1. Pat Divilly: FIT MIND

I have read MANY self-help books this year, but this one transformed my thinking patterns. Divilly’s book is an 8 Week Guide challenging the reader to actively focus on 1 Emotion per week. Divilly provides an in-depth account of these emotions including his personal struggles with each, then includes writing prompts so the reader can explore their learnt beliefs. I loved how he views ’emotions’ as ‘characters’ and asks the reader to get to know these characters in each of our lives. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Divilly is experienced in health and fitness, and has skillfully crafted a relatable book tackling difficult topics in a simplified way.

2. Charlie Mackesy: The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and The Horse

This is the most beautiful picture book with heart-warming quotes covering life’s difficult topics through wonderful illustrations of friendship between a boy, mole, fox and a horse. This is a family-friendly book for all ages. I think it’s the perfect one to share with a loved one over the holidays. Why not buy it as a gift this Christmas for someone who means a lot to you?

3. Kit De Waal: Without Warning & Only Sometimes

Kit De Waal shares her childhood through the eyes of her younger self. Meet Mandy: living in 1960’s Birmingham with her Irish mother, West Indie’s father & several siblings. Their mother adopts the homeless & outcasts of society, feeding them and showing a charitable interest in the wounded while her own children scramble for leftover food. Their father is saving up money for a trip back home, taking any toys and treats with him, though his kids have never had such luxuries. They are warped into the Jehovah’s Withness’ community where they are silenced of independent thought and fed beliefs. Kit De Waal writes this memoir beautifully using a simple style of language with engaging dialogue that jumps off the page. I was smiling, laughing, crying and captivated reading this story. What was most powerful was her ability to write through the mindset of a child, to show the reader their life without telling them how unfair it was. And despite the questionable actions of her family, you can’t help but love each of the characters through their imperfections. This is a memoir I listened to on audiobook in a car journey with my mum. Both of us were silent the whole way.

4. Candice Carty-Williams: Queenie

Last, but certainly not least, all hail Queenie! This is a page turner with an authentic narrator who is far from perfect but that’s what makes her lovable. Based in London, Queenie is ‘on a break’ with her white boyfriend – his choice. (I know, on a break gives me flashbacks to Ross and Rachel too). She is learning to navigate the world without him and on this journey we are given glimpses into the racism experienced by women on dating apps, at work and in pubs, especially by white privileged men who don’t think they’re privileged at all. She sheds light on this through the conversations and chat messages. The dialogue is just 👏flows on the page and feels so real: I was howling with laughter at different parts especially conversations with her group of girls or the lectures from her grandparents. She really brings humor to the desperation of being single in your twenties. READ IT.