From preloved pages to sea-view dreams

Ever since I can remember, books have been my escape, my comfort, and my constant companions. My dream is to one day have a library of my own – a cosy book nook tucked under a bay window, looking out across the sea. I picture a squishy armchair, a blanket, a mug of tea, and shelves brimming with well-loved stories. Until then, my books and I make do with the space we have, and every story still feels like an adventure.

My reading life

Most of the books I read are preloved. There’s something special about a story that’s already passed through other hands – a folded page here, a scribbled note there, a faint scent of someone else’s reading nook. I often buy second-hand copies from World of Books, and I live by a simple rule: read one, then pass it on. When I finish a book, it almost always finds its way to a neighbour or a friend. Only the stories that truly steal my heart earn a permanent place on my shelf.

Authors I adore

One such permanent fixture is my complete Sophie Kinsella collection. Every book has brought me joy, laughter and comfort. My most treasured book is a signed edition, which I’ll never part with. My other favourite authors who’ve earned repeat appearances include

• C J Skuse. The Sweetpea series, so addictive.

• Tasmina Perry. Daddy’s Girls, Gold Diggers and Original Sin is a great collection.

• Liane Moriarty. Big Little Lies is a masterpiece.

My tastes are pretty eclectic. Alongside fiction, I’m drawn to personal development books like Chris Bailey’s Hyperfocus and Donald Miller’s Building a StoryBrand. I’ve also become slightly obsessed with puzzle-based books like Murdle, which keep my brain busy between novels. And when the nights grow longer and the air turns cold, my reading mood shifts completely. I reach for cosy Christmas stories. Sarah Morgan, Jenny Colgan, and Beth Kempton never fail to deliver festive magic, and my latest discovery: the enchanting Christmas Imaginarium series. The set has quickly become a seasonal favourite.

Daily habits and little joys

After reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits, I adopted a simple but life-changing routine: read at least 10 pages a day. It’s a small, manageable goal that keeps me consistently reading. Though when I’m on holiday, I swap ten pages for ten chapters and devour books daily. One of my absolute joys is finding a hotel with a book exchange corner, it's the perfect excuse to trade stories while travelling.

I’m not fussy about how I read – audiobooks keep me company on long dog walks (thank you, Audible!), but nothing compares to the feel of turning real pages. Recently, I even scored a bundle of over 50 books on Facebook Marketplace, so my shelves are now overflowing with new stories waiting to be discovered.

I simply love autumn days exploring the preloved pages of old favourites. I find joy in sharing the stories i've read and my new finds. Perhaps one of my next 'try something news' will be to build a little community library...

If you’re a fellow book lover, a habitual page-turner, or someone who just wants a cosy reading recommendation now and again, follow me on instagram as i'll be adventuring my way through my new book stash and sharing a few recommendations with you. But for now, let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea and read!