Joanna Trollope on ditching 'Aga sagas' for career women and gay relationships
The writer spoke to Radio Times magazine in 2017 about redressing the balance with her novel, City of Friends.
Joanna Trollope, who has died aged 82, was a novelist with an unerring eye for the tensions shaping modern life. Though often – and inaccurately – labelled the "queen of the Aga saga", she bristled at the tag, arguing that it diminished the seriousness of her work. As Fay Weldon once put it, Trollope had “a gift for putting her finger on the problem of the times”, whether she was writing about marriage, family, faith or the shifting expectations placed on women. That instinct is clear in this Radio Times interview from 2017, resurfaced to mark her passing, in which Trollope discusses City of Friends, her novel about women, power and work in the City. Speaking with characteristic candour, she explains why she felt compelled to write about professional women on their own terms, challenging the idea that ambition, authority and success must look male. At 73, she remained sharply observant, intellectually curious and determined to interrogate the world as it was, rather than as clichés suggested it to be. This article was originally published in February 2017 in Radio Times magazine. "I just didn't think there were any serious novels about women and work," says Joanna Trollope. "There were a few novels about women in the City, on the trading floor, behaving like men, getting drunk and having sex with clients. They were tough-girl, ladette novels. But I couldn't find one about the way women work – because I don't think they work the same way as men." So the 73-year-old writer has set about redressing the balance. Her new novel, City of Friends, focuses on four 47-year-olds, who first met studying economics at university and are now City high-flyers. And it's an impressively diverse group. "I wanted to include a marriage that had no children, a marriage that had children, a gay relationship and a single mother, because that sort of covered everything." City of Friends is Trollope's 20th novel. The Oxford-educated daughter of a rector (and distant relative of novelist Anthony Trollope), she was dubbed the queen of the Aga saga because her early bestsellers, A Village Affair, The Choir and The Rector's Wife, all of which were made into TV series, had a Home Counties domestic setting. But actually Trollope is far more subversive. Fay Weldon once said admiringly that Trollope "has a gift for putting her finger on the problem of the times". Her books have tackled adoption and adultery, contested wills and post-traumatic stress. Researching her last book, 2014's Balancing Act, about a family business, she visited the Emma Bridgewater ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent, and became fascinated by how modern women take working for granted. "I was born at the very end of 1943 and for my generation there were almost no women who worked. I knew I wanted to, and I did. Then you get my daughters' generation – I've got one of 48 and one of 45, the same age roughly as the characters in City of Friends – and they all work. And by the time you get to the generation of my 18-year-old granddaughter, they wouldn't think of not working." City of Friends is "a sort of sequel" to Balancing Act. To research the new novel, Trollope met women working in the finance industry and even lived in London's Canary Wharf for a while ("a fascinating place, completely unreal"). She was very impressed by the women she met. They struck her as the sort who "might have gone into politics" if the culture of the House of Commons was "less laddish and uncivilised". The reason we know little about these women, she says, is that they prefer to go under the radar. "They're very powerful and very quiet. And they want it to stay that way." But in the novel we also see the sacrifices alpha women make for their love affair with work. Part of the problem is that women don't compartmentalise their lives into work and play, as men do, Trollope suggests. And also women's love affair with work still makes society feel uncomfortable. "If women work, then we become more random, we become something of a threat." Before becoming a writer in 1980, Trollope worked in the Foreign Office and as a teacher. Her first husband was a banker, with whom she had her two daughters. When she married her second husband, the television dramatist Ian Curteis, she became a stepmother to his two boys. Now a divorced grandmother of nine, she lives in Kensington. The jacket of City of Friends (above) features the four doors where her female characters live, from the gritty East End to the townhouses of Islington. Getting that sort of detail right is essential. "A man needs to know what another man does for a living so he can put him in a hierarchical pecking order. Women need to know where people live, do they live alone, have they got a cat?" Almost all women need a personal life – whatever form it takes, she says dreamily. "Women need a real, solid personal life, from which they all sally forth to slay dragons." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/02/joanna-trollope-royals-3e71039.jpg" width="2426" height="1804" alt="Joanna Trollope with a suited Prince Charles holding a drink, alongside Camilla in a dark jacket, at a drinks reception in an ornate library with bookshelves and guests in." title="The Prince Of Wales & Duchess Of Cornwall Attend The Friends Of The National Libraries Reception" /> Trollope is great company. One minute she's talking about Sarah Waters, whose 1940s-set gay novel, The Night Watch, inspired the lesbian relationship in City of Friends. "I just thought we know a lot about gay betrayal, but we don't know very much about lesbian betrayal," she says. The next moment she's marvelling at the success of the lifestyle blogger Zoella Sugg, whose debut novel was revealed to have been penned by a ghostwriter. "I think: hats off to this girl in her Essex bedroom with its G-plan furniture pulling off this extraordinary commercial stunt." The appeal of Zoella is that she's a fantasy older sister for young girls. "I remember before my 11-plus, when I was at prep school, I was obsessed by the tennis captain. She was 17 and I was completely addicted to her. It still happens, but now they do it to a distant object, a Kim Kardashian, a Zoella." The fact teenagers would rather text than speak face to face alarms her. "I think the 'Snowflake' generation – this kind of 'Don't say anything horrid to me because I might not be able to bear it' – is a reaction to the pressures of social media. I don't think it's because they are pathetic little wimps. It's because they're the first generation who've had this completely relentless avalanche of information, criticism and bullying, and they've retreated to a place which says: 'If I'm here in the corner with a shield in front of me, you can't get at me.'" By contrast, Trollope is a modernist who believes in progress. Researching City of Friends she met academics and business psychologists – "so many people thinking outside the box about how to make life better, make humanity more productive, how to link humanity in a way that isn't pathetic little Instagram snaps," she beams. "There are so many people working for the good of their fellow man." Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jane Austen’s enduring and universal appeal revealed by hit writers, from Pride & Prejudice 1995 screenwriter to David Baddiel
As Radio 4 marks 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth, Philippa Perry explains why the author remains so influential today
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. This year, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, has seen ample celebration of the life and works of this singular observer of English life in the early 19th century. So far on TV, we’ve had a three-part documentary exploring Austen’s rebel spirit, the drama Miss Austen starring Keeley Hawes, and soon to follow is another version of Pride and Prejudice, this time with some big Netflix bucks and an all-star cast. When it comes to Austen, it seems broadcasters never scrimp, and Radio 4 is proving no exception – celebrating this important anniversary in style, with a dedicated season that has already featured a new take on Northanger Abbey, Radio 4 Extra mining its archive of classic dramas, and newly commissioned radio dramatisations of Pride and Prejudice (see below right) and, next weekend, Sense and Sensibility. The latter is also explored in a special episode of Bookclub on Tuesday (Austen’s 250th birthday) with Emma Thompson. Fans can also feast on a ten-part factual series, When I Met Jane Austen, in which her biographer, Dr Paula Byrne, asks a star line-up of guests – David Baddiel, Katherine Rundell, Val McDermid, Kate Atkinson, Andrew Davies, Amy Heckerling, Gurinder Chadha, Marlon James, Colm Tóibín and Philippa Perry – about how Austen’s work has shaped and influenced their lives and own creative efforts. Like so many of Austen’s many millions of fans across the world, psychotherapist and bestselling author Perry can barely remember life without recourse to the wit and wisdom of the author she credits with “changing her life” after she first encountered her work aged 12, and studied Pride and Prejudice for English O-level. So, what is so special about Austen’s small but peerless collection of works that includes six novels (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion), one novella (Lady Susan) and the tantalisingly unfinished The Watsons and Sanditon? “It’s like having a gossip with a good friend when you’re working out what people are like,” says Perry, who has been working out what makes people tick for more than 40 years, since she first volunteered for the Samaritans. Perry is the author of four bestselling books, including the ground-breaking The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did), which was published in 2019 and became one of the great breakout publishing hits of lockdown. She takes a keen psychologist’s eye to Austen’s writing and is convinced that, despite the author writing about social mores observed more than 200 years ago, she continues to have a great influence on her own work today. “She is such a great observer of human behaviour,” she reflects. “I remember quotes from her that remain fresh and relevant. For example, ‘To be sure, you knew no actual good of me – but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love.’ This is Elizabeth Bennet explaining to her suitor Darcy that no one falls in love with someone because they are good.” Austen was an observer, not a speculator, adds Perry. “She never had a scene where men were talking together without a woman present because, being a woman, she had never observed that.” For Perry, that makes the author the most reliable of documenters of the human condition. “Observation, observation, observation. She may have made up the stories, but she observed humans rather than reinventing them.” What subjects would Austen be writing about if she were alive today? Perry doesn’t believe her style would be any different: “She’d be noticing how humans are with each other and what becomes of them because of how they are with each other.” Speaking as one observer of the human condition in consideration of another, would Austen have made a good psychotherapist? Perry has no doubt. “She and Shakespeare would have had a phenomenal practice!” David Baddiel - Comedian and author “I’ve never met anyone who said, ‘Oh, my God, you like Jane Austen. What’s wrong with you? I thought you were just a football lad.’ But I used to have a Times column and the people I wrote most about were John Updike and Jane Austen. I was writing against the voice that thinks Jane Austen is just a lovable maiden aunt, but also probably against the voice that was ‘David Baddiel and his Three Lions and laddishness likes Jane Austen? That can’t be right!’ I like the fact that’s challenging. But, I’m a storyteller primarily, and Austen is possibly the greatest storyteller in English literature, so I’m always going to love her.” Andrew Davies - Writer of the 1995 TV dramatisation of Pride and Prejudice “I first read Pride and Prejudice in school and remember really enjoying it right from the start. That was the one I taught most often as a teacher. I used to read it aloud to sixth formers. You think, isn’t that a terrible waste of time? Just reading aloud like they were little kids, but they would get so much more and then be able to read it themselves. One of the things I always said in teaching is that this book is not just about social fripperies and little bits of irony. It’s about sex and money and primal urges and all sorts of big important things.” Katherine Rundell - Children’s author “I first met Jane Austen when I was really quite young, maybe nine or 10, at a time that I don’t think I would have had the stamina to read her. She is absolutely staggering. [Her Juvenilia] is like no other young person’s writing I have ever encountered in my life. It is so funny; it is so sharp. The majority of the children’s writing that I read has not yet worked out that the way a character moves through a plot is what makes a story. Children usually don’t have enough of a hinterland of knowledge of the way normal literature might work to understand how you might subvert it.” Kate Atkinson - Creator of the Jackson Brodie crime novels “You read Mansfield Park and think, well, that’s not Emma. That’s not Pride and Prejudice. I’m not sure I like that book. I revisited Fanny Price and Mansfield Park a few years ago, and wondered: why did she write this book? She’d had success with Pride and Prejudice, which she started writing quite early in her life. So at that point, she knew she was a writer, but I think that she wanted to write something that established her as a real writer, that showed she knew how to shape a novel, that she wasn’t just going to be writing Elizabeth Bennet — because there must have been a pull to write Pride and Prejudice Two.” Val McDermid - Crime novelist “I first read Northanger Abbey when I was 17, the same age as Catherine Morland and I thought, she’s ridiculous, she’s stupid. And then when I read the book again when I was in my early 30s, because I was trying to break down people who I considered to be good storytellers to see how they work, I was very impressed. I could see the humour in it and I could see why it was important to have the kind of central character that she had. The third time I read it, I was in my 50s and had a son. I saw it from the perspective of the parent, where your child is going out into the world and you’re anxious about them but you also realise the absurdity of your behaviour in many respects. Every time I read it, it’s like reading it for the first time.” Amy Heckerling - Writer of the movie Clueless, which updated Emma to modern LA “When I was in college at NYU, I took a class on British literature. We read Dickens and Sir Walter Scott and we read Emma, as a representation of Jane Austen. I just loved the book, I went crazy for it. It was so wonderful to read about such a strong, confident character. To pick up a book from another world and another time, and to find it so right on the money about what it’s like to be a young person — you can jump through time like that, and reach us.” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here.
The Witcher's Joey Batey reveals how his new novel embraces his Northern identity and being "forgotten" by those in power
Joey Batey's ambitious new novel shows life in the North - and the creativity that stems from there.
If anyone sings the ditty "Toss a coin to your Witcher", you'd immediately hear the voice and see the face of Joey Batey. The 36-year-old was propelled to fame after his appearance in the hit Netflix series where he performed the catchy tune. But acting is purely one string to Batey's impressive bow; he's one half of indie folk band The Amazing Devil and he's also an author, with his remarkable debut novel the topic of conversation with RadioTimes.com when we caught up. It's Not A Cult is an ambitious folk horror novel, centred around a rebellious band in the North East of England. Callum, Melusine and Al have no band name, but they take their sound across pubs in the locality which tell stories of the 'Solkats', fictional gods of small things. While no one really knows what they're singing about, the band is happiest when they're playing music together - until an act of violence at a pub catches the eye of an influencer and the band suddenly go from having a cult following to having that cult following them. Callum insists the Solkats just want to have an effect on the world, but as their music grows far and wide, and their gigs become more tumultuous, they soon discover that the fictional mischief they've been singing about might just be real after all - and in demand of a sacrifice. It's ambitious and expensive, potentially owing to the fact it had been sitting with Batey for a long time. "When I was about 19, I had met these characters," Batey explained. "I knew the outline of what I wanted to write, but for some reason I was hesitant to put it to paper. I ended up writing a number of other novels throughout my 20s and 30s, just to cut my teeth. I got to a couple of years ago and thought, 'This story's been banging on the door for so long that I think now's the time'. In those years, with the introduction of social media, the story suddenly felt like it was relevant. "I felt like I got all the ingredients for it but I just hadn't put the oven on. When I started cooking on this book, it was a really quick process." Batey laughs when asked if he was glad he waited, adding: "If I'd written it at the age of 19/20, I think it would have been almost unbelievable, whereas the book now incorporates huge themes that are now very palpable and could happen - but would have been slightly alien to an audience of 15/20 years ago." The novel is set in the North East of England, particularly Northumberland, where the scenery is beautiful but wild and mischievous - the perfect setting for the Solkats. Batey explained: "I wanted to return to the North East because it become quite representative of this mythology. Playful but malevolent, quite ethereal in some ways. In this story, [the Solkats] have a sense of joy and threat at the same time - and that's how I feel about my personal relationship with the North East." There's a wealth of books being adapted into TV shows at the moment, and something so inventive as It's Not a Cult would be hard to ignore. But Batey's very humble about his chances - though has some pre-requisites if he were to see it translated for the small screen. "I've no sort of aspiration of grandeur when it comes to the book, but it obviously has a framework that I built into it from day one; there are only maybe three or four scenes in the entire book that don't take place down a camera lens. It might read like I was gunning for it to get made into a film, but that certainly wasn't my intention!" Batey explains. He adds: "If it did get made, I would be first of all overjoyed, but I would hope to have as much creative control as I could, and to ensure that the North East was represented properly by people who were from the North East, who understood what it's like to grow up there, to live there, to be slightly forgotten by the rest of the country and certainly by previous governments. "There's a wealth of togetherness in the North East and in the North in general that comes from being forgotten by people in power. So I would want as many people from the North as possible involved in the project." For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
23 best sci-fi books to help you escape reality: From Dune to The Martian
From epic space operas to mind‑bending thrillers, these are the sci‑fi stories that will transport you to other worlds.
Whether you’re craving distant galaxies, futuristic tech or alternate realities, sci‑fi offers the perfect escape from the everyday. From the sprawling deserts of Dune to the high‑stakes survival of The Martian, these 23 unmissable books will take you on journeys that stretch the imagination, challenge perception and remind us why we fell in love with the genre in the first place. There’s something for everyone on this list of the best sci-fi books, so buckle up and prepare to enter the stratosphere with us. 23 best sci-fi books Dune by Frank Herbert The Martian by Andy Weir Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin Hyperion by Dan Simmons The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman Kindred by Octavia E. Butler Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Ready Player One by Ernest Cline The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Jade City by Fonda Lee Red Rising by Pierce Brown The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine 1. Dune by Frank Herbert Before it became a blockbuster film starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, Dune was Frank Herbert’s bestselling sci-fi epic, followed by five sequels that many fans still consider the pinnacle of the genre. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, it follows Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling a hostile world where the most precious resource is the “spice” melange, a substance that extends life and heightens awareness. When House Atreides is betrayed, Paul is thrust into a perilous journey; one that will shape not only his destiny, but the fate of an entire universe. 2. The Martian by Andy Weir Some readers shy away from sci-fi set in our own universe, while others love it for that shred of possibility. And Andy Weir’s The Martian feels all too possible. It follows astronaut Mark Watney, one of the first people to walk on Mars, and soon to be the first to be left for dead there. After a violent dust storm nearly kills him, his crew evacuates, believing he didn’t survive. Stranded, alone and unable to contact Earth, Mark has limited supplies that won’t last until a rescue mission. Even worse, starvation may not be the most pressing threat: failing machinery, the brutal Martian environment or a simple mistake could end his life far sooner. But Mark refuses to give up. With ingenuity, dark humour and sheer determination, he tackles one obstacle at a time. The result is a tense, exhilarating survival story that feels terrifyingly real. 3. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Chances are you first encountered this book at school, although you might not have fully appreciated it at the time. Published in 1949, George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four imagined a future that felt chillingly prescient by the time 1984 arrived, and in many ways feels even more relevant today, especially in an age of mass surveillance and advancing AI. It’s a novel that still feels less like fiction and more like a warning. Set in Oceania, a totalitarian state ruled by the ever-watchful Party and its figurehead, Big Brother, the story follows Winston Smith, a man who quietly longs for truth, intimacy and freedom. Such “thought crimes” are punishable by imprisonment or death. When Winston begins an illicit affair, he’s drawn into the dangerous world of resistance and the brutal reality of what it means to challenge absolute power. 4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Another classic sci-fi novel you may have first encountered in the classroom, Brave New World is well worth revisiting with a little more age and perspective. The best science fiction books endure because they reflect timeless fears and questions, and Aldous Huxley’s 1932 novel, written in the shadow of rising fascism, feels unsettlingly relevant today. Huxley imagines a future where society is engineered for control: humans are genetically bred, socially conditioned, and chemically numbed to ensure passive obedience to an authoritarian order. It’s a world of dazzling technological advancement, but at the expense of freedom, individuality and perhaps even the soul. 5. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin Don’t limit yourself to the best sci‑fi novels written in English, as Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem is a revolutionary leap for the genre. Its blend of grand, universal themes – humanity’s place in the cosmos, the nature of civilisation, and the ethics of survival – alongside a gripping narrative of mystery and suspense, has secured its place in the sci‑fi hall of fame. Set during China’s Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space, hoping to make contact with alien life. The message is received by a civilisation on the brink of extinction, which then plans to invade Earth. Back on our planet, factions form: some are intent on welcoming the newcomers and aiding their conquest of what they see as a corrupt world, while others are determined to resist at all costs. 6. Hyperion by Dan Simmons Sci‑fi doesn’t just explore different worlds and societies; it can also reinvent the very structure of storytelling. Dan Simmons's Hyperion is a perfect example, framing its narrative like The Canterbury Tales within a sprawling science‑fiction epic. The result is a mysterious, emotionally rich journey filled with unique characters and profound questions about life, artificial intelligence and humanity’s future. Celebrated for its masterful space‑opera world‑building, Hyperion weaves the interconnected stories of seven pilgrims, exploring deep philosophical themes alongside the enigma of the Shrike. On the world of Hyperion, beyond the reach of the Hegemony of Man, waits the creature known as the Shrike. Some worship it. Some fear it. Some have sworn to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs – monolithic structures moving backwards through time – the Shrike waits. On the eve of Armageddon, with the galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion. Each carries a desperate hope, a terrible secret and perhaps the fate of humanity itself. 7. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley One of the newest additions to the canon of great science fiction books, The Ministry of Time is a genre‑bending tale of time travel, politics, espionage and the transformative power of love. It asks questions that feel uncomfortably close to reality. A recently established government ministry is recruiting “expats” from across history to explore whether time travel is possible, not just for the body, but for the fabric of space‑time itself. Our unnamed protagonist is promoted to the role of “bridge” and tasked with living with, assisting and monitoring the expat known only as “1847”, Commander Graham Gore. What begins as a mission she expects to be nothing more than a painfully awkward arrangement evolves into something far more profound. By the time the true scope of the Ministry’s project is revealed, the bridge has fallen headlong and irrevocably in love, with consequences she could never have foreseen. Facing choices that will shape the future, she must decide what she truly believes and what she is willing to risk to change it. This might just be one of the best time travel tales of the decade, raising questions we never thought to ask and couldn't possibly begin to answer. 8. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Sometimes we just need a good laugh with a side of sci‑fi. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy may be one of the most absurd novels ever written, yet it’s also strangely comforting and deeply thought‑provoking. It won’t make sense... until it does. Seconds before Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, who has spent the last 15 years posing as an out‑of‑work actor. Together, they embark on a chaotic journey through space, guided by the Guide itself (“A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have”) and joined by a galaxy‑full of unforgettable characters: Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two‑headed, three‑armed, ex‑hippie president of the galaxy; Trillian, Arthur’s one‑time cocktail party crush; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student obsessed with the mysterious disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he has ever owned. An unlikely crew that will have you giggling into the pages and scratching your head in bewonderment. 9. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson We return to Mars once again with Kim Stanley Robinson’s captivating trilogy about the colonisation of the red planet. More than 30 years old, it still feels eerily plausible in today’s climate, especially with renewed focus on Mars. John Boone, Maya Toitavna, Frank Chalmers and Arkady Bogdanov lead a bold terraforming mission. For some, Mars becomes a passion that drives acts of courage and madness. For others, it is an opportunity to strip the planet of its riches. For the genetic alchemists, it offers the chance to create a biomedical miracle, reshaping everything we know about life and death. Colonists orbit giant satellite mirrors to channel light to the surface. Black dust on the polar caps captures warmth. Massive tunnels, kilometres deep, are drilled into the mantle to unleash stupendous vents of hot gases. Against this backdrop of grand upheaval, rivalries will ignite, alliances will fracture and loves will form and fall apart. For there are those willing to fight to the death to keep Mars unchanged. 10. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Looking for a shorter science‑fiction novel? Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a masterwork of twentieth‑century literature, set in a chilling dystopian future where burning books becomes the ultimate tool of control. Bradbury’s warning still feels disturbingly relevant: strip away knowledge, and you strip away freedom. In this world, television dominates and literature teeters on the brink of extinction. Guy Montag is a fireman tasked with destroying the most forbidden of commodities: printed books. He follows orders without question, returning each day to a dull life with his wife, Mildred, who is absorbed by her television “family”. But when Montag meets his curious neighbour Clarisse – who reveals a past without fear and a present shaped by ideas – he begins to question everything. After Mildred’s suicide attempt and Clarisse’s sudden disappearance, Montag starts hiding books in his home. When his secret is discovered, he must flee for his life. 11. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman This might be the strangest entry on this list of the best sci‑fi books, but stick with it, and you won’t be disappointed. I Who Have Never Known Men is a haunting, heartbreaking post‑apocalyptic novel about female friendship, intimacy and the lengths people will go to preserve their humanity in the face of devastation. Fair warning: it will make you cry. Deep underground, 40 women are imprisoned in a cage. Watched over by guards, they have no memory of how they arrived, no sense of time and only fragments of their lives before captivity. As years pass in the burn of electric light that erases day and night, one young woman – the 40th prisoner – remains isolated and silent in a corner. But she will prove to be the key to the others’ escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground. 12. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler One of the strengths of science fiction is its ability to explore real‑world themes more deeply, free from the constraints of conventional fiction. Kindred is a powerful example, blending historical fiction with sci‑fi to examine the enduring impacts of racism, sexism and white supremacy. Dana, a present-day Black woman, is celebrating her 26th birthday with her new husband when she is abruptly pulled from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Time and again, Dana is drawn back to the slave quarters, each visit growing longer, more arduous and more dangerous, until it becomes uncertain whether her life will end before it truly begins. 13. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut At its core, Slaughterhouse‑Five is about the absurdity of existence and the ways we try to make sense of it. Celebrated for its blend of humour, tragedy and experimental storytelling, it explores war, trauma, and fatalism, cementing its place as a profoundly human and enduring anti‑war classic. The novel follows Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes “unstuck in time” after surviving the firebombing of Dresden as a prisoner of war during World War II. His story leaps between childhood, wartime horrors, life as a post‑war optometrist and an otherworldly abduction by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. This is one of those novels you simply must read at least once in a lifetime. 14. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Let’s put a pin in other planets and space travel and turn to the medical side of sci‑fi, something that feels eerily close to reality. Never Let Me Go is a dystopian novel wrapped in romance, friendship and bittersweet coming‑of‑age hopefulness. Spoiler: you’re going to cry, a lot, even more than you think. Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth grow up at Hailsham, a secluded private school in the English countryside, where children are sheltered from the outside world. Raised to believe they are special and that their well‑being matters not just to themselves but to society, they are blissfully unaware of the truth. Now adults, they must confront the dark secret behind Hailsham’s protective façade, and the shocking reality of their own existence. It captures the way that memories can deceive you, and new evidence can bring a sinister light to the past. Never Let Me Go also raises questions about bodily autonomy that have never been more relevant than in today's political climate. 15. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Alright, let’s give your tear ducts a break and head into the wild west of gaming sci‑fi. With gaming and virtual reality now dominating popular culture, immersive worlds have never been more tantalising. Fans describe this book as a geek fantasy, a nerd utopia. It’s 2044 and the world is in a worse state than it is now – if that’s even possible. The only time teenager Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade has devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines; puzzles based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past, promising massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill for the ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win and confront the real world he’s always been desperate to escape. You might want to unplug your PlayStation after this one. 16. The Road by Cormac McCarthy A searing, post‑apocalyptic novel that lingers in your mind long after the final page. Many argue that this is Cormac McCarthy’s masterpiece, though it faces stiff competition. The Road is a profoundly moving story of a journey, one that imagines a future where hope has all but vanished, yet love endures. A father and his son walk alone through a burned America. Nothing stirs in the ravaged landscape except ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stone, and when snow falls, it is grey. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, though they have no certainty of what awaits them there. They have nothing but a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes on their backs, a cart of scavenged food and each other. It's a tale of how far a father will go for his son and the loss of humanity that occurs when societal rules are shed. It's not for the faint of heart, we'll tell you that much. 17. The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson Multiverse stories are all the rage in film and television, but few capture their complexity and politics as deftly as Micaiah Johnson’s The Space Between Worlds. Multiverse travel is possible, but with a catch: no one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Cara, however, has a rare track record as her parallel selves are exceptionally good at dying, whether from disease, turf wars or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. She’s already perished on 372 worlds. On this Earth, though, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and deemed the perfect candidate for multiverse travel, she is plucked from the wastelands and given a new life in the lower levels of the wealthy, walled‑off Wiley City. Citizenship and security are hers, as long as she keeps her head down and avoids trouble. Trouble, however, has other plans; when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, Cara is drawn into a world where survival comes at the cost of unearthing a dangerous secret. 18. This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone There is something uniquely affecting about love painted against the backdrop of the boundlessness of space and time. This Is How You Lose the Time War is a novel of war, betrayal, longing and the paradox of time – or rather, its absence. Amid the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant discovers a letter marked: burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents, each determined to secure the best possible future for their warring factions. What starts as a taunt – a battlefield boast – becomes something far greater: something epic, something romantic, something that could alter the past and the future. But the discovery of their bond would mean certain death. After all, the war still rages, and someone must win. 19. Jade City by Fonda Lee The first book in The Green Bone Saga and Fonda Lee’s adult fantasy debut does not disappoint. Praised for its masterful world-building and morally complex characters, Jade City creates a vibrant setting reminiscent of 1970s Asia, delivering a story of loyalty, power and ambition. Think The Godfather, but as gritty, lush sci-fi fantasy. The Kaul family leads one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon, the only place in the world where rare magical jade is found. This jade grants those with the right training and heritage extraordinary abilities. Once guardians of Kekon against foreign invasion, the Green Bone clans now exist in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars, foreign money and political intrigue. Their influence is in commerce, construction and controlling the districts they protect. But when tensions between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupt into open violence, the fate of all Green Bones – and the future of Kekon itself – hangs in the balance. Keep your entire weekend free, as you'll struggle to put this one down. 20. Red Rising by Pierce Brown Welcome back to Mars! Again! Red Rising by Pierce Brown launches you into a brutal, fast-paced saga of dystopia, space opera and revenge. Expect epic battles, political intrigue worthy of Game of Thrones, and a hero driven to extremes. Darrow is a Red, the lowest caste in a colour-coded future society, toiling under the belief that he is making Mars habitable for future generations. But Darrow discovers humanity conquered Mars long ago, and Reds like him are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Fuelled by justice and the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute – a proving ground for the ruling Gold caste. There, he must fight for survival and the fate of civilisation, even if winning means becoming the very thing he despises. 21. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Ursula K. Le Guin has earned her place among the greatest sci-fi writers of all time. In this groundbreaking novel, a lone human emissary, Genly Ai, is sent to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants spend much of their lives without gender, to negotiate its inclusion in an intergalactic civilisation. To succeed, Ai must navigate a society shaped by unfamiliar customs and political intrigue. Ai forms an uneasy alliance with Estravan, a high-ranking Winter politician who risks everything to help him. Together, they embark on a perilous journey across Winter’s frozen wilderness, confronting harsh elements, betrayal and the fragility of trust. Celebrated for its exploration of gender, identity and humanity, The Left Hand of Darkness blends political intrigue, survival and philosophical depth into a profound meditation on connection and empathy. 22. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky Anyone who delegates spider-killing duty to their spouse should probably steer clear of this novel; though that would be a shame, because Children of Time is a thrilling ride from start to finish. Revered for its breathtaking scope, the novel blends an epic generational ship story with the fascinating evolution of a non-human species – spiders – from simple creatures to a technologically advanced civilisation. It explores profound themes of identity, human failings, and the ethics of scientific progress. The last remnants of humanity flee a dying Earth, searching for a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover a world terraformed and prepared for human life – a new Eden. But centuries of abandonment have turned it into something far darker. New masters have claimed the planet, transforming it into mankind’s worst nightmare. Now two civilisations hurtle toward inevitable conflict, each testing the limits of survival. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, the question remains: who are the true heirs of this new Earth? 23. A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine What sets A Memory Called Empire apart is its richly imagined culture – a dazzling blend of Byzantium and Aztec influences – woven with poetry and linguistic depth that make reading it a truly immersive experience. Layered atop this is a sprawling interstellar empire and a web of political intrigue that feels like Succession in space. Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives at the heart of the Teixcalaanli Empire to find her predecessor dead. No one admits his death wasn’t an accident, or that Mahit might be next, as political instability threatens the highest echelons of the imperial court. To survive, Mahit must uncover who is behind the murder, protect herself and safeguard her small but fiercely independent mining Station from the empire’s expansion. All while navigating a seductive alien culture, engaging in dangerous intrigue of her own and guarding a technological secret that could either annihilate her Station... or save it. No biggie, right? For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
23 best romance books to make you believe in love again: From Emily Henry to Jilly Cooper
Will it be love at first page? Crack open one of these swoon-worthy romances and find out.
