I have It also for years and I never could get Into It I maybe will make it a goal this year to read It all ..read or donateI finished the Christmas escape by Sarah Morgan - really loved it especially after my other two festive books were quite disappointing.
I am going to squeeze one more festive book in and decided it’s time to read The Gift by Cecelia Ahern once and for all, it’s been on my bookshelf for ages and it never really appeals because other Xmas books appeal more. If I don’t read it now then it will be put aside until next Xmas again.
I added it to Goodreads in 2015 but when I looked at the book this morning, I saw it was published in 2009 and I bought it new!!!
So I’ve looked back at some old photos and I can see it on my bookshelf in a photo taken in January 2011!!!that’s the earliest photo I could find with my bookcase in the background so it’s still very possible I bought it the year it was published.
So it’s been collecting dust for at least 15 years, maybe 17. It’s really now or never…
Books #40
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Nickel Boys is one of my favourite books. I gift it to anybody I think will 'get' it.
2025 READING ROUND UP
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins
Such Quiet Girls - Noelle W. Ilhi
Shark Heart - Emily Habeck
Follow You Home - Mark Edwards
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
Let’s Do It - The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood - Jasper Rees
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? - Caitlin Doughty
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
Beyond the Wand - Tom Felton
Let’s Do It - The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood - Jasper Rees
The first two Harry Potter full cast recordings
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Girl Meets Grump - Hailey Gardiner - I’m not a rom-com kinda girl and would never normally pick a book up like this one. I used to love The Gardiner Sisters band and when I found out Hailey had sadly died earlier this year, I also discovered she’d been releasing books. I felt compelled to read one and really quite enjoyed it.
Shark Heart - Emily Habeck - I didn’t really know what to expect but wow, what a book! I forget books as soon as I’ve read them but I read this in August and it’s still so vividly in my head.
Both of the books below disappointed me as they’re by two of my favourite authors and I didn’t enjoy them anywhere as much as I have their previous books. Hopefully their next releases are back to form!
You Killed Me First - John Marrs
One in Four - Lucinda Berry
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
Goodreads tells me my average rating is 3.9. This feels about right - had some absolutely brilliant reads but they’ve been few and far between. The rest of the year has been average to poor.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Her First Lie and Not My Mother - Lucinda Berry
Dead in the Water - John Marrs
The rest of the Harry Potter full cast audiobooks
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
This year I made it to 79 books (though may finish my 80th by the 31st). I originally set it at 52 books and will probably do the same next year.
I’ve not thought about any particular themes or genres I want to read more of but I have recently got back into audiobooks again so I may try for more of those next year.
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins
Such Quiet Girls - Noelle W. Ilhi
Shark Heart - Emily Habeck
Follow You Home - Mark Edwards
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
Let’s Do It - The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood - Jasper Rees
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? - Caitlin Doughty
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
Beyond the Wand - Tom Felton
Let’s Do It - The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood - Jasper Rees
The first two Harry Potter full cast recordings
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Girl Meets Grump - Hailey Gardiner - I’m not a rom-com kinda girl and would never normally pick a book up like this one. I used to love The Gardiner Sisters band and when I found out Hailey had sadly died earlier this year, I also discovered she’d been releasing books. I felt compelled to read one and really quite enjoyed it.
Shark Heart - Emily Habeck - I didn’t really know what to expect but wow, what a book! I forget books as soon as I’ve read them but I read this in August and it’s still so vividly in my head.
Both of the books below disappointed me as they’re by two of my favourite authors and I didn’t enjoy them anywhere as much as I have their previous books. Hopefully their next releases are back to form!
You Killed Me First - John Marrs
One in Four - Lucinda Berry
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
Goodreads tells me my average rating is 3.9. This feels about right - had some absolutely brilliant reads but they’ve been few and far between. The rest of the year has been average to poor.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Her First Lie and Not My Mother - Lucinda Berry
Dead in the Water - John Marrs
The rest of the Harry Potter full cast audiobooks
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
This year I made it to 79 books (though may finish my 80th by the 31st). I originally set it at 52 books and will probably do the same next year.
