#35: Book Christmas gift guide

Plus an INCREDIBLE meal at Winsome

It’s my birthday and this edition comes from my nest. It’s a two-blanket configuration in my living room (one heated, one fleece-bottomed) and I’m drinking a cup of Pukka from my herbal Advent Calendar, with Bridget Jones in the background. We’re going to see Wicked later and previously Jon had taken me to a lovely hotel, been to Chetham’s Library and eaten the most delicious meal at Winsome. It’s been a good birthday.

TV and film
The 7.39 (iPlayer). Written by David Nicholls, where Sheridan Smith and David Morrisey meet on a train and begin an affair. It’s only two longish episodes (essentially a film) and as you may expect, excellent writing and acting.

Leonard and Hungry Paul (iPlayer). An adaptation of a lovely, quiet book about two lovely quiet men who expand their small worlds.

Fleishman is in Trouble (Disney+). I had no idea this novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner had been adapted, and it’s brilliant so far (makes me want to read the book). Jesse Eisenberg, recently divorced, has an AWOL ex-wife, and juggles app-based dating and unexpected full-time custody of his kids, and it’s sharp, acerbic and very much a style I enjoy.

Return to Oz (Disney+). I’m a bit Oz-minded at the moment, and this kind-of sequel based partially on a book I remember reading as a child (The Marvelous Land of Oz) was so weird, fun and I loved it.

Books I’ve loved recently

Skipshock - Caroline O’Donoghue. Fantasy YA isn’t my usual genre, but it was by one of my faves and I loved the concept. A young teenager falls into a world where time is power, and immediately meets Moon, a salesman who guides her along the way and her world is turned upside down by what she discovers. It’s funny, clever, a bit sci-fi and sneakily political. It took me a really long time to get into it, but as the novel unfolded, I really understood why the scene took so long to set. And the narrator, Natasha Hodgson, was fantastic.

Meet the Newmans - Jennifer Niven. 1954. A perfect family who star in their own TV show, on the verge of cancellation. When Del, the mastermind of it all, is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah, his compliant wife, hires an outspoken reporter to help her write the final episode. It ticks a lot of boxes: historical fiction, workplace, feminist rage, family dynamics and romance. And yes, Lessons in Chemistry readers will love this.

Loved One: A Novel - Aisha Muharrar. Julia’s famous musician friend, Gabe, dies unexpectedly, and she spends the novel unpicking their last interactions to understand what she meant to him - and his recent English ex. It’s hard to describe this book but it’s peak Literary Fiction - it was an easy five stars for being funny, clever and a brilliant character and relationship study.

This Book Made me Think of You - Libby Page (published 29th Jan 2026). I really liked this cute book about grief and love (where a young widow discovers her husband has left her a book every month for a year after his death), and I did find myself tearing up more than once! The writing style is a bit sweeter than I’m used to, but if you like a heartwarming read, this is for you.

You & Me and You & Me and You & Me - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees (Published 5th Feb 2026). I loved this nostalgic, thoughtful book about a couple who discover a time machine in their shed - which works by playing an album from their past. It really made me think about all the ways my decisions and regrets have led me to where I am today, and that’s what my most enjoyed novels do - make me reflect on my own life.

Christmas Book Gift Guide

Looking for a Christmas gift for someone who likes reading? Here are some of my faves from this year.

• For foodies who are nostalgic for magazines
  Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir - Ruth Reichl

• For science-lovers who also like a bit of romance
  Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid

• For someone who loves a clever thriller (and rich people drama)
  The Party and (follow-up) One of Us - Elizabeth Day

• For someone who loves Reality TV and dark thrillers
  The Compound - Aisling Rawle

• For adults who loved Enid Blyton, and rich, well-told stories
  Tom Lake - Ann Patchett

• For nostalgic, 2000s indie obsessives wondering where time went
  Deep Cuts - Holly Brickley

• For true crime podcast fans who love twisty thrillers
  None of This is True - Lisa Jewell

Food I’ve enjoyed

• Winsome, where I had my birthday meal. One of my most memorable and unexpected meals of the year. Everything was delicious and I wanted more of everything. Addictive lardo was jewelled with a wholegrain mustard vinaigrette that we both hoovered up instantly, and the pork chop main (a course I am rarely excited about) was the most tender, gorgeous thing EVER. It was all good. Service was great, and there is a reason everyone is talking about it.

  

  

  Winsome

• Smoked provole (cheese) pizza from Forbici. Very thin crust pizza with cushiony, soft outside bits (is that the crust too?) and smoky cheese. No other toppings. Perfect.

• Lemon posset made by an excellent WI Book Club host - gorgeous. I never think I’ll be excited by something that’s lemon flavoured and I always am. YUM.

• Jon smoked an entire chicken and it was the juciest chicken I’d ever had, 10/10.

• A lovely impromptu meal at The Hawthorn in Hammersmith, recommended by my sister in law Jayne after a visit - a lovely pub doing simple things well. Pint of prawns, black pudding scotch egg, braised cuttlefish. A perfect unexpected date.

  

Further reading:
My Christmas edition from last year, featuring ‘Bridget Jones is extremely good', my top books from last year, and a countdown of Christmas films.

Until next time - may do a review of the year near before the year ends.