Unwrapping the Christmas Spirit
3 Bright Ideas for December

BOOK OF THE MOMENT

BY LUCY STEEDS

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

BY JANE AUSTEN

THE WILD CARD

BY DAVID SZALAY

BUY WITH HIVE

Our Book of the Moment is 'The Artist' - a beautiful debut novel by Lucy Steeds combining intrigue and romance whilst delighting the senses, and a worthy Waterstones Book of the Year 2025 winner. Our Missed Opportunity is 'Persuasion' - returning to our favourite Jane Austen novel in her birthday month and her 250th celebratory year. And our Wild Card is 'Flesh' by David Szalay - the latest Booker Prize winner, that is a work of genius which may well divide your book club.

Wishing all our Den readers a Happy Christmas!

For people who love books.

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There are SOO many reasons to buy ‘The Artist’ but in true Den tradition we give you 3! 1. It’s a beautifully crafted story that delights all the senses combining romance and intrigue, as well as an immersive experience into the art world circa 1920. 2. It’s just won Waterstones Book of the Year 2025 as well as Best Debut Novel 3. It is our Book of the Moment because ‘The Artist’ is a gift of a read- perfect for bookclubbers, friends and family.
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#secretsanta #giftsforher❤️🎁 #giftsforhim❤️ #instabook #booklovers #loveliterature #lovebooks #bookclubs #awardwinning
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It’s December 1! & The Reading Den is unwrapping the Christmas spirit with its 3 Bright Ideas. As well as great stocking filler ideas for book lovers 🎁🎄🎁 1. Book of the Moment: ‘The Artist’ - a beautiful debut novel by Lucy Steeds combining intrigue and romance whilst delighting the senses, and a worthy Waterstones Book of the Year 2025 winner (just announced last week). 2. Missed Opportunity: ‘Persuasion’ - returning to our favourite Jane Austen novel in her birthday month and her 250th celebratory year. 3. Wild Card: ‘Flesh’ by David Szalay - the latest Booker Prize winner, that is a work of genius which may well divide your book club.
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#bookclubreads @christmasideas2025 #secretsantagift #instabook #loveliterature

Sunday night TV! If you got the chance to read the novel, this new adaptation maybe of interest… starring Gillian Anderson, Tom Cullen and Lola Petticrew. ‘Trespasses’, the novel by Louise Kennedy, was short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2023 and made the Den cut as a recommended book club read, 9/10 for talkability!) as well as a brave and compelling debut novel. Set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland the story centres on love and the challenges of living and working on a daily basis during this period of sectarian and political unrest. A moving, touching and wonderful read which gives a breath-taking, honest insight into this fragile period. Or try the TV adaptation- streaming as a drama series on Ch 4 from tonight!
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#tvadaptation #tresspasses #channel4drama

It’s World Mental Health Day and the Den put forward its 3 Bright Ideas 1. ‘The Madwomen’s Ball’ by Victoria Mas. A book club favourite, this is a mesmerising piece of historical fiction. Set in Paris in 1885, Mas has created a wonderful insight into life for women who deemed mad were incarcerated at Salpêtrière Hospital based on the real sanitorium during this period of experimental hypnosis research in France. This compulsive read makes you stop and think about the role society plays in locking up fragile individuals. 2. Next up is a popular book club read, ‘The Midnight Library’. This is a fantasy fiction novel by the award winning Matt Haig and a brilliant Missed Opportunity choice for your book club ‘The Midnight Library’ tackles some of the issues around depression and mental health. As an author whose early work includes children’s fiction, Haig harnesses his wonderful storytelling skills along with his own experiences of fighting anxiety in this life-affirming novel. 3. And finally for something completely different the Den’s Wild Card choice is Rupert Everett’s recent memoir ‘The American No’, which is now in paperback. Ifyou have read any of Everett’s memoirs you will know he writes with a mixture of vibrant wit, refreshing honesty and exquisite descriptions whilst never hiding from life’s disappointments. As usual, there are the raucous stories of debauched characters, his take on Hollywood and struggling actors. The Den enjoyed Everett’s wonderful observations and gossip which are joyous, poignant and a delight to read. If none of this match your vibe, time to browse the Den’s library - bursting with bright ideas!
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#worldmentalhealthday #madwomensball #matthaig #ruperteverett