I’ve not thought about any particular themes or genres I want to read more of but I have recently got back into audiobooks again so I may try for more of those next year.
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid,
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Almond- Sohn Won-Pyung
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
I didn’t really read any non-fiction this year.
What was your favourite audiobook of this year?
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid- the readers did a great job narrating this
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Shark Heart was highly disappointing and is probably one of those books I’ll forever dislike
up there with Piranesi on my “hatred” scale. I just did not understand the fuss.
Another one was The God of the Woods, an absolute borefest, I gave up after 30%.
If you rate books, what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
Goodreads says my average rating was 3.7.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
A couple of books I have on my TBR that I’m excited to read include The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb, and Blood Over Brighthaven by ML Wang
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
I’m aiming for an optimistic 50 books next year. My goal for this year was the same, and I didn’t reach it, but I’m hoping to avoid another reading slump. If I don’t, 50 should still be manageable.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid,
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Almond- Sohn Won-Pyung
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
I didn’t really read any non-fiction this year.
What was your favourite audiobook of this year?
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid- the readers did a great job narrating this
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Shark Heart was highly disappointing and is probably one of those books I’ll forever dislike
up there with Piranesi on my “hatred” scale. I just did not understand the fuss.Another one was The God of the Woods, an absolute borefest, I gave up after 30%.
If you rate books, what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
Goodreads says my average rating was 3.7.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
A couple of books I have on my TBR that I’m excited to read include The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb, and Blood Over Brighthaven by ML Wang
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
I’m aiming for an optimistic 50 books next year. My goal for this year was the same, and I didn’t reach it, but I’m hoping to avoid another reading slump. If I don’t, 50 should still be manageable.
Seeing the number of books read each month makes me a little sad - I properly lost my desire to read in May and it took till going on holiday in August to get it back. You can also tell the two months I’ve had some extended time off work as the numbers shoot up. Why does work always get in the way of reading? It’s just not fair.
FINALLY HAD MINE 
i wish it included things for the past few weeks, i’m on 86 now 🥲
i wish it included things for the past few weeks, i’m on 86 now 🥲
CJ Meade (@cjfmeade) on Threads
Dear Goodreads, I do not want to see my Year in Books until 12:00am on Jan. 1. Until then, I STILL HAVE TIME, DAMN IT.
www.threads.com
How we all feel about Year of Books
Has anyone else been doing the alphabet challenge?
I've only had one letter left to complete the set since August (Q), and I also had the right book (Dorothy Dunnett's Queens' Play), but I've been prevaricating so long that I've left it till now. Fortunately the book is wonderfully written and I have a lazy day, so fingers crossed!
I've only had one letter left to complete the set since August (Q), and I also had the right book (Dorothy Dunnett's Queens' Play), but I've been prevaricating so long that I've left it till now. Fortunately the book is wonderfully written and I have a lazy day, so fingers crossed!
MOSTLY THRILLER/MYSTERY EDITION
2025 READING ROUND UP
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
Mondays Not Coming - Tiffany D Jackson, first book in a while to almost bring me to tears
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
N/a
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
Julie Chan is Dead - Liann Zhang, the story is fun nonsense and the audio has silly influencer voices which just fit.
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
- The Missing Half - Ashley Flowers, written by a true crime podcaster. She's had allegations of copying work and no writing background so I don't know how much of this is her own talent, but it was one of the better books I read.
- Monday's Not Coming - Tiffany D Jackson, I saw this had good reviews but wrote it off because it's YA. I caved when it was 99p on Amazon and I'm so happy I did. I thought it would be juvenile but it wasn't.
- Saving Noah - Lucinda Berry, I somehow missed the memo and went into this blind so the storyline shocked me but not in a gratuitous way.
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
Without looking 3.5. There were some real duds, a few standouts, but mostly better than average reads. It's been an enjoyable year of reading for me.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
N/a
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
To be more diverse, I've stuck so rigidly to thrillers and mysteries but I also like dystopia (not too different), literary fiction and I suppose Japanese fiction is a genre of its own in a way.
