Being Bookish

In the final episode of the year, I'm reflecting on my reading (in general), sharing my top 10 favourite reads of 2025, as well as five books that didn't quite work for me. None of these are ranked in any particular order as I talk through them, until we reach the read I loved the most, a novel I feel has been ignored by many and is massively underrated. It's been a year of highs and lows, with numerous books that captured my attention and reminded me why I love reading so much. At the same time, there were a handful of reads that served as a reminder of how much I wish I had allowed myself to DNF more often instead of pushing through when they were clearly not the book for me. Now is a time of reflection, and over the last few weeks, I've spent some time looking ahead to 2026 and reflecting on how my relationship with reading is changing. Rather than setting a long list of strict reading goals, I am approaching the new year with a much gentler mindset. I want 2026 to be a year focused on enjoyment, flexibility and living in the moment where books are concerned, without feeling the need to plan every reading decision down to the smallest detail. So, take a seat, pour yourself something to toast with, and enjoy the last episode of 2025... Featured Episodes Brat: An '80s Story The Names Paradise

In my last book review of 2025, I'm taking a look at one of the newer Romantasy releases of the year, The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman. It's an exciting blend of highland romance and dangerous fantasy. Dangerous court politics, rival kingdoms, and a princess caught in the middle of it all. A story full of intrigue, heat, and all the popular fantasy tropes that keep people reading! As always, I am going to share my personal thoughts on the book; the world, the characters, the themes, and what I thought about the story overall. I will, as ever, be keeping it completely spoiler-free because why buy the cow when you get the milk for free? If you enjoy fantasy romance with high stakes, morally complicated characters, and a sense that anything could go wrong at any moment, this episode is for you. My second, shorter review is for A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke, a more reflective read that offered a very different experience and made for an interesting contrast. So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

This week, I’m joined by author Victoria Prince to talk about her gloriously escapist debut novel, The Chalet Girl, which is released on 4th December 2025 by Penguin. It's a sparkling, sexy, snow-dusted romp that channels the glamour, drama, and irresistible excess of classic 80s bonkbusters. Set in a luxury Alpine resort where secrets simmer beneath the snow, and desire is as dangerous as a black-diamond run, The Chalet Girl follows three women navigating ambition, temptation, and the intoxicating world of the ultra-rich. Think Jackie Collins glitz combined with Jilly Cooper mischief, all wrapped up in Victoria’s fresh, funny, fiercely readable voice. Victoria and I chat about the inspirations behind the book, from retro paperbacks with gold-foiled titles to the larger-than-life heroines who strutted through the stories of Collins and Cooper. We get into writing bold characters, crafting deliciously chaotic plotlines, and bringing back the unapologetic glamour and fun of the bonkbuster. If you’re into big personalities, snowy scandals, and fiction that lets you escape into a world of outrageous luxury and even more outrageous behaviour, this episode is for you. So grab a hot chocolate, get cosy, and let’s head up the mountain together. Episode Links Victoria's Instagram Buy the Book Victoria's other Instagram

This week, I am joined by regular visitor Lorraine, and we tend to do, we're talking horror. This time it's the tension and fear induced by Stephen King’s 1980 novella The Mist, a claustrophobic tale of survival, fear, and the monsters both outside and within. When a strange storm rolls into a small Maine town and an otherworldly mist swallows everything in sight, a supermarket becomes ground zero for a group of trapped townsfolk struggling to make sense of the horrors lurking just beyond the glass. Lorraine and I dig into the tension, the razor-sharp social dynamics, and the way King turns an everyday setting into a pressure cooker of paranoia. We’ll talk creature design, human collapse under stress, and why this particular novella still feels unnervingly relevant decades later. If you’re into atmospheric dread, moral grey areas, and speculative horror that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page, this one’s for you. So brew a cuppa, get cosy, and let’s step into the mist together. Episode Links The Body Misery the book Misery the film

This week I’m diving into Daughter of the Moon Goddess, a 2022 fantasy tale inspired by Chinese mythology, rich with celestial intrigue, forbidden love, and the journey of a young woman determined to challenge the gods themselves. Forced to flee her home on the moon, where she lived in exile with her mother, Xingyin must navigate the perilous world of immortals, uncover her family’s secrets, and fight to free her mother from eternal imprisonment. As always, I’ll be talking about the character development, world-building, and emotional depth, plus my feelings on the romance. If you love lyrical storytelling, Chinese mythology, and heroines who forge their own destiny, this one’s for you. And stay tuned for my review of Darker Days by Thomas Olde Heuvelt—a dark, unsettling tale where folklore and fear collide. So brew a cup of tea, get cosy, and let’s talk books.