Happy National Fitness Day! 💪🏃‍♀️💪🏽And as great supporters of audiobooks we love the fact you can improve your fitness and step count everyday whilst keeping up with your book club reads. A recent and favourite book club read that will inspire sports enthusiasts is ‘Good for a Girl’ - an insightful memoir and manifesto about the challenging life of an elite female athlete, Lauren Fleshman who became a poster girl for Nike ‘Objectify Me’ 2007 campaign and a national US champion in distance running. ‘Good for a Girl’ tells the story of a woman running in a man’s world. Fuelled by her years as an elite runner and advocate for women in sports, Lauren Fleshman offers her inspiring personal story and a rallying cry for reform of a sports landscape that still appears to be failing young female athletes, even in 2025! Winner of ‘Sports Book of the Year 2023’ this is a fantastic Wild Card choice for book clubbers.

Not just for Thursdays! Yep, this book has got us all talking… love the books but hate the film, love the film but not a fan of the novels. Our Den feel equally divided on this bestselling series but either way, there’s something special about this cast of characters: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron - whilst all pushing eighty, are adored for their boldness, tenacity and joie de vie (with no filters). An entertaining and hilarious whodunnit.
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#thursdaymurderclub #richardosman #murdermystery #bookstagram #instabooks

We kick off the Den’s month of killer reads with our Book of the Moment, ‘The Mouthless Dead’, by one of The Reading Den’s much loved fiction writers, Anthony Quinn. This intriguing, imaginative and gripping novel is the story of a real unsolved murder crime with a new narrative and a resolution as to what has been described as ‘the perfect murder’. This story is worth hearing out so read on… The reader is firstly presented with the historical facts of the case: One night in 1931 William Wallace is handed a message at his chess club from a Mr Qualtrough, asking him to meet at an address, 25 Menlove Gardens East, only to find it did not exist. Upon returning home two hours later, Wallace discovers his wife beaten to death in the parlour. The elaborate nature of Wallace’s alibi in which he stopped a policeman and passers by en route to Menlove Gardens pointed to him being the culprit. Wallace was subsequently arrested, tried and found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. However with the support of his employers ‘at the Pru’, Wallace’s sentence was overturned. Wallace walked free and the killer was never found. Having presented the historical facts of the case, Quinn scrolls forward some 15 years, when the murderer’s true identity continued to be rife and the retiring Inspector Key, who worked on the Wallace case, is considering it once more. It is easy to get hooked into this story, so it’s a joy to read. It is only a shame that Wallace’s wife, Julia will remain one of the ‘mouthless dead’. But perhaps through fiction her voice has been found. Still in paperback but worth tracking down as an e-book or audiobook or even in your library!
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#themouthlessdead #anthonyquinn #bookclubofinstagram #ınstabook #unsolvedmurders #unsolvedmysteries #murdermystery #lovefiction #loveliterature

Three killer reads for September. Our Book of the Moment, 'The Mouthless Dead' is an intriguing, imaginative and gripping novel, telling the story of a real unsolved murder crime with a new narrative and a resolution as to what has been described as 'the perfect murder'. Our Missed Opportunity has to be Richard Osman's original debut hit novel, 'The Thursday Murder Club' which introduces the septuagenarian sleuths - Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Joyce and Ron who meet in the Jigsaw Room to solve crime. Isn't it time to join them and give it a go?! Our Wild Card is Chris Whitaker's latest new crime thriller ‘All the Colours of the Dark’, now in paperback. Check out Den reviews and scores. Time to take the leap into the pages of a thrilling crime. You won't be disappointed!

