Super Thursday is the biggest day in book publishing. It was coined in October 2008 when a publisher noticed a number of big titles were hitting the market on the same day; a closer look revealed that one Thursday, in particular, seemed to be the day most were coming out.
This year a reported 1,900 books were published to mark the day as the industry unveiled what they hope will be the must-reads which will be wrapped under Christmas trees up and down the country. These include the third instalment of Laurie Gilmore’s cosy romance series The Christmas Tree Farm, Boris Johnson’s Unleashed, Ian Rankin’s Midnight and Blue and What I Ate in One Year: (and related thoughts) by Stanley Tucci.
It got our team talking about the books at the top of our wish lists for Christmas. Scroll down to see what we’re hoping for this December.
I tested Kobo Clara Colour against Kindle and one came out on top
I tried the affordable Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids and it’s ideal for readers who travel
For myself, Jada Jones, it’s hard to pick what I’m most excited for. Amazon is bringing out an Under the Mistletoe short story collection by some of the biggest names in romance but with it coming out in just over a week I will definitely have read them all before the end of November.
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley, which will be out in December. It’s book two in the Fake It Till You Bake It series. The first book follows a reality TV star who actually shares my first name and accidentally becomes the most hated woman in America for turning down a proposal on TV.
She returns home to hide from the hate and ends up in a fake dating situation with a cupcake shop owner and professional football player. With enemies to lovers, forced proximity and a dash of spice, it seems like the perfect cosy Christmas read.
A Legend in the Baking is a second-chance love story with Donovan’s sister as the lead. Sports romances are all the rage this year and there’s something irresistible when you throw a baking athlete into the mix.
Our resident Potterhead Narin Flanders can’t wait for The Boy Who Lived by David Holmes
As a long-time Harry Potter fan I remember seeing a brief segment on London Tonight about a stunt double from the films being injured in an accident while filming the Deathly Hallows. The three minute news package sounded low-key but actually heralded the start of the hugely devastating but ultimately life-affirming journey of David Holmes.
The titular Boy Who Lived and Daniel Radcliffe’s long-time Harry Potter stunt double, Holmes was paralysed for life after he broke his neck while rehearsing stunts for the penultimate film. A BAFTA-nominated documentary later (one of the most memorable and affecting things you’ll see on Prime Video and exec produced by Radcliffe, who remains a close friend), David Holmes is back with a memoir to expand on his story, and it’s my most anticipated book of the winter.
Holmes is honest and matter-of-fact about his horrifying experiences but without the (frankly understandable) bitterness or self-pity you might expect from someone whose life has veered down such a different course than anticipated, taking him from champion gymnast and qualified, in-demand Hollywood stuntman to finding a way to live with – and experience life beyond – his disabilities.
I’m anticipating a solid mix of Harry Potter behind-the-scenes reminiscing – he remains friends with many of the cast and crew, having effectively grown up with them while filming the iconic movies and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) is interviewing him to mark the launch in a live event that can be streamed free by fans) alongside a moving and honest account of how he rebuilt his life after such a horrifying experience.
If Holmes comes across in the same way as he did in the film, this book will be a must-read. I’m expecting it to be powerful, inspiring and also darkly funny, and I can’t wait – it’s out on November 14, and I’ve already pre-ordered it to arrive on my Kindle and bought a hardback for a Potter-loving friend.
The Mirror’s Phoebe Barton is excited to get lost in We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
As an avid reader, I have many books on my Christmas wish-list this year. Top of the pile is Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders which is currently only available in hardback on Amazon for £11, or on Kindle for £11.99.
I absolutely love The Thursday Murder Club series, so I’m excited to delve into another gripping murder mystery with a brand-new detective team from the incredible mind of Mr Osman.
The book follows retiree Steve Wheeler and his daughter-in-law Amy who is a private security officer. When a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy show up, the duo has to work together to uncover what’s going on.
It’s guaranteed to be a thrilling read while also having touches of humour and heart that Richard Osman is adored for. I’m interested to see if I’ll fall in love with Steve and Amy as much as I have with the Thursday Murder Club squad.
Shopping writer Lauren Codling is eagerly anticipating Think Again, the latest book in Jacqueline Wilson’s beloved Girls series, under the Christmas tree
My love for reading comes entirely from Jacqueline Wilson, the much-applauded author known for her brutal takes on everything from mental illness and divorce to bullying and grief. Jacqueline was the mainstay on my bookshelves throughout my childhood and teen years, introducing me to tough topics and lovable, relatable characters that have stayed with me over the years.
Most Christmases, I’d ask my parents for the latest Jacqueline book — and for the first time in two decades, she’s back on my wish list with her latest book, Think Again. The newest release is a sequel to the popular Girls series, chronicling the lives of Ellie, Magda and Nadine, three best friends who navigate female friendship, school and, most importantly, dating.
