Grab a book! Adventure awaits! This illustration is inspired by the joy of reading, delving into a new world with endless possibilities, or simply stepping into someone else’s shoes, their hopes and dreams, their interior landscape.
In the UK, 2026 has been named the National Year of Reading, promoting reading for pleasure, and ‘Going all in’ and delving deeper into your interests. If you like gaming, why not read about gaming (might I suggest Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin)? If you like cooking, perhaps a cookery book, or an audio book to energise you while you cook? If you’re a fan of watching Traitors, maybe a murder mystery could be just the thing. Whatever floats your boat, there’s a book, a graphic novel, an audio book or a magazine out there for you! If budget is a problem, why not join a local library and access hundreds of books for free? And if you’re stuck for inspiration, take a trip to your local bookshop and ask a real live bookseller for recommendations! They will be delighted to chat about your favourite themes and interests.
The initiative hopes to boost the number of children reading for pleasure too. I think it’s important that parents let their kids read what they want to read, whether that’s Dog Man, the back of a cereal packet, or a weekly comic – all reading counts, and helps to build a happy, healthy reading habit.
A couple of my recent reads made their way, indirectly, into this illustration. It took on a fantasy flavour when I was reading ‘Threads that Bind’ by Kika Hatzopoulou which takes inspiration from Greek mythology (and which I recommend if you want a good time), and a chilly polar aspect when I was reading Christiane Ritter’s memoir ‘A Woman in the Polar Night’ for book club. I travelled to a dystopian metropolis at high tide, and to remote icy Svalbard from the comfort of my own home (bathtub).
I’d also like to share my favourite reads of 2025! My top 12, in the order I read them, was:
✧ The Blue Maiden – Anna Noyes
✧ Nettle & Bone – T Kingfisher
✧ Sisters – Daisy Johnson
✧ Edith Holler – Edward Carey
✧ The Square of Sevens – Laura Shepherd-Robinson
✧ Vaster Wilds – Lauren Geoff
✧ My Brilliant Friend – Elena Ferante (translated by Ann Goldstein)
✧ North Woods – Daniel Mason
✧ The Butcher of the Forest – Premee Mohamed
✧ On the Calculation of Volume I – Solvej Balle (translated by Barbara J. Haveland)
✧ Wild Dark Shore – Charlotte McConaghy
✧ Accidental Darlings – Crystal Jeans
With the star prize for favourite read going to Lauren Groff’s ‘Vaster Wilds’. What were your favourite reads of last year? Did you enjoy any of these?
Happy reading!
Currently reading 📖 Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante
Currently listening to 🎧 The Single Petal of a Rose by Duke Ellington, on repeat
Currently excited about ✨ Ulrika Spacek’s forthcoming album, Expo
Recently enjoyed 🎥 Jesse Eisenberg’s 2025 film, A Real Pain