When dating apps leave you frustrated or your other half is working late again, it’s time to escape into a great romance novel. From Emily Henry’s sun-soaked, self-discovery-filled summers to Jilly Cooper’s glamorous, high-stakes romantic sagas, these 23 books prove that the best romances can make you fall in love with every page. Covering everything from first crushes and second chances to enemies-to-lovers and heart-racing chemistry, they capture love in all its messy, magical glory and will have you believing in it all over again. 23 best romance books As a Last Resort by Kristin Wollett Rivals by Jilly Cooper Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt Funny Story by Emily Henry We Met Like This by Kasie West Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter Dukes and Dekes by Torie Jean The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey The Hating Game by Sally Thorne The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn August Lane by Regina Black 1. As a Last Resort by Kristin Wollett Sam left her small-town Florida roots behind years ago and never looked back. But when her work nemesis falls ill, she’s forced to take his place on a resort development project – right in the hometown she swore she’d escaped. Suddenly, Sam is face-to-face with everything she ran from: her addicted mother, her estranged best friend and the high school bullies now settled down with families of their own. The one bright spot? Austin Marcs, the town golden boy and her childhood crush, who seems determined to swoop in whenever she needs saving. Their chemistry is undeniable, but how can Sam imagine a future with someone so tied to the very place she can’t stand? Tender, heartfelt and layered with grief, this romance doesn’t just make you root for the love story; you’ll find yourself falling for Sam herself. 2. Rivals by Jilly Cooper If you love your romance messy, glamorous and sprawling, Jilly Cooper’s Rivals is the ultimate guilty pleasure. Set in the cut-throat world of 1980s British television, it follows rival producers Rupert Campbell-Black (charismatic, arrogant and dangerously irresistible) and Declan O’Hara (idealistic, passionate and just as infuriating). Between on-set feuds, scandalous affairs and enough drama to fill a soap opera, Rivals delivers both sizzling romance and biting satire. Think Succession meets Love Actually, with even more bed-hopping and backstabbing. Top it off by watching the Disney+ series just in time for the second season! 3. Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt Divorce is a reality for many of us, which makes it especially heartwarming to see it explored in novels – even when it’s two exes trying to make things work. Wren and Ellis fell in love as teenagers, had their son Sam, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. They were perfect for each other... until they weren’t. Now in their late 30s and sending their son off to college, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip back to Spunes to see if they can give their relationship one last chance. Everything feels right in the present, but can they truly overcome the past to build a future together? With sweeping coastal scenery, tender romance and the emotional weight of second chances, this story perfectly captures love, regret and hope. 4. Funny Story by Emily Henry Emily Henry is basically the Taylor Swift of romance novels: beloved by millions, endlessly quotable and a loud-and-proud Swiftie herself (with plenty of references tucked into her books). Funny Story might just be her best yet, thanks to a one-of-a-kind love interest: Miles, a tattooed, weed-smoking golden retriever of a man. The story follows Daphne, a small-town librarian whose fiancé dumps her for his childhood best friend (aka the woman he claims is “like a sister”). Left stranded in Michigan, she moves in with Miles, the ex left behind on the other side of the break-up. When the two team up for a fake-dating scheme to make their exes jealous, Miles sets out to help Daphne fall for Michigan... but she just might fall for something, or someone, else entirely. 5. We Met Like This by Kasie West Too many of us can see ourselves in Margot Hart: a hopeless romantic determined to meet her soulmate the old-fashioned way. The snag? Her most consistent “relationship” is with Oliver, a guy she can’t stop rematching with on dating apps. They’re obviously not compatible... except, well, maybe physically. But when Margot loses her dream job as a literary agent and Oliver suddenly stumbles back into her orbit, she starts to wonder if he’s not the wrong fit after all. Maybe the real issue isn’t him... It’s her. This book might just convince you to download dating apps again! 6. Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage Town’s bad boy? Her brother’s best friend? Stuck back in the hometown she worked so hard to escape? Sign us up! Lyla Sage delivers a cowboy romance with all the sparks, heat, and small-town drama you could want. After an accident leaves Emmy unable to ride, she’s forced to return to the hometown she’s always tried to leave behind. Luke, Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and perpetual bachelor, used to tease her relentlessly, but now he can’t take his eyes off her. As Emmy rediscovers her spark, and Luke wrestles with feelings he can’t ignore, both must decide whether this fiery connection will heal them or leave them burned. 7. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston If you’re looking for the ultimate rivals-to-lovers romance, Red, White & Royal Blue is globally revered for a reason. Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, does not get along with Prince Henry of Wales. But when a very public international scandal forces them into a fake friendship, sparks start flying in ways neither expected. Between secret emails, stolen kisses, and the weight of the crown versus the White House, this book balances political drama with swoony romance. It’s cheeky, heartfelt and pure fanfic come to life. It’s the kind of love story that makes history feel sexy. 8. It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff If you’ve been swooning over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, you’ll love this (completely unrelated) romance between a pop star and a football player. Sloane Walker has been chewed up and spat out by the press before, and she’s learned to protect herself with sharp eyeliner and an even sharper attitude. To her, Mateo – the golden-boy athlete and media darling – is nothing more than a convenient photo op. But when he starts to look past the armour and really see her, Sloane realises there’s more to Mateo than headlines and highlight reels. The cameras may be watching, but the only sparks that matter are the ones flying between them. 9. First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison If Sleepless in Seattle is your favourite Meg Ryan movie, you’ll fall head over heels for this charming love story. Aiden Valentine hosts a romance hotline, but he’s lost his own faith in love. Lucie Stone, a single mum juggling everything, doesn’t realise that her daughter secretly called the show for dating advice on her behalf. As Baltimore becomes captivated by their story and everyone roots for Lucie to find her happy ending, sparks start flying behind the scenes. Suddenly, the romance isn’t just on-air, it might just be real. Cosy, heartfelt, and full of swoon, this novel is perfect for fans of unexpected love and tender second chances. 10. Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings Fans of Chicken Shop Date will love this seemingly inspired romcom, where Eva Kitt hosts Sausage Talk: a quirky show interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs. But when her off-the-cuff rant about her college ex goes viral, Eva suddenly finds herself in the spotlight. The catch? Said ex is Rylie Cooper, a social media golden boy who’s built a career preaching about dismantling toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be better partners. Forced to confront him live on her show, Eva reluctantly agrees to let Rylie take her on a series of “make-up” dates to atone for his past mistakes. Only, somewhere between the staged gestures and genuine connection, the line between performance and reality starts to blur. Could the boy who once broke her heart actually be the man who heals it? 11. Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter Romance novels often give us the perfect dose of escapism, but the best ones also weave in the messy realities of life. Friends with Benefits does exactly that: best friends Theo and Evie strike up a marriage of convenience for the most unromantic reasons: health insurance and a rent-controlled apartment. On paper, it’s a logical, practical solution. The only hiccup? Evie never really wanted to be married, and Theo has quietly been in love with her for years. Nothing has to change... until, inevitably, it does. 12. Dukes and Dekes by Torie Jean If Pride and Prejudice is your not-so-guilty pleasure and you have a soft spot for a reformed rake, you’ll adore this friends-to-lovers romance. Aulie Desfleurs is cast as the impulsive Lydia Bennet in this year’s Jane Austen Regency Fair, while Jack Parker – the bad boy of the American professional hockey league – lands the role of the infamous George Wickham after a suspension sends him fleeing to the fair. Thrown together in close quarters, old crushes and unspoken feelings heat up fast. Can Jack prove himself trustworthy while supporting Aulie through her chronic illness? And can Aulie finally let herself trust that Jack might stay for good? Full of tension, tender moments, and swoon-worthy romance, this novel is perfect for fans of love stories that burn slowly but leave a lasting mark. 13. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks Is it even possible to make a list of the best romance books without The Notebook? This is the blueprint for second-chance summer love stories. Noah and Allie meet as teenagers during one unforgettable summer in North Carolina. They’re from different worlds, but their connection is undeniable. Life tears them apart, but years later, fate brings them back together, testing whether first love can really last a lifetime. Keep a box of tissues close, as you’ll find yourself bawling harder than when you watched the film. 14. The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan Perfect for fans of The White Lotus and steamy academic rivalries, this romance follows Alex as she faces a blast from her past in the most glamorous – and high-stakes – setting imaginable: a yacht. It’s been ten years since that unforgettable night with Danial, and now she has to navigate him again while attending the wedding of two mutual college friends. Thrown into a world of ultra-wealthy guests as the lone middle-class outcast, Alex struggles to stick to her principles... even as her heart keeps pulling her toward him. With tension, longing and a touch of sun-soaked opulence, this novel perfectly captures the push-and-pull of romance that’s both irresistible and complicated. 15. Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood Nothing beats a book that’s so aware of its own clichés that it gleefully plays with them, and Ali Hazelwood manages just that in Problematic Summer Romance. Maya Killgore is 23, still figuring out life, and utterly distracted by Conor Harkness, her brother’s 38-year-old best friend. Fate lands them together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. Can they resist the undeniable pull between them? Or will they lean into every cliché of summer romance? Perfect for fans of messy, irresistible love stories, this novel is as self-aware as it is swoon-worthy. 16. Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez This list of the best romance books wouldn’t be complete without something by Abby Jimenez, and for that, we’re recommending Part of Your World. After a wild bet, Alexis Montgomery’s world is completely turned upside down by Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger and as casual as they come – the total opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet, their chemistry is undeniable. While her ultra-wealthy parents expect her to continue the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis is perfectly content as a “mere” ER doctor. Every minute she spends with Daniel and his close-knit hometown reveals what truly matters in life. With so many differences between them, Alexis must decide: can she find a way to bridge two worlds, or will love force her to choose? Tender, steamy and full of heart, this romance is perfect for anyone craving a story about opposites attracting in the most irresistible way. 17. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren If you’re hunting for the ultimate enemies-to-lovers romance, look no further than this fan-favourite. When the entire wedding party comes down with food poisoning, the only ones left standing are Olive, the bride’s sister, and Ethan, the insufferable best man. The solution? Take the unclaimed honeymoon trip to Maui and pretend to be newlyweds. They can’t stand each other, but a free tropical vacation is worth faking it for – at least at first. Between beachside adventures, stolen moments and undeniable chemistry, Olive and Ethan quickly realise that what started as pretend might just be the real deal. 18. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey If Schitt’s Creek is your comfort show and Alexis Rose your spirit animal, then you’ll be obsessed with It Happened One Summer. Piper Bellinger is a glamorous LA wild child who suddenly finds herself cut off and banished to a tiny fishing town in Washington. Her mission: prove she can survive without Wi-Fi and five-star dining. Enter Brendan, the grumpy, flannel-wearing sea captain who wants nothing to do with her glitter. They clash, they banter, and then they struggle to resist the pull between them. With sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and a whole lot of heart, this is one of the best small-town, opposites-attract romance novels out there. 19. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne There’s something about workplace tensions that gets our hearts thumping, and nowhere captures this dynamic better than The Hating Game. Lucy and Joshua are coworkers locked in an epic office rivalry, complete with constant eye rolls, snarky comments, and passive-aggressive games. But when a promotion raises the stakes, their “hate” starts to feel a little too close to something else entirely. Witty, flirty and full of sizzling tension, this enemies-to-lovers romance proves that sometimes the line between love and hate is just a heartbeat away. 20. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan Cosy up with this heartwarming read and a good cup of tea. Nina Redmond is a small-town librarian whose world is turned upside down when she unexpectedly loses her job. But instead of despairing, she buys a van and turns it into a travelling bookshop. Along the way, she brings literature, joy and a little bit of romance to the people she meets. This novel is perfect for anyone craving a feel-good, page-turning summer escape. 21. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Sally Milz is a writer for The Night Owls, a fictional late-night sketch show akin to Saturday Night Live. She's cynical about love, until pop star Noah Brewster guest-hosts and sparks fly. As their chemistry deepens, Sally grapples with insecurities about their differences in fame and status. Set against the backdrop of a pandemic, this novel explores love, identity and the complexities of modern relationships with humour and heart. It manages to question important topics about attraction and fame with a lighthearted touch. 22. A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn When it comes to a romance novel, it’s all about the meet-cute, and you can’t beat this one. Lottie Gardner, freshly fired and desperate to make her ex-boss jealous, prowls Beverly Hills in search of a rich husband. Enter Huxley Cane, a billionaire real estate mogul who’s lied to a client about being engaged and expecting. When their paths cross, they hatch a plan: pretend to be a couple to salvage Huxley’s deal. What starts as a fake engagement soon blurs into something real. It offers the perfect twist on the Pretty Woman trope, providing a modern and fun romcom. 23. August Lane by Regina Black This novel has been taking the romance world by storm, and you’ll quickly understand why. Former country heartthrob Luke Randall hates singing his only hit, Another Love Song, at dingy motel lounges, but it’s the only steady money left in his fading career. When he gets the chance to open for his childhood idol, JoJo Lane, the catch is returning to Arcadia, Arkansas, and facing August Lane, aka the woman who wrote the lyrics he’s long claimed as his own. August hates the song, and she hates Luke even more. But when she forces him into a co-writing partnership to save her songwriting dreams, old sparks reignite. As the concert nears, both must confront their shared past and decide whether to let a second chance love song finally be written. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
Blackadder's Ben Elton reveals how Stephen Fry responded to his "few-holds-barred" portrayal in new memoir
Author, comedian and dramatist Ben Elton found writing his autobiography therapeutic – but will the many famous friends he mentions agree?
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Ben Elton, it’s obvious, is slightly floored by the question – but it’s actually pretty straightforward: “Why does everybody hate you?” Maybe it’s because the query comes not from me, interviewing him over Zoom from Australia where he now lives. (In fact I find him the very opposite of hateable: frank, funny, thoughtful, self-aware and generous.) No, the question in question comes from the publisher of Elton’s new autobiography – and good friend – Larry. “When I took him the idea, it was his first comment,” says Elton. “Not ‘Oh great, I can’t wait to hear you on the subject of Blackadder’, but ‘You’ll have to address the question: Why does everybody hate you?’” The answer – like everything else in Elton’s book/life – is tackled with head-on humour. “Everybody doesn’t hate me. That’s why I’ve written 16 novels,” he says (modestly neglecting to mention the smash-hit musicals, seminal stand-up routines and million-dollar movies he’s written, nor even national-fabric sitcoms such as The Young Ones, Blackadder and Upstart Crow). “But clearly I irritate some people. My gaucheness, my enthusiasm, my Mickey Rooney tendencies – ‘Let’s do the show! It’s going to be brilliant!’ – I can see how that would irritate people, especially in Britain, which has a default approval of false humility. If my dear friend Stephen is doing an interview about his book, he’ll say [excellent impression of Mr Fry], ‘Oh, it’s awful, pure nonsense. Don’t read it, let’s talk about something else!’ – and people love that. “But I’ll say, ‘It’s the best thing I’ve done, I’m so pleased with it, please read it!’ – and that doesn’t seem to wash. In the book, I deal with a few people who’ve been mean about me [they really have, and he really does], but I think I’ve done it in a nice way and paid respect. I think I’ve got it just right – but there I go again!” So why write a memoir and not, say, novel number 17? “I started to think about an autobiography after Rik died [Mayall, Elton’s friend since university, suffered a fatal heart attack in 2014]. There were all these eulogies, which was bittersweet because he’d had some lean years and he could have done with a bit of that love while he was still alive. So I was in reflective mood, but not a particularly happy one.” Now, he says, he’s in a “good reflective mood”. At 66, he’s “got through most of my life – a decent slab of it, anyway. And realistically I’m unlikely to have many more significant pieces of work. Now my mum’s dead I’m the next generation to the grave: my friends and siblings and I are next. Rik’s gone, Robbie’s gone…” (Coltrane was another old pal.) Writing the book “wasn’t easy”, he admits. “My fractious relationship with Rik; his problems with alcohol; when Alexei [Sayle] turned on me out of the blue; IVF; my psoriasis – that was all painful to remember and to talk about. But I’ve never been in therapy so it’s been good to reflect.” Certainly the book’s honesty is a refreshing antidote to many celeb memoirs – but how do his famous friends (and enemies) feel about their few-holds-barred depictions? “I talk about Stephen a lot in the book, and it’s not uncritical. I didn’t want to ask his permission to say the things I said, because I felt I had every right; but I love Stephen and would never wish to hurt him. And I talk about Hugh [Laurie] quite a lot too, and although it’s laudatory in many ways, I also talk about his darkness. So I asked Hugh’s wife, Jo, to read it and see what she thought. “In the end, Stephen wrote me a very beautiful letter saying, ‘You may wonder what I think about ‘my’ bits, so to speak. And I 100 per cent applaud you for telling the story as you’ve done. It’s the right thing to do.’” There’s plenty of self-criticism too, but always the entertaining sort. One fantastic anecdote about blowing his chance of working with Elton John climaxes at a party with Janet Street-Porter (“fun”), Sean Connery (“dour”), Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys (“dryly witty”) and film actress Salma Hayek (“uninvited… and with two bodyguards for her necklace”). Yes, he’s shameless with namedropping (“Of course I am. I owe it to my publisher”), but it’s all part of that unconcealed enthusiasm. And really, if you can’t relish the fact that you once spent a day at Paul and Linda McCartney’s watching them bicker over the correct consistency of veggie burgers, then what’s the point? (They met through George Harrison, who “came over to me at a gig and said, ‘Thanks for keeping us amused in the 1980s’. I’ll never forget that.”) So does he, to borrow the phrase infamously used 14 times in Alan Partridge’s memoir, think ‘Needless to say, I had the last laugh’? “I’m always being invited to say, ‘Well, we won’ – especially about [his derided but hugely successful Queen musical] We Will Rock You. And no, I don’t feel I’ve had the last laugh. But I do feel I’ve had an awful lot of laughs.” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. To order What Have I Done? My Autobiography by Ben Elton (Pan Macmillan, £25) for £22.50 including p&p, visit radiotimes.com/shop50. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
Best book advent calendars for 2025 to get you in the Christmas mood
From beloved children's characters like the Gruffalo to classic literature, there's a book advent calendar for everyone.
