Month: December 2025

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Not too long ago, a friend bought me a book from the charity shop because she said she read the blurb and she knew it was a ‘me’ book. And, well, she was not wrong. I have picked it up in these ‘Twixmas’ days as I knew I had the chance to give it some time, but as I could not put it down, and I was reading past my bedtime with the good old ‘just one more chapter’, it did not take too long to read at all.

‘A Woman is No Man’ by Etaf Rum is an incredibly powerful read. This book tells two stories in parallel, one of Isra, as she leaves Palenstine for her new life in America, with her new husband and his family, a marriage that has been arranged for her. The other of her daughter Deya, who has been growing up with her grandparents in New York, since, as she believes, the death of her parents, Isra and Adam.

As we follow Isra’s story, she has arrived in a land that she hopes will bring her freedom and allow her to gain more freedom as a woman. However, does her husband’s family’s desire for tradition and reputation amongst their ex-pat community in New York just cause her to in fact become less free than she could ever have imagined. What will her fate become? At the same time we follow Deya as she attempts to break the cycle of expectation on her for being a woman in her Muslim family. But she is also dealing the trauma of losing he mother at a young age, her aunt running away and her desire to ensure that her sisters are always protected. Alongside this, she discovers that her family history may not have been presented her to accurately – will that cause her to have the strength to change the generational cycle for all the women that will follow her?

I am not sure that I can do this book justice, as there is just so much in it that can be shared and discussed. However, this would lead to me potentially revealing spoilers and I am not willing to do that. What I can share is that Etaf Rum has written an incredible novel that should be read by us all. Although there are some difficult topics in the story and a lot of tragedy, both women are strong female characters, they are just tackling very similar but very different circumstances.

The very final chapter of the book is one of the best I have ever read, and the final line is quite something. It will stay with you for quite some time when you have finished the book – I am still thinking about it now and I think I will be thinking of it for quite some time to come.

So, as you enter the new year, or are looking for something to take you to the finish line of 2025, then this is a book you should definitely seek out. It was my 100th book of the year and it is certainly one of my favourites, which I can see recommending to absolutely everyone if they are willing to listen.

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This month for ‘The Book Taster’, we could choose any Jenny Colgan book we wanted to read. After all, she does have a little bit of a festive backlist behind her. However, I did give in to her newest release, ‘The Secret Christmas Library’, mainly because I judged the book by its stunning cover – the content of the story was almost irrelevant.

But, I am pleased to report that this book did not disappoint. This story was just the right amount of festive joy for any book lover. I mean, a treasure hunt for a missing book in a family library (with plenty of bookish and popular culture references) is potentially a bookworm’s comfort read of choice. It is also rather delightful that this book brings us back to two of the chracters from ‘The Christmas Book Hunt’ (which I read last year), Mirren and Theo.

Mirren and Theo are reunited, as rival book hunters, as they attempt to help Jamie find a rare and valuable lost book in his grandfather’s old collection, because Jamie needs to try and save his crumbling family home. His grandfather had been a great puzzle-setter, which seems to make it an impossible treasure hunt. And, of course, there are all sorts of challenges along the way, and mishaps that keep you reading and rooting for Jamie.

The joy of this book was that it was easy to read at this time of year. It had the right touch of festive fun without becoming overly cheesy. It left you feeling good about the world; a cosy comforting read that helps you escape from the stresses of the world.

I will certainly be looking up the other bookish titles from Jenny Colgan’s backlist, as one thing I love is a book about books – because there seems to be an extra dose of comfort for a reader when the book is about books.

New Beginnings for Christmas by Sally Page

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I did not really plan my festive reads this year. I just went for mood reading and books that may have had a little bit of a festive feel. As I was searching for something to read the other day, I stumbled across ‘New Beginnings at Christmas’ by Sally Page on my Kindle and thought it was definitely the right time to read it.

I have never read a Sally Page book before; I am not sure why, I guess there are just so many books in the world. However, I am instantly questioning why I have not picked up a book by Sally Page before. I was hooked from the moment I started reading. This book was a huge hug in book, and it was just the tale I needed to take me to the festive break.

