Shantaram is now officially the longest book I’ve ever read, at a whopping 933 pages. Truth or not, it’s a powerful feat of storytelling that I’m definitely glad I took the time to read. Reviews below ⬇️ Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/review/show/... Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b74f...

Making a start on this, which I bought after @thereadingpara.bsky.social gave it a great review on Insta

Sirens and Stories is a "breath-taking anthology of paramedic stories", offering a glimpse into the challenging yet fulfilling life of a paramedic.🚑 Featuring 46 voices, this collection captures the resilience, humanity, and humour needed to serve on the front lines. 📖 @thereadingpara.bsky.social

@thereadingpara.bsky.social this is all your fault 😅 - saw you talking about this online, so decided to give it a try ❤️

Did anyone else have a Boxing Day sale book haul because you don’t already have 348* books on your TBR?! In my defence, I already wanted most of them anyway & many of them were half price!!! *not an accurate figure 🙈

Forgot to celebrate my anniversary of joining the ambulance service - 15 years done as of 4 January. A career I fell into by accident and, though there’s been stress & tough times, I’ve never regretted my decision & genuinely don’t think I’ll ever do anything else 🚑💚💚

The perfect antidote to work? That would be this! ☺️ Castleton-Hollins Cross-Mam Tor-Winnats Pass-Castleton 🙌🏻

M&S stop it now!!! I bought an Easter egg on 3 January!!! 😂

"One of those novels, which is as funny as it's devastating, I'm Sorry You Feel That Way lays bare one family's dysfunction over the decades." This banger by Rebecca Wait is 99p for Kindle and very timely if you STILL have family staying. amzn.to/4gPafmd

Boxing Day walk done, around the Emley Circular Trail, from fog to bright blue skies, back to fog! ☺️

I’m in work for the Christmas Eve late shift. The last few days have been a little calmer so because I am forever a bookworm, I’m taking along Three Wise Men to read on my break while stuffing my face full of chocolate. Have a fun evening & stay safe! 🎄

So @thereadingpara.bsky.social inspired me to look through my 2025 proofs and pick out 10 I’m excited for. Except I picked out 20 without a hesitation. So I’m doing two posts. These are the first 10 I snaffled from the stacks. There’s no particular order to them, just as I grabbed them.

A heads up of 11 of 2025’s publications that I’m really, really excited for! What’s on your reading radar in 2025? 📚🙌🏻

Love my new light for my book nook! 🤩

Was totally surprised to get my FIRST physical copy of the paperback of The List of Suspicious Things today. I am so so thrilled 🤩. Here’s a little sneak preview 👀 it’s out in January in the UK #booksky

Good morning folks! Yesterday was a pretty shitty day at work. Today I’m on a late shift (4pm to 2am) so I’m crossing my fingers for a better day, and then it’s my weekend off & I’ll be continuing reading book 2 of the ACOTAR series. What are you reading this weekend? 📖

Made me own wreath? Rate impressed wi meself! ☺️

Went to look at some art at the Belvedere Palace. I have to say I think I prefer Judith. What do you say?

Outdoor slide at 170m on the top of the Danube Tower? Go on then! 😳

Getting all festive in Vienna! 🎄🎅🏻🥰

Haha, I might have phrased this differently if I thought the Guardian would be quoting me… www.theguardian.com/books/2024/n...

Can’t come to Vienna without calling into Shakespeare & Co! 🥰

Please note, people: @val-mcdemid01.Bsky.social is a fake account. They even nicked my official profile pic, the toe rags!

It’s time for another solo adventure & after falling in love with ACOTAR (& I mean that I am literally OBSESSED!), I’m taking book two with me! 📚✈️

Incredibly excited about the book post I’ve received this week, and my new Jellycat! 🥰 Individual details of each book to follow! 💙📚

Thank you @alisonbarrow.bsky.social for sending me a copy of Madame Matisse by @sophiehaydock.bsky.social. I adored The Flames so very much looking forward to this one too! It’s out on 6 March. More details here: uk.bookshop.org/a/10770/9780...

Am so excited to reveal the cover of my new book #TheyHadItComing 😃😃😎 It’s set in Bali amongst the digital nomad community and features two couples who are out for revenge. Out in May, retweets & pre-orders much appreciated! (And thank you Viking @penguinbooks.bsky.social for the fab video!)

i either read for 8 hours straight or don’t touch a book for 8 months there is no in between

The cold weather hit us hard in the UK this week so thought I’d share some of my favourite wintery reads. The Reader on the 6.27 is a bit of a cheat as it’s not really set in winter but it’s one of my favourite books ever & they re-released it with a winter, snowy cover so 🤷🏼‍♀️ Tell me your faves!⛄️

Hello Bluesky! Hoping to find all my Book Twitter pals here. For those I haven’t met yet here I am aboard Betsy my writing office with Bomber my beloved Border Terrier. I am lucky enough to live on a houseboat island in the Thames & my next novel is a love letter to the Thames.

NORTHERN FICTION ALLIANCE STARTER PACK 📣 People and presses that make up the NFA - supporting the publishing industry in the North. Let me know if I've missed anyone including any NFA authors who are over here - will update regularly! ✍️ Shares appreciated! go.bsky.app/6RGYudb

Hello from Harrogate International Festivals! Obligatory first post on Bluesky – please RT to let people know that we are here. Looking forward to finding friends and building networks!

Is that not one of the best street names?! (In York, England). Let me know if you’ve got some good uns!

Love my leisurely mornings on my days off - rarely out the house before lunchtime! 📚☕️ What’s your favourite way to spend a leisurely morning?

@penguinhuddleuk.bsky.social hello!! 👋🏻

My bookish starter pack seems fairly popular so I've created another couple to help you find authors, publishers and reviewers. All the lists are here 👇 💙📚 go.bsky.app/518dS5X go.bsky.app/Tds9GFF go.bsky.app/N7wKzie

A lot of people here won’t know that I’m a solo traveller & other people often feel that’s a brave thing to do. Sometimes I do have a wobble & have been anxious that I’ve planned myself too big a journey, but today I got myself a permanent reminder that I will always strive to be brave 🙌🏻

Ok, so as someone who’s never read fantasy, I’m going in! I’ll keep you posted (I am already excited after Chapter 1!) 🗡️

My review of Ice Town by Will Dean is up! ❄️❄️ Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/review/show/... Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/bb15...

My word of the day (and personal recommendation) is ‘snerdling’ (18th century): nestling cosily beneath the covers and holding off the day a little longer. Morning.

I regret to inform you that I do sometimes judge a book by its cover.

It's that time of the week again. If you're working, stop it, get yourself comfy with a book and the drink of your choice. And if you don't have a book, an indie bookshop near you would like to see you.

Please, if you are able, support Independent bookshops. They are the literary & social hubs of our high streets and communities. Without their continued support, we simply wouldn't be around to publish . Thank you.

Have you heard of Jólabókaflóð? 📚 It's a cosy Icelandic tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve and spending the evening reading. 😍 Visit your local bookshop for the perfect gift or order online with us for a postal delivery! #ChooseBookshops 🎄

Anyone else get baffled by that often asked question - how do you arrange your bookshelves? There is no arranging. I, erm, I just put them on there. That’s it.

Coffee, book & me time! 💙📚

Officially influenced! 🤭