Eggnog, mistletoe, decorating the tree... when it comes to Christmas, there's no shortage of traditions. One of our favourites has got to be advent calendars. There's nothing that helps to build up the excitement leading up to Christmas quite like an advent calendar. Opening a little gift every day is just a reminder of the excitement that's to come once the big day itself arrives. Now, you can get an advent calendar perfectly tailored to any type of interest. And bookworms will be glad to know that the options when it comes to book advent calendars are endless. Whether you're trying to find the perfect kids book advent calendar for your little one, or you're looking for an excuse to add to your own personal library, we've rounded up the best book advent calendars to buy in the run-up to Christmas 2025. For more on how to celebrate Christmas, we've rounded up the best Christmas shows and pantomimes in London. We've also got our list of gaming advent calendars if you're looking for something a bit different this year. Jump to: Christmas book advent calendars at a glance Book advent calendars for adults Kids book advent calendar Christmas book advent calendars at a glance The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection | £25 £5 (save £20 or 80%) Bluey Awesome Advent Book Bundle | £25 £5 (save £20 or 80%) Stitch Advent Calendar 5-Minute Stories | £15.99 £8.99 (save £7 or 44%) Little People, BIG DREAMS: Advent Calendar Book Collection: 2025 Edition | £21.99 £11.99 (save £10 or 45%) A Heart for Christmas: An Advent Novel | £20 £11.44 (save £8.56 or 43%) Books Are Magic Advent Calendar | £24.99 £21.99 (save £3 or 12%) Book Lovers Advent Calendar | £55 Seven Days Of Reading Birthday Advent Calendar | £59.99 Baby And Toddler Book Advent Calendar | £84.99 £72.24 (save £12.75 or 15%) 24 Days Of Books Advent Calendar | £149.99 Book advent calendars for adults Book Lovers Advent Calendar Rare Birds is a book shop based in Edinburgh that offer a truly unique book advent calendar experience. In each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas, you'll open a door to an intriguing blurb. At the end of the season, you'll choose your four favourites and the books will be shipped to you. This years books are the Rare Birds team's favourite 2025 publications that weren't included in their book subscription. Buy Book Lovers Advent Calendar for £55 at Not On the High Street Fan of crime? Here's how to read Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club books in order. Books Are Magic Advent Calendar Book lovers will instantly fall in love with the Books Are Magic Advent Calendar. Each of the 25 pockets has a literary-themed surprise, from stickers and bookmarks to book-themed cards, to really up your Bookstagram or BookTok game. Buy Books Are Magic Advent Calendar for £24.99 £21.99 (save £3 or 12%) at Very undefined A Heart for Christmas: An Advent Novel If you're looking for something a little bit different to treat yourself to this advent season, then A Heart for Christmas is ideal. This is an advent novel, meaning that you have a chapter to open each day of this swoony festive romance. Prepare yourself for some slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers taking place in 24 instalments, each one sealed in a perforated envelope. Buy A Heart for Christmas: An Advent Novel for £20 £11.44 (save £8.56 or 43%) at Amazon undefined 24 Days Of Books Advent Calendar If you want to go all-out in the run up to Christmas, then this is the advent calendar for you. Across the 24 days before 25th December, you'll receive a book or a book-themed gift every day. The books span different genres, from essential classics to must-read modern literature. Plus, the 24 Days of Books Advent Calendar comes in a luxury white magnetic close box, adding a touch of elegance to any room. Buy 24 Days Of Books Advent Calendar for £149.99 at Not On The High Street Seven Days Of Reading Birthday Advent Calendar Who said advent calendars are just for Christmas? If, like us, you enjoy dragging out your birthday celebrations as long as possible, then this is the ideal way to celebrate. The calendar covers seven days and includes three books and four bookish-themed gifts. Buy Seven Days Of Reading Birthday Advent Calendar for £59.99 at Not On The High Street Kids book advent calendar The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection The Gruffalo is a special tale all year round, but it feels extra special at Christmas. This advent calendar contains 24 mini activity, song and rhyme books, all based on characters created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Expect to encounter some familiar faces from beloved stories such as Room on the Broom and The Snail and The Whale. Plus, you can match up the back of your puzzle books to create four special puzzle scenes. Buy The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection for £25 £5 (save £20 or 80%) at The Works undefined Baby and Toddler Book Advent Calendar It's never too early to introduce your little one to the advent tradition. You can choose between a 12-day calendar and a 24-day calendar, which will come in a luxury white magnetic close box. This gift extends way beyond Christmas and is ideal for any little bookworm. Buy Baby and Toddler Book Advent Calendar for £84.99 £72.24 (save £12.75 or 15%) at Not On The High Street Stitch Advent Calendar 5-Minute Stories With the release of the 2025 live-action Lilo and Stitch film, Stitch is so bad – not that he ever went anywhere. Celebrate Stitch with this book advent calendar for kids, which features a daily 5-minute story book for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Buy Stitch Advent Calendar 5-Minute Stories for £15.99 £8.99 (save £7 or 44%) at Very undefined Little People, Big Dreams: Advent Calendar Book Collection: 2025 Edition One of the best parts about books is how they can inspire us, and our little ones. The Little People: BIG DREAMS collection does just that by retelling the stories of heroes from history and the present day. This advent collection features dreamers from Simone Biles and David Attenborough to Harry Styles, Rosa Parks and Charles Darwin. Buy Little People, Big Dreams: Advent Calendar Book Collection: 2025 Edition for £21.99 £11.99 (save £10 or 45%) at Amazon undefined Bluey Awesome Advent Book Bundle We're big Bluey fans here at RadioTimes.com, and we're sure your kids are too. The charming blue Australian pup has taken the world by storm, enchanting kids and parents alike. So what better way to count down to Christmas than with Bluey's help? This advent calendar contains 24 mini-books, made up of 12 story books and 12 colouring books. Plus, it's currently 80% off! Buy Bluey Awesome Advent Book Bundle for £25 £5 (save £20 or 80%) at The Works Want to celebrate Christmas in style this year? Here's everything you need to know about Christmas at LEGOLAND and Christmas at Alton Towers.
Ruth Jones books in order: Guide to Gavin & Stacey creator's fiction and non-fiction
Immerse yourself in Ruth Jones's glorious literary worlds.
If you're a fan of When Gavin Met Stacey, you'll no doubt be familiar with Ruth Jones and her work on TV – but did you also know she's a fantastic author of novels? So far, Jones has released four fictional books which have been extremely popular. If you've finished the Radio Times Book Club, sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante choice for November, you'll no doubt want to read even more from the talented Welsh woman. Read on for your guide to the books written by Ruth Jones and in which order you'd be best off reading them. Ruth Jones books in order: Never Greener (2018) Us Three (2020) Love Untold (2022) By Your Side (2025) When Gavin Met Stacey: And Everything In Between (2025 - with James Corden) Never Greener (2018) When Kate was 22, she had an affair with a married man, called Callum, and though it ended in heartbreak, Kate would go on to be a successful actress living in London with her lovely family. And while Callum also was happy in Scotland, a chance encounter between the pair changes everything. Should they risk everything for what could be? Us Three (2020) We all make a promise with someone to stay friends forever, but that can be a little tricky to stick to... Lana Judith and Catrin were best friends throughout primary school and were always there for each other, come what may. But an unexpected event shakes the group to the core and their future as a trio is now in doubt... can they recover what they once had before it's too late? Love Untold (2022) Grace is about to turn 90 and she absolutely doesn't want any fuss – the only thing she really desires is that her family's rift is healed. To do that, she must find her daughter Alys, the only person who can put things right, but she's been away for 30 years... with a lot left unsaid and too many wounds to mention, will Grace get her wish? By Your Side (2025) Linda Standish has been a friend to the friendless for over 30 years through her role at the council's Unclaimed Heirs Unit, and finally it's time for her to retire. But before she can, she takes on one final case about Levi Norman, a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island before he died. Linda must track down his family to find out why he isolated himself and who from... When Gavin Met Stacey: And Everything In Between (2025 - with James Corden) Jones and collaborative partner James Corden recount the story of bringing Gavin & Stacey to the BBC, detailing its unlikely origins in an unassuming wedding which blended two very distinct families. The pair write in tandem, having a conversation with each other to bring together the creation – and subsequent endings – of one of the most popular sitcoms ever. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. You can purchase When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between, our book of the month, at the Radio Times Shop.
What to read after When Gavin Met Stacey: 17 books for TV-obsessed readers
If you've raced through When Gavin Met Stacey, here's what you should read next...
If you've raced through the Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante pick for November already, you'll be on the look-out for some more books like it. When Gavin Met Stacey: And Everything In Between tells the story of the inception and subsequent creation of the iconic TV sitcom from the two people who made it, Ruth Jones and James Corden. From humble beginnings when Corden went to a wedding with a bunch of unique people to the very final episode which would be watched by over 19 million people, this is the definitive story of the sitcom that would capture hearts across the nation. You don't just have to be a fan of the show to love this one, though, if you're interested in TV production, that one would've no doubt been a fun read for you. So, if you're looking for your next TV-based read, whether fiction or non-fiction, read on to find out more. 17 books to read after When Gavin Met Stacey Parky: My Autobiography by Michael Parkinson The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff Normal People: The Scripts by Sally Rooney, Alice Birch and Mark O'Rowe We're Falling Through Space: Doctor Who and Celebrating the Mundane by J David Reed Succession season one: The Complete Scripts by Jesse Armstrong Inside No. 9: The Scripts series 1-3 by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith Love That Journey For Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt's Creek by Emily Garside Lush! by Joanna Page Peaky Blinders - The Real Gangs and Gangsters by Carl Chinn Out of Character by Alison Steadman This Time Next Year by David Jason Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones No Lessons Learned: The Making of Curb Your Enthusiasm by Larry David Fleabag: The Scriptures by Phoebe Waller-Bridge TV: Big Adventures on the Small Screen by Peter Kay Life on Air by Sir David Attenborough Poirot and Me by David Suchet Parky: My Autobiography by Michael Parkinson Michael Parkinson enjoyed one of the most successful careers as an interviewer to date. Parky will recount his outstanding career and where it all started in this tell-all autobiography, packed with the humour he was so known for. The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff Radloff tells the story from day one about The Big Bang Theory and speaks with the cast and crew who brought the globally-popular sitcom to life. Expect powerful and emotional stories in what is the ultimate celebration of Big Bang. Normal People: The Scripts by Sally Rooney, Alice Birch and Mark O'Rowe Sally Rooney's Normal People became an enormous hit when the BBC's adaptation of it took the world by storm. This version has the complete screenplays of the Emmy-nominated series along with iconic images from the show and an introduction by director Lenny Abrahamson. We're Falling Through Space: Doctor Who and Celebrating the Mundane by J David Reed In this essay, Reed explores what is really fantastical in the world of Doctor Who: is it the alien worlds or is it actually the mundanity of life? This is a must for academic fans of the popular BBC series who want to dive beyond usual coverage. Succession season 1: The Complete Scripts by Jesse Armstrong This collection of scripts gives a record of the first season of Succession, documenting, like never before, Logan Roy's need for a successor to his company. The book also features unseen material, like deleted scenes, alternative dialogue and character directions, offering a unique insight into the developmental process behind a masterpiece. Inside No. 9: The Scripts series 1-3 by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith Step inside Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's iconic and off-beat comedy series in this amazing collection. Here, you can read how the stories came to life with the funny and witty scripts. Love That Journey For Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt's Creek by Emily Garside This unofficial book about Schitt's Creek discusses how the show reshapes LGBTQ+ narratives from the creation of the town itself, to how creator Dan Levy subverts expectations throughout his work, concluding on how the Netflix comedy is a cultural landmark. Lush! by Joanna Page The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante host, Joanna Page, launched her own autobiography in 2025 – and it was a cracker. In this honest and at times hilarious book, Page recounts her story from early life growing up, moving to London and of course, starring as Stacey in Gavin & Stacey. Peaky Blinders – The Real Gangs and Gangsters by Carl Chinn Historial Carl Chinn uncovers the real Peaky Blinders behind the iconic TV show. This is a vivid and shocking portrait of Birmingham through the Victorian and Edwardian eras to unpick the storied histories of some vicious gangs and how they gained notoriety. Out of Character by Alison Steadman Alison Steadman has been a staple of the small screen in the UK for decades – and finally, the Pamela Shipman star is telling her story from growing up in post-war, working class Liverpool, to getting her big break and beyond – all while demonstrating her lovable personality. Expect giggles and honesty in this fantastic memoir. This Time Next Year by David Jason David Jason is of course known as the iconic Derek Trotter, and in this tell-all memoir, he recounts growing up in North Finchley in the rubble of the Blitz before finally catching a break and taking to the stage – it wasn't without its bumps along the way. Expect Jason's known warmth and humour to shine throughout this essential for fans of UK comedy. Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones This comprehensive biography tells the complete story of one of the most innovative and creative artists to have ever graced screens: Jim Henson. While he is known to many for his iconic characters (Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, and of course, Miss Piggy, to name but a few), there's a remarkable life behind The Muppets not known to many, but told in his extensive book. No Lessons Learned: The Making of Curb Your Enthusiasm by Larry David This companion book for Curb Your Enthusiasm dives into one of the most successful US comedies of all time. Larry David is joined by the show's creators, cast and celebrity guests to uncover the making of the show and all its iconic moments. Plus, there's a helpful glossary to help untangle some of David's quirky terminology, like the stop-and-chat, chat-and-cut, pig parker and much more. Fleabag: The Scriptures by Phoebe Waller-Bridge This gorgeous book contains the filming scripts and never-before-seen stage directions from Phoebe Waller-Bridge's iconic (and award-winning) comedy series. Expect some surprising moments and plenty of laughs as you dive deeper into the glorious world she created for the BBC. TV: Big Adventures on the Small Screen by Peter Kay Peter Kay has always been a big lover of the small screen, that's no secret, and in this fun autobiography, the beloved comedian looks back at his life growing up in Bolton where the telly was a staple every evening. Expect his usual humour as he recalls his favourite TV moments before he eventually took the box by storm himself with Phoenix Nights and Max & Paddy – and even a little bit on his starring role in a much-talked-about episode of Doctor Who... Life on Air by Sir David Attenborough Sir David Attenborough has enjoyed one of the most successful careers of any television personality and is of course best-known for his extraordinary work as a natural history film-maker in a career that's spanned nearly six decades. In this volume of stories, Attenborough tells us about the people and animals he's met along the way making shows for TV. Poirot and Me by David Suchet The remarkable David Suchet recounts his experience playing Agatha Christie's iconic Hercule Poirot for almost a quarter of a century. The story is told as Suchet is filming his final ever episode where he starred as the Belgian detective for the last time. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. You can purchase When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between, our book of the month, at the Radio Times Shop.
Medieval Prince Harry "would have killed" William, imagines Young James Bond author – as he compares King Charles to a murdered monarch
Singer, comedian, actor, author... not one to rest on his laurels, Charlie Higson's latest book is a joyful and irreverent romp through 1,000 colourful years of the British monarchy.
When I thank Charlie Higson for joining me, he says, “Oh, it’s a pleasure to talk about myself!” Which is awkward, as we’re not really here to talk about him at all. It’s not that he’s not interesting: he’s been lead singer in an 80s funk-punk band; the genius behind 90s catchphrase-jackpot The Fast Show; and the acclaimed writer of James Bond novels, children’s books and several successful TV dramas. It’s just that the subject of his new book is even more interesting – red-hot-poker-up-the-bottom interesting, in fact. Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is a history of our country’s kings and queens, from William I to Charles III. As Higson says, those “bemoaning the behaviour of present-day royals such as Prince Harry… [need reminding of the] alarming, violent, often sordid” stuff their predecessors got away with, including (look away now, Wills) fratricide. Had Harry been a medieval prince, reckons Higson, “he would have killed his brother, locked his father up, taken the throne for himself, and everyone would have said, ‘Hooray! Finally, a good strong king!’ That style of monarchy would have suited him. As an ‘army chap’, he’d have promoted himself as a warrior for his country. Out of all of them, he probably would have been the one who succeeded.” View oEmbed on the source website The outlook would have been less rosy for Meghan: “This idea that she’s corrupted him – turned him into a woke, Netflix-documentary-making poodle – would have seen her besmirched as a she-wolf, like Queen Isabella [of France]”. And not much better for Charles: Higson sees the current King as a modern-day Edward II (he of red-hot poker fame), whose “own wife shoved him into a castle, locked him up and murdered him. That would have been Charles’s fate”. My conversation with Higson took place before the latest revelations concerning the King’s own errant brother, Andrew, but the author’s not shy about making criminal comparisons. “It’s like The Godfather,” he says. “There’s this family dynasty, this appalling Mafia clan who slaughter everyone around them. But by the end of the film you’re cheering for them, because you’ve spent time with them. I think I’ve done that; it’s a kind of Stockholm syndrome. I’ve come down on the side of thinking that the monarchy is probably the least worst system of creating a head of state. “And if the alternative is an elected head of state, you could end up with a Liz Truss or a Nigel Farage, hustling and distorting things to try and gain power.” But wouldn’t we vote for someone lovely, like President Attenborough? “He doesn’t want to be head of state! Nice people don’t. There’s a certain type who wants to fight to the top, which is what we see again and again in this book.” Ah, so it’s President Higson, is it? “No, I’d be as terrible as the rest of them.” At least he admits to his dictatorial tendencies. Talking about the current Fast Show reunion tour, he says he and his co-stars “all get on very well”, but ascribes that to a clear hierarchy within the troupe. “One of the things about Monty Python was that no one was in charge, they were a democracy, which made them very competitive. But with The Fast Show, Paul [Whitehouse] and I were always in charge. We were like the parents of the family; we created the show, we produced it, we edited it and we put it all together.” That’s not to say he can’t collaborate. Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee (which takes its name – shared with Higson’s podcast – from an old rhyme that lists each monarch in order) is illustrated by Jim Moir. “He sent me the first couple of illustrations,” explains Higson, “and I could see he was thinking, ‘Oh, Charlie’s written a posh history book. I’d better try and do proper historical things’. And I said, ‘No, Jim, I wouldn’t hire you to do that. I want this to have the full Vic Reeves flavour.’” Which it certainly does: witness the picture accompanying the chapter on Henry III. “It’s my favourite anecdote in the book,” enthuses Higson. “Henry wins the battle, and Simon de Montfort is killed. One of Henry’s barons, a guy called Roger Mortimer, sends a gift back to his wife after the battle, and she must have been overjoyed when she opened it, because inside the box was de Montfort’s head with his testicles draped over his nose. “An idea to bear in mind, perhaps, if you’re a bloke reading this and stuck for a Christmas present for your wife. I mean, they can be difficult to buy for…” To order Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee by Charlie Higson, visit the Radio Times Shop. The latest issue of Radio Times is out Tuesday 18th July – subscribe here. Check out more of our Books coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
"Very special book" championed by Dua Lipa wins Booker Prize 2025
"It's just not like any other book", said panel chair Roddy Doyle.
British-Hungarian author David Szalay has won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh. Szalay’s sixth work of fiction, which traces the life of one man, István, from his youth to midlife, was unanimously chosen as the winner, panel chair Roddy Doyle, who received the prestigious prize in 1993, confirmed. "What we particularly liked about Flesh was its singularity. It's just not like any other book," Doyle said. "It's a dark book, but we all found it a joy to read." Actor Sarah Jessica Parker joined Doyle on this year’s panel, along with the writers Chris Power, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ and Kiley Reid. The novel has also attracted praise from pop singer Dua Lipa and rapper Stormzy. Lipa called it a “tense and gripping read” when she picked it for her book club last month, while Stormzy recorded an extract of the book for a short film that was played at this year’s ceremony. Szalay was presented the prize at a ceremony held in London on Monday night (10th November), during which he said that writing the book “felt risky”. Taking to the stage, he said: "There was a sense of risk being taken. And I think it's very important that we did take those risks. Fiction can take risks – aesthetic, formal or even moral risks. It's important the novel community embraces risk." He continued: "This wasn't easy to write. I didn't cope that graciously or wisely to the pressure – the only person witness to that was my wife," he adds, who he then thanks for sharing the experience with him. Flesh follows the emotionally detached and withdrawn István from adolescence to old age, as his life is unravelled by a series of events beyond his grasp, and explores masculinity, class, power, intimacy and migration. Read more: Best book advent calendars for 2025 to get you in the Christmas mood Stephen Graham unveils "era-defining" book on fathers and sons – and you could take part in it Check out more of our Audio and Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guideand Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
When Gavin Met Stacey details how a party brought about the finale
Warm, funny and unforgettable… Gavin & Stacey went out on a high – and all because of a Mexican mariachi party.
This month’s Radio Times Book Club, sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante, pick tells the story of one of Britain’s best-loved comedies, in a series of conversations between its co-creators James Corden (Smithy) and Ruth Jones (Nessa). In this excerpt, they discuss how last Christmas's finale – watched by more than 20 million people — came to be… James: I’d always thought we should do another one. By the end of series three we had ten million viewers. And it just felt like the show wasn’t going away. People would keep saying, “Go on, do another one". Ruth: It was Mexico that clinched it. James: It was my 40th [in 2018] and my wife, Jules, organised a birthday weekend in Mexico. She flew in my oldest school friend, Sheddy, and she had friends from all over the world fly in. But it was all a massive surprise. Ruth: Julia messaged me and asked, “Would you consider coming to Mexico for it?” And it was strange, because you and I hadn’t really been massively in touch. In fact, I think the last time we’d seen each other was the previous Christmas, when you came over from LA and were staying in a hotel in London, and I remember going there to see you, and being very polite in front of you. Because at that stage you’d so gone into the stratosphere, fame-wise. And I think that disparity is difficult for people sometimes. So Mexico was really key, because then we spent time talking about what a new Gavin & Stacey episode would be. [Before that] I just didn’t want to go back there at all. And I think you did. Then in Mexico we all had to hide away. We knew that you were going to be inside this villa thing, and we all had to gather outside and put sombreros on. One by one, people had to go in. James: Yes, suddenly this mariachi band strikes up, and all these people come in. John Bishop’s there, and all these people I know are marching in wearing sombreros. Then someone opens my laptop, and Tom Cruise is on it, telling me that my mate Sheddy is here, and then he walks in, and then Jules goes, “There’s one more person here…” And you walked in, and I was unbelievably happy to see you. Ruth: It was so emotional. And it’s really weird, because I don’t think I always appreciate how much you love me. And partly I was thinking, “Surely he’ll be more excited about seeing John Bishop, or someone?” But I walked in and you literally burst into tears. I was kind of shocked that it meant so much to you. James: It was amazing. We had the best weekend. And because we’d always laughed about the fact that you had sung Wild Thing at your own wedding, we went to this restaurant and there was a band, and you got up and sang Wild Thing. Ruth: It was just something I decided to do on the spot. I knew the only way I would get away with it was to absolutely, completely give it my all. And not think about the fact that there were professional singers there. I mean, Harry Styles was there, for God’s sake – he looked a bit in shock. I don’t know if it was in a good way or bad. James: Yeah, it was an amazing time. And at some point during that birthday weekend, I said to you, “Do you want to think about doing more Gavin & Stacey? You know, I think it might be time.” Ruth: Yeah, we had that conversation sitting by the pool during the day. It wasn’t like a drunken sudden decision or anything. It had been mentioned over the years so many times and while I said I wasn’t keen to do it, there were times when I did think about it, because I remember I used to make notes and write down my thoughts about what could happen if we did do a new episode. And we used to text each other ideas and things like that as well. So it just felt, because now we’d finally come together after this period of not really being in touch, maybe that made it feel more concrete. I came away from the Mexico trip thinking, “Right let's do this..." HUNGRY FOR MORE? For this month’s midweek treat, Joanna read When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between while enjoying her favourite pizza: Hawaii from Dr. Oetker Ristorante – a hotly debated topping that works perfectly together, just like Nessa and Smithy! For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. You can purchase When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between, our book of the month, at the Radio Times Shop.