Malcolm is determined to give his friend Rev. Ruth a perfect relaxed Christmas, as, after all, it is her busiest time of year. As he plans his festivities, the celebration seems to get bigger and bigger – is it too much for Malcolm, or is it exactly what he needs? And, will he have the nerve to invite his friend and colleague Padam to celebrate with them?

Honestly, Malcolm is one of my favourite characters to have met this year. Even as I finished the read, I am still thinking about Malcolm and all his friends at Christmas time. This is just one of those books that fully sucks you in and makes you feel like you are part of the community you are reading about. It is also rather lovely that a bookshop plays such a big part in the story, because we all know a bookworm’s happy place is in a rather lovely bookshop.

If this little festive novella is anything to go by, Sally Page is an author that needs to be on my 2026 tbr pile (like I need excuses to add to it – haha) because I think this is one of the most wonderful books I have read. A hug in a book that reminded me of the reasons why I love the books of some of her fellow authors, such as her daughter Libby Page (who we already know I am a big fan of) and Mike Gayle. And I loved this book so much that, before I had even finished it, I had recommended it to a whole host of people because I knew it would be loved by them just as much as it has been loved by me – and that is surely the sign of a very good read.

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

When my book buddy suggested it was time for a wintery read as we head into December, I was more than happy to read ‘Dark Matter’ by Michelle Paver. It was a book I know Mr Bookwormandtheatremouse had enjoyed and I heard an adaptation of it on the radio, read by Lee Ingleby, so I was intrigued how I would find it as a read.

Now, one thing I am totally fascinated by is early 20th century exploration, and the daring exploits of men such as Scott and Shackleton, so ‘Dark Matter’ being set in this world was something that I knew would make this book a winner for me (although set slightly later in 1937). We follow Jack Miller as he embarks on an Arctic expedition with three other men – men that are above him in social status. Their expedition seems to be plagued with bad luck, but Jack is determined not to be beaten and prove that he has just as much right to be part of this adventure as any other man. However, as Jack spends his time in isolation in Gruhuken, with only the dogs for company, he starts to realise that maybe the rumours about the place were not just rumours – maybe it is haunted.

This is a book from the ‘horror’ genre, and that is not a spoiler. But I have a lot of respect for anyone who can write in this genre, as you do not just have to tell a good story – you have to tell a story that will spook or haunt the reader, and that is something that Michelle Paver has done brilliantly in this tale. But she does it alongside making some very good points about society (especially in the early 20th century), and the poor treatment of those who are seen as different. That there is a dark side to the world, who do not wish to help those who are not seen as acceptable to the rest of the world. This, for me, added to the story even more, as you were left feeling empathy for the darker character of the story – is it a horror story, or a story about the horror of the world?

I could not put this book down once I started it, and now I want to read all Michelle Paver’s books within this genre. She is a very skilled storyteller, and this is a book that I have not been able to forget since I finished it – even to the point that I may, in fact, make it a book that I re-read in the colder months. Although, we all know there are so many books and never enough time – and a Michelle Paver backlist.

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Last year, I visited a stately home with friends, and when we were there we saw some dummy boards. Figures made of wood were used as an old-fashioned security system to make it appear that homes were occupied when families may have been away, usually placed to cast a shadow or be seen from a window. A fairly basic but rather ingenious idea, I remember thinking.

This story reminded a friend of a book she had recently read and suggested that it may be a book that I would enjoy. That book was ‘The Silent Companions’, and I am ashamed it has been sitting on the tbr for quite some time since that trip, but this December I decided to pick it up. And, although it may not be the usual pick for this time of year, I thought it was perfect for these dark December evenings, especially if you are someone who enjoys a ghost story for the winter months. In fact, I read past my bedtime to find out how it would end, and a little chill passed over me as I read the very end of the story.

‘The Silent Companions’ is a novel with a Victorian Gothic feel, and I loved that about it. We meet Elsie as she has been confined to an asylum and, from that moment, we find out exactly what put her there. As the story unfolds, we find out she has inherited a house, ‘The Bridge’, from her late husband. But this house appears to hold a dark secret – in the form of silent companions. However, the silent companions also seem to know the secrets of those around them, or so Elsie thinks.

