What Cathy Read Next...

Life events this month meant December was a slow reading month. I only managed seven books which didn’t make choosing the five I liked best particulatly easy. Links from each title will take you to my review or the book description on Goodreads. (I’m behind with reviews as well.)

You can find a list of all the books I read in 2023 here. My round-up of my favourite books of 2023 will be published tomorrow as part of Top Ten Tuesday.

If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Zaffre for providing me with digital review copies via NetGalley.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (Transworld) – A sweeping and emotional story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, with welcome touches of humour along the way.

Perfume River by Robert Olen Butler (Gallic Books) – An accomplished and insightful family drama exploring how personal choices resonate down the generations.

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan (Hodder & Stoughton) – A moving, powerful and immersive story about a Malaysian family living through the Second World War.

Munich Wolf by Rory Clements (Zaffre) – Compelling thriller set in 1930s Munich in which Detective Sebastian Wolff must walk the thin line between doing his job and falling foul of the Nazi party he despises.

The Slowworm’s Song by Andrew Miller (Sceptre) – A quietly powerful story about a man struggling to come to terms with events of the past.

What were the best books you read last month? Have you read any of my picks?

The When Are You Reading? Challenge was hosted again this year by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It involves reading a book set in each of twelve time periods. Determining what year a book belongs in is the decision of the participant. On the whole, the rule is to choose a year where the largest part of the action occurs or the most important event.

I’m pleased to say I’ve managed to read a book to fit each of the time periods, although it was a close run thing with the last one. Links from the book title will take you to my review.

If you love historical fiction but often find yourself sticking to one or two favourite time periods, or if you’re keen to read more historical fiction in 2024, look out for the sign-up post for next year’s challenge.

Pre-1200: Bellatrix by Simon Turney