Joanna Page on When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between
Joanna Page gives her thoughts on the latest book in the Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Ristorante.
Joanna Page – our Radio Times and Dr. Oetker Ristorante Book Club ambassador – shares her thoughts on this month’s choice, one very close to home: When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between, by Ruth Jones and James Corden. Make sure to join the Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante to read or watch our full interview with Joanna and what she thought of this behind-the-scenes memoir. What did you think of the book? I would give this book six out of five stars. It’s got the lot. As a fan reading it, you want to get an insight into what it was like filming. What were the funny moments? What bits went wrong? How was it supposed to start? So, you get all of that, but you get so much more – an insight into how it all began, how James and Ruth first met. What was your favourite part? The book is a conversation between Ruth and James that makes it feel like you genuinely are sitting in the room with them. It’s very informal, all sorts of bits and bobs and honesty and truth and arguments and bickering, it all comes out! Did it bring back any Gavin & Stacey memories that you’d forgotten? The book is just so full of anecdotes and gorgeous stories and really brought back memories of Rob Brydon doing his karaoke: we heard this noise, pulled back a curtain and there was Rob doing a full vocal warm-up! The love that we all shared really shines through in this book. Who would you recommend the book to? All lovers of TV, all lovers of Wales and Essex, lovers of sitcoms and fans of Gavin & Stacey. I’m pairing this with a Hawaii pizza from Ristorante, because, in my opinion, ham and pineapple are a dream duo, just like Smithy and Nessa – and it’s my favourite flavour! Now, I’m slightly biased, but I absolutely adored this pairing. HUNGRY FOR MORE? For this month’s midweek treat, Joanna read When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between while enjoying her favourite pizza: Hawaii from Dr. Oetker Ristorante – a hotly debated topping that works perfectly together, just like Nessa and Smithy! For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. You can purchase When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between, our book of the month, at the Radio Times Shop.
James Bond spin-off author reveals why he feared becoming public enemy no. 1 with new book
Crime author Vaseem Khan talks reinventing 007's beloved gadget-master Q and a surprising twist in his new novel.
Only a handful of authors have ever been gifted the opportunity to play in the James Bond sandbox originally devised and expanded by Ian Fleming across a series of 14 007 books. So, for award-winning writer Vaseem Khan, best known for his Baby Ganesh Detective Agency novels, being asked to pen a new series of spin-off novels featuring Bond's beloved gadget-master Q as the lead felt incredibly exciting, but at the same time "tempered by the feeling that people are so wedded to this iconic character". "If I were to make a mess of this..." he tells Radio Times. "...I'd be public enemy number one for Bond fans." Helping to temper his nerves somewhat is that Quantum of Menace – the first in the new Q series – is not a Bond continuation novel in the strictest sense. Instead, it's a sidestep that, according to Khan, "sits somewhere between Mick Herron's Slow Horses and Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club". "It's not a spy novel," he's quick to clarify, with the story of this debut book seeing Q unexpectedly ousted from his role at MI6. Returning to his quiet hometown of Wickstone-on-Water, the man also known as Major Boothroyd soon becomes entangled in an investigation into the death of a childhood friend – renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier – and learns that Napier’s cutting-edge work may have drawn dangerous attention. Besides being a successful author, Khan is the Business Development Director at the UCL Security and Crime Science Department, where he helps manage the UCL Dawes Centre for Future Crime. Their work exploring how emerging technologies – such as quantum computing – could be exploited by criminals has directly influenced the themes of his book. The ambition was to provide us with a whole new outlook on Bond's world – and an entirely new Q, too. "It's taking a character that we think we know, and completely reinventing him," says Khan. "He hardly appeared in the [Fleming] books at all… we know very little about him. And in the movies, it's always a five-minute skit of things exploding in the lab and him saying, 'Grow up, 007!' – I wanted a real flesh-and-blood character and I didn't want a caricature, a bumbling boffin tripping over his own laces... "My Q is a scientist, who takes himself very seriously, and he generally knows that he's the smartest person in the room. That being said, I also wanted him to be a fish out of water – he's a man who, in spite of all this success and things that he's done in his life, is now at sea. He's at loggerheads with the establishment, who don't want him around, and he's now having to decipher what the next phase of his life will involve." Q has been portrayed on-screen by several actors, but most notably by Desmond Llewelyn – who played the character in 17 films between 1963 and 1999 – and by Ben Whishaw – who took up the mantle in three cinema outings released between 2012 and 2021. The version who appears in Quantum of Menace is an original creation who, Khan says, lies somewhere "in the middle of these two iconic representations on-screen" – Whishaw's younger whizkid and Llewelyn's elder statesman armourer. "My Q is in his 50s – he’s not Llewelyn, he's a bit younger than that, so he can do a bit more action if necessary, but also, at the same same time, he's clued up on modern tech and cyber security and all of those things the way that Ben Whishaw is." The book also delves into this Q's romantic history, with the police officer investigating Napier's death also happening to be Boothroyd's ex-fiancée, the pair having parted on less than amicable terms. "One of the reasons we love James Bond is that he does have a very colourful romantic life," says Khan of this addition. "Q, of course, is not a womaniser, but nobody is divorced from the practicalities of life, or their emotions." There is also – spoiler alert – passing reference to another romantic affair that might raise a few eyebrows among the Bond fandom: this Q, we learn, had a short workplace romance with Moneypenny, under the nose of an oblivious Bond. It's certainly a departure from established lore, though not one that Ian Fleming Publications objected to. "They've given me almost carte blanche, as long as I don't upset the entire Bond world. If I were to do something really ludicrous – having Q turn out to be Blofeld's best friend or something – that wouldn't pass muster. "The only other restrictions were that if there is something that appears only in the films, we couldn't really use it. So for instance, my first draft had Aston Martins mentioned, but of course, that's largely from the films – Bond's car originally was a Bentley. So I had to go back and change those references... just small things like that." Quantum of Menace is already earning a warm reception from Bond fans and critics – and the good news is that the next entry in the series isn't far off. In fact, the first chapter of the follow-up appears as a teaser at the back of the QoM hardback edition. "The second book is called The Man With the Golden Compass," Khan reveals. "I'm having a lot of fun with these titles, I have to say!" The sequel will see Q now employed by the police as a civilian contractor to consult on a case involving a tech millionaire who has made his fortune creating virtual reality environments for adult gaming. "He’s come to Q’s hometown, bought a massive stately home, and then he’s been gruesomely murdered! The police discover him, and on his body they find a small, round disc coated in gold with Nordic runes — and that allows Q to get involved…" Further blending traditional crime mystery with modern tech elements, The Man With the Golden Compass will also continue to expand on and explore Q's personal life – this time by introducing a family member who Khan calls "possibly [his] favourite character in the series" so far. "That is Q's father, Mortimer Boothroyd. He's a retired historian who Q has not spoken to for three decades for a reason that's revealed in the book, and he's just as prickly and just as acerbic as Q... so when the pair of them meet, sparks fly!" Quantum of Menace, the first book in Vaseem Khan's Q Mysteries series, is out now. Check out more of our Books coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Sally Magnusson dishes on King Charles III reporting the weather – and why she doesn't miss Reporting Scotland following 27-year run
After an eventful three decades on TV news, broadcaster Sally Magnusson is refocusing her efforts on her literary endeavours.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Ask Sally Magnusson what she misses after finishing her 27-year run on Reporting Scotland six months ago, and the long pause while she tries to think of something is as telling as her actual answer. “I’ll be incredibly honest with you,” she says eventually. “I don’t really miss it. I miss colleagues, but I’m still on the WhatsApp group, and we meet up.” So she now gets all the perks with none of the work? “Well, yes. But I don’t get the money, either.” Certainly Magnusson earned her wages: across her years on Reporting Scotland, Breakfast Time and others, she recalls covering such dark times as Dunblane, Lockerbie, Zeebrugge, Princess Diana’s funeral and Covid – which she found just as harrowing in its way as those other, more dramatic stories. But there were happier moments, too (“so many!”). And, pushed for examples, this time there is no hesitation at all. “One of the most joyful was the day that Prince Charles and Camilla came and did the weather on my programme. That was a huge amount of fun, especially trying to get Camilla to do it. Charles read off the autocue with great aplomb and did the whole thing very well, but when I asked Camilla she said, ‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly!’ Charles encouraged her, though, and he held her handbag while she had a go. She wasn’t quite as good as him… but be careful how you tell that story, because I don’t want to make it look as if she was terrible.” (If you’re worried that RT has just blown Magnusson’s chances of an honour, relax: she got her MBE in 2023.) Now, at any rate, the 70-year-old has time to write. Previously, she’d squeezed her literary output in around the day job and bringing up five children – all the more remarkable when you consider the breadth of her work, from a moving memoir of her mother’s dementia (“I wanted to describe her at each stage, so I would never forget how she smiled, or moved her hands through her hair, or put her lipstick on”) to children’s story Horace and the Haggis Hunter – via, naturally, Life of Pee, her semi-scholarly tome on the significance of urine in human civilisation. If there’s a unifying theme, it’s what Magnusson describes as “our need for stories” – and her new novel, The Shapeshifter’s Daughter, tells a fascinating one. “It’s a reimagining of the Norse myth of Hel, queen of the underworld, one of the most fascinating characters in the the Norse pantheon. But it’s also telling the story of a woman in the modern day, who comes back to her home, after 40 years away, to die. These two figures from two different worlds connect in one golden winter and begin to influence each other so that they both work out what they are really for.” (“Gosh,” she adds, “I hope that’s right. I need to re-read it myself!”) The novel – which will soon be featured on Sara Cox’s Radio 2 Book Club podcast – is set in the Orkney Islands, a place Magnusson describes as being “on the way” between Scotland and Iceland, thanks to its long history of Norse rule and Viking culture. “It feels like home,” she says, perhaps unsurprisingly as the daughter of a Scottish mother and an Icelandic father – the writer, scholar and original presenter of Mastermind, Magnus Magnusson. “I wonder now if this book was a little inevitable,” she muses. “I learned the Icelandic sagas at his knee. I grew up listening to the clack-clack-clack of his typewriter, and I’d go into his study and he’d have all these books and dictionaries laid out around his desk and he’d be wrestling with the Old Norse.” (His translations of the sagas are still, in many cases. the definitive editions.) “The Norse gods – those stories of Odin and Thor and Loki – are part of my hinterland, and my dad had an incredible fund of them.” Viking mythology isn’t the only thing Magnusson inherited from her father, though. When Magnusson Senior retired from presenting Mastermind in 1997, he was given the show’s famous black leather contestants’ chair – and when he died, it passed to his daughter. “I decided it wasn’t going to be a museum piece, so it’s there in my house and people sit on it – especially my husband, as it’s the nearest chair to the television. It got a bit scruffy over the years, so last October I took it into The Repair Shop – you can see it on iPlayer. They did a wonderful job, sprucing it up and giving it a new lease of life, but without taking away the knocks and scratches.” And was that disappointing? “Oh, no. It’s the knocks and scratches that tell the story.” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. The Shapeshifter’s Daughter by Sally Magnusson is published by John Murray and releases on 6 November. Check out more of our Books coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Michael Palin reveals how a Monty Python sketch saved him from being thrown in a Venezuelan jail
Sir Michael Palin’s wanderlust is undimmed at 82, but how does the comedian defuse a dangerous situation?
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. You could almost hear the sigh of collective disappointment from the country’s female population. I’d asked Michael Palin – perhaps a little insensitively, given it’s only two and a half years since his wife of 57 years died – if he might be looking for a new travelling companion. And the answer was polite (of course) but emphatic: “I do miss Helen very much on holidays. I was away with all my children and grandchildren in Italy recently, and it was lovely, but I realised I was 25 years older than the next oldest person there. You do need someone your own age to share your perspective and roll your eyes with – but I’m not really in the market for meeting anyone else.” Bad news for the nation’s womenfolk, perhaps – anyone who’s seen any of his TV travelogues knows he’d be the perfect person to squire you around foreign climes – but at least we all get to accompany the former Python in his witty, insightful, lightly learned written accounts. The latest of these, Michael Palin in Venezuela, accompanies September’s three-part series of the same name. But why Venezuela? “The decisions on where we go are taken by myself and Neil Ferguson, the director. He’s the one who says, ‘I want to go somewhere else,’ while I’m saying, ‘I’d rather stay in bed for a couple more days.’ But I never really want to stay in bed or sit in one place too long: I love travelling. It’s a form of global fidgeting.” It sounds like he has a travel companion already then. Do they bicker like a couple? “Oh no, I’m far too agreeable. We have constructive conversations. I say, ‘I’m 82. I might fall over if I go there.’ He says, ‘You’ll be fine.’ And Channel 5 – who are presumably paying the insurance bill – seem very keen to keep me travelling, too.” That still doesn’t explain Venezuela, I point out. “It’s always been a mysterious country to me, but with something seductive about its name. It also fits the bill for what we try to do in these shows, which is go somewhere and find out what’s gone wrong. Venezuela is oil-rich, it’s got enormous mineral wealth, it has wonderful Caribbean beaches, beautiful mountain scenery – but nearly eight million Venezuelans [over a quarter of the population] left the country in the last ten years or so. They’re Latin Americans, so they like painting, colour, food, dancing, having fun, but they’re living under intolerable pressure in a dictatorship.” Perhaps inevitably, Palin and crew experienced some of that themselves. “We were filming in a town called Sabaneta. First, a couple of people asked what we were doing. Then some uniformed people came and did the same. Then there were people in slightly smarter uniforms. And finally it was men in totally black uniforms, with helmets and body armour and M16 rifles, working for the Intelligence Service. And they weren’t smiling.” Surely at this point, I venture, you tell them Who You Are? “They didn’t seem the sort of people to whom you’d say, ‘Actually I do comedy sketches!’ – you tend to keep quiet about the Spanish Inquisition sketch when you’ve got an assault rifle pointed at you. But eventually one of them googled my name, and the first thing that came up was a clip on YouTube of myself and John Cleese debating Life of Brian with Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark from 1979 – which is the only time I’d been really serious and angry on television. So they’re looking at this, saying, ‘He’s supposed to be a comedian?’ “At that stage, someone said, ‘Mike, show them some Monty Python.’ So I tell them to look for The Fish-Slapping Dance, and they laboriously type that in… and it worked its magic. They realised that anyone who got hit in the face with a pilchard or knocked into a canal with a perch couldn’t be a threat to the regime.” Yes, but did they laugh? “You couldn’t really see their faces because they were heavily masked and had goggles, but the security headgear began to shake slightly, and that was rather reassuring.” Fellow Python Eric Idle said recently that Palin’s “twinkly naughtiness” was on the wane, but Palin himself disagrees. “Eric can be a bit catty sometimes… And I think my twinkly naughtiness is still there. In fact I think there’s great scope for silliness in your 80s. You don’t have to worry about how long you’ve got to live, or what you should eat. You’re in the departure lounge. It gives you freedom.” That said, there are clearly no thoughts of exiting the lounge any time imminently. Venezuela, Palin mentions in passing, is the 100th country he’s visited. “But there are 204 or something in the world, so I’m not even halfway.” And, adds the octogenarian with an optimistic (possibly even naughty) twinkle, “I’m over three-quarters of the way through my life.” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Documentaries coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stephen Graham unveils "era-defining" book on fathers and sons – and you could take part in it
What advice would you give to your son about being a man? Fathers are being invited to share their perspectives.
Stephen Graham will continue the difficult conversation he started with Adolescence in a new book titled Letters to Our Sons, which is currently seeking contributions. The collection will be comprised of letters written by fathers to their young sons, offering advice and insight into what it means to be a man, with Graham's letter being one of the varied entries. The recent Emmy winner is developing the project with psychology lecturer Orly Klein, which is inspired by an idea that the latter had when her own son was turning 13 years old. Other letters featured will come courtesy of members of the public, with publisher Bloomsbury inviting fathers from all walks of life to submit their entries for consideration, in what it hopes will be an "era-defining" work. In a note on the book's website, Graham and Klein explain: "We want you to write a letter to him, to tell him what you wish you had known when you were younger, what advice you would like to pass on to him, and what – in your opinion – being a man should be about." They add: "You don't need to be a great writer, we just want you to speak from the heart. If you’re a bit stuck, we've got some prompts for you which might help inspire you. "And by the way, if you want to be anonymous, that's completely fine, and of course we plan to protect the identity of your son." You can hear Graham and Klein introduce and discuss Letters to Our Sons in a YouTube video from Bloomsbury. Full terms and conditions, and instructions on how to enter your piece, can be found on the publisher's website. Graham explained that it was the enormous impact of Adolescence, which he starred in and co-created alongside The Hack's Jack Thorne, that made clear to him the "greater need for communication between fathers and sons". He commented: "There is arguably an even bigger disconnect than ever before, and I would love to help create more opportunity for fathers to reach out to their sons and carry on the conversation. "We want to hear from men of all ages, first-time fathers, absent fathers, fathers who’ve been there but never truly been there, fathers who’ve lost and fathers who just want to find a way to say 'I love you', to tell their sons what they mean to them and to talk openly about what it means to be a man." Orly Klein commented: "When my son turned 13, I asked a range of male friends to write him a letter that explained what they believed made a good man, and what advice they would like to give him. "Some letters were funny, some were sad, most of them were thoughtful. Stephen and I have a mutual friend, and when I told her about this, she put us in touch, because she knew there was an idea for a book there somewhere. "She knew that Stephen and I shared the same commitment to tackling the issues facing young men today." Katy Follain, Head of Bloomsbury General, added: "This is one of those incredible 'pinch-me' moments where we publish a book that has the potential to be a genuine social and cultural movement that goes beyond the book itself. "Letters to Our Sons is going to help, and possibly save, lives, and I can't think of a better author for it than Stephen Graham, and with Orly Klein's professional expertise, they are going to create something that is urgent and necessary." Letters to Our Sons is scheduled for release in October 2026 from Bloomsbury. Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on, or for more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jilly Cooper: "I just think I'm a drip with no confidence"
In 1996 the late Jilly Cooper welcomed RT's Andrew Duncan into her Gloucestershire home for a memorable interview over lunch.
This article was first published in Radio Times magazine in April 1996, when Jilly Cooper featured on Radio 3's Private Passions as her novel Appassionata was being released. What more is there to say about Jolly Jilly, the everlasting Essex girl [born in Hornchurch, but brought up in Yorkshire], gap-toothed and voluble, batty about animals who she claims love her more than people, flattering as only the deeply insecure can be? It takes a heart of stone not to preen at all those, "Gosh, you are brilliants", even though you realise she says it to every boy, girl, dog, cat, and cockatoo for all I know. She has enough compassion to fuel a nunnery and enough sexual imagination to empty it in a hurry. Her latest bonkbuster, Appassionata, does for the world of orchestras what her previous four have done for showjumping, polo, television and toyboys in her fictional county of Rutshire, and includes many of her familiar heroes such as dastardly Rupert Campbell-Black. It is a world of divinely masterful men, women who worry about their breast size, characters twee at times and robustly sexual [there’s a coupling on the glockenspiel] at others. Her husband Leo, a publisher of military history who spends a few days each week at his London office, says her own life is entwined in her fiction (her sadly departed dog Barbara is forever immortalised as the mongrel "Gertrude"), and although he skims the books – he is only human – he coined the pun "sex and Chopin" for Appassionata. Her mother adds that she was always attracted to preppy, blond, upper-class cads. Certainly, her own life is a sitcom, only more amusing and, sometimes sadly, over the top. It would be tempting, in this cynical age, to believe it is all a good marketing ploy, but the glorious thing about her is that she is genuine. No one could pretend to be that seriously dippy. On the other hand, could anyone that seriously dippy spend three years writing such long books? Real life is a mystery, so we might as well relax at the wooden kitchen table in her Gloucestershire home for a delicious lunch cooked by her assistant, Pippa. Buzzing from one topic to another, she says it’s too boring to talk about the book. "I just want to gossip, but I have to be so careful. In the old days you could come down here and we could get pissed and talk our heads off, but the hoo-hah changed the goalposts and one couldn’t say what one wanted." The "hoo-hah" was the lurid publicity in 1990 when, after years of writing about her thrillingly satisfactory home life, it was revealed that Leo, whom she married in 1961, having first met him at 14, had been having an affair for years. All that seems over. Only the other day a TV producer was anxious to film them à deux. "He assumed we had hobbies, but I told him the only thing we do together is make love occasionally, and the BBC wouldn’t let him film that. He was frightfully embarrassed. More wine?" She is 59 but could pass for a decade younger. "One worries about decay. I looked at myself this morning, when I was washing my hair for you, and the bright light hit me and I thought, ‘Pleated skin – not very attractive,' but if you’re busy you’re much more worried about finishing things. Are you all right, darling?" This remark is addressed to her dog, Hero, who I am trying surreptitiously to kick – he seems in a persistent sniffing state. Glaring at me, from his perch near the breadboard on the table, is Simon Rattle, a furry black and white feline concoction with mean eyes, named after the conductor. "Isn’t he sweet?" says Jilly. "He likes you, so he’s going to do his number. He’s a bit mad, with a habit of jumping on your shoulders and clinging tight. It’s all right – except when you’re naked answering the telephone." Not an activity I was contemplating, I mutter, but Jilly is all compassion again, this time clucking to the photographer about his assistant. "Will you feed your little girl? She looks so hungry. Would you like some potatoes to take away?" It is time to ask questions. She interrupts. "When I wrote interviews I spent weeks trying to get them right. I’d love to teach journalists how to do it. Rule one – arrive looking absolutely sweet and friendly. It was so kind of you to bring me champagne. Rule two, cherchez les minicab drivers. They know about everyone. "You should hear them on Mrs Mellor. They’d go to the stake for her because they think she’s beautiful, sweet and a bit wronged. I had one the other day who’d just driven Virginia Bottomley. She’s gorgeous, he said, even in a green track suit with no make-up after jogging. I’ve got a good new pun – the Arts Council [Mrs Bottomley’s responsibility] doesn’t have a Bottomley’s pit. "Why don’t you write something lovely about her? The trouble is these days readers would think you’re a drooling thing. Someone ought to write a nice piece about Camilla Parker-Bowles too, who is absolutely divine. I love her dearly." She is a neighbour, as is Ronnie Ferguson ("a wonderful man"), George Milford Haven ("a fantastically handsome polo player") and "Mickey Suffolk – the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire – a lovely man. Everyone thinks he’s a bit like Rupert Campbell-Black, but Rupert isn’t any one person." She enjoys living in the country, having moved from south London 15 years ago. "The awful thing about life is that nothing is ever quite perfect, is it? If you’re a writer, and you’re stupid, you have to go into this awful self imposed exile. I have Pippa and others who work for me, and Leo for four days a week. "But I’m completely one track and can only write if I’m not surrounded by jolly, laughing friends pouring a drink down me. I have lots of mates here, but don’t see them, which is boring. Now I’ve decided I’m going to fool around a bit. It’s silly to say ‘no’ all the time." Some sort of social round begins this week as she publicises Appassionata as well as a CD of music from the book – "the selection of someone who listened to Classic FM for a couple of years," sniffed one critic, but which Jilly describes as "faintmakingly beautiful. I listened to it in the bath and cried so much the water went cold with my tears." The only disappointment is the postponement – for financial reasons – of a TV adaptation of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous. "It’s maddening, a real tragedy for the actors who were expecting a break." Not that she was too keen on the Riders dramatisation, where the only resemblance to the book was the title. "It irritates me when they completely re-write it. All they really want is the name, but I know nothing about screenplays. It’s probably very difficult. I’ve seen a bit of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous. There are some good dogs in it. Excellent casting of a Jack Russell." Her research is phenomenal, judging by the seven pages of acknowledgments – oh, yes, "dear, gallant" Barbara is there too – for Appassionata. "I wanted to write something accurate. I think it’s quite jolly, but it was a sod to write – how do you make 86 characters in an orchestra? I kept losing them. Someone would have red hair in the first chapter and be totally different later. I never thought I’d finish it, but then my mind was concentrated enormously by the fact that my darling housekeeper announced last August that she was leaving [for marital reasons] on 1 October, so I finished in six weeks. It was sheer fear." Fear, she adds, can be the parent of cruelty. "I think it applies to women bosses particularly. They are often unnecessarily cruel, and to their own sex, because they have to establish themselves. I’ve seen men bullies, but women are worse. The terrifying atmosphere you get in some womens’ magazines when they’re beastly to each other. I suppose it’s sacrilege to say women are shrill, but the decibel level of their voices when they’re together makes them that way." Read more: Jilly Cooper - legendary author of Rivals - dies, aged 88 Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles books in order: How to read inspiration of Rivals Through the French windows she watches Pippa hunting for Jeff the gardener – there are 14 acres. She giggles and says, "Leo’s worst thing - I love this - is having to wander around looking for the gardeners. That’s a terrible remark. How lucky to have a big enough garden to spend hours finding the gardeners." She works in a cluttered gazebo at an ancient, second-hand typewriter, called Monica, bought in Cirencester in 1984 - "I’m superstitious. I think when Monica goes, I will" – and planned to learn the pieces performed in the book by concert pianist Marcus, son of Rupert. As a child she played piano in duets with her father on the violin – "the only time I saw him cry. I’m trying to work out why everyone thinks music is so wonderful. Samuel Johnson said it was the only sensual pleasure without vice. Of course there’s snobbishness. One was brought up thinking Rachmaninov and Chopin were junk and Liszt was beyond the pale, but he is frightfully ‘in’ now. "I’m not keen on modem composers. Some are good, but a lot are complete phonies. I don’t understand why they’d want to be phonies for so little money. At least I’m a phoney for a lot of money," she guffaws. "Have some cheese." She must be wealthy now, but she denies it vehemently. True, she bailed out Leo’s business on a couple of occasions, is generous to her two children, now in their twenties, but four number one bestsellers provide a good income. She calls for Pippa. "I need the money, don’t I?" "Yes, because she’s skint," agrees Pippa, a trifle hyperbolically. Jilly adds, still managing to smile, "I’m not being aggressive or paranoid, well not much, but it’s the one thing that makes me cross. Polly Toynbee wrote a vicious piece in The Times asking why I write such rubbish when I don’t need the money. That hurts. All I’ve done for the last three years is this book. "Everyone says I must be worth about five million. I have a big family, children, a large house, masses of tax, animals, and I’m such a flake I’m not very good at hanging on to it. Don’t laugh. I promise this is true. People don’t see either the inside of your bedroom or your bank statement. No one has any idea whether you have ancient aunts or a cat with a cocaine habit..." I glare triumphantly at Simon Rattle, who slinks quietly away. "I’m sorry to go on about money. It’s all relative. I’ll get myself together one day. I just think I’m a drip with no confidence. My insecurities must be so dreary for everyone else." Don’t worry, I say, sensitively, although with a certain hardening of the lips. Insecurity is the well spring of talent. "All right," she whoops. "I’m very insecure. Would you like cream with your strawberries?" She hunts in the fridge, finds none, and calls for Pippa who points out it is in a jug on the table. "Oh, that sums me up. I don’t recognise it when it’s decanted. I’m a mess in the kitchen." She is now planning a thriller in which she kills off another brute, Rannaldini, even though her agent advised, "Oh, darling, it’s out of genre," and then she hopes to write a novel about golf. "One gets the background right, and then turns them into the same larky characters. Appassionata isn’t a bad book, is it? I hope it cheers up a lot of people, and that’s no bad thing. I would love to write a serious, good novel. I probably couldn’t, but I think one ought to try. ‘Bottomley’s pit’ is such a good pun, isn’t it?" Check out more of our Books coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Steph McGovern reveals hopes for TV adaptation of book - with very famous Teessider in lead role
Steph McGovern reveals her favourite ever books.
