Christmas Reading Recommendations

Each day from now until Christmas a member of Inspire staff will recommend the book they have enjoyed most this year.

Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo 

Six outcasts. One heist. Kaz’s crew might be the only thing that stands between the world & destruction, if they don’t kill each other first.

A Christmas for Bear - Bonny Becker 

Grumpy Bear and eager mouse prepare for Christmas, full of festive cheer, friendship, great family story for Christmas Eve.

The Caller by Chris Carter 

Brilliant thriller that I couldn’t put down.

Hag-seed: the Tempest retold - Margaret Atwood 

This isn't a straight retelling but uses the themes from the play (Loss, love, redemption and revenge) in a very clever way.

Gathers pretty much all the Lovecraft you’ll ever need into one huge 928 page tome.

The Things We Thought We Knew - Mahsuda Snaith 

Ravine Roy has been bed-ridden in her mother’s council estate flat for 10 years. Why is she there, and how can she escape?

Quick Read - Paris For One - Jojo Moyes 

A weekend in Paris for Nell & new boyfriend does not go to plan. But a hotel mix up & a chance encounter make it a trip to remember

Absolutely gripping, a marvellous mix of incredible events, credible characters and a stunning twist that you wouldn’t have seen coming.

A Girl Called Jack - Jack Munroe 

A hundred delicious budget recipes. Some great recipes for healthy, tasty and nutritious meals. The beetroot cake is delicious.

Funny, coming of age novel following the (mis)adventures of 14-year old Johanna’s journey from Wolverhampton Estate to 90s London.

Life after Life - Kate Atkinson 

What if you had the chance to live your life again and again until you finally got it right?

Moonrise - Sarah Crossan 

Joe’s brother Ed is on Death Row but he’s innocent.Joe is determined to spend the last weeks with Ed.About The value of life and how to say goodbye.

The Rainbow - D H Lawrence 

Frank portrayal of human desire in three generations of Nottinghamshire farmers, this book was banned in 1915 when first published.

Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari 

A thought-provoking and challenging explanation of how and why homo sapiens became the dominant and most successful species on earth.

Easily Distracted - Steve Coogan 

Highly illuminating and surprisingly serious autobiography of a comic genius. Needless to say, he has the last laugh.

Lifers - M A Griffin 

Preston gets caught up in a terrifying experiment to curb anti-social behaviour under the streets of Manchester.A gripping dystopian thriller.

A man called Ove - Fredrik Backman 

A grumpy old man, who’s given up on life finds an unlikely friendship when a family move in next door.Funny & almost unbearably moving

Celebrating women who wander, combining feminism, history and biographies of the likes of George Sand, Martha Gelhorn and Agnes Varda

One for the money - Janet Evanovich 

Stephanie Plum & her friend Lula get into mischief in their jobs as bounty hunters, a funny crime series with plenty of hunks thrown in

The Essex Serpent - Sarah Perry  

Recently widowed Cora Seaborne moves to rural Essex and becomes fascinated by a fabulous beast reputed to haunt the marshes

Green Arrow: The Death & Life of Oliver Queen  - Benjamin Percy 

Green Arrow revisits his roots as a crusader for the disadvantaged, Black Canary also making a welcome return

The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye – David Lagercrantz 

In prison, Salander is a force for justice, standing against racism & finding answers to her own childhood traumas

Fingers in the Sparkle Jar - Chris Packham 

A lyrical, moving memoir about nature and growing-up, life and death

With our Blessing – Jo Spain 

 DI Tom Reynolds is sure the murder he is investigating is linked to events that took place in one of Ireland’s notorious Magdalene Laundries