We are almost there my friends…holidays are in sight and I am SO excited at the prospect of sitting and reading and doing NOTHING for at least a week. Besides my visions of early nights and sleep ins (compared with the reality of entirely not enough sleep and early mornings with kids) my all time favourite part of holidays for me is the circuit break from normal life, from social media and the luxury of time to read. I tend to churn through books giving all my spare time to reading, occasionally looking up to check on a kid or feed them, then back to the book. Reading before sleep at night and first thing in the morning…it’s the best. THE BEST.
I also love that holidays are a time that the girls read – especially after Christmas where they will received LOTS of books. If you are looking for ideas for kids this post may help….30 fabulous books for girls and boys aged 11, 9 & 3.
Thought I would share my reading pile for the holiday ahead..not sure I will get through them all but I might just. And I have to say, lots of them are there from my last post I did on reading in September…always worth trying again…

The Bus on Thursday by Shirley Barrett
Shelter by Sarah Franklin
The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA BY CHANEL CLEETON
WINGING IT BY EMMA ISAACS
WOMEN KIND BY DR KRISTEN FERGUSON & CATHERINE FOX
DARING GREATLY BY BRENE BROWN
WHY MUMMY SWEARS BY GILL SIMS
Let’s see how we go with all that then shall we? And while we are here I thought I would share some of the books that I have read this year that I have really enjoyed and would recommend to anyone for some reading these holidays.
My Thoughts Exactly by Lilly Allen
Loved this book and reading about Lily’s life. Loved her frank story telling and insights into the rock and roll industry. Lots more to come in this story I think – really devoured this in the car in about a day.

Calypso by David Sedaris
My very first Seadris novel and it most certainly will not be my last. I loved this so much – a collection of stories, essays or blog posts that are so bizarre and so hilarious. Absolutely loved this.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
This was light reading that I devoured quickly and despite the bizarre turn at the end I still really enjoyed it. Great characters and a fund plot to follow…easy holiday reading.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This is a huge historical novel set in France in WW2 that follows the stories of some amazing women and sisters. A harrowing story that will make you cry and not be able to put it down. I was exhausted by the end of it and haven’t been able to stop having it creep into my thoughts months later.

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
This was one of my favourite books of all time I think. Loved the story, the characters and of course the Australian flowers tied into it all. Alice is a character that will stay with you in this beautiful writing. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

So there are my books to read and those I have loved. I would love to know what your top book was for 2018 so we can compile a cracking reading list for the holidays ahead.
Happy reading friends….long may those pages turn I say!
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I just finished Boy Swallows Universe – it is so much more than the blurb on the back a beautiful read, I laughed and I cried. I will be interested on your thoughts of Why mummy swears – I couldn’t get into it at all. Some of your others are on my “to read” list as well.
You should definitely try and listen to David read his diary entries …. Funny AF ! Nearly wet my pants.
I am reading and loving Into the night by Sarah Bailey. Only after I started this book I found out there was an earlier book written called The Dark Lake. Reading the second book first hasn’t confused me as the 2 books have separate stories but the main character Detective Gemma Woodstock features in both books so believe there is a continuous thread of her life .