Steph McGovern is arguably one of the busiest women in the entertainment industry. In the midst of juggling various shows (including the newly-announced role as Crimewatch host), she's also firmly planting herself in the world of books following a successful debut and an upcoming appearance at Cheltenham Literature Festival. "In my job as a journalist, I get to interview authors and I'm obviously obsessed with reading, but to be going to one of the biggest book events to be interviewed as an author? It's just really surreal," McGovern exclusively tells RadioTimes.com. "I get more nervous about that than I do if suddenly I had to go and explain something complicated about fiscal policy." McGovern released her debut novel, Deadline, in July of this year to rave reviews. It follows a broadcast journalist, Rose, who has her earpiece hijacked by someone who is kidnapping her child. She then finds herself at the mercy of this figure as she tries to work out what's going on, and how she can stop anything truly terrible from happening. It's nail-biting stuff, and deeply-rooted in the world McGovern knows all too well. But it was also some words of encouragement from one very famous writer that got her over the finish line. "I knew I had this hook of a TV reporter being hijacked on air, but I didn't know why or who did it. Ann Cleeves gave me the confidence to let the characters tell me; that gave me confidence in writing because I didn't have everything set in my head and I thought you would probably have to be like that, so it was really liberating," McGovern explained. "I'm a massive crime reader, so I'm always thinking about the 'what if?'. So for me, my ordinary situation would be, at that point, being live on telly– the extraordinary thing would be it being hijacked." McGovern has now moved on to writing her second novel – and seems to be enjoying the process a lot. While she's leaving the TV set behind her for the follow-up, Rose, the lead character is coming with her. With a recurring character in the bag, the obvious next step is a TV adaptation, which McGovern is hopeful for. "I'm literally bugging my agent every day if we can get it on telly! I do understand the process is slow so it's not going to happen imminently, but I really hope it does because it's set in the TV world. It lends itself to being adapted for telly," she gleefully recounted.] She also admitted she's allowed her mind to stray to who would play Rose: fellow Teessider, Faye Marsay, who also read the audiobook version of Deadline. "Importantly for me, she's not just a brilliant actress, but she's from my part of the country, she's literally from Middlesbrough. I grew up here and she's got the perfect nuance of the voice – and she's a brilliant actress. She does the voice of the book so well, because she says things exactly how we would say. That was really important to me." On My Bookshelf: Steph McGovern The book that made me fall in love with reading as an adult was Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I just love that book because it took me to another world I knew nothing about. I hated history at school, if I'm honest, and I remember reading that book and thinking, 'I wish my history lessons had been like this'. The book I recommend to everyone is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I could literally sit here and list loads of books because it also depends on what day you ask me! I'm big in Seven Husbands but if you ask me in the next few weeks, I've probably moved on. My next read is 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon which is really fun. It's about a group of different people being told they've got 59 minutes until a nuclear missile is going to hit. I started reading it the day we got all those alerts on our phones a couple of weeks ago, and that's sort of what happens to these characters. My six-star book is In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan which is her debut thriller. She's lived and breathed AI snd this is a book which has a lot of what she knows and has experienced in it, but it's really fascinating on where AI is going to take us. As a business journalist, that really plays into things I'm interested in. The book I wish I'd written is Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh – but I've got loads though! Steph McGovern is in conversation with Mark Billingham at Cheltenham Literature Festival on Wednesday 15th October at 8pm. You can get tickets here. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
From page-turners to prizewinners: The best 27 books of 2025 so far
Whether it's breakout debuts, blockbuster returns, twisty thrillers or candid memoirs, these are the 2025 releases you won't want to miss.
This year has already delivered a spectacular array of stories, essays and revelations, with 2025 shaping up to be an excellent one for literature. From heartbreaking memoirs to mind‑bending novels, laugh‑out‑loud debuts to literary masterpieces, it’s hard to pick the best books of 2025, but we’ll try our hardest. Whether you’re after escapism, insight or sheer page‑turning pleasure, our round‑up of the year’s top books offers an ultimate guide to reading this year. Get ready to discover your next obsession, with something for everyone on this list. Best fiction books of 2025 A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay Buckeye by Patrick Ryan The Rest of Our Lives by Benjamin Markovits What We Can Know by Ian McEwan The Artist by Lucy Steeds Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan Stag Dance by Torrey Peters Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery Katabasis by R.F.Kuang Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins Who Wants to Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab 1. A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay Former doctor turned bestselling author Adam Kay makes a striking fiction debut with this medical mystery full of heart and dark humour. At its centre is Eitan Rose, a gifted doctor whose mental health struggles often hold him back. Still reeling from a breakup and haunted by the loss of his sister during his training, Eitan is just about keeping afloat when his boss dies suddenly. Convinced it’s more than natural causes, he sets out to uncover the truth. With sharp insights into medicine, an undercurrent of grief, and plenty of wit, A Particularly Nasty Case is a particularly good book to curl up with on a Sunday afternoon. 2. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Rich with insight into the human spirit and sharp observations of American life, Buckeye is a generational tale of secrets and consequences. In Bonhomie, Ohio, a fleeting moment of passion in the wake of Allied victory binds together Cal Jenkins—a man scarred not by battle but by his failure to serve—and Margaret Salt, a woman determined to conceal her past. As their town flourishes during the postwar boom, long-buried secrets come to light. Spanning some of the most transformative decades in modern America, the novel traces how one encounter reverberates across generations, forcing two families to confront who they really are and what kind of future they can claim. 3. The Rest of Our Lives by Benjamin Markovits Empty nest syndrome hits differently these days—though with the current housing market, some might welcome it. This novel puts a witty spin on the dilemma. Twelve years ago, Tom Layward made a pact with himself: as soon as his youngest daughter turned 18, he’d finally leave his unfaithful wife. Now, dropping that daughter off at university in Pittsburgh, Tom remembers his promise, and just keeps driving west. What follows is a modern riff on the great American road novel, full of nuance, wit, and the messy beauty of late-life choices. 4. What We Can Know by Ian McEwan In 2014, a single great poem is read aloud... and then lost forever. For generations, its message lingers in speculation, though no copy is ever found. By 2119, the lowlands of the UK are drowned by rising seas, and those who remain are haunted by memories of the world that vanished. When an academic uncovers a clue to the poem’s existence, he unravels a story of entwined loves and a devastating crime—one that upends everything he thought he knew about those closest to him. At its heart, this is a love letter to art, to the written word, and to the fragile beauty of humanity in the shadow of catastrophe. 5. The Artist by Lucy Steeds If your perfect Sunday includes an art gallery, add this novel by Lucy Steeds to your cart immediately. Set in 1920, it follows reclusive painter Edouard Tartuffe and his niece, Ettie, living in a remote farmhouse in Provence. When young journalist Joseph arrives to write about Tartuffe, he soon discovers that the greatest mystery of the cottage lies not in the painter but in a woman living under the same roof. Richly sensory, the novel lets you smell the lavender of Provençal summer, see the vivid paintings, taste the ripe food, and participate with the characters’ most profound emotions. 6. Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan An electrifying tale of love, betrayal, and the complicated allure of bougie domesticity from the author of Bellies. Thirty-year-old Max, weighed down by a lifetime of dysphoria and irritating exes, is plagued by deep dissatisfaction. She decides to seek answers in good old-fashioned heteronormativity—namely, Vincent. Though his corporate colleagues, traditional friends, and Chinese parents never imagined him dating a trans woman, Vincent cares for Max in a way she once dismissed as a foolish fantasy. But he carries his own baggage. When the fallout from a decades-old entanglement resurfaces, Max must confront what forgiveness truly means. Prepare for an emotional labyrinth, to say the least. 7. Stag Dance by Torrey Peters Following up a novel as talked-about as Detransition, Baby is no small feat, but Torrey Peters exceeds expectations with Stag Dance. This bold collection—one novel and three stories—is audacious, sharp, and deeply human. In Stag Dance, a group of restless lumberjacks in an illegal winter logging outfit plan a dance, some choosing to attend as women. When the broadest, strongest, plainest axman announces his intention to dance as a woman, he sparks a strange rivalry with a handsome young jack, igniting a cascade of obsession, jealousy, and betrayal that builds toward the dance. The result is a startling, intimate vision of gender, transition, and desire. 8. Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory The “queen of royal fiction” returns with another dazzling tale of ambition, betrayal and survival in Henry VIII’s court. This time it's Jane Boleyn's turn, as Philippa Gregory follows a woman who lives in the shadows of power, where secrets are currency and a whisper can decide a Queen’s fate. For Jane, survival means wearing many masks: a loving wife concealing doubt, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and a cunning spy who wields her words like a weapon. In a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, one misstep could cost her everything. As with The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory masterfully illuminates an untold story of Tudor intrigue and power. 9. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Taylor Jenkins Reid is basically a time traveller of the literary word at this point, renowned for transporting readers to iconic moments, crafting complex protagonists and weaving passionate tales about the transformative power of love. In her latest novel, Atmosphere, she delivers all three once again, setting her story amid Houston’s Johnson Space Centre in the summer of 1980. As new astronauts, Joan and her colleagues forge unexpected friendships, navigate intense relationships, and face the mounting pressures of life at NASA. 10. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Four women. Four intertwined stories of love, longing, and desire. Chiamaka, a Nigerian travel writer in America, reflects on past lovers and lingering regrets during the isolation of the pandemic. Her best friend Zikora, a successful lawyer, faces betrayal and heartbreak that forces her to turn to the one person she thought she’d never need. Omelogor, Chiamaka’s bold cousin and a financial powerhouse in Nigeria, begins to question how well she truly knows herself. And Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s devoted housekeeper, proudly raises her daughter in America, until an unimaginable hardship threatens everything she’s built. A piercing exploration of choice, fate, family and the bonds that connect us all. It's rare for a writer to make us care about four different protagonists so profoundly, but Adichie makes it seem as easy as breathing. 11. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson Holly Jackson's A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder took the world by storm, first on the page, then on Netflix. Now, the bestselling author makes her adult debut with Not Quite Dead Yet. We follow Jet, a young woman with her whole life ahead of her — or so she thinks — until a fateful Halloween attack leaves her with a rare brain injury that will kill her within a week. Faced with her imminent death, Jet seizes a unique opportunity: to solve her own murder before it happens. Racing against the clock, she embarks on a desperate investigation to uncover the truth and leave a legacy for her family. A clever, suspenseful twist on the murder mystery genre, this novel blends urgency, intrigue and heartbreak into an unforgettable read. 12. The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery Imagine Knives Out meets Downton Abbey, but with an impending apocalypse. Are you still with us? Set on a remote tidal island in Cornwall, 1910, The Viscount of Tithe Hall is consumed by feverish preparations for the end of the world, convinced Halley’s Comet will bring doom. He seals off the hall, but the real danger is already inside. The next morning, the Viscount is found dead. Now, the murderer walks among them. The only hope lies with an unlikely duo: the newest butler and the family’s formidable matriarch. Together, they must unravel a web of secrets before time runs out. 13. Katabasis by R.F.Kuang The fervent voice of academia returns with a tale of passion, rivalry, and the ultimate journey. From the hallowed halls of Cambridge to the infernal depths of Hell itself, two graduate students must set aside their differences to save their professor’s soul, perhaps at the cost of their own. Alice Law has devoted her life to her career, and Professor Jacob Grimes is the key to her ambitions. But his untimely death — and the shadow of her possible involvement — throws everything into jeopardy. Alongside Peter Murdoch, Alice ventures deeper into Hell than any mortal before, navigating its shifting levels and confronting truths that could destroy them both. 14. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros The third instalment of the wildly successful Empyrean Series landed in 2025, and readers eagerly devoured it. Returning to a world of dragons and their riders, Onyx Storm reunites fans with smart‑mouthed Tairn, brooding Xaden, and over‑eager Andarna. Now, Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies in unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. It's basically a road trip movie but on a dragon's back. Her path will test every shred of her wit, luck and strength. She will risk everything to protect what she loves: her dragons, her family, her home… and him. Even if it means keeping a secret so devastating, it could destroy them all. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. But most of all, they need the one thing only Violet can find: the truth. 15. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins We return to Panem, this time for the 50th Hunger Games and the second Quarter Quell. But this is a story we’ve never heard before. Meet Haymitch Abernathy, before he was the bitter, world‑weary mentor Katniss and Peeta knew. A young boy torn from his home and his lover, thrust into the arena to fight for District 12, Haymitch is determined to survive… and to make his death mean something. By his side are a girl who is almost like a sister, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most insufferable girl in town. Together, they will face the Games and not let their deaths be in vain. As the film adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping hurtles toward the big screen, take a moment to meet the vibrant characters who will bring this story to life. 16. Who Wants to Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose We can’t go a day without seeing a headline about weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mountjauro, or tabloids criticising beloved faces for ageing gracefully. Who Wants to Live Forever offers a rare chance to challenge those expectations and our own perceptions. In this all-too-recognisable world, a drug has been invented that stops ageing for as long as you take it. Some, like Yuki, campaign against it. Others — including the founder and Sam, Yuki’s husband — eagerly embrace the chance to delay death and decay. But with extended lifespans come a host of ethical dilemmas. And how can two people stay married when one wants to live forever and the other had imagined forever together would be a lot shorter? Bleak yet hopeful, romantic yet lonely, this novel is both ordinary and extraordinary. You'll never look at those headlines the same way. 17. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab V.E. Schwab is one of those rare talents who refuses to be confined to a single genre, and this time she blends fantasy, horror, historical fiction and more. This queer vampire tale follows three women — María (1532), Charlotte (1827) and Alice (2019) — whose lives become entwined through their shared fate in the midnight soil. Each wrestles with desire for freedom, the weight of societal constraints and a yearning for something more, until they are transformed into immortal beings with a hunger for blood and answers. Exploring vampirism as both immortality and a dangerous, deeply human craving, this is a story that will leave you starving for just one more page… and just one more touch. Best non-fiction books of 2025 The Extinction of Experience by Christine Rosen Dare I Say It by Naomi Watts You Have a New Memory by Aiden Arata Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee 18. The Extinction of Experience by Christine Rosen In The Extinction of Experience, Christine Rosen examines the cultural and emotional changes brought about by our embrace of technology. She warns that key human experiences are at risk of disappearing; from face-to-face communication and a sense of place to authentic emotion and even boredom itself. Drawing on cultural phenomena such as TikTok challenges and mukbang, alongside unsettling trends like sociometric tracking and online conspiracy culture, Rosen reveals a profound shift in the human condition that risks normalising alienation and control. How can we reclaim humanity? Who are we in a disembodied world? 19. Dare I Say It by Naomi Watts Dare I Say It blends heartfelt and humorous stories from beloved actress Naomi Watts with expert advice from doctors, hormone specialists and nutritionists, stripping away the secrecy and shame that still surrounds menopause and ageing. Watts shares the latest research on managing menopause symptoms and navigating the physical and emotional changes that come with growing older. This is the book she wishes she’d had when she began menopause at just thirty-six, and the one many of us need right now. Buy it for yourself or gift it to someone else, as this is a bookshelf staple. 20. You Have a New Memory by Aiden Arata Many have labelled her the “meme queen of depression,” and in this kaleidoscopic essay collection, she brilliantly examines what it means to exist online — from fanfic forums to TikTok. Aiden Arata exposes influencer grifts from the inside, explores the strange allure of stay-at-home girlfriend creators and interrogates our online obsession with doom, all while grappling with the real-world apocalypse. With a wry, weary voice, Arata unpacks how we exist as creators, consumers and products in an ever-braver new world. If you’re scared to check your screen time, this could be one of the best books of 2025 for you. 21. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams Are you ready to enter the dark, blue-coded world of Facebook? In this searing memoir, Sarah takes us inside her career at the heart of one of the most powerful companies on the planet. From private jet trips and encounters with world leaders to shocking accounts of misogyny and double standards behind closed doors, she reveals the personal and political fallout of unfettered power and a toxic corporate culture. Along the way, she reflects on the challenges of working motherhood and dishes up irresistible insights into the power-hungry leaders of Facebook. Careless People is equal parts scandalous and eye opening. 22. Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood How does one of the greatest storytellers of our time write her own life? Margaret Atwood’s memoir is an extraordinary answer. Unfolding her story through the books that have shaped our literary landscape, Atwood takes us from the cruel year that birthed Cat’s Eye to the Orwellian streets of 1980s Berlin, where she penned The Handmaid’s Tale. Brimming with bohemian gatherings, a magical life with the charismatic writer Graeme Gibson, and moments of political upheaval, her memoir introduces poets, bears, Hollywood actors and larger-than-life figures worthy of her fiction. For fans of her novels, this is essential reading. 23. Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai Pretty much everyone knows who Malala is by now, but in this extraordinary memoir, she reintroduces herself to the world. Finding My Way is a deeply personal exploration of how she navigated life when her darkest moments threatened to define her, all while seeking the freedom to discover who she truly is. It’s an intimate story of friendship, first love, anxiety, self-discovery and humanity. Vulnerable yet bold, brimming with authenticity, sharp humour and tenderness, this is a testament to the strength it takes to be unapologetically yourself. 24. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy By the author of The God of Small Things and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, this powerful and deeply moving memoir traces Arundhati Roy’s complex relationship with her mother, Mary Roy. An intimate and inspirational account of how she became the person—and the writer—she is, shaped by circumstance, but above all by the extraordinary bond with a mother she calls “my shelter and my storm”. Brimming with grief, feminism and the enduring strength of love, Roy bares it all with unflinching honesty. 25. Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates We all know the story of Bill Gates: the Harvard dropout who co-founded a software company that became an industry giant, transforming the way the world works and lives. The billionaire who later turned his focus to philanthropy, tackling climate change, global health, and education. But this memoir isn’t about Microsoft, the Gates Foundation or even the future of technology. It’s the deeply human story of how Gates became who he is today. From his childhood shaped by a principled grandmother and ambitious parents, to his first friendships and the sudden death of his best friend; from struggling to fit in to discovering coding at the dawn of the digital age. It’s a vivid portrait of a young man whose midnight coding marathons at a local computer centre eventually led to a college dorm-room revolution that changed the world. 26. Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith Zadie Smith brings her singular gift for insight to a wide-ranging collection of essays on the art, culture and politics that have fascinated her in recent years. She takes us inside the work of artists Toyin Ojih Odutola, Kara Walker and Celia Paul, invites us to the cinema to reflect on Tár, and heads to Glastonbury to witness Stormzy’s rise. Along the way, she strolls Kilburn High Road in her beloved North West London, mourns the loss of literary giants including Joan Didion, Martin Amis, Hilary Mantel, Philip Roth and Toni Morrison, and reflects on political shifts on both sides of the Atlantic. This is Zadie Smith at her most incisive. Dead and Alive is a compassionate and fearless examination of art, life, and what it means to live in these turbulent times. 27. The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee A rare blend of fiction and nonfiction, The Land of Sweet Forever offers an unprecedented look at one of history’s most esteemed writers. You probably first met Harper Lee through her Pulitzer-winning debut, To Kill a Mockingbird, whether in a classroom or on a particularly ambitious beach holiday. Tracing her path from the Alabama schoolyards of her youth to the luncheonettes and movie houses of midcentury Manhattan, this book opens up still-vital conversations about politics, equality, art, love, the American South and what it truly means to lead an engaged and creative life. This is one of the best books of 2025 and a chance to revisit a familiar voice. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
Penny Lancaster on Gregg Wallace facing “justice” – and why husband Rod Stewart will never retire
“That was a refreshing piece of justice.”
