As some of you may know, I am, or at least try to be, an avid reader, and as I mentioned in a blog post in November, this year has been the first year that I have achieved the reading goal I set for myself. My target for 2024 was to read 30 books, and I have actually exceeded that target by reading 36, although that might rise to 37 by tomorrow as I only have a couple of chapters of Yellowface by R. F. Kuang left to read. Not to brag or anything, but you know – I am a reader. 

To welcome in the New Year, I thought I’d write a piece about the books I’ve enjoyed most in 2024, and the books I am most looking forward to reading in 2025. Considering I’ve managed 36 this year without really trying too hard (again, not a brag or anything), I am going to set my target as 40 for 2025, in the hope that I will once again exceed it. 

Getting back into reading this year has really helped me in a multitude of ways. It is horribly cliche, but escaping into a good book really is the best way, in my opinion at least, of escaping the inevitable mundanity of everyday life. You also learn far more from reading than any other source of information, especially with fiction, which has taught me far more about myself than the 100s of wasted hours I’ve spent having therapy. Finally, I know I whinge about it a lot, but with the rapid and seemingly unstoppable rise of smart technology and social media, I genuinely believe that sitting down with a proper book, even if it’s only for ten minutes a day, is vitally important for our own sanity. 

2024: My favourite reads 

1. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (2024) 

It is difficult to overstate the brilliance of Sally Rooney. I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, all three of her previous novels, so I was very much looking forward to her fourth, having pre-ordered it as soon as I possibly could. Her latest book explores how two estranged brothers are brought together as they deal with the death of their Father in very different ways, and it did not fail to live up to expectations. I cannot recommend this book enough – especially if you like chess. 

2. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (1984) 

This book had been on my reading list for a while, so when I finally got around to reading it, I was astonished. It is a deeply philosophical novel that explores the intricacies of love and desire, and whether they can be reconciled when two people have different ideas of what it really means to love one another. I felt genuinely moved after reading this. 

3. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (2019)

One of the most unique works I’ve ever read, Vuong wrote this semi-autobiographical novel in the style of a letter to his illiterate Mother. It explores the history of the protagonist’s family and his relationship with each of them, as well as his first experience of falling in love, and how he came to terms with being queer. The book is split into three parts, and I almost cried when I finished reading Part Two, such is its brilliance. 

4. Never Let Me Go by Sir Kazuo Ishiguro (2005) 

It is hard to explain the plot of this book without completely giving it away, so I will sum it up as best I can – it is a story of the relationship between three friends as they grow up and have to navigate both the usual trials of adolescence, as well as a huge secret they all have, which they both desperately want to figure out but are too scared to look into too closely. I cried – literally, bawled – when I finished it, so I’d only recommend it if you’re in a good headspace. 

5. The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (2021) 

The only non-fiction book to make it onto this list does so precisely because it still manages to be immensely moving and thought-provoking. John Green (of The Fault in Our Stars fame) reviews a wide variety of things, from Dr Pepper through to Sunsets, in a book of short essays, each of which manages to be humorous, insightful and deeply heartfelt. 

My 2025 reading list 

I usually have about four or five books on the go at any one time, with a mix of fiction and non-fiction, so here are five of each that I’m looking forward to reading in 2025. 

Non-Fiction 

1. Freedom by Angela Merkel (2024)

We all know I’m a huge politics nerd, and love her or hate her, Merkel is easily one of the most consequential politicians of the 21st century so far. I am really looking forward to delving into the rationale behind some of the more significant decisions she made during her mind-bogglingly impressive 16 years as Chancellor of Germany, especially after recently finishing the damp squib that was Boris Johnson’s self-pitying autobiography. 

2. Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Dame Judi Dench (2023) 

As possibly my favourite national treasure, I am excited to read Dame Judi’s take on perhaps our most famous national treasure, Shakespeare himself, and the significant impact he has had on her remarkably well-lived and fascinating life. 

3. Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones (2024) 

I  read Unruly by David Mitchell earlier this year, an account of England’s monarchs from King Arthur through to Queen Elizabeth I, and the one that stuck out to me most was Henry V, so naturally Dan Jones’ recently published biography is my next port of call. I am a big admirer of Jones, so I have no doubt his latest bestseller will be a fascinating read. That, coupled with the fact I can name every English/British monarch since 1066 off the top of my head, makes this a must read for next year. 

4. Empireworld: How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe by Sathnam Sanghera (2024) 

Sanghera’s previous book, Empireland, took an in-depth look at how imperialism has shaped modern Britain, which was both fascinating and alarming. Even as someone with a strong interest in history, I was surprised by how excellently Sanghera highlighted how very little we really know about how the British Empire shaped the modern United Kingdom. I have no doubt many will dismiss it as “wokeism” (you should grow up, if you do, by the way), but we really do need to reassess how we think about our imperial legacy. I’m hoping his follow-up, focusing on how British imperialism has shaped the rest of the world, will be just as intriguing and offer as valuable a lesson.

5. Lords of the Desert: Britain’s Struggle with America to Dominate the Middle East by James Barr (2018) 

Considering the current complexity of the Middle East, which I find myself reading about in the news on an almost daily basis now, I’ve also read a few books on the subject recently to try and better my understanding, one of which was Barr’s A Line in the Sand, which gave an informative and gripping account of British efforts to outmanoeuvre the French and dominate the Middle East in the period between the two world wars. I am hoping that his follow-up, an account of our eventual eclipse in the region by the Americans following the Second World War ended, will be just as captivating.

Fiction 

1. Stoner by John Williams (1965) 

In short, this classic novel is about a man who struggles to relate to both those around him and wider society itself, so it seems somewhat relatable. Obviously I am massively simplifying there, but it definitely looks worth a read. 

2. The Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer (2024) 

I absolutely adore Bob Mortimer. If you haven’t already watched Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, I implore you to do so, it’s some of the best television I have ever seen. I read Bob’s first novel, The Satsuma Complex, because I really enjoyed his autobiography, And Away, and since both of his books and his most recent TV work centre around his wholesome, razor-sharp humour, I have no doubt his follow-up novel will do the same, and will therefore be a cracking read.

3. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1880)

I first came across this book in early 2022. As I was sitting at my desk in Kentigern House, Glasgow, I noticed one of my colleagues reading something that looked more like an encyclopaedia than a novel. I asked him about it and he said “it’s a very difficult read, but it’s absolutely brilliant”. It is 796 pages long and has been hailed as one of the greatest novels in history, so his statement checks out, and as such, I have decided to make 2025 the year I finally (try to) tick it off my list. 

4. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (2020) 

I am obsessed with the trend of Japanese literature exploring the beauty of reading and books, so after reading, and thoroughly enjoying, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa and Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Boreum, this book seems like a the natural next stop to get my feel-good fix. 

5. Lie with Me by Philippe Besson (2017) 

A story set in 1980’s France that focuses on two male high school students who fall in love and conduct a secret affair – I don’t really need to explain why I want to read this one, do I?

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I would honestly love to hear from you if you’ve read any of these books, or plan to after reading this, or even if you’d just like to share what you have read recently, or what you plan to read this year – drop me a line at blog@harrytt.com. 

Don’t forget to sign up here to be notified when I post a new blog – have a wonderful 2025!