The original series depicted the girls as teenagers, but the latest novel sees them in their 40s, worrying more about rent payments and marriage woes than overdue homework. When I heard Jacqueline was revisiting the characters, I got a lump in my throat — it felt like I would be seeing long-lost friends after many years apart. I knew the characters when I was in my early teens, and here we were again, reuniting as adults!
As with most Jacqueline Wilson books, I envision myself reading Think Again in one sitting on Christmas Day, just like I used to do! It’s guaranteed to make me nostalgic and comforted by the presence of familiar faces — and isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
Self-proclaimed foodie and shopping writer Lucy Addicott can’t wait to tuck into Mob’s latest cookbook, Mob One
I love nothing more than a cookbook and I think they make a really lovely gift, too. This year, I’ve already snapped up Mob Kitchen’s latest release Mob One for a loved one, buying it from Amazon for £26. It’s currently even cheaper on sale for £20.23 for the hardcover, or you can get the Kindle edition for £14.99.
Designed to save you time and money, the cookbook contains hundreds of one-pot recipes for you to dive into. With chapters on Easy Ones, Speedy Ones, Fancy Ones and Slow Ones, I’ve found previous Mob cookbooks easy to follow and I’m expecting the same for this one.
Not to judge a book by its cover, but the Mob One cookbook is so beautiful it could make a stylish coffee table book when not in use. Each page is accompanied by a mouthwatering picture of the recipes you can create, which I find really useful when it comes to cookbooks. Whether you buy it for yourself, or for a friend, with this cookbook on your radar, delicious meals are a guarantee this Christmas.
Hopeless romantic and consumer journalist Nisha Mal can’t wait to devour You Are Here by David Nicholls
Like the rest of the nation, I fell in love with David Nicholls after One Day. Admittedly, my introduction to the love story that spans decades was entirely thanks to the Netflix adaption, released earlier this year. I nabbed the book straight after and sobbed my heart out all over again.
You Are Here tackles modern-day loneliness in a heartwarming tale following the turbulent lives of Marnie, 38, and Michael, 42. Marnie is a divorced copy editor stuck in a rut. She finds little enjoyment in her London life, as all her friends have tied the knot and moved out of the city. Isolated and alone, Marnie often finds herself ‘listlessly foraging on social media.’ Working from home doesn’t help on the social front either.
Michael, a geography teacher living in York, is coming to terms with his recent divorce. To take matters off his mind, he is embarking on a 200-mile walk across Britain.
Michael’s concerned friend and self-proclaimed matchmaker, Cleo, decides to set up a rambling party to accompany him on the first few days of his travels. And who should she invite but her old friend Marnie?
You can buy You Are Here on Amazon now. The hardback edition is £10, the Kindle edition is £11.99 and the audiobook version is 99p, with membership.
I, for one, can’t wait to sob my heart out for a third time.
Resident moody-guts and Affiliates Lead Tom Capon is looking forward to Tell Me I’m Worthless, by Alison Rumfitt
I will pick every single other genre of film over horror, but put all that spookiness into words, and I’ll devour it in a second. After lapping up the brisk supernatural horror-thriller Come Closer by Sara Gran, I sought something spooky to chill my bones as the weather chilled my skin this winter.
Enter: Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt. A modern classic of the haunted house genre, it follows Alice – who spent one night in an abandoned house with her friends Ila and Hannah. But one night was all the house needed to haunt Alice for the rest of her life.
When Ila asks them to return to rescue their friend Ila, Alice must brave the House so haunted it poisons the very hearts, minds and soil of Britain itself. The book is currently £5.99 on Kindle and £9.08 for paperback.
Nothing is scarier than family Christmas, but this might top it.
Rachel Pugh is loving Flayvaful: Spice up your life by Nathaniel Smith
While I’m not an avid fiction reader, as a keen cook I sometimes enjoy nothing more than kicking back with a good cookbook in the evening. My kitchen is teaming with cookbooks – with recipes ranging from all around the world.
But my most-used cookbook at the moment is undoubtedly Flayvaful: Spice up your life by Nathaniel Smith – who is more commonly known as The Grubworks Kitchen on Tik Tok and Instagram. I’ve followed Nathaniel’s page for a minute now, and I can say he rarely posts a recipe video that doesn’t have my mouth watering. So when I found out he was releasing a cookbook earlier this year, I was on that waiting list FAST.
Currently £17.45 on Amazon, down from £22, it’s the ideal gift for loved ones who enjoy cooking, or want to learn some new dishes and techniques. Many of the recipes stem from Nathaniel’s Jamaican heritage, so if you’re like me and love a bit of yard food and want to at least attempt making it at home, you’re going to like this one.
Some of the best-loved recipes include Peppered Steak Pie, Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets, Ginger Toffee Spiced Pudding, and Mango Hot Sauce. Belly rumbling? Thought as much.
