Books

December is full of exciting new releases for book lovers (Image: Getty) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more With December here, the countdown to Christmas is now well and truly underway. It’s an especially exciting time of year for book lovers, with plenty of festive books doing the rounds in addition to the usual fiction, romance, sci-fi, thriller and fantasy releases. Whether you’re looking for your next favourite read, or a book to gift to a loved one, here are some of the best books to look out for in December. The list includes anticipated releases from well-known authors, as well as some hidden gems and debut novels well worth picking up. For more book news and recommendations, subscribe to The Bookish D...

One of Jane Austen's novels is creating a stir amongst period literature fans, and it is not Pride and Prejudice.Emma, the English author's last published novel before her death, is set in the fictional Surrey village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls, and Donwell Abbey. It is centred on the relationships among people from a small number of families. Similar to her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote: "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like."The book's blurb reads: "Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however...

The best book of all time is up for debate, and if you love classic novels, you'll likely have heard of this one. A novel by Jane Austen has been hailed by fans as a "masterpiece". The last completed novel of Austen's, Persuasion, is the pick of readers over on Reddit.The book's synopsis states: "Jane Austen's final novel, Persuasion, is the story of Anne Elliot, a woman in her late twenties who, eight years earlier, was persuaded to break off her engagement to the less-wealthy naval Captain Frederick Wentworth. When they meet again, Anne must navigate her lingering feelings, societal pressures, and a rival suitor for a second chance at love, in a tale described as Austen's most moving and a masterpiece of missed opportunities and romance."Under the thread titled "In your opinion, what’...

With the weather growing ever chillier and the supermarkets filling up with all things Christmas, there's no better time to get into the festive spirit. Putting your tree up, eating some pigs in blankets and visiting a Christmas market are all great ways to ease yourself into December.If you're a book lover, you might also fancy reading a wintery romance novel to help get you in the Christmas mood. Luckily, author Chloe Ford has shared her top reading recommendations for the festive period. She said: "Looking for something to get you in the festive, wintery mood? Here is a list of ten books I recommend which promise to have you swooning, laughing and most importantly, feeling merry! So grab a hot beverage of choice, curl up in a warm blanket and get started on these wonderful wintery re...

True crime is a genre that many people dive deep into, but what most don't know is where the genre began. There is one novel that has been described as being one of the pioneers of true crime in books, and fans are saying it is the "best true crime novel".In a Reddit thread titled "Looking for the best true crime books…", several users commented that Truman Capote's novel In Cold Blood should take the crown.It was also highlighted in Goodreads' listing of "Best True Crime", taking the number one spot.Capote's In Cold Blood is a non-fiction novel first published in 1966. It recounts details of the 1959 Clutter family murders in the small farming community of Holcomb, Kansas. Upon learning of the quadruple murder, Capote travelled to Kansas to write about the crime, prior to the killers b...

There are thousands of detective books out there, and many have gone on to become massive hits with readers. A number of them have even been turned into television shows. But there’s one series in particular that fans simply cannot stop talking about. It’s been called a “masterpiece” and “one of the best shows ever created”, and it’s all thanks to the gripping book it was based on.One reader wrote: “I watched the TV series first and was apprehensive about reading the book. I'm very happy I did because it turns out it's the best detective book ever written.” Another review said: “I have wanted to read this book forever. And I'm so glad that I finally did. I first loved the TV show, so it was great to read what started it all.”A third added: “I binge watched the show on Netflix a couple y...

The Christmas holidays are a great time for reading. With annual leave and freezing cold weather, there may not be anything better than to spend your time working your way through some of the classic books that you haven't managed to get to before now.There are, of course, many books that are perfect reads for Christmas, but the classics are always a good place to start. From murder mysteries to a tale of four bright sisters, here are three of my December reading recommendations. The book's synopsis states: "'If I had my way, every idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips, would be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. Merry Christmas? Bah humbug!'"Introduction and Afterword by Joe WheelerTo bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Chris...

Who is your favourite crime author? (Image: Getty)I love a beach read just as much as the next person, but sometimes we crave a book with a little more grit, mystery and perhaps some hypothetical law breaking. Without these books, we would likely not have the popular genre of television crime dramas that we all adore, let alone a murder mystery.Waterstones has listed some of the crime novels that you've probably "always meant to read", but just haven't got round to, and here we have selected six to get you started.  Read more: The top 6 classic fiction books ‘you’ve never read - one is 1847 masterpiece Read more: I visited notorious seaside town loved by boozy Brits – its reputation is unfair And Then There Were None by Agatha ChristieThe book's synopsis reads: "First, there were ten...

There’s nothing worse than reading a book only to find it feels like a chore. If you’re going to devote some time to reading, you’ll want a novel where you can’t wait to find out what happens next.While it can be hard to find a real page-turner, this book could be it. The Creative Muggle, a book lifestyle blog, named it as one of the best to read in November. A reader on Amazon even described it as a “masterpiece”.Leigh Bardugo is known for her short fiction which has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy.This book is King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo. Its Goodreads synopsis reads: “The dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, has always had a gift for the impossible.“No one knows what he endured in his country's bloody civil war--and he inten...

Sharpe’s Storm by Bernard Cornwell, Hardback, £22Like Jack Reacher, Richard Sharpe is one of the most comforting literary creations of modern times. His 24th outing is set in 1813 and features the Battle of St Pierre, a crucial engagement in south-west France in the closing stages of the Peninsular War. And as ever, Bernard Cornwell’s grumpy Rifleman who came up through the ranks, saving the Duke of Wellington’s life en route, will play a key role. Sharpe’s Storm has all the fictional action and adventure fans have come to expect, neatly wrapped around real-life events. Cornwell remains the undisputed master of historical fiction and Sharpe is his greatest creation. Sharpe’s Storm hits the bullseye like a round fired by Daniel Hagman! 9/10Exit Strategy by Lee and Andrew Child, Hardback,...