Looking for your next book club read? Check out The Reading Den’s library to see what book clubs are enjoying. And stay tuned for the release of our September recommendations - out on the 1st!
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#lovemybookclub #loveliterature #bookstagram #bookclubofinstagram

Looking for a novel ‘novel’. Read our wild card choice ‘Uncle Paul - Welcome to the Nightmare Summer Holiday’ . This is pacy midsummer suspense drama about a nightmare summer holiday. Written and set in late ‘50s and recently re-published in 2023 by Faber, ‘Uncle Paul’ is a midsummer suspense mystery and a fascinating portrayal of the English family coastal holiday that perhaps our parents or grandparents might have experienced predating affordable air travel. With the return of ‘whodunnits’ thanks to Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, this makes an entertaining read for book lovers. Find our review in link and appreciate a ‘nightmare summer holiday’. We’ve all had them .
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#midsommermurders #nightmaresummerholiday #summerholiday #summerreading

Something for the long weekend! Especially for Richard Osman fans. Can’t wait for Thursday Murder Club on netflix.
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#thursdaymurderclub #richardosman #bookclubofinstagram #instabookstagram

Are you in reset mode? Whether this is reorganising your goals for September or discovering new authors check out the Den’s Missed Opportunity read by talented writer Tessa Hadley. ‘Free Love’ tells the story of a middle-aged woman who throws caution to the wind after she begins an affair with a younger man. An unpredictable turnaround and the consequences of doing the unexpected. Tessa Hadley keeps being referred to as the writer who goes under the radar. The Den found her writing polished and compelling. Check out our review and tell us what you think?
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#tessahadley #theparty #missedopportunity #bookstagrammer #instabook #bookclubofinstagram #bookclub #bookrecommendations #readme

Rom Com meets fantasy fiction. ‘The Husbands’ is an original and funny debut novel based on the premise that ‘you wait for The One… then 203 come along at once’. Already snapped up by A24 TV for release on apple and starring Juno Temple, famed for her cheeky 'Keeley Jones' character in Ted Lasso. One for weekend break or mini break or just me-time.
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#summerreading #metime #thehusbands #a24TV

August is the time to free yourself from routine, choose an easy breezy novel to enjoy or throw caution to the wind and take in new vistas. Treat yourself to The Reading Den’s 3 Bright Ideas. All in paperback and all 3 quite different reads. So something for everyone! Our Book of the Moment, recommended by a Den reader, is ‘The Husbands’ by Holly Gramazio - a funny and original debut novel about life, love, and navigating a world of never-ending choices. Already snapped up by Apple TV+. Our Missed Opportunity is ‘Free Love’ by the acclaimed author, Tessa Hadley, about a middle-aged woman who is resetting her life, swapping stability for an imagined freedom. Our Wild Card is ‘Uncle Paul’ by the popular English author Celia Fremlin, ‘the grandmother of psycho-domestic noir’. This late 1950s novel was re-published by Faber in 2023 and is a pacy midsummer suspense drama about ‘a nightmare summer holiday’. Whatever you choose, have a brilliant sunny August and do get in touch with your favourite reads of the summer.
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#loveliterature #bookstagram #instabooks #bookclub #summerreading #bookclubofinstagram #bookofthemonth #3brightideas #packme

‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ by Richard Flanagan was a wild card choice when Den first reviewed it as it’s not for the faint hearted and did engender uncomfortable reading for all of us in book club. But we couldn’t deny it is a worthy prize-winning novel (Booker Prize Winner 2014) so no surprise it has been snapped up for TV. Based on the author’s own father’s war-time experiences in Asia on the Thai-Burma border, Flanagan looks back at the life of an Australian POW survivor who returns home but lives on as a flawed casualty - battling with his own conscience and the demons of war. ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ takes the reader to a Japanese camp in the Burma Death Railways. It tells an empathetic story of surgeon, Dorrigo Evans, who works tirelessly to save the men under his command from starvation, diseases and brutal beatings. Romance is interwoven into the novel, providing some respite for the reader as we find Dorrigo haunted by a love affair with his uncle’s young wife. TV adaptation is trending so worth making it a book club choice.
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#loveliterature #bookclubreading #instabooks

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Unwrapping the Christmas Spirit 3 Bright Ideas for December

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Unwrapping the Christmas Spirit
3 Bright Ideas for December