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. “I’ve always loved the idea of curating my own television nature programme,” reveals photographer and Loose Women guest panellist Penny Lancaster, who can’t get enough of the great outdoors. The garden of her home on the Hertfordshire-Essex border is full of mature oak trees and topiary – and she and rock-legend husband Sir Rod Stewart are, she declares, tree huggers (“It’s really grounding”). As well as three other luxury homes (in LA, Florida and France) the couple have a floating abode. Bluebell – a bright blue narrow boat – was Stewart’s 50th birthday gift to Lancaster, now 54, after she became captivated by canal boating during their daily lockdown river walks. “We’d see these beautiful narrow boats,” she explains, “and I thought, ‘That’s a slow life, isn’t it?’. They go five miles an hour and it’s all among nature. I told my mum that I’d love one. So she was like, ‘Hint hint, Rod’.” A sanctuary for when “life gets fast”, Bluebell is a cause for near disaster, too. “We’ve got a bedroom at the front, and one time Rod was lying in there with the doors open while I was at the other end. Then I went, ‘Oh darling, hang on!’. We crashed into the bank, and a willow tree came into the bedroom,” recalls Lancaster. “Rod was lying there with a tree on top of him!” The couple started dating in 1999 and married eight years later in Portofino, Italy. Eighteen years on, they still relish surprises. “We had a doorway that was blocked, and I put a bookcase in it,” says Lancaster. “Then it was a case of, ‘Find what I’ve done!’ Or he’ll say to me, ‘Go in there’ – and there’ll be a new painting or a new statue in the room.” Balancing all that extravagance, glamour and wealth is service to the community. Most Thursdays, the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant does a night shift for the City of London Police. She became a volunteer Special Constable in 2021 after falling in love with policing in 2019 when she took part in the Channel 4 series Famous and Fighting Crime, and has been on duty at high-profile national events, including the funeral of Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles. She has also made two arrests that she describes as nerve-racking but quite momentous. “It’s like passing an exam,” she explains. In her new memoir Someone Like Me, Lancaster writes that “it’s not until you’re catapulted from your safe place that you understand more of who you are”. Policing, she confirms, has strengthened her, not least by helping her process two episodes of sexual violence in earlier life. She was 17 when a fashion designer drugged her drink (she believes) and she woke beneath him midway through an assault. Five years earlier, a stranger molested her in an underpass on her way to school. Neither perpetrator was ever apprehended. “That’s one of the reasons I feel I’m out there [as a special constable] now. I’m finding justice, but for someone else, someone like me – hence the title of the book.” When his wife is policing, Stewart’s only “rules” are an end-of-shift text to confirm she is safely back at the nick, then a car home – never the last train. But Lancaster has a confession. “When he’s away, I do get the train home,” she smiles mischievously. Stewart claimed Lancaster experienced bullying at the hands of Gregg Wallace, labelling him a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” who “humiliated” her when she took part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. Lancaster later contributed to an inquiry that upheld 45 out of 83 allegations of misconduct against Wallace and prompted his sacking from the BBC cookery show. “That was a refreshing piece of justice,” says Lancaster. She’s talking from a sunlounger at the couple’s home in Palm Beach, while Sir Rod has half an hour of beach time before departing for a performance in North Carolina. But in a few days, Lancaster will be on the move, too – to LA to reunite with their sons Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14, and meet their fifth grandchild, Kimberly Stewart’s new baby boy. (“He’s adorable, and Kim is doing a great job!”, she gushes.) As well as his boys with Lancaster, plus Kimberly, 45, and Sean, 44 – his children from his first marriage to actress Alana Stewart – Rod shares Renée, 32, and Liam, 30, with second wife, model Rachel Hunter, plus another daughter, Ruby, 37, from his romance with model Kelly Emberg. He fathered his eldest child, Sarah Streeter, 61, at 18, before putting her up for adoption. “We’re already talking about Christmas because we have to figure that stuff out in advance,” says Lancaster. “It’s very hard to get everybody together.” Stewart is also extremely busy, working on two new albums, a book and planning another new tour, hot on the heels of his Glastonbury show this summer. But at 80 – and after a bout of flu in June that forced him to cancel tour dates in the US – is it time for Lancaster’s other half to ease up and really put his health first? “Him being busy is looking after his health, because it’s what brings him joy, it’s what makes Rod Rod,” she responds. “If he didn’t work, it would all stop. His body wouldn’t know what to do.” Thank the stars for Bluebell… The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. 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23 best historical fiction books: From Taylor Jenkins Reid classic to Outlander
Turn back the clocks with these incredible historical fiction books and lose yourself in glittering royal courts or bustling wartime cities.
There’s nothing quite like a great historical novel to sweep you away to another time and place. From glittering royal courts and bustling wartime cities to the quieter lives forever changed by history’s turning points, these stories blend fact and imagination in the most compelling way. Leave your cosy reading nook for the streets of Paris, the royal bedchamber and the bloodstained beaches of Troy, with these 23 historical fiction books. You’re guaranteed an epic, emotional and transportive experience from the very first page. Best historical fiction books <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/ALL-LIGHT-CANNOT-SEE-Breathtaking/dp/0008138303/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zifBNf37ycLt_bO7FemPph2kNxTBfFfQ9mbtnr8pTQtmom1lZoMxOOsVwB0TDn_h_OHqm6ucVHmqSZ1PA9-ZhOiIhap-wv1LLiQKCdoimoBf7VCRAlrDVq-6Y167Dt_450V-oYYU5ulLINR2dO0PI3u8YD8agYetMPLcU2Zee5zz58Aiq2_26r4--IdmGSldzsDZKrJc3-VhilflIJRTLT8Iyf7eeX2Pd4o3ty7jgzk.FfVAGF2a9Lr0Y0js93azpSHYt2TCdX6ZE2uWoZ26454&qid=1758278340&sr=1-1&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2310796" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightingale-Kristin-Hannah/dp/1509898417/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1dg-3SGnHwzc6eMdBLL_DJZEtxk-WYIynZ7L---aBR2MAH8XexmkQKflvwnwrwG4jEDKtKxAdbwgX8mrtDGOL9LZSgRNsXZCB3xkG43DsIlmIlj2h232gLFiRRS7YOeL8B3_yoNHPeIZUgF_Qh15O_g-w2LXD8QZ9lehL5kf4h67uPLEnKmOtzLnIKB0a1jtl8z_fHYQTZ_MzLdgELe5s0clJZpAfr6IolszSIPevSI.hhE1LGdYzqtsAEiEqz-GtdNv6Jd07Y95usbrNAuezW4&qid=1758278362&sr=1-1&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2310796" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah <a 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All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Marie-Laure lives in Paris with her father near the Museum of Natural History, but when the Nazis occupy the city, they flee to Saint-Malo with a priceless and dangerous jewel. Meanwhile, orphaned Werner in Germany becomes a prodigy with radios, eventually forced to use his skills to track the resistance. Their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, showing how people struggle to remain good even in the darkest times. It’s a very different angle of the war, and the novel is especially celebrated for how Doerr captures the perspective of blind Marie-Laure. 2. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah In the quiet French village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac must survive when German soldiers occupy her home, forcing her to make impossible choices to protect her daughter. Meanwhile, her rebellious sister, Isabelle, seeks purpose and love amid the chaos, ultimately joining the Resistance after a betrayal. Against the backdrop of World War II, the sisters navigate fear, courage, and sacrifice in their own dangerous paths. Kristin Hannah’s novel is a powerful story of survival, love and the resilience of women in wartime. 3. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee In early 1900s Korea, teenage Sunja falls for a wealthy stranger who promises her the world, only to discover he is married and she is pregnant. Refusing to be bought, she marries a kind, sickly minister travelling to Japan. Her choice to leave home and reject her child’s powerful father sparks a saga that reverberates through generations. You’re taken through eight decades and four generations, to see that while many things change, some struggles never lose their sharpness. 4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Diana Gabaldon's beloved series blends historical fiction and fantasy to transport readers to the past, but be warned: once you start it, you'll struggle to stop. In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she steps through an ancient stone circle and finds herself in 1743 Scotland. Thrust into a land of war and fighting clans, she must navigate dangerous intrigues that threaten her life. There, she meets James Fraser, a brave Scots warrior who awakens a passionate love. Torn between loyalty to her husband and desire for James, Claire faces an impossible choice across two very different worlds. 5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak It’s 1939 in Nazi Germany, and Death is busier than ever. Yep, Death narrates this entire novel, and it’s an incredible choice by Zusak. Back to the story itself. At her brother’s graveside, Liesel steals a book, sparking a lifelong love of reading with the help of her accordion-playing foster father. As she steals more books and her family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel’s world opens to wonder and inches closer to danger. The result is a treasure of a novel, centred on the light of humanity in the darkest of times. 6. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory We’ve all heard of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, but what about…the other Boleyn Girl? Mary Boleyn arrives at court as a naïve 14-year-old and quickly captures the attention of Henry VIII. Thrilled by her growing influence and the King’s admiration, she falls for both her golden prince and her newfound power. But as her family’s ambitions and courtly rivalries unfold, Mary is soon overshadowed by her sister Anne. Forced to confront her own destiny, she must defy both family and king to seize control of her fate. Philippa Gregory is a pillar in historical fiction, so you know this book won’t disappoint. 7. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner follows Amir, a young boy from Kabul’s Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood, as he grows up amid Afghanistan’s political upheaval—from the fall of the monarchy to the Soviet invasion, refugee exodus, and rise of the Taliban. At its heart, the novel explores Amir’s complex relationship with his father and the bonds that shape him. Themes of guilt and redemption run deeply throughout the story, driving Amir’s journey toward atonement. Against a backdrop of war and displacement, it is both a coming-of-age tale and a meditation on loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness. 8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen When orphaned Jacob Jankowski impulsively jumps onto a passing train, he finds himself in a struggling circus during the Great Depression, surrounded by drifters, misfits, and fleeting towns. Tasked with caring for the circus animals, Jacob meets Marlena, the captivating star of the equestrian act, who is married to the charismatic but twisted animal trainer August, and forms a unique bond with Rosie, an elephant that no one else can train. Water for Elephants is a beautifully written story, rich in time and place, capturing a love that defies incredible odds in a world where even love is a rare luxury. 9. Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer represents one of the great enigmas of 17th-century art, and you’ll certainly recognise his work, especially one mysterious painting. Girl with a Pearl Earring is set in Vermeer’s prosperous Delft household during the 1660s, where the quietly perceptive Griet is hired as a servant. As she navigates her new role, Griet grows increasingly close to her master, drawing her into a delicate and dangerous intimacy. Eventually, she becomes Vermeer’s assistant and is chosen to sit for him as a model, forever changing the course of her life. 10. The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa In the grand tradition of sweeping period drama, The Leopard whisks us away to 19th-century Sicily, where a crumbling aristocracy is forced to confront the unstoppable tide of change. At its heart is the magnetic Prince of Salina, torn between clinging to his family’s fading splendour and embracing the revolution reshaping his world. A lush, elegiac tale of power, pride, and the passing of an era. 11. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid If you’ve spent any time on BookTok, you’ve likely encountered this novel a dozen times. However, it is one of the best historical fiction books available, skilfully ushering generations of readers into the mix. Ageing Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo chooses unknown reporter Monique Grant to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. Monique, struggling both personally and professionally, seizes the chance to revive her career. As Evelyn recounts her rise in 1950s Hollywood, her seven marriages and a forbidden love, Monique becomes captivated by her story. But as the tale unfolds, both Monique and the reader can’t help but wonder… why did Evelyn choose her to tell this long-awaited story? 12. The Help by Kathryn Stockett Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter returns home to 1962 Mississippi, where her mother expects her to marry, and her beloved maid Constantine has mysteriously disappeared. Aibileen, a wise black maid, struggles with grief while raising her 17th white child, and her friend Minny, a fiery cook, lands a new job with a woman who harbours her own secrets. Despite their differences, the three women join forces on a risky, clandestine project. Together, they challenge the rigid rules of their town and the era they live in. 13. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Another BookTok favourite known for breaking everyone’s hearts. Weaving together Homeric myth, Ancient Greek history and romance, Miller's debut novel tells the story of the hero Achilles, as viewed through his lover Patroclus's eyes. The pair's journey from Phthia to the beaches of Troy makes for a brutal, heart-wrenching saga that delves into the Battle of Troy, the devastating impact of war, and how the term “Achilles heel” came to be. 14. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows In post-war London, writer Juliet Ashton searches for her next book and unexpectedly finds it in a letter from a man on the island of Guernsey. As they exchange letters, she becomes enchanted by his world and the quirky, unforgettable members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. What began as a clever wartime alibi has evolved into a community filled with humour, heart and love for literature. This is one of the few historical novels on this list that won’t leave you sobbing! 15. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in Moscow’s grand Metropol Hotel for being an unrepentant aristocrat. A man of wit and learning who has never worked a day in his life, he is confined to a small attic room as Russia undergoes turbulent change. Yet within the hotel’s walls, Rostov discovers a richer, unexpected world of connection and emotional growth. His confinement becomes a journey of resilience, friendship, and self-discovery. At the core, this novel explores what it means to be a man of purpose. 16. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn In 1947, American college student Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and banished to Europe to take care of her ‘little issue,’ but she is determined to find her cousin Rose, missing in Nazi-occupied France. Thirty years earlier, Eve Gardiner joins the war effort as a spy in enemy-occupied France, trained by the legendary Lili, code-named Alice. Haunted decades later by past betrayals, Eve lives in seclusion in London until Charlie arrives, setting them both on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth. A female-driven tale of courage, loyalty and the lasting impact of war. 17. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris In April 1942, Slovakian Jew Lale Sokolov is sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where his language skills earn him work as the camp’s tattooist, marking fellow prisoners. Over two and a half years, he witnesses unimaginable horrors but also extraordinary acts of courage, using his position to trade jewels and money for food to help others survive. One day, he meets a young woman named Gita and vows to survive the camp and marry her. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a harrowing yet hopeful story of love, humanity and resilience in the darkest of times. Definitely keep a pack of tissues ready for this one! 18. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys We all know about the tragedy of the Titanic, and many know about the equally ill-fated Lusitania, but what about the single greatest tragedy in maritime history? On January 30, 1945, a German cruise liner that was supposed to ferry wartime personnel and refugees to safety was sunk by a Soviet submarine. More than 9,000 people, including 5,000 children, lost their lives. Sepetys takes you through this tragedy through fictionalised characters: Joana, a Lithuanian with nursing experience; Florian, a Prussian soldier fleeing the Nazis with stolen treasure; and Emilia, a Polish girl close to the end of her pregnancy. You’ll find yourself praying for a happy ending for at least one of these tragic yet historically accurate figures. 19. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Chemist Elizabeth Zott is no ordinary woman; she believes there’s no such thing as an average woman, even if her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute in the early 1960s doesn’t see it that way. The exception is Calvin Evans, a lonely, brilliant scientist who falls in love with her mind, proving that true chemistry can happen in more ways than one. Years later, Elizabeth is a single mother and the unexpected star of America’s favourite cooking show, Supper at Six, where her unconventional recipes secretly challenge women to rethink the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny and sharply observant, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its remarkable protagonist. 20. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born in 18-century Ghana but live vastly different lives; Effia marries an Englishman and resides in the luxurious Cape Coast Castle, while Esi is imprisoned beneath her in the dungeons and sold into the transatlantic slave trade. Homegoing follows Effia’s descendants through centuries of Ghanaian history and warfare, while Esi’s line navigates the horrors of American slavery, the Civil War, and the Great Migration, tracing their struggles up to the modern day. Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel is a powerful, sweeping epic that makes history visceral, delivering unforgettable characters whose lives are shaped by forces beyond their control. A masterful and unmissable reading experience, Homegoing cements Gyasi as an astonishingly gifted young writer. 21. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Cora is a young slave on a Georgia cotton plantation, an outcast even among her fellow Africans, facing a brutal path to womanhood. When Caesar tells her about the Underground Railroad, they risk everything to escape, but Cora kills a young white boy in the attempt and finds herself hunted. Their journey takes them through a network of secret tracks and tunnels, where each stop offers new dangers, from false havens to relentless pursuers like Ridgeway. Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad is both a gripping adventure of survival and a powerful meditation on America’s history of slavery and oppression. 22. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner All’s fair in love and poison… right? One cold February evening in 1791, in a hidden apothecary shop tucked down a dark London alley, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, she now sells expertly disguised poisons to desperate women, but when her client turns out to be a clever 12-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unlikely friendship sparks a chain of events that could destroy Nella’s world. In present-day London, historian Caroline Parcewell is reeling from her husband’s infidelity when she discovers an old apothecary vial near the Thames, linking her to the unsolved “apothecary murders” of centuries past. As Caroline delves deeper, the lives of three women across time collide in a shocking twist where not everyone will survive. 23. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray In 1919, amid the social and civil unrest sweeping America, Harlem becomes a beacon of creativity and Black pride, with music, theatre, fashion, and the arts flourishing. At the heart of this renaissance is Jessie Redmon Fauset, the new literary editor of the influential magazine The Crisis, tasked by W.E.B. Du Bois with discovering young writers destined to change the world. As Jessie nurtures talents like Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen, the magazine thrives and her star rises—but her secret affair with Du Bois threatens everything she has built. Facing the pressures of racism, sexism, and personal ambition, Jessie must navigate the high stakes of love, power and her own legacy. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
How to read James Patterson’s Alex Cross books in order
We've put together the ultimate guide to James Patterson’s Alex Cross series, from his very first case to his latest showdown.
With more than three decades of crime, psychological suspense and high-octane thrills under his belt, Alex Cross has emerged as one of suspense fiction’s most enduring characters. James Patterson is a prolific writer, producing several other series in the meantime, but Alex Cross remains a fan favourite. Whether you're a newcomer, a seasoned Cross-head, or looking for a lighter spin-off fix, you’ll find everything you need to know in this guide to Patterson’s most popular series. Here’s how you read the Alex Cross books in order. How to read the Alex Cross books in order <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Along-Came-Spider-Alex-Cross/dp/1787469727/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-5&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Along Came a Spider (1993) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kiss-Girls-Alex-Cross-2/dp/1784757489/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-11&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Kiss the Girls (1995) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Jill-Alex-Cross-3/dp/1784757454/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-9&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Jack & Jill (1996) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mouse-Alex-Cross-James-Patterson/dp/0755349326/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-4&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Cat & Mouse (1997) Pop Goes the Weasel (1999) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roses-are-Red-Alex-Cross/dp/0755349342/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-20&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Roses Are Red (2000) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Violets-are-Blue-Alex-Cross/dp/0755349350/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-23&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Violets Are Blue (2001) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Blind-Mice-Alex-Cross/dp/0755349369/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-17&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Four Blind Mice (2002) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Bad-Wolf-Alex-Cross/dp/0755349377/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-27&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">The Big Bad Wolf (2003) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/London-Bridges-Cross-James-Patterson/dp/0755349385/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-15&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">London Bridges (2004) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mary-Alex-Cross-James-Patterson/dp/0755349393/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Uj7fYykieVGMn68jTdDu3dSN2JE-A8FIVLtn6pUzFfrsvYtVjKvRRP3Rk3GaRPYVlEsZBM_mveWPcikEsB_rMAMZKu4rifqfFxCcDi4gjpmptTiO2LhIOzwpLQIVK3ZIaHIsEqipKOpAGhq4sr_PyQCodbk5CNhqv55ktJ_TRSs.F1VSXwLCGXzdjNFyApHNq2M3x_A0HdG71MMIZUm23p8&qid=1758211434&sr=1-37&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Mary, Mary (2005) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Cross-James-Patterson/dp/075539514X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-20&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Cross (2006) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Double-Cross-Alex-James-Patterson/dp/0755349415/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-16&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Double Cross (2007) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cross-Country-Alex-14/dp/0099514575/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-17&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Cross Country (2008) Alex Cross’s Trial (2009) I, Alex Cross (2009) Cross Fire (2010) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kill-Alex-Cross-18/dp/0099550040/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-26&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Kill Alex Cross (2011) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Merry-Christmas-Alex-Cross-19/dp/0099576449/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-25&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Cross-Run-20/dp/0099550156/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-19&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Alex Cross, Run (2013) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cross-My-Heart-Alex-21/dp/0099574063/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DGoJCa5TN_JuUaPLCXSFovFl_pujBEZMhbJWeab3OGQkpRtZtPgC_gmKGnYvXgPCUU3r_vghcjCPV5OZZoFdxz9IPzmyvXGRYy3o7yxfUBeTKoYdig_Nle03yKHjEmxdwQHpFAsTE4FjNd_yIIJ09ujZp4zsfy_a9ABXYXJr_XfegjlUqmeA_v0gZyBs2-aAQwCItmjh7OHVXbXBbSIKBXsUqybO07iF6YpclI9tKBI.a5H-c65wo3JRn_AkbOwVUVvdlyD7BtoywaivPwLdXAc&qid=1758212017&sr=1-1&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Cross My Heart (2013) Hope to Die (2014) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cross-Justice-Alex-23/dp/0099594323/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-22&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Cross Justice (2015) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cross-Line-Alex-24/dp/009959434X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Uj7fYykieVGMn68jTdDu3dSN2JE-A8FIVLtn6pUzFfrsvYtVjKvRRP3Rk3GaRPYVlEsZBM_mveWPcikEsB_rMAMZKu4rifqfFxCcDi4gjpmptTiO2LhIOzwpLQIVK3ZIaHIsEqipKOpAGhq4sr_PyQCodbk5CNhqv55ktJ_TRSs.F1VSXwLCGXzdjNFyApHNq2M3x_A0HdG71MMIZUm23p8&qid=1758211434&sr=1-38&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Cross the Line (2016) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/People-vs-Alex-Cross-25/dp/1784753637/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-14&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">The People vs. Alex Cross (2017) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Target-Alex-Cross-26/dp/1784753653/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-19&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Target: Alex Cross (2018) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Criss-Cross-Alex-27/dp/1787461858/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-28&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Criss Cross (2019) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadly-Cross-Alex-28/dp/1787461890/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4mTU0_Ip3LsZAhnaLjLJlrhWUzaFyU-oNxH0LxR4s7xSLmBEytkr6kJIkfQnc-FNqLhl1TIT0FNc-hvAVhPfUWPm3V41u8kgru-dir4qOgpKzK2zhoNQFceLLW2L-2JY0kyP5oqFuIYXfpbPnB_d99cWLRwjwugsrRm-BF_dflU.4cvwaT7OLlkrpa1G9zy0bnD2WW2omxf1KGLwYjCY1X4&qid=1758211397&sr=1-21&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Deadly Cross (2020) Fear No Evil (2021) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Triple-Cross-Alex-30/dp/1529159601/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-22&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Triple Cross (2022) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cross-Down-Alex-Sampson-Thriller/dp/1529160030/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JVCcoiAWx0Bq7bgu5gnyq4WjlrQf83TkEimDtLb3PUGRi-BOUBnjOB1llBBDX2gry7kpnwSW2hk2rLvv_zsEjZblAcQLN-vlr2dnoIp1BoPhQkUzd43P8i-wB0s4Bn90Ym7037hlymBG4YhtumwxIhg5oRx-b5bbZfxEAz0SsADyReHAr7oBYaUsVmmkOAvEbfmvd5Y7MfjHfXyXCQm_hodwYDnPYdHVtQC0BbdjFTM.Q3a0UDASlkXoxh7K0J6xEc8gxqNBGEHGBvfXboMajLo&qid=1758212034&sr=8-1&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Cross Down (2023) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Cross-Must-Die-bestselling/dp/1529159903/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-10&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Alex Cross Must Die (2023) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Cross-latest-thrilling-bestselling/dp/152915992X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mjYgZFNu7nYSg81fPXUJ1HsKLUIyg60XY96S1prv8L4cWkdK0jIkANgsWRU0iyiibT2ifIM97aslIMfW7mTgTONog0xwed_Y_ch7v1BOHSmIw7gdtod21x4ld405R-Iyr4JK3p3dmKrCFIBJrqzrnf20RxAI69Sq8Enc2PM_aj2-ZVoJcN1DH6HyN-SrTtNPk1WLaktb5UHBh2PTAHNjzWL1TQmhMCzbvHQTj4OMLF8.EAObHKyDAMiSpnBhQTrJQFSR4HSrFXFhRSyjvXuIz5Y&qid=1758211353&sr=1-1&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">The House of Cross (2024) Return of the Spider (2025) What’s the appeal of the Alex Cross series? Meet Alex Cross: a forensic psychologist turned D.C. detective, a widower raising children and a dogged crime-solver with a heart. Since the first novel was published in 1993, readers have followed Cross through gruesome murders, ruthless masterminds, and personal heartache. Patterson’s lightning-paced plotting and emotional chords—rooted in family, ethics, and vengeance—have made Cross one of thriller fiction’s most iconic heroes. An ongoing theme in the earlier books is the unsolved murder of his first wife, Maria. What happens in Along Came a Spider by James Patterson? Along Came a Spider (1993) is the first book in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series and introduces the Washington D.C. detective/psychologist who will go on to anchor more than 30 thrillers. The debut sees Detective Alex Cross pulled from a high-profile murder case in his own neighbourhood to investigate the kidnapping of two wealthy children from an exclusive private school. The abductor, Gary Soneji, is a math teacher with delusions of grandeur who dreams of committing “the crime of the century” and cementing his place in history alongside infamous criminals. Cross teams up with Secret Service agent Jezzie Flannagan to track the missing children, but the deeper he digs, the more twisted the case becomes—blending abduction, murder, betrayal, and psychological manipulation. The first book in the Alex Cross series establishes the hallmarks of the series: Patterson’s short, punchy chapters, high-stakes suspense, and Cross’s personal tug-of-war between duty, justice and family life. It’s also one of the most psychologically driven entries, with Cross pitted against a chillingly unpredictable villain. When is Return of the Spider coming out? Set to be released on 9th October 2025, Return of the Spider takes us back to where it all began, with the infamous Gary Soneji case from Along Came a Spider. When a hidden cabin yields a cache of grisly trophies and diaries, Alex Cross is forced to face a devastating possibility: he may have put the wrong man behind bars. As he retraces the steps of his rookie investigation, Cross learns the case was never truly closed… and the “Spider” might be deadlier than ever. Short break: Alex Cross spin-offs and novellas Novellas and Spin-offs If you want a shorter, faster-paced taste of Alex Cross, James Patterson has written a handful of novellas and side stories. These are designed as quick thrillers, perfect for reading between the main books, or if you want to see Alex in action without committing to a full-length novel. Cross Kill (2016) is part of Patterson’s BookShots series. This novella pits Alex against an old enemy thought to be long dead, blurring the line between past and present dangers. Detective Cross (2017) is another BookShots instalment where Cross investigates a deadly explosion in Washington, D.C., racing against time to prevent more attacks. Ali Cross series These spin-offs follow Ali Cross, Alex’s son, who takes after his father’s detective instincts but navigates them through the lens of a teenager. Written as middle-grade/young adult mysteries (aimed at readers roughly 9–14), they blend Patterson’s trademark fast pace with themes of friendship, family, and growing up under the shadow of a famous detective. There are currently four books in the series: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ali-Cross-James-Patterson/dp/152911974X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dNg8yb8yJRZ6R2VZaSNbTkD9ZP8geIqBcoSLL0KdqEy8DBVlkJXzo8t8_-4gP_YI7ZZbNkQ_UOIMacrU8pxUtlmwFkzHQpFvwf664ZXHMx5nIwB8pYuaQpOS5uCzKSysZEjCFGhuONUg3hMxnp-O_ZSwBCT0dUSUbyuZecmKqq8s8-eNuYeA9IlXr6Cekn2ZlQ6KH_57nfQqbOLVgkmJFB_IhRq-Dqw0MXPnmmnGE0o.EfJAH3JxsMiPYb7xFVLzu_CmtbQ2-TBbwpt7aB6H940&qid=1758212061&sr=8-1&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Ali Cross (2019) follows Ali as he gets caught up in a case when one of his friends goes missing. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ali-Cross-Like-Father-Son/dp/1529120152/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dNg8yb8yJRZ6R2VZaSNbTkD9ZP8geIqBcoSLL0KdqEy8DBVlkJXzo8t8_-4gP_YI7ZZbNkQ_UOIMacrU8pxUtlmwFkzHQpFvwf664ZXHMx5nIwB8pYuaQpOS5uCzKSysZEjCFGhuONUg3hMxnp-O_ZSwBCT0dUSUbyuZecmKqq8s8-eNuYeA9IlXr6Cekn2ZlQ6KH_57nfQqbOLVgkmJFB_IhRq-Dqw0MXPnmmnGE0o.EfJAH3JxsMiPYb7xFVLzu_CmtbQ2-TBbwpt7aB6H940&qid=1758212061&sr=8-5&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Ali Cross: Like Father, Like Son (2021) is a mystery that forces Ali to balance school life with living up to his dad’s legacy. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ali-Cross-Secret-Detective/dp/1529120411/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dNg8yb8yJRZ6R2VZaSNbTkD9ZP8geIqBcoSLL0KdqEy8DBVlkJXzo8t8_-4gP_YI7ZZbNkQ_UOIMacrU8pxUtlmwFkzHQpFvwf664ZXHMx5nIwB8pYuaQpOS5uCzKSysZEjCFGhuONUg3hMxnp-O_ZSwBCT0dUSUbyuZecmKqq8s8-eNuYeA9IlXr6Cekn2ZlQ6KH_57nfQqbOLVgkmJFB_IhRq-Dqw0MXPnmmnGE0o.EfJAH3JxsMiPYb7xFVLzu_CmtbQ2-TBbwpt7aB6H940&qid=1758212061&sr=8-4&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2309236" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Ali Cross: The Secret Detective (2022) sees Ali take on a case involving a school field trip and missing items. Ali Cross: The Murder Club (2024), where Ali and his friends form their own detective group to solve a deadly new case. Read more: Holly Jackson: 'I'm surprised I wasn't arrested for research on Good Girl's Guide to Murder' Daisy Jones & The Six star: 'Taylor Jenkins Reid has a great ability to take you on an adventure in the world' For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
17 books to read if you're already missing The Summer I Turned Pretty
How to fill the Cousins Beach-shaped hole in your heart.
The finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty was the Gen Z/Millennial equivalent of the Friends finale. Only this time, instead of begging Rachel not to go to Paris, we were all urging Conrad to hop on a plane. Now that the kisses have been shared, the promises made, and our favourite couple is off to Brussels, we’re left with a gaping hole in our romance-loving hearts. With the nights drawing in, it’s the perfect moment to curl up with a book that can help fill the void. Here are the 17 best books to read if you’re already missing The Summer I Turned Pretty – well, until the film is released! What to read after finishing The Summer I Turned Pretty Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Every Summer After by Carley Fortune Call It What You Want by Alissa DeRogatis Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid Happy Place by Emily Henry We Were Liars by E. Lockhart Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry But How Are You, Really by Ella Dawson Save the Date by Allison Raskin The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord The Wedding People by Alison Espach To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 1. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter No one could miss the Audrey Hepburn references scattered throughout season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty – the perfect nod for an old movie enthusiast like Belly. A natural follow-up is Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter, which is all about bringing that movie magic into your own life. The story follows Liz, a teen who has spent years planning her life like a romcom – right down to the grand romantic gestures – only to discover that real-life love is messier and far less predictable than any script. Like Belly learning that a wedding doesn’t solve everything and that problems follow you to Paris, Liz learns that love doesn’t always come on schedule, and sometimes the best relationships are the ones you never saw coming. Enemies-to-lovers meets the boy next door in this delightful romcom, making it the perfect addition to your TBR list. 2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins If you’re craving the holiday romances of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is a perfect next read. The story follows Anna, an American teen sent to a boarding school in Paris, where she meets the charming and frustrating Étienne St. Clair. As Anna navigates new friendships, school life and the thrill of first love, she discovers that following your heart often comes with risk and plenty of butterflies. Like Belly with Conrad, Anna learns that love can be both intoxicating and complicated, and that sometimes the best summers are the ones that change you forever. With a Parisian backdrop, irresistible romance and a mix of humour and heart, this novel is ideal for anyone longing for a summer filled with lingering glances and unforgettable moments. It captures the delightful American in Paris vibe as Belly does in the final episodes. 3. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune The most obvious comparison between Every Summer After and The Summer I Turned Pretty is the holiday-like setting of Cousins Beach and the lakehouse at Barry’s Bay. But on a deeper level, both stories explore grief, supporting someone through loss, hurting the people you love, the consequences of our choices and the long road back home. Percy and Sam were inseparable for six summers, their friendship blossoming into something more, until one mistake shattered everything. Now, years later, Percy returns to Barry’s Bay for Sam’s mother’s funeral, only to find their connection still undeniable. Has time healed old wounds? Can the past stay in the past? And can two people who once broke each other’s hearts find their way back to love? Spanning six summers and one life-changing weekend, this novel is as nostalgic and heartbreaking as a return trip to Cousins Beach. 4. Call It What You Want by Alissa DeRogatis Call It What You Want is the perfect coming-of-age story to mirror Belly’s journey of self-discovery and healing. Just like our favourite show, it’s filled with ups and downs, love and heartbreak, and the tough realisation that sometimes someone can’t give what you need... for now, at least. During her senior year of college, Sloane finds herself drawn into a situationship just when she least needs it – full of undeniable chemistry, sizzling touches and that push-and-pull that keeps your heart racing. Will Ethan catch Sloane when she falls? With his brooding, Conrad-esque charm, Ethan makes this novel the perfect way to spend one last sun-soaked summer at Cousins Beach. 5. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune Belly spent summers with Jeremiah and Conrad, and that was enough to shape the two great loves of her life. Fern, on the other hand, spent just 24 hours with Will – and it was enough to etch him permanently in her heart. Nine years later, Fern is back home running her mother’s lakeside resort, reluctantly tied to a place she never wanted to stay. Then Will walks back into her life – changed, complicated and possibly carrying the answers she’s been searching for. Could timing finally be on their side? Belly found her love story in the end; now Meet Me at the Lake asks whether Fern will too. With its evocative lakehouse setting, emotional depth and heart-thumping romance, this novel perfectly captures the bittersweet magic of summers that stay with you forever. 6. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther A wedding. Grief. Heartbreak. If those themes feel familiar after The Summer I Turned Pretty, you’ll find them beautifully echoed in The Summer of Broken Rules. Meredith has spent every summer on Martha’s Vineyard, but this year is her first time back since her sister’s death. With her entire extended family gathering for her cousin’s wedding, everything feels overwhelming – especially when she’s dumped just two weeks before. Flying solo for the family’s annual game of assassin, Meredith doesn’t expect to fall for a charming groomsman, but the pull between them is undeniable. Tender, swoony and threaded with Taylor Swift references, this novel perfectly captures the healing, bittersweet energy of The Summer I Turned Pretty – a story about grief, love, and finding joy again in unexpected places. 7. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle If you’re longing for the tender mother-daughter relationships and breathtaking views of The Summer I Turned Pretty, One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle is a heartbreakingly beautiful follow-up. When Katy’s mother dies, she’s left utterly unmoored; Carol wasn’t just her mom, she was her best friend and first phone call (total Beck energy!). Still, Katy goes ahead with their long-planned trip to Positano, Italy, where she feels her mother’s presence in every sun-soaked vista. Then, the impossible happens: Katy’s mother appears in the flesh, 30 years old, vibrant, and very much alive. Suddenly, Katy has one Italian summer to truly know her mother as the young woman she once was. It’s tender, magical and bittersweet – exactly the kind of story TSITP fans will wish Susannah could have had. 8. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid If you loved the sun-soaked, family-and-friendship vibes of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid hits all the same notes, just with bigger stakes. The story follows the four Riva siblings as they prepare for their legendary annual summer party in 1980s Malibu, navigating secrets, rivalries and the complicated ties that bind them. Like Belly, the Rivas are learning about love, loyalty and the messy beauty of growing up under the glaring sun of family expectations. With unforgettable friendships, sizzling romance and one epic night that changes everything, this novel is a dazzling, emotional ride that will stay with you after the pages have ended. 9. Happy Place by Emily Henry We could recommend every Emily Henry novel for this list – after all, they’re set in dreamy destinations, packed with swoonworthy romance, and always come with a side of self-growth. But Happy Place is the one that feels most like a natural follow-up to The Summer I Turned Pretty. It follows Harriet and Wyn, a couple who secretly broke up six months ago but must pretend to be engaged during their annual group holiday in Maine. If you loved Conrad’s brooding charm, you’ll fall just as hard for strong-but-silent Wyn. With its mix of deep friendships, nostalgia, mental health themes and second-chance love, it echoes the emotional heart of Cousins Beach. Belly’s “happy place” may have been the beach, but Harriet’s is this stunning house in Maine, where longing looks, stolen touches and the hope of finding your way back home will keep you hooked. 10. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart If you were drawn to the mix of sun-soaked setting and emotional undercurrents in The Summer I Turned Pretty, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart will pull you in the same way – just with a darker twist. Set on a private island off Martha’s Vineyard, it follows Cadence and her wealthy cousins as they navigate love, loyalty and a family legacy full of secrets. Like Belly, Cadence is caught between the intoxicating freedom of summer and the weight of growing up, but here, the nostalgia comes with sharp edges. There’s romance, yes, but also friendship, betrayal and a shocking reveal that lingers long after the last page. If Cousins Beach was about first love and finding yourself, this island is about what happens when memory, privilege and heartbreak collide. Plus: the two shows are Amazon Prime sisters! 11. Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson If you’re missing the friendships at the heart of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson is a perfect next read. When best friend Sloane disappears, Emily must follow a mysterious list of dares she left behind, pushing her out of her comfort zone and into a summer full of unexpected adventures. Like Belly navigating her feelings for Conrad and Jeremiah while keeping her friendships close, Emily learns that growing up doesn’t mean leaving your friends behind. With humour, heart and a little romance sprinkled in, this is a story about taking risks, discovering yourself and celebrating the bonds that stick through life’s messy, magical moments. 12. The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry If you’re craving the mix of romance, self-discovery and summer magic that made The Summer I Turned Pretty so irresistible, The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry is a must-read. The story follows Natalie, a teen caught between two realities, as she navigates love, identity and a sense of destiny that stretches beyond one summer. Like Belly, Natalie experiences a summer that changes her forever; full of longing, heartache, and the kind of love that makes you believe in second chances. With swoonworthy romance, emotional depth, and a hint of magical realism, this novel is perfect for anyone looking to lose themselves in a story as unforgettable as a summer at Cousins Beach. 13. But How Are You, Really by Ella Dawson Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty took us [briefly] to college with Belly, Taylor and Jeremiah – a formative time for Belly, even if her real growth happened later in Paris, post-Runaway Bride energy. That makes But How Are You, Really by Ella Dawson a fitting follow-up: a novel about confronting your past, cherishing your chosen family and learning that love shouldn’t be a bandaid. The story follows Charlotte, who reluctantly attends her five-year reunion and is forced to face the people she left behind – including an estranged chosen family and the one that got away. Will she reconnect with old friends? Will the spark with Reece reignite? With heartfelt reflection, emotional growth and swoon-worthy tension, this novel is perfect for anyone missing the bittersweet, self-discovery moments of Belly’s journey. 14. Save the Date by Allison Raskin A core element of The Summer I Turned Pretty is the love triangle at its heart, so it feels only right to include another swoony, complicated triangle – also centred around weddings that might or might not happen – in Save the Date by Allison Raskin. Emma, a couples therapist, should be an expert on relationships, except her fiancé dumps her six months before their wedding. Determined to stick to her timeline, she sets out to find a new groom, only to get caught between Will, a charismatic podcast producer who refuses to be a replacement, and Matt, a sweet, recently divorced man eager to settle down. With humour, heart and all the romantic tension you could hope for, this novel is perfect for anyone missing the push-and-pull drama of Belly, Conrad and Taylor. 15. The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord One of the things that makes The Summer I Turned Pretty so relatable is the way friendships can turn into romances – and sometimes back again, leaving everyone confused. That’s why The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord is a perfect follow-up, centring on two best friends who haven’t spoken in 10 years. After each suffers a public, humiliating break-up that spreads across TikTok and daytime talk shows, a single photo of them together sparks a flurry of gossip, and suddenly, the internet is convinced they’re a couple. With everyone rooting for them, June and Levi decide to put aside their rocky past and make a pact: pretending to date will help June’s shop bounce back and remind Levi’s ex what she lost. Between staged photo ops and swoon-worthy moments, this novel is full of friendship, fun and romance. 16. The Wedding People by Alison Espach Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty had us on edge, wondering if Belly would go through with her wedding and how she might ever get out of it. If you’re craving more wedding drama and summer romance, The Wedding People by Alison Espach is the perfect follow-up: a hilarious story of friendship, heartbreak and finding your way through life. Phoebe Stone arrives in Newport, Rhode Island, hoping for a little self-care after hitting rock bottom. The only problem? There’s a wedding that weekend, and she’s mistaken for a guest. What better way to cope than crashing someone else’s big day? As the bride frets over every detail (except Phoebe), the two women form an unexpected bond, navigating their wildly different circumstances with laughter and compassion. 17. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han Last but not least, Jenny Han gives us another dreamy romance to fall for, this time with Lara Jean and Peter. Perfect for anyone needing a post-Belly-and-Conrad fix, this novel explores first love, friendship woes, grief and the messy journey of figuring out who you are as a teen. When Lara Jean’s secret love letters are accidentally sent out, she’s thrust into a whirlwind of boy drama. To navigate the chaos, she pretends to date Peter – the recipient of one letter – but keeping the ruse going proves harder than expected when feelings start to feel all too real. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
Gavin & Stacey icon Joanna Page dishes on her new memoir Lush! - and why she wrote it in the car at 5am
From career lows to Gavin & Stacey, Joanna Page’s memoir Lush! tells all. But why did she write it in her car at 5am?
“I’m probably not even allowed to say this,” confides Joanna Page, pausing for perhaps 0.4 seconds before saying it anyway. “I wanted to call my book ‘Breathe Through Your Anus’.” The explanation tumbles out just as quickly (“It’s something our teacher at Rada told us to do, and I thought it was quite a fitting title”), but it’s typical of the way the Gavin & Stacey star talks: winningly wide-eyed, utterly unfiltered, 19 (or 20!) to the dozen, and always on the edge of laughter. In the end – and in a nod to one of Stacey’s most repeated lines – Page has called her memoir Lush! It’s no less frank or relatable (or scatologically funny) for all that, though. “When I realised I was going to write a book,” she admits in the acknowledgements, “I got over-excited, thought I was Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City and went straight out to buy a handbag I could carry my notepad and pens in. Then I realised I was going to have to actually write the thing and s**t myself.” It turns out she was right to panic, as producing a book when you’ve got four young children, four guinea pigs and two dogs to look after is no breeze. “I’d go and sit in our garage to write, and my husband would be like, ‘I’ll look after all of them’ – but that apparently involves him popping in every five minutes to ask me something. So then I started going to car parks to write, just sitting there in my car trying to get it done in the middle of the night until I thought ‘This is getting a bit dodgy’ – or maybe a bit dogging-y – so I’d go back and park outside my own house, not daring to go inside in case I woke the kids, and keep writing in my car till five in the morning.” Refreshingly for an actor’s autobiography, she’s just as candid about her career lows: lad-mag photographers getting her drunk for raunchy shoots, mendacious directors tricking her into sex scenes, a handsy TV presenter trying to feel her up on set (she won’t name him because “he’s not on telly any more. He got his comeuppance”). And then there’s the story of missing out on a role, wandering the streets crying, retreating to a hotel where she “drank and drank and drank and said to my husband ‘I’m not coming back’. He phoned the hotel next morning – I think he thought I’d hanged myself because I was so low, and I thought, ‘I can’t carry on with this any more. I’m done.’ I went back to my job in a shoe shop and thought, ‘I’m happy with this.’ “Then two weeks later a script came in about a Welsh girl who falls in love with a boy from Essex, and it completely and utterly changed my life. It’s given me amazing opportunities, wonderful experiences and a whole new family.” Gavin & Stacey may have robbed the world of an excellent shoe-shop assistant then, but Page isn’t exaggerating when she says it gave her – and, arguably, viewers – a whole new family. Ruth Jones is like a sister to her (present the night before the birth of Page’s first child); James Corden, Mathew Horne and Rob Brydon like brothers (“Three naughty little brothers taking the piss out of you the whole time, thinking they’re a lot funnier than they are”); and Larry Lamb like… well, she describes him in the book as “very dishy”. So did she fancy him? “Oh, God, when I re-read that I was thinking, ‘That’s really bad, I’ve sexualised Larry Lamb.’ But you can’t not do that because he’s so lovely. Out of all the stuff I’ve ever done in my career, the happiest my mother has ever been was when she came to a screening and got to meet Larry. She kissed him on the lips and I was like, ‘Mum, could you just calm down?’” The G&S family is still together, it seems, even after the very final-feeling 2024 Christmas special (of which Page says, “I 100 per cent now think that is the end”). “We’ve got a WhatsApp group, called ‘Christmas is occurring’, and we send messages all the time. When Rob was doing Destination X, he’d send us photos and James would zoom into them and try and work out the locations. We’re always sending each other messages of support or arranging to see each other. And I’ve got a secret little chat with just me and Ruth, too.” In fact, the only things she hasn’t shared with the gang are details of the new show she’s filming right now. “I’m too scared because the producers said to me, ‘You’re not allowed to say you’re on this or who you’re working with.’” There’s a 0.4-second pause, and then: “It’s not me acting, it’s not me hosting, it’s…” Head to the RT Shop to purchase Lush! by Joanna Page. Did you know you can now order a previous edition of Radio Times magazine with our new back issues service? For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante.
The Impossible Fortune review: A new dawn for The Thursday Murder Club
The gang's back together, but dynamics have certainly changed.
The Thursday Murder Club may now have worldwide status thanks to Netflix, but in Coopers Chase it’s business as usual for Richard Osman’s unlikely detectives. The Impossible Fortune picks up after the devastating tragedy of the fourth book. Time has passed, but Elizabeth’s grief is still palpable. The gang reunites for a happier occasion (Joanna’s surprise wedding), though it isn’t long before Elizabeth is approached by the best man for help. Soon she’s drawn into a case involving a missing person, murders, and a fortune in bitcoin. And of course she has to bring the gang along for some help, being forced to rely on them a lot more than usual. The real strength of the series has always been Osman’s character work. The Last Devil to Die remains the series’ emotional peak, but this entry carries that thread forward, which proves a wise decision. Elizabeth, still mourning Stephen, isn’t as sharp as usual, and for the first time the investigation doesn’t belong solely to her. Instead, the others - Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron - step into the spotlight. Joyce shoulders much of the responsibility, rallying the group and making decisions herself, even when it puts her in danger. Ibrahim continues his curious connection with Connie the drug lord, a relationship that’s proving unexpectedly rewarding for them both. Meanwhile, Ron takes centre stage in the B-plot, wrestling with the reveal of his daughter’s abusive marriage and his own ageing body. His struggle with fading strength and identity delivers some of the novel’s most poignant passages, though admittedly leaving the reader wishing for even more. As ever, Osman uses the cosy crime frame to explore themes often overlooked in the genre: loneliness, loss and diminishing independence. Here, Ron’s journey of letting go of his old self and embracing a new one is especially affecting and the novel would be even stronger if readers were able to linger on these themes just a little longer. The mystery itself is more high-tech than usual, with missing bitcoin sparking a chase that draws in ruthless players. The wealth-obsessed leave chaos and death in their wake, and the investigation has real bite. As mysteries go in The Thursday Murder Club series, it’s a fairly exciting one with an element of the cat and mouse chase. The Impossible Fortune isn’t quite as accomplished as The Last Devil to Die, which married a gripping plot with rich character exploration. But it serves as a necessary reset: easing Elizabeth into her new life, allowing her space to grieve, and giving Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron the chance to prove they’ve learned from her. If the first four novels were largely centred on Elizabeth’s incredible talents, this one suggests a small reset to allow the rest of the crew to show just what they’re capable of too. The future’s looking very bright for this talented bunch. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. You can purchase The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman here.
27 best autobiographies you have to read in 2025
Whether you're a long-time lover of non-fiction or you're new to the world of autobiographies, this is our list of the 25 best autobiographies you've got to read in 2025.