I want to read more genres I don’t usually consider too, I used to enjoy fantasy (I just get overwhelmed keeping up with series) and I want to try at least one non fiction.
I also want to read more historical classics.
To read more physical books, not just buy them! Pre-Kindle I was already mainly reading digital books on my phone but because that wasn't user friendly I still read the odd physical book. Post-Kindle, practically none! I've found physical books inconvenient for a while but I keep buying them so may as well read them.
Lastly, I want to be more intentional about reading books from non western/European authors about non western/European cultures. In the absence of reading non fiction, I find this is the best way to expand my thinking and worldview. Reading mostly thrillers and mysteries means I just happen to primarily read European/American stories.
Thanks @mindlessness!
2025 READING ROUND UP
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
My favourites were The God of the Woods by Liz Moore and I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore. I didn't read a huge amount of non fiction but this really stuck with me.
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
I didnt complete a full audio book. I started a few but I just don't enjoy listening to books.
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Atmosphere by TJR. I normally love her books but I DNF'ed this at 25%.
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
My average was 3.7 which seems about right. I read a lot of books which I gave 4 stars to.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
In the last few years I read all my books on my kindle. I never pre-order and only buy when I am going to begin reading them.
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
I am not going to set any goal for 2026. I set a goal of 24 for this year and then bumped it to 52 (which I got yesterday) but towards the end I was purposely avoiding long books such as Alchemised as I felt it would mean sacrificing the goal of 52. I think the goal took the enjoyment out of reading which is silly as it was completely self imposed and if I didnt meet it it is not like there would be any impact.
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
My favourites were The God of the Woods by Liz Moore and I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore. I didn't read a huge amount of non fiction but this really stuck with me.
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
I didnt complete a full audio book. I started a few but I just don't enjoy listening to books.
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Atmosphere by TJR. I normally love her books but I DNF'ed this at 25%.
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
My average was 3.7 which seems about right. I read a lot of books which I gave 4 stars to.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
In the last few years I read all my books on my kindle. I never pre-order and only buy when I am going to begin reading them.
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
I am not going to set any goal for 2026. I set a goal of 24 for this year and then bumped it to 52 (which I got yesterday) but towards the end I was purposely avoiding long books such as Alchemised as I felt it would mean sacrificing the goal of 52. I think the goal took the enjoyment out of reading which is silly as it was completely self imposed and if I didnt meet it it is not like there would be any impact.
Atmosphere is half price in the Waterstones sale
I’m looking forward to receiving it.I’ve been a long time lurker on this thread, thanks for all the recommendations!
2025 READING ROUND UP
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
I feel like I had a really good reading year (only 3 DNFs), so it’s hard to pick. The three that stayed with me most were:
Go as a River by Shelley Read
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (how I had never read that I don’t know!)
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. Also basically enjoy anything by Elif Shafak and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche!
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
I only read one which was the Making of the Modern Middle East by Jeremy Bowen.
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Good surprise - Remarkably Bright Creatures. Based on the blurb it was not my kind of book but I gave in to the hype and so glad I did.
Bad surprise - All the Colours of the Dark and God of the Woods. 2 DNFs that everyone seems to rave about and I can’t work out what I’m missing but they just did not grab me!
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
4! Which I feel reflects my good picks but also that because Goodreads doesn’t allow half stars I tend to be generous and round up!
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Not preordered but added to my Goodreads TBR:
Skylark by Paula McLain
Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lilith Assadi
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
I have a constantly growing TBR and just a commitment to continue reading consistently!
2025 READING ROUND UP
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
I feel like I had a really good reading year (only 3 DNFs), so it’s hard to pick. The three that stayed with me most were:
Go as a River by Shelley Read
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (how I had never read that I don’t know!)
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. Also basically enjoy anything by Elif Shafak and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche!
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
I only read one which was the Making of the Modern Middle East by Jeremy Bowen.
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
Good surprise - Remarkably Bright Creatures. Based on the blurb it was not my kind of book but I gave in to the hype and so glad I did.
