he show her that life doesn’t need to go to plan to take you somewhere magical…
🌟 What I Loved
The festive atmosphere
The cute ‘Christmas Card’ cosy setting.
The characters were a nice mix without there being too many and it getting confusing.
Lots if interesting elements that added to the main story.
❄️ What Could Have Been Better
It did take me longer to read than other seasonal romances, it might have been the writing style, but I think it might be a me issue more than the book tbh 😂
Probably slightly predictable but most seasonal romances books are so 🤷🏼♀️
🎅 Christmas Spirit Rating
🎄🎄🎄.5 / 5 Christmas Trees
🧣 Who Would Enjoy This Book?
If you are a fan of a classic holiday romance, by authors such as Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain, then you’ll love this.
Romance fans will enjoy this, its sweet and wholesome. It is a bit of a slow burn romance.
Fair warning, it is a little sad a couple of times due to a death mentioned.
🎁 Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed reading it, the setting was super cosy, you could imagine being there for a magical, cosy ‘Picture postcard’ Christmas. The characters were very likeable and the story kept you interested.
Roseanne Byford 