My Top Five Reads of 2024 and My 2025 Book Bingo!
Hello, and welcome to my last blog post of 2024. Merry Christmas!
Like many of you, one of the things that gives me the most pleasure in life is reading, so what better way to end the year than with a bookish post?
I rarely take part in those “favourite books of the year” posts in book groups because I always feel really bad for the ones I don’t choose! It’s especially tough because I have so many friends who are authors, and even though I read and love many of their books, I couldn’t possibly name them all, which inevitably means I have to leave some out and I just can’t do that! So, I’m only going to name my top five reads in this post - and I haven’t included any books by authors I know personally.
My top five reads of 2025 were:
5. The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
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Their time is running out.
Short on money, opportunities and – most importantly – adventure, Tommy and Tuppence embark on a daring get rich quick scheme.
Their advertisement boldly proclaims that they are ‘willing to do anything, go anywhere’.
But their very first assignment, for the sinister Mr Whittington, plunges them into more danger than they ever imagined…
I never expected a Tommy and Tuppence book to feature in a favourite reads list, but following the Read Christie Challenge has made me read books I probably wouldn’t have chosen for myself. I’d never wanted to read the Tommy and Tuppence series, having seen the television series which I didn’t think was very good, but this - the first full-length novel in the series - was a delight. I really love the way Agatha Christie writes for these two. There’s a lot of humour and intrigue and I was totally gripped.
4. Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
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When the leaves fall, magic rises . . .
With found family, a dash of romance and an uplifting message about self-love, Rewitched is a cosy autumnal fantasy that will leave readers spellbound.
Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark, but she hasn’t seen it in a while either. Balancing work at her beloved London bookshop, Lunar Books, with handling her toxic boss and concealing her witchcraft from those around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.
But, when her thirtieth birthday brings a summons from her coven and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic for ever. With the month of October to fix things and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure and even from an (infuriating) coven watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .
Can Belle reignite her spark before it's too late?
Having followed Lucy Jane Wood on YouTube I knew she was a warm, bubbly sort of person and highly likeable, so I was pretty sure I’d like this, her debut novel. And I’m very pleased to say that I did. It’s warm, bubbly, and highly likeable, just like her, with autumnal vibes and lots of delicious witchiness!
3. Rivals by Jilly Cooper
Welcome to the 80s, the decade of decadence…
The glamorous, cutthroat world of 1980s British television is all about power, a time when the affluent elite exist in a bubble of immense wealth and influence, and will use any means to get what they want. Lord Baddingham is desperate to retain his Corinium TV franchise, and to do so he’s hired Declan O’Hara, an Irish talk show mega-star. Baddingham has also enticed on board Cameron Cook, a gorgeous and brash executive, to produce Declan’s program. But Declan and Cameron detest each other, soon provoking a storm of controversy.
Enter into the fray everyone’s favourite hate-to-love-him bad-boy, Rupert Campbell-Black. As a rival group emerges to pitch for the franchise, reputations ripen and decline, true love blossoms and burns, marriages are made and shattered, and everyone is competing—in bed and in the boardroom—to come out on top.
This was a re-read for me. I read it way back - in 1991 in fact, after I’d been introduced to Jilly Cooper’s books with a brand new copy of Polo from my mum. With the television series about to start on Disney Plus, I wanted to read it again and reacquaint myself with all those characters. I’m so glad I did because I couldn’t have loved this book more and now I’m determined to re-read the rest of the Rutshire series, starting with Polo. Funny and naughty and completely bonkers!
2. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
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Yorkshire, 1979
Maggie Thatcher is prime minister, drainpipe jeans are in, and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South.
Because of the murders.
Leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking.
Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all?
So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a list: a list of all the suspicious people and things down their street. People they know. People they don't. But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighbourhood, within their families - and between each other - than they ever thought possible.
What if the real mystery Miv needs to solve is the one that lies much closer to home?
I’ll confess I hadn’t heard of this book until I attended a local literary event where Jennie was one of the speakers. She made her book sound so wonderful that I had to grab a copy and get her to sign it. I read it while on holiday, and I absolutely loved it. It really made me think and remember. I was a teenager in Yorkshire at the time of the Ripper killings, and I know how scary life was back then. This book took me back to that time, but believe me, it’s not all doom and gloom. This is an absolutely wonderful story, full of Yorkshire humour and warmth. It fully deserves to be on anyone’s favourite book list for this year.
The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
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Linus Baker leads a quiet life. At forty, he has a tiny house with a devious cat and his beloved records for company. And at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he’s spent many dull years monitoring their orphanages.
Then one day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment. He must travel to an orphanage where six dangerous children reside – including the Antichrist.
At the orphanage, Linus must somehow determine if these children could bring about the end of days. But their guardian, the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to protect his wards. And, as Arthur and Linus grow ever closer, Linus must choose: his duty, or his dreams . . .
I don’t know what I can say about this utterly gorgeous book, other than read it! It’s very rare that a book actually makes me laugh out loud, despite the promises on the cover. This book didn’t make any such promise, but it made me laugh out loud anyway - frequently! But what’s amazing about it is that it also made me genuinely well up with tears, and several times I had a lump in my throat, as emotion threatened to overwhelm me. Full of love and hope and compassion, it’s a book to make you think and a book to make you feel. I loved it so much and it went straight to top place as my favourite book of 2024.
My 2025 Book Bingo
As I said previously, I love doing the Read Christie challenge because it gets me to read books I probably wouldn’t have picked up otherwise. I decided to create my own challenge this year, and I’ve added it to my bullet journal as a “Book Bingo” page. There are sixteen squares, and each one has a challenge written inside it. If I manage to cross off all sixteen squares and call “Bingo” I get to treat myself to a special edition book I’ve had my eye on, or another bookish treat of my choice. If you’re looking for a challenge you might like to play along!
The list is as follows:
Read a book that…
Has been on your to-be-read pile for over a year
Is a classic novel
Everyone was talking about when it was published but you missed it
Is an autobiography or a biography
Is an author’s debut book (no matter how old it is)
Is the final one in a series
Is a children’s classic
Is by one of your favourite authors
Is the first book in a series that’s new to you
Has only been released in 2025
Is older than you
Was a childhood favourite
Is a film or TV tie-in
You previously gave up on and want to give it a second chance
Is an old favourite you’re revisiting
Was given to you as a gift
I’m looking forward to crossing off all sixteen of those challenges, as well as doing the Read Christie 2025 Challenge! That’s twenty-eight books I’ll be reading at least in 2025 - although there might be some crossover. You never know. And that’s without all the books by my lovely author friends that I know are heading our way next year…
So that’s it for 2024. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, filled with all the things that bring you pleasure. Eat, drink, and be merry - and happy reading.
See you on the other side!