Bad surprise - All the Colours of the Dark and God of the Woods. 2 DNFs that everyone seems to rave about and I can’t work out what I’m missing but they just did not grab me!
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
4! Which I feel reflects my good picks but also that because Goodreads doesn’t allow half stars I tend to be generous and round up!
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Not preordered but added to my Goodreads TBR:
Skylark by Paula McLain
Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lilith Assadi
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
I have a constantly growing TBR and just a commitment to continue reading consistently!
Here are my final book reads of the year:
The Mother of all Christmases 7/10
Murder in the Falling Snow 4/10
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories 6/10
Bella's Christmas Bake Off 8/10
A Surprise for Christmas and other seasonal mystries 5/10
Christmas at the Chateau 4/10
The Lost Ones 8/10
Murder at the Spring Ball 8/10 *As I said in my yearly round up if I could make this into a TV series I would do it with immediate effect*
The Mother of all Christmases 7/10
Murder in the Falling Snow 4/10
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories 6/10
Bella's Christmas Bake Off 8/10
A Surprise for Christmas and other seasonal mystries 5/10
Christmas at the Chateau 4/10
The Lost Ones 8/10
Murder at the Spring Ball 8/10 *As I said in my yearly round up if I could make this into a TV series I would do it with immediate effect*
I was but won't make it, didn't update my pretty page enough and then put on my sad face. Too many R books, which left me with 7 books to go from yesterday morning. Just can't read that many books between then and tomorrow with the other stuff I have going on.
Am going to keep a much better check on things next year and check my app with every book I read so I can keep tabs on any glaring hair by mid-October.
What were your x and z books?
I've only managed the alphabet challenge once before - there seem to be so few books for certain letters which interest me! X was an easy romance, Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon.
My Z was Zorrie by Laird Hunt - a quiet, short book set in the Great Depression in Indiana, following a "radium girl", which I knew next to nothing about before picking up the book. I'd recommend it, though - it was the sort of read which crept up on me
2025 READING ROUND UP
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
Shakespeare by Judi Dench
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
The Great Gatsby was soooo boring and none of the characters are interesting yet it seems to be such a beloved classic?
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy (I came to the franchise very late).
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
4, but I tend to round up because of Goodreads so it's probably more like 3.5-3.75.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Robert Thorogood's next Marlow Murder Club book, plus I may preorder Rob Rinder's next one a bit closer to the time of release.
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
A list as long as my arm.
I may lower my reading goal a bit so I'm not stressed but I would like to continue my norm of having a book and an audiobook on the go at any time, as that works for me. I can listen at work/on walks.
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
Shakespeare by Judi Dench
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
The Great Gatsby was soooo boring and none of the characters are interesting yet it seems to be such a beloved classic?
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy (I came to the franchise very late).
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
4, but I tend to round up because of Goodreads so it's probably more like 3.5-3.75.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Robert Thorogood's next Marlow Murder Club book, plus I may preorder Rob Rinder's next one a bit closer to the time of release.
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
A list as long as my arm.
I may lower my reading goal a bit so I'm not stressed but I would like to continue my norm of having a book and an audiobook on the go at any time, as that works for me. I can listen at work/on walks.
I bought marble hall murders when it was 99p on kindle - then realised it was the third one in a series2025 READING ROUND UP
What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
Shakespeare by Judi Dench
What was your favourite audio book of this year?
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
What book/s surprised you good or bad?
The Great Gatsby was soooo boring and none of the characters are interesting yet it seems to be such a beloved classic?
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy (I came to the franchise very late).
If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?
4, but I tend to round up because of Goodreads so it's probably more like 3.5-3.75.
Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Robert Thorogood's next Marlow Murder Club book, plus I may preorder Rob Rinder's next one a bit closer to the time of release.
Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
A list as long as my arm.
I may lower my reading goal a bit so I'm not stressed but I would like to continue my norm of having a book and an audiobook on the go at any time, as that works for me. I can listen at work/on walks.
so bought the first two (having to read the whole series of something is why I’ll never have a no buy book year!) and I’m half way through the second one - bloody loving them! Such a unique way of making a story.- Status