Whether you're looking for the perfect present or searching for some much-need self care time in 2025, you can't go wrong with a good book. But, while some of us might like to dive deep into the realms of fiction when we're relaxing (or commuting), many more like to stay firmly grounded in reality, which is where our guide of autobiographies comes in. Whether it's sports stars, celebrities or pioneers, there are literally thousands of autobiographies to suit your taste. Retailers like Waterstones and Amazon are choc-a-bloc the things, from age-old classics like Becoming by Michelle Obama or newer titles like 2024's Miranda Hart's I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You. Below, you'll find a jam-packed list of all the best autobiographies to buy this year, and be sure to take a look at Amazon to see if these books are available to purchase on your Kindle, for example, Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings costs £11.85 on paperback and £4.99 on the Kindle. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Looking for better ways to experience your favourite audiobook? Check out guides to the Audible gift card and best Audible deals. Plus, check out the best two player board games. Best autobiographies at a glance: Peter Kay’s Diary, Peter Kay | £12.50 Lush!: My Story - From Swansea to Stacey and Everything in Between, Joanna Page | £25 Source Code, Bill Gates | from £25 I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You, Miranda Hart | from £5.48 Dancing in the Rain, Amy Dowden | from £10.11 The Third Gilmore Girl, Kelly Bishop | from £10.11 All That Matters, Chris Hoy | £22 Diddly Squat: Home to Roost, Jeremy Clarkson | £22 Open, Andre Agassi | £10.99 Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton | £10.99 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou | from £11.85 Wild Swans, Jung Chang | from £10.99 The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion | from £9.85 The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher | £2.19 All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot | from £10.44 This is Going to Hurt, Adam Kay | from £9.75 Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela | from £12.10 I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy | from £9.95 Becoming, Michelle Obama | from £6.49 Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman, Alan Rickman | from £7 Just Kids, Patti Smith | £12.34 What I Ate in One Year, Stanley Tucci | £20 I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai | from £9.49 Crying In H Mart, Michelle Zauner | £10.99 Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry | £25 The Woman in Me, Britney Spears | £25 Love, Pamela, Pamela Anderson | from £5.60 Best autobiographies to read in 2025 Peter Kay’s Diary, Peter Kay We have a brand-new title for you: Peter Kay’s Diary by comedian Peter Kay is available to pre-order right now at Amazon, and it will be released on 9th October. Speaking about his new book, Kay said: "Think of this autobiography as a twelve-month subscription to my memories and meanderings across the calendar year. With each month reflecting a different phase of my life, complete with dodgy decisions, bizarre plot twists and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments." With that in mind, you can expect tales of Kay hitting the gym in January, buying his first house in May, holidaying at Butlin's in the summer, and relaxing in front of the telly with a glass of Bailey's over Christmas. Plus, one thing's for certain: the book will be funny! Pre-order Peter Kay’s Diary by Peter Kay for £12.50 at Amazon Lush!: My Story - From Swansea to Stacey and Everything in Between, Joanna Page <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/03/Lush-My-Story-From-Swansea-to-Stacey-and-Everything-in-Between-by-Joanna-Page-best-autobiographies-2025-0bc3d19.png" width="1200" height="900" alt="Front cover of Lush! My Story - From Swansea to Stacey and Everything in Between by Joanna Page" title="Lush! My Story - From Swansea to Stacey and Everything in Between by Joanna Page best autobiographies 2025" /> It's been a great year for Gavin & Stacey fans as James Corden and Ruth Jones have announced they're heading on tour, and now, Stacey herself (Joanna Page) has released an autobiography about her journey to stardom. In Lush!, Page shares her story from growing up on the Welsh coastline to moving to London alone at age 18, and the Gavin & Stacey actor will take readers behind the scenes of her acting roles, which includes anecdotes about stars like James Corden, Richard E Grant and Emma Thompson. Lush!: My Story - From Swansea to Stacey and Everything in Between by Joanna Page for £25 at Waterstones Take a look at An Evening With James Cordon and Ruth Jones tickets. Source Code, Bill Gates New to 2025, Bill Gates has released the autobiography, Source Code, which tracks the life, upbringing and of course business acumen of the tech billionaire. Gates starts from childhood and goes up to the pivotal moment he dropped out of Harvard in 1975. Complete with honest tales about his early days in Seattle, and the early stages of Microsoft – when the company only had a dozen employees to its name – this gives you a whole new insight into the mind of the man who changed the world. Buy Source Code by Bill Gates from £25 at Waterstones undefined I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You, Miranda Hart She was once the darling of awkward BBC comedy with her hit sitcom, Miranda, until she went through, as she calls it "a difficult decade." Speaking out for the first time, I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You is Miranda Hart's exploration of illness, recovery and the lessons she has learned on the way. Throughout the book, she consults with neuroscientists, therapists, sociologists and more to bring us the tools and practices she used to feel better. Plus, there's plenty of life affirming philosophies and trade-mark Miranda optimism. Buy I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You from £5.48 at Amazon undefined Dancing in the Rain: My story of hope, courage and resilience, Amy Dowden Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden opens up about her life with breast cancer and Crohn's disease in this inspirational read. From growing up in the Welsh Valleys with a dream of being a dancer, to standing on the glittering stage of prime-time television, Dowden takes us through her ups and downs. She talks about her debilitating illness as a teen and her recent chemotherapy treatments, while assuring us that her spirit and dream remains unbroken. Buy Dancing in the Rain: My story of hope, courage and resilience from £10.11 at Amazon undefined The Third Gilmore Girl, Kelly Bishop Gilmore Girls fans your time has come! Kelly Bishop, AKA Emily Gilmore, finally speaks out about her time as the iconic matriarch of Hertford, Connecticut. She also takes us through her storied career from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. Buy The Third Gilmore Girl from £10.11 at Amazon undefined All That Matters: The Inspirational and Uplifting Memoir of Hope, Chris Hoy Sir Chris Hoy's heartfelt memoir dwells on how the Olympic cycling legend has coped with his terminal cancer diagnosis and managed to focus on the moments in life that really matter. He looks at the challenges he's faced in career and life and how he's overcome them with the help of family and friends. Buy All That Matters: The Inspirational and Uplifting Memoir of Hope for £22 at Waterstones undefined Diddly Squat: Home to Roost, Jeremy Clarkson You can now pick up another addition of the Diddly Squat series by TV presenter turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson. Welcoming you back to Clarkson's farm this story holds more than a few challenges: "The spring barley crop failed. Just like the oil seed rape. And the durum wheat. Then the oats turned the colour of a hearing aid and the mushrooms went mouldy." But the determination is still there and the lessons are being learned, so let's see how he gets on next. Buy Diddly Squat: Home to Roost for £22 at Waterstones undefined Open, Andre Agassi Written in 2009, this is the autobiography of the American former World No.1 tennis player, Andre Agassi. Written in collaboration with JR Moehringer from a collection of hundreds of hours of tapes, this memoir gives top insight into the life of a professional sportsperson. Agassi's was a career of fierce rivalries and it's fascinating to hear these from the perspective of an insider. Like many high-performing careers, in sport children are singled out for their talent at a young age, and Agassi describes the intensity of training for himself and his fellow tennis players in their collective pursuit of excellence. This book would make a great present for any tennis fan, and gives an interesting insight into the man behind the nickname 'The Punisher'. Buy Open by Andre Agassi for £10.99 at Waterstones undefined Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton Everything I Know About Love follows Times columnist Dolly Alderton through her early life and 20s. It tackles themes of dating, love, friendship as Alderton comes of age and grows into herself. Dispersed with recipes in the style of Nora Ephron's Heartburn, the book gained a cult following since it was published in 2018 and won a National Book Award (UK) for best autobiography of the year. Alderton's memoir has also now been turned into a BBC TV show which follows a fictionalised version of Alderton and her friends as they navigate life in London. Buy Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton for £10.99 at Waterstones undefined I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is the first of seven autobiographies Angelou wrote about her life. It follows her childhood, beginning when she's just three years old and spanning to when she is 16 — from her time as a child to when she had a child herself. The book follows the young Maya as she and her brother Bailey are moved between family members following the separation of her parents. Discussing themes of racism, sexual assault and displacement, the expertly crafted narrative is widely taught in schools here and in the US. Written in the aftermath of the death of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings became an instant classic and is a must-read. Buy I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou from £11.85 at Amazon undefined Wild Swans, Jung Chang Slightly different from traditional first person autobiographies, in this book Jung Chang tells the stories of three generations of women in her own family — her grandmother, her mother and herself. At a time when China is becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, this book provides vital context into the 20th century history of the country. Through the stories of her grandmother who was given to a warlord as a concubine, and her mother who was a young idealist during the rise of Communism, she captures moments of bravery, fear, and ultimately survival. The book, which is banned in China, has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide and is as beautifully written as it is educationally fascinating. Buy Wild Swans by Jung Chang from £10.99 at Amazon undefined The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion Published in 2005 when it went on to win Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography, this book follows Didion in the year after her the death of her husband of nearly 40 years, John Gregory Dunne. In this harrowing depiction of grief, love and loss, Didion turns her personal experience into one that is universally relatable. Didion and Donne's adopted daughter Quintana fell ill days before his death and was still in hospital when he died. Didion recounts her experience caring for her throughout the book, all while going through her own grief. While not an easy read, this is an incredibly powerful one. Buy The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion from £9.85 at Amazon undefined The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher This might be an obvious choice for any Star Wars fan, but we think the appeal of this book stretches far beyond just that. Made up of the diaries Fisher wrote when she was 19 years old and first started playing Princess Leia, the book was released shortly before her death in 2016. Any peak behind the scenes of such a well-known franchise is bound to be popular, and this examines her experience as a young adult thrust into the world of fame and sex. Unlike her deeply person earlier memoir Wishful Drinking, in which Fisher described her struggles with mental illness, The Princess Diarist is full of bombshell revelations and funny punchlines, making for an enjoyable read. Buy The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher for £2.19 at Amazon undefined All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot This book would make a great gift for the animal lover in your life, or any fan of the great outdoors. In it, James Herriot recounts his experiences as a newly qualified vet working in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s. The first in his series of memoirs, All Creatures Great and Small finds Herriot in situations where there are high stakes, and more often than not some hilarity (think escaped pigs!). In the years since their first publication, the books have become classics. If you want more of All Creatures Great and Small, there is also a TV adaptation to get stuck into. Buy All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot from £10.44 at Bookshop.org undefined This is Going to Hurt, Adam Kay This autobiography follows Adam Kay through his years as a junior doctor specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology and working within the NHS. It will have you crying of laughter and sorrow as the young doctor finds himself helping people from all walks of life, all while his own personal life falls into disarray. Kay's debut publication was the bestselling non-fiction title of 2018 in the UK and stayed at the top of the charts for weeks. This is Going to Hurt was adapted into a limited drama series by the BBC earlier this year starring Ben Whishaw, which used elements of the book to explore wider themes around health and the NHS. Buy This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay from £9.75 at Amazon undefined Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela This autobiography hardly needs an introduction. It tells the life story of former South African President and antiapartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela, covering his childhood, education and the 27 years he spent in prison. Mandela is internationally praised for overcoming enormous persecution and struggle, rebuilding South Africa's society as President. The film adaptation of his autobiography stars Idris Elba as Mandela, and was released shortly after his death. The Kindle edition of this book starts from just £6.99. Buy Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela from £12.10 at Amazon undefined I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy Jennette McCurdy's memoir has been one of the most talked about books of 2022. A former child star best know for her role on Nickelodeon's iCarly in the USA, McCurdy's memoir describes her experience growing up in the limelight with an abusive parent. The book's title has, unsurprisingly, been a big talking point, but it addresses an issue faced by many who write about their life experiences — how do you write about your true experience without damaging your relationships? In this frank and often funny book, McCurdy describes the emotional complexity of receiving abuse from someone you love. Buy I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy from £9.95 at Amazon undefined Becoming, Michelle Obama America's former First Lady Michelle Obama recounts experiences of her life in this record breaking autobiography, from growing up on the south side of Chicago with her parents and brother, to attending Princeton University and Harvard Law School before returning to Chicago as a qualified lawyer. It was whilst working at a law firm in the city that she met her husband Barack Obama. Obama uses her elegant story telling to take us along on the incredible journey she went on, as an accomplished lawyer, daughter, wife and mother to becoming First Lady. This is an autobiography that lets you see history from the insider's perspective and is definitely a must read. Buy Becoming by Michelle Obama from £6.49 at Amazon undefined Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman, Alan Rickman Alan Rickman was much loved for his roles in fan favourite films, such as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series. This collection of diary entries, written with the intention of being made public and published after his death, give his witty insights into his day-to-day life but also his take on world events. The book is filled not only with delightful showbiz gossip, but also with snippets of hidden moments — from his disbelief and grief at the sudden death of actor and friend Natasha Richardson, to the relief he feels that the costume for Severus Snape still fits. Buy Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman by Alan Rickman from £7 at Amazon undefined Just Kids, Patti Smith On its release in 2010, Patti Smith's memoir won the US National Book Award for Nonfiction. In many ways it is a love letter to her life long friend, the artist Robert Mapplethorpe. In Just Kids, she recounts their meeting, romance and how they continued to inspire and encourage each other in their artistic pursuits for the rest of their lives. This story which so vividly depicts life is, however, overshadowed by Mapplethorpe's death. Read for a vivid description of the New York art scene in the late '60s. Buy Just Kids by Patti Smith for £12.34 at Bookshop.org undefined What I Ate in One Year, Stanley Tucci Stanley Tucci has long been beloved for his nuanced and charming acting performances, but in the last few years has gained popularity for his true love — food. Between his CNN series Searching for Italy making us all cross eyed with food envy, and his cookbook The Tucci Table written with wife Felicity Blunt, there's no getting away from the fact that Stanley Tucci is giving Italian food an even better name than it had already. But there's a good reason for Tucci's renewed love of food and his devotion to these passion projects. He was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2018 which left him unable to eat for several months, and even after he was able to eat again, his sense of taste was changed. In this second memoir after Taste, he records twelve months of eating, in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself. We recommend having a bowl of pasta in front of you while you read this! Buy What I Ate in One Year, Stanley Tucci from £20 at Waterstones undefined Calling all bookworms, take a look at the best Kindle deals this month. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai Malala Yousafzai's story is undeniably an incredible one. After the Taliban took over in Swat Valley in Pakistan where she was born, Yousafzai was prevented from going to school. Despite being just a child herself, she became outspoken on girls' right to learn and in 2012, she was shot in the head by a masked gunman while on the bus to school. After the attack Yousafzai moved to the UK with her family. In this autobiography, she describes the importance of female education, starting the Malala Fund, and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. This book will leave you inspired. Buy I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai from £9.49 at Bookshop.org undefined Crying In H Mart, Michelle Zauner Michelle Zauner is an Asian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist best known as lead of the band Japanese Breakfast. In this memoir, Zauner explores her relationship with her Korean heritage and how her mother's death forced her to reckon with the side of herself she had all but lost. At the heart of this book about love, loss and grief is food. It acts as a constant dialogue between Zauner and her mother, as well as an enduring connection with her Korean heritage. This makes for a highly emotional and thought-provoking read. Buy Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner for £10.99 at Waterstones undefined Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry Last year, we were saddened by the news that Friends actor Matthew Perry had sadly passed away, his autobiography, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing had become a bestseller the year before. In Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry takes the reader behind the scenes of the most successful sitcom of all time (Friends), and he opens up about his private struggles with addiction. The book is honest and moving, with plenty of Perry's trademark humour, too. Buy Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry for £25 at Waterstones undefined The Woman in Me, Britney Spears If the reviews of Britney Spears's autobiography are anything to go by — "The easiest 5 stars I've given" — The Woman in Me is sure to be a hit with Spears fans. For the first time in a book, Spears is sharing her truth with the world: The Woman in Me tackles themes of fame, motherhood, survival and freedom, and Spears doesn't shy away from speaking about her journey as one of the world's biggest pop stars. Buy The Woman in Me by Britney Spears for £25 at Waterstones undefined Love, Pamela, Pamela Anderson We might think we know Pamela Anderson as the bombshell in Baywatch, Playboy's favourite cover girl, and, more recently, making makeup-free appearances on red carpets – looking beautiful as she does so; she's an icon and an activist, and now we can read all about her in her own words for the first time. Anderson uses a mixture of poetry and prose to speak about her childhood, career, and how she lost control of her own narrative. Buy Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson from £5.60 at Amazon undefined For more on reading, be sure to check take a look at how to read Adam Kay's books in order and Richard Osman books in order.
Slow Horses author speaks out on the potential for more books in the series after Clown Town
There have now been nine books in the series - and it seems more are on the way.
The first episode in the fifth season of Slow Horses is now available to stream on Apple TV+, adapting the fifth novel in Mick Herron's book series, London Rules. Seasons 6 and 7 of the show have already been commissioned, and will also be based on Herron's work, specifically the sixth, seventh and eighth books in the series. Beyond spin-off books with links to the central series, that will just leave one book left in the series to adapt – Clown Town, which was just released earlier this month. Thankfully, fans don't need to worry about the story ending there, as Herron has teased there are more novels on the way, even if he's not sure quite how many. Speaking exclusively with RadioTimes.com at a special An Evening with Radio Times screening of Slow Horses season 5 at the BFI, Herron was asked how long he could see the book series going on for beyond Clown Town. "There will be more to come," he said. "I haven’t decided how many yet but I’m enjoying myself and don’t plan to stop just yet." Earlier this year, Herron teased the plot of Clown Town ahead of its release, telling Radio Times: "It's to do with a very horrible, real-life operation that was carried out by the intelligence services during the height of the Troubles. It's set now, it's a Slough House novel, but it's dealing with multiple things that happened 40 years ago and the traumatic and ongoing effects that they have on the people involved. "And what it must be like for an agent to do something which is nominally for the good in the country and to safeguard the Commonwealth, if you like, but, in fact, is morally dubious and personally traumatic." At the screening, the author also revealed that season 5 of the show features "a lot of interesting departures from the book", all of which he found enjoyable and some of which he instigated himself. Slow Horses season 5 releases on 24th September 2025 on Apple TV+ – sign up to Apple TV+ now. Add Slow Horses to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Adam Kay books in order: from fiction to non-fiction
Get to know Adam Kay's works in full, including his fiction, non-fiction and children's books.
You've definitely heard of Adam Kay following the success of his book, This Is Going To Hurt, which was later adapted into a BBC hit series. What you may not know about him is that he also had a series of successful children's novels to teach young ones about their bodies and medical marvels. Though Kay has predominantly worked across the world of non-fiction, he's stepped into the fictional space with his debut novel, A Particularly Nasty Case, which is a crime thriller about a doctor wrapped up in a serial murder mystery world. It just so happens to be the September book for the Radio Times Book Club, sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. There's one clear connecting theme between Kay's work in all its formats; it's always set in the world of medicine. Whether you're looking for a recommendation for a little one or something for yourself, here's the definitive guide to Adam Kay's work in order. Adam Kay books in order How to Be a Bogus Doctor (2011) (with Stanley Tedson) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Going-Hurt-Secret-Diaries-ebook/dp/B06XWDJRGS?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">This Is Going to Hurt (2017) What Seems to Be the Problem with Adam Kay and Mark Watson (2019) (with Mark Watson) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kays-Marvellous-Medicine-Gruesome-History-ebook/dp/B08YV65TZS?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Kay's Marvellous Medicine (2021) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kays-Anatomy-Complete-Completely-Disgusting-ebook/dp/B085L8V7BF?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Kay's Anatomy (2022) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Undoctored-Pre-order-brand-new-author-Going-ebook/dp/B09RFB2QYH?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Undoctored: The Story of a Medic Who Ran Out of Patients (2022) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twas-Nightshift-Before-Christmas-million-copy/dp/1529038626/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas (2022) Kay's Brilliant Brains (2023) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amy-Gets-Eaten-Adam-Kay-ebook/dp/B0B96GLWJT?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Amy Gets Eaten (2023) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kays-Incredible-Inventions-fascinating-fantastically-ebook/dp/B0CH4L63V2?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Kay's Incredible Inventions (2024) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dexter-Procter-10-Year-Old-Doctor-record-breaking-ebook/dp/B0CRV3GJY3?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Dexter Procter the 10-Year-Old Doctor (2024) (with Henry Paker) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simon-Gets-Sneezed-hilarious-bestselling-ebook/dp/B0DZNM2M7G?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Simon Gets Sneezed (2025) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Particularly-Nasty-Case-Author-Bestseller-ebook/dp/B0DCC9F1WB?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zWHRe7vggXU8KYC3Cpxita7tI0vd8m7uzXA_vYrgTjQHlxKzeMmuNVzwuX858MRZ5zXiGGp083XMyFnrVz_eyfWueKkQ4M-2RM2OBH31KF4gwkLiMCRoutVNNAXfgE3jKgaOgFzOn0piMysl5gTnAonSyTuUmmN-czVZbkRgbhrz1WJNyh0dQFAvc1Mm3idI8mhfl5klr3vdwzHYmPtfOieF1GcAY9YuGOalKhuqlYM.mYObCqLFmboofbn0_DrYgGIdGJpfLmfeTG8xWmArZq4&dib_tag=AUTHOR&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2297416" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">A Particularly Nasty Case (2025) Adam Kay's children's books in order Kay's Marvellous Medicine (2021) Kay's Anatomy (2022) Kay's Brilliant Brains (2023) Amy Gets Eaten (2023) Kay's Incredible Inventions (2024) Dexter Procter the 10-Year-Old Doctor (2024) (with Henry Paker) Simon Gets Sneezed (2025) Adam Kay's adult fiction in order How to Be a Bogus Doctor (2011) (with Stanley Tedson) A Particularly Nasty Case (2025) Adam Kay's adult non-fiction in order: This Is Going to Hurt (2017) What Seems to Be the Problem with Adam Kay and Mark Watson (2019) (with Mark Watson) Undoctored: The Story of a Medic Who Ran Out of Patients (2022) Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas (2022) For this month’s midweek treat, Joanna sat down and read A Particularly Nasty Case, a murder mystery with all the classic elements of a crime novel. She paired it with a classic Mozzarella pizza from Dr. Oetker Ristorante. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club sponsored by Dr. Oetker Ristorante. You can purchase A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay, our book of the month, at the Radio Times Shop.
Alan Davies reflects on childhood abuse, dealing with anger and being diagnosed with cancer
Abuse, cancer and other traumas have been part of Alan Davies's life – but he’s learning to look forward positively.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Flying west across the International Date Line erases a day from the calendar. For most, it’s a curious geographical twist. For Alan Davies, travelling from Los Angeles to Melbourne in the summer of 2023 became something symbolic when 3 August vanished – it was the day his father, who had sexually abused him from the age of eight to 13, took his final breath. “It was weird because, technically, I wasn’t on the planet,” says Davies, who had not seen his father for six years by the the time he died. In his courageous and acclaimed 2020 memoir Just Ignore Him, Davies exposed a harrowing childhood in Essex: the heartbreak of losing his mother suddenly from leukaemia when he was only six – then, two years later, how his accountant father began visiting his bedroom after dark. He later reported the offences to the police but because of his father’s Alzheimer’s no charges were ever brought. Two years on, Davies’s emotions toward his father remain complex. “I read a lot about forgiveness and how it can set you free and you’re a better person and it’s what Jesus would have done. But it’s a long journey because of what he did, the way he treated me,” he says. “He did a lot of damage and I really try not to pass any of that damage on to my own kids. It’s less about forgiveness and more about trying to forget. There won’t be any more memoirs.” His first, My Favourite People and Me 1978–1988, featured the 44 people who most influenced Davies growing up, and inspired his 2010 Channel 4 three-parter Teenage Revolution. His latest, White Male Stand-Up, continues Davies’s life story, charting his journey from 90s comedy circuit novice to landing his big acting break in Jonathan Creek in 1997, before becoming the only permanent panellist on QI. An ongoing thread of the memoir is Davies’s inner “angry boy”: a product, he writes, “when baked-in rage is unmanaged” and trauma is “suppressed”. Angry Boy often surfaces in the face of authority or confrontation, exacerbated by alcohol and drug abuse. Examples: walloping his late comedian pal Jim Miller during a row; becoming “unforgivably abusive and aggressive” towards his wife on a trip to Athens; then, 11 years ago, assaulting a stranger in front of his kids at a local leisure centre before hiding from police in the soft play area. It’s hard to marry the softly spoken, gentle and funny chap who dials in over a video call from his home in Hampstead, north London, with this short-fused man-child. “You just have to manage yourself and acknowledge who you are, what your flaws are,” explains Davies, who first entered therapy 30 years ago on the recommendation of his close friend Jo Brand. “I said to my therapist, after several years, ‘I don’t feel any better’, and he said, ‘Yeah, but would it be any other way, Alan, given what’s happened to you?’ It took me a long time to realise that the work we were doing together was about accepting who I am.” Another big secret laid bare in the book is cancer. Exactly a year ago, after he spotted blood in his pee, tests detected a small tumour in his bladder. Last October, he underwent surgery to remove the growth – and diagnosis, fortunately, was early enough to avoid it spreading. “Recurrence,” Davies reports, however, “is quite possible.” He will be under close observation for five years. “I just feel lucky because that was close,” he says. “I only spotted a bit of blood and if I hadn’t spotted it and gone to the doctor, I’d still have this tumour and it would have gone through the bladder wall and it would be everywhere by now. “I’ve lost friends like Sean Lock [the comedian died of lung cancer, aged 58, in 2021], while other friends, like Mark Steel, have been saved. Life is such a minefield, isn’t it?” Davies laughs when asked what a good next 10 years looks like. “Being alive at the end of it, mainly, and that all the kids are still good. Work-wise, I really enjoy acting.” What about a reality show like Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which famously offers participants a raw, emotional space for processing and healing, albeit under interrogation? “I’ve never been asked, and I don’t think I’ve got the physical fitness for it now,” he says. “I saw Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on a show doing something incredibly physically demanding, and he had to be rescued by a medic. I mean, what were they doing to him? He’s in his 60s!” Davies himself turns 60 next March but his most pressing focus, beyond the book, is his autumn stand-up tour – his first in a decade – where he’ll weave in some “bleaker childhood stuff” for the first time. “I feel comfortable with the tour. But the book? Who knows? It’s like you put a boat onto a boating pond then you have to see if it sinks or floats.” Or sails beautifully towards a sunset-drenched horizon. White Male Stand-Up by Alan Davies is published by Monoray and is available to purchase now The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Books coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.