Happy New Year! š„³
I wanted to do something a little bit different this year, because I never get around to reading all the wonderful recommendations from other readers and authors! I have so many proofs and advance copies to read that I sometimes miss out on so many releases I would probably love. Then another year goes by… and another!
So, to fix this, I’ve asked 6 of my favourite bookstagrammers and 6 of my favourite authors to recommend one book I need to read in 2025… and I’m going to read ALL of them! I’ll be revealing one book at a time on my socials, but you can see them all here, as well as reasons why all these lovely people have chosen a particular book. I can’t wait to dive into this fabulous list!
Readers Recommend…

Emma Recommends… Frank & Red by Matt Coyne

“Unmissable and unforgettable, ‘Frank and Red’ will lift your spirits and warm your heart.”
Beth Recommends… One Wrong Turn by C.M. Ewan

“A gripping thriller that involves ordinary people and situations gone dramatically wrong! Abi and Ben are navigating foggy, narrow countryside roads home when they encounter a broken down car. Would you stop and help? The book switches narrators and is set in a short window of time both of which really adds to the pace and suspense. You won’t be able to put this one down!”
Marianne Recommends… The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

“WW2 fiction at its very finest. Powerful. Heartbreaking. Breath-taking. May well be the best book I’ve ever read!”
Stu Recommends… 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon

“This is such a thrilling read that it’s going to be HUGE when it’s released! Packed with tension, devastation, and the rawest of emotions, it’s exhilarating and heart-wrenching in equal measure. Don’t miss it!”
Nicola Recommends… Where The Bruised Pieces Go by Jane Fawley

“I have selected this book as I love to help promote indie authors and this is a great debut crime novel with a superb twist.”
Jon Recommends… You Killed Me First by John Marrs

“It’s a brilliantly dark story infused with sharp humour, compelling characters, and twists for days!”
Authors Recommend…

G.D. Wright Recommends… The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

“A heartfelt and poignant ‘small-town’ tale about friendship and community, set against a country gripped by fear as the people hunted for the Yorkshire Ripper. Just fabulous.”
Gillian McAllister Recommends… The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

“Original, inventive and gripping, this is a story of an ordinary woman who is sent back in time.”
A.J. West Recommends… Under The Skin by Michel Faber

“I love Michel Faber’s historical novel The Crimson Petal and the White, so it was thrilling to read something different from the same author. He’s proof that novelists don’t have to keep churning out the same stuff, and Under the Skin is a book that takes convention and zeitgeist and chucks both out the car window. It’s the most disturbingly unforgettable book I’ve ever read.”
Emily Freud Recommends… The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

“You must read The God of the Woods by Liz Moore – it’s a compelling multilayered mystery with characters you’ll fall in love with, an immersive setting, and twists that’ll blow you away. I wish I could read it for the first time again.”
L.V. Matthews Recommends… Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward

“It seems peculiar to recommend a book I havenāt read yet, but such is the power of a great author. I have read all of Catriona Wardās novels and loved them. Each is rich in the macabre, and with such evocative atmosphere and sense of place. I canāt wait for Nowhere Burning, out in October 2025. It is about Riley, who one night pulls her younger brother out of bed, and runs away from home. Riley is intent on joining a group of teenagers squatting in the abandoned ruins of an infamous movie starās ranch, Nowhere. But a refuge for lost children may also be their prison⦓
Tina Baker Recommends… Orbital by Samantha Harvey

“It has more beauty & joy in its slim volume than a lot of mighty tomes. Exquisite. I read it slowly to savour it.”
Keep an eye on the blog and socials to see my thoughts!
Have you read any of these books? I’m so excited for all of them this year! Keep an eye out on the blog for my reviews over the year, and make sure you follow me on Instagram, Bluesky and X/Twitter to join in the conversation!
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