Good morning all, I am coming at you inn 'real time' as all the trendy bloggers are calling it. It is New Year's Eve and I am sat writing this in my usual spot with a Diet Coke and a selection of Pink Gin chocolates. It's not even noon yet.

Having always dislike twixmas whilst working in bookselling (the shop looked stripped, every transaction was a refund and shoppers were often grumpy), I've come to embrace it now and use this to relax down and play with the lovely gifts that we received for Christmas. Incidentally my 2 favourite refunds involved a poor lady who had received no less than 5 copies of 'What Not to Wear', the book based on the TV show for people who did not know how to dress themselves and who sadly said to me 'I think my friends are trying to tell me something'.

My other favourite refund involved a mother who had purchased the Goosebumps hardback book which wailed when open. Unfortunately hers had a fault, and through bloodshot eyes, disarranged hair and 4 buttons done up incorrectly announced 'It's been going since Thursday' (It was now Monday). and 'We've had to hide the damn thing in the dog's basket, he hates us now'. Refund quickly organised.

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas break. We certainly have, lots of time spent with family and relaxing, but also with this rather nasty bug that everyone seems to have. It has curtailed our New Year's Eve plans somewhat, but are still going to have a nice evening. I thought it fitting that on the last day of the year, it would be fun to do a review of my year in reading.

Read my 2021 Year in Books Post

Read my 2020 Year in Books Post

The Stats

• Books Read - 69 books
• Pages Read - 21,7461 pages.
• Shortest book - The Canterville Ghost
• Longest, and God was it the longest, was Anna Karenina.
• Average Book Length - 324 Pages.

Favourite Rediscovery of the Year

The Summer without You by Karen Swan - Loved this book which was a right time, right book moment about a woman finding herself again after her relationship is put on 'pause'.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 and 3/4s - This book still makes me laugh out loud as much now, as it did when I first read it some 30 odd years ago.

The Anonymous Venetian by Donna Leon - This is the second time Donna Leon has featured in my Books of the Year lists, and it is for a reason namely her wonderful creation Guido Brunetti.

Favourite Fiction Novel

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - Was there ever a doubt that this would make the list. The easiest 5 stars I have ever awarded.

Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse - I'm being sneaky here, as this probably should be on the crime list, but it's my best books and I will do what I want. Brilliant, terrifying, deeply psychological. This made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.

Mrs England by Stacey Halls - Love, love, love this author. This was autumnal, deeply atmospheric and dark.

Favourite Crime Novel

The Dark by Emma Haughton - Set in the bleakest of places, Antarctica I loved this thriller read way back in January

One by One by Ruth Ware - This book had sat on my kindle for the longest time. I was so pleased I finally got to read this.

The Readers Rooms - Antoine Laurain - The chicest crime novel I read this year with a deeply personal connection.

Favourite Comfort Read

Three Cheers for the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell - The final book in my beloved Shipyard Girls series and it was a very fitting end to what has been a brilliant series.

The Christmas Mouse by Miss Read - I read and listened to this on audio book and it is just lovely. A gorgeous book about the message of Christmas.

Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott - Another right time, right read book. It's just wonderful, Christmassy and uplifting.

Book that scared me Witless

I only read one horror book this year Bane by Joe Donnelly and dear heavens it was terrifying.

Honourable Mention

The Spell Tailors by James Nicol - Imagine if you could weave a spell into a piece of clothing with a single stitch. I loved this and felt about 8 years old again entering a wonderful world of magic.

And so.....drumroll please...my favourite books of the year are.....

1st Place - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

2nd Place - Three Cheers for the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell

3rd Place - The Dark by Emma Haughton

So what was your book of the year?

Have the happiest of New Years and thank you for reading. xxxx