This is a wonderfully constructed, creepy story that keeps you turning the page, as we move between the present (the 1800s in this case) and the 1600s to find out how the silent companions came to be and who exactly they may be. This was such a clever narrative, as there are moments where you realise conclusions you may have reached may not be correct, which really adds to the gothic feel of the tale.

If you like historical fiction with a creepy twist, then this is the book for you. It reminds me of the classic Victorian ghost stories, but it has a fresh feel. And, more importantly, it turns out that there is a sequel (which can also be a standalone) called ‘The House of Splinters’ set in the same house as ‘The Silent Companions’, and I am so excited to read it, as I think Laura Purcell is a talented ghost/horror story writer.

The Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I have mentioned before, Mark Edwards was an author that I only discovered in April this year, but I have already read three books by him, and I will absolutely be reading more.

I love a Christmas book – but a Christmas crime book is even better. So, when I spotted that this was coming out, I knew I had to read it. Now, I do have to confess that I have not read the other ‘Magpie’ books, but they are definitely on the wishlist, and this did not stop me from enjoying this one.

But that age-old issue of not spoiling a thriller is with me again. I am not sure why I do this to myself; I should really have come up with a way round it by now.

A young couple move into a new house, in a rather-too-perfect housing estate. They get a rather warm welcome from the neighbours, however this welcome gradually takes a sinister turn. ‘Secret Santa’ is not the jolly old soul you would hope for…

There are just so many wonderful elements in this book that make it such a readable thriller. But something that Mark Edwards is brilliant at is creating his cast of characters. This neighbourhood was just full of characters that you can imagine finding in lots of suburban neighbourhoods.

If you want a dose of Christmas crime then this book is definitely worth picking up – just do not expect it to be cosy.

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Sometimes you read a thriller that really hits the spot, and this is one. ‘Nightwatching’ was recommended by Jennie Godfrey at this year’s The Book Taster Live Event, and I knew it was a book that I had to read.

We all know how hard it is to review a thriller, as there is absolutely no way that you can give spoilers, especially to one as good as this. But, I am going to do my best.

A family are isolated in their home in New England by bad weather, when they are convinced that there is someone in the house watching them. As our unnamed central character does everything she thinks she needs to do to protect her family, there seems to be very little support from those around her. Nobody seems to quite believe her as they should, and for me that was an interesting point along the way. But that is about all I can say as you really need to read this book to understand what a wonderful thriller it is.

It uses a lot of wonderful techniques to build the tension, such as using names very little, which supports in building tension. There are some paragraphs that flash back, but this is done to show how our central character is thinking as she tries to unravel what appears to be happening to her and family. And it really does lead the reader down one path, then another – and has you unsure who you can trust as a reader.

I would genuinely have so much more to say about this book – but I want people to read it, because it seems to have gone slightly under the radar and it deserves its time in the spotlight. It would be an incredible read for a book club as there is so much to unpick.

I am also pretty sure you will find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel – I can’t wait to see what else Tracy Sierra will write (I have done a little research and it looks like we will be lucky with another book in 2026).

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have decided that before I read a book, try to avoid finding out who reads the audiobook. Just before I started ‘Beautiful Ugly’ by Alice Feeney, I discovered that it is narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, which meant for the duration of reading the book Grady became Richard Armitage in my head – but I guess there are worse problems as a reader.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller, as it had one of my favourite elements to a thrilling read – an isolated island to create a locked-room thriller. As usual (do tell me if I am repetitive) this is difficult as I do not spoil thrillers. However, I will say that Grady’s wife Abby disappears and, as a way to deal with this, and hopefully inspire him to write another book, his agent Kitty sends him to an isolated Scottish island. And, surprisingly, it is not all it seems – and is even more isolated than Grady was expecting.

There is a wonderful twist in this book – which I had to pause and think about – as it was just a genius moment. It has certainly cemented Alice Feeney as an author that I will keep an eye out for (and, of course, go back and read previous titles) because the twist was a moment I admired greatly.

So, if you want a thriller that will keep you turning those pages, this is definitely one that is worth a go.