26ish books 2025

I’d love to join in! I read around 18 books last year and I’m determined to read more this year! I’m currently reading Rupert Everett’s new book of Short stories ‘ The American No’

My local library has Borrowbox. You just put in your library card number and your PIN and then you can listen to them on the app.
I also cheekily have access to Libby from another library where I used to live and they have never revoked access. Same thing - card number, PIN, and an app.
Both apps remove the audiobook after the 3 week loan period so you don't get fined!
You can also join Audible (another app) and you get one free a month or so, depending on your plan, but I can't find anything much that is different on there so I just use the library.

Try your local library first - most these days have access to digital lending via an app (mine uses BorrowBox) where you can read e-books and listen to audiobooks.

Can anyone explain to me (in very basic terms!) how audiobooks work? Wherebis best to get them from? I'm looking first a way to make the gym more bearable 😆

Just finished book 2 for this year:

1. The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Festive Nights short stories by various authors. Really enjoyed these wintry ghost stories.
2. A Cornish Christmas Carol by Liz Fenwick. A modern day retelling of Dickens' story.

I'll never keep this pace up but happy to be off to a good start.

Just finished The hotel Avocado** - better than the first book. Gary is less of a shit house 😆

Great to see a few newcomers and hear of the books alreadt been read.

1. How We Disappeared - Jin Jin Lee

A story of Singapore in the war and the ripples through to today. A really captivating read for those that like historical fiction.

Finished no 3 4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie, nice cosy murder before I go back to work!

Finished Rivers of London - really enjoyed it. Have started the sequel Moon over SoHo.

That was one of my final books last year and read it in one sitting too - one of those few novellas which I which had been a full
length book!

Listened to book no 3 in one sitting. Even though I was in middle of another book... Tbf it was only 4 hours long and it was John Boyne.

Water. Not usually a subject matter I would read but he's such a beautiful story teller who really knows people.

Back to work so that'll slow me down. 😔

Hi
I'd love to join please. I've upped my reading in last months due to joining a pub book club so hoping to keep it rolling. Great recommendations on the thread. I've finished my first book of the year, Claire Keegan's book of short stories called Walk the blue fields. Loved it. About to start Black Moon by Kenneth Calhoun nominated at the book club. Aiming for 20 - 24 books this year, both fiction and non fiction.😀

I'd like to join please!
I managed 26 books in 2023 and 22 in 2024 so hoping for similar in 2025 - not started one this year yet though!

Hello, can I join in please? I love getting inspiration for books I'd otherwise totally overlook from threads like this.

My Goodreads target is currently set at 20. I returned to reading in about April last year with a goal of 10, and think I did about 22 between then and the end of the year.

I'm currently reading An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena.

@therewasafishinthepercolator I’d strongly recommend A History of Loneliness, more subtle than Hearts Invisible Furies but none the worse for it.

I love John Boyne and I'm excited to read that series this year. The Heart's Invisible Furies is one of my favourites.

Finished my first book of the year:

1. The Safekeep by Yale van der Wouden. (audio book)

That should be 2. Think it autocorrected. Or I'm a dope...

1. How to kill your family Bella Mackie

Flew through first half. Found second half more of a chore and I didn't like the ending but that may just be me. It was silly with plot holes but I loved the protagonist's dry humour and observational wit. A bit of fun.

Enjoyed it well enough but it wouldn't be on my re- read list but I'm sure I will give her new book a go.

Have started I Know You by Clare McGowan. My usual Audible "thriller". Thank you 2 for 1 and £2.99 sales. I expect it will be fine but not set the world on fire. And that's grand.

Finished my first book of the year: Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham.

It was pretty good, but a lot of purple prose which it only got away with in part because it suited the setting (slightly antiquated, fairytale like characters living in a grand mansion). I personally would have preferred if the ending had gone in a darker direction, but really enjoyed the 'book within a book' element.

@Citygirlrurallife I was the same, 100 pages and it took me 2 months. I think it would have been easier with chapters, but it just went on and on. I'm glad I read it as I can tick it off the must read lists but it's not one I'd read again.

@Chickoletta I've just started reading Death at the Sign of the Rook, having just listened to the whole Jackson Brodie series again, there are not many fiction books that I re-read but think that was my 4th time for the older ones and second time for Big Sky.

Of others mentioned so far I have loved Trespasses and Run Rose Run, been on the fence about How to Kill Your Family.

What did you think of Old Man and the Sea? I read it a few years ago after being constantly recommended it by a (male) friend who said it was his favourite book ever. And I found it unbelievable y long and boring (and male navel gazy!) for such a short book

i really loved A Man Called Ove though. The original film is also fab, haven’t seen the Tom Hanks English language redo

Hello, I’d like to join in! I think I read 26 books last year (I have a list upstairs).

I’m currently reading Orbital for my book group. A short one to start the year with.

I’m glad you said this. I’ve often said this is the only example I can think of where the film is better than the book. Normally I fall asleep in films so always prefer to read rather than watch, but never let me go was a much better film!