Ben & Books

A year ago, I decided to start writing book reviews. Both a challenge to myself to read more books, and a way for me to talk about books I have read and the stories that have impacted me the most, this last year has been my best for reading that I have ever had. Over more than 60 books I have found new favourite authors, I have read genres outside of the usual fantasy books, branching into horror and contemporary fiction a lot more, and I have found many new favourite authors, both through reading from my extended tbr and from recommendations. Here are a few of the highlights from this first year:

Joe Abercrombie

Late in 2025, I decided to try Joe Abercrombie’s newest novel, The Devils. A dark and bloody fantasy adventure akin to a suicide squad with fantasy monsters, this book introduced me to how exciting, how enthralling a dark fantasy can be. The first few months of 2026 I have been largely dedicated to reading through Abercrombie’s First Law series, and, having read 6 out of the 9 books in the series so far, I will find it difficult to find a series that has captured my attention like this one, with its wonderful worldbuilding and deep cast of complex and dangerous characters, I cannot wait to finish the series and read whatever comes next from Abercrombie.

Grady Hendrix

The Final Girl Support group was on my bookshelf for a very long time, and after I finally decided to read through it, I wished I had read it much sooner than I had. A brilliant satire of slasher movies that twists the common tropes of the genre beautifully whilst also telling a hilarious and heartbreaking story, this book made me want to read a lot more from Grady Hendrix. With How to Sell a Haunted House and The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires read this year, I can’t wait to start on the other books of Hendrix’s that I have waiting in my tbr.

Jennie Godfrey

The author of my favourite book of 2025, The List of Suspicious Things, a beautifully written story in 1970s Yorkshire that takes the fears and anxieties of the Yorkshire Ripper and turns it into a heartbreaking story that will make you both laugh and cry in equal measure. Godfrey Followed this up with the excellent Barbecue at No.9, a charming and tense story based on a barbecue celebrating Live Aid in 1985 that cemented Godfrey as one of my favourite authors, a master of historical slice of life fiction, a genre that I most likely would have missed out on if I hadn’t started reviewing books.

The best thing about books is that there are always new books coming out, new books to be excited for, sequels and prequels, debut authors and new series from old favourites, here are a few of the books I am most looking forward to this next year:

A Planet Called Happy by Riley August

A Storm Of Swallows by S. F. Williamson

Impossible Creatures: The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell

Over the last year I have read more books than I thought was possible, I have read genres I never thought I’d be interested in and been very surprised by how much I have enjoyed them. I am very much looking forward to whatever is to come from the next year, whether it be from the old favourites or new, the continuations and finales to series or the new series or author that captures my attention and heart next. Reading is my favourite thing in the world and this over this last year I have loved being able to talk about all the books that have made me laugh, all the stories that have made me cry, and all the new authors I have found. If you have read one of my reviews this year, thank you so much for being a part of my reading journey since April 2025, I cannot wait to see what the next 12 months brings, and I am looking forward to reading more books than ever before yet again.