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When a blizzard strands them in Salt Lake City, two strangers agree to charter a plane together, hoping to return home; Ben Payne is a gifted surgeon returning from a conference, and Ashley Knox, a magazine writer, is en route to her wedding. But when unthinkable tragedy strikes, the pair find themselves stranded in Utah’s most remote wilderness in the dead of winter, badly injured and miles from civilization. Without food or shelter, and only Ben’s mountain climbing gear to protect themselves, Ashley and Ben’s chances for survival look bleak, but their reliance on each other sparks an immediate connection, which soon evolves into something more.

Days in the mountains become weeks, as their hope for rescue dwindles. How will they make it out of the wilderness and if they do, how will this experience change them forever? Heart-wrenching and unputdownable, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us.- Goodreads

My Thoughts

I read this book after I watched the Netflix movie. I was mainly drawn to the movie because I am a fan of Kate Winslett. I thought I saw that the movie was based on a true story, but parts of the story seemed a bit far fetched and over romaticised. That made me very interested to read the book. A few chapters in, I realised that it was complete fiction, and felt disappointed and completely let down. However, as I got further into it, I found the novel to be completely believable, and the scenes that I thought were silly in the movie, weren’t in the original story.

There were only two people in this story for most of the time, and I couldn’t help but hope that all would work out well for them. I can understand why Kate Winslett was cast in the role, as the character was the type that she plays well – a confident, strong willed and resilient woman. I loved her character.

Even though I began reading The Mountain Between Us because I had the mistaken idea that it was a true story, I loved the fictional adventure story of survival, that it turned out to be. It was very fast paced and definitely a page turner, that I finished very quickly over the lazy days of the New Year period. I should add that as well as being an adventure drama, this novel is also very funny at times.

Star Rating

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book. For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unputdownable. Would read it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic read. Not to be missed

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable. Would recommend it.

⭐️⭐️ Wouldn’t read it again.

⭐️ Don’t recommend this book at all.

© 2025 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com

Summary

The Life Impossible is another imaginitive and wonderful novel from Matt Haig, the author of #1 New York Times bestseller, The Midnight Library, with more than nine million copies sold worldwide.

Grace Winters, at 72, is a retired maths teacher living a quiet life, when she inherits a run down old house on a Mediterranean Island. Being curious, about why her long lost friend, would leave her an inheritance, she sets off to Ibiza, with a one way ticket, and with no plan at all.

Grace soon falls in love with the island, and it’s people, as she searches for answers about the life that her friend chose to live, and what happened along the way, to cause her life to end the way it did. Grace could never have imagined or dreamed what she discovered. She finds that she must come to terms with her past, before she can make decisions about her future, and move on.

324 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2024 by Viking

Fantasy – Magic Realism – Historical Fiction

My Thoughts

Beautifully written, The Life Impossible is an adventure story of hope and new beginnings. I would describe this story as a feel good fanstasy. After all, who wouldn’t like to inherit a house on an island in the Mediterranean. Add in mystery science fiction, and lots of adventure, and you have everything for a story that is unputdownable.

I noticed that The Life Impossible had very mixed reviews on Goodreads, and I really can’t understand why. Fortunately, as we often find in life, we are all different. I loved this book and found in hard to put down!

During the wild adventure, I couldn’t help but cheer for the main characters, as they faced their challenges. What comes through this novel to me, is how you just never know when your life could be transformed, even when you haven’t realised that you’re not happy. This is a novel of transformation, peace and happiness.

Star Rating

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book. For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unputdownable. Would read it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic read. Not to be missed

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable. Would recommend it.

⭐️⭐️ Wouldn’t read it again.

⭐️ Don’t recommend this book at all.

© 2024 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com

52 Week Book Club Reading Challenge

Once again, I am participating in the 52 Week Book Challenge. The Challenge is to read one book each week, to a particular prompt. The thing I most enjoy about this challenge, apart from reading the books, is matching books to the prompts. Its a fun thing to do, and I often end up choosing a book that I may not have otherwise read. That is always a positive. Quite often the prompts have me scratching my head for a while. I do enjoy the hunt for a book to fit a prompt. Reviews for these books will be appearing shortly. I’d love to hear if you’re doing this reading challenge in 202

Other Books Read in January

In January so far, I’ve read nine books. This includes the above challenge books and four more below.

An Undeniable Voice by Tania Blanchard ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ll Leave You With This by Kylie Ladd ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Memory Library by Kate Storey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Book of The Month

My January Book of the Month is The Memory Library by Kate Storey. This was a bookclub book and we haven’t discussed it yet, so I’ll just say I loved it and gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars. See what Goodreads says about the Memory Library:

“Each year, on her daughter’s birthday, she adds a new book to her shelves – with a note in the front dedicated to her own greatest work.

But Ella – Sally’s only child – fled to Australia twenty-two years ago after a heated exchange, and never looked back. And though Sally still dutifully adds a new paperback to the shelves every time the clock strikes midnight on July 11th, her hopes of her daughter ever thumbing through the pages are starting to dwindle.

Then disaster strikes and Ella is forced to return to the home she once knew. She is soon to discover that when one chapter ends, another will soon follow…All you have to do is turn the page…

Journey through the pages of this heartwarming novel, where hope, friendship and second changes are written in the margins.” – Goodreads

If you’re a keen reader, do you set reading goals? I set them for different areas in my life – health, fitness and garden are just a few, plus reading. You can make your reading goals as simple as reading more books than the previous year. You can also make your reading goals go a bit more indepth. It’s up to you. Your reading goals can be anything that you want them to be.

Some readers set reading goals to encourage them to read more often. The intention of the goals that I set isn’t for that purpose. Reading is a natural mindset for me. I read every day and listen to audio books every day. It’s not something that I ever have to remind myself to do. However, setting reading goals helps me to bring a focus to the books that I choose to read. For example, one of my goals last year was to increase the number of female authors I read. I did increase them slightly, and I’m sure that wouldn’t have happened without being intentional about it.

• Read the unread books on my bookshelf. I set this goal every year, but usually forget about it, as new books are released.There is no way that I will read them all, but I’d like to decrease them as much as possible.
• Paticipate in the 52 Week Book Club Challenge to read 52 books every year to a particular prompt
• My Goodreads reading goal for 2025 is to read 170 books.
• Expand the genres that I read. I tend to make historical fiction my automatic go to genre. last year, I did become a fan of crime fiction depending on the author.
• Read more non fiction books
• Read more pages than I read this year. Goodreads will give me the number of pages read at the end of the year. By increasing the number of pages, I will be reminded not to skip over books with more pages than usual, just to reach my reading goal. There are a few large books that are on my TBR for 2025. I’d like to make this year more about the pages read than the books read.
• Enter my books read into Storygraph, as a trial to decide if it’s preferable than Goodreads. If so, I will probably change over next year
• Read print books before bed time, rather than the kindle in the hope that I get better sleep
• Read at least four classics from my bookshelf
• Make a mid year evaluation of the progress of my goals
• Be willing to stop reading a book that I’m not enjoying. It’s always possible to come back to it another time. It may not have been the right time for that particular book

So now that the excitement of Christmas and the Festive season is over, it’s time to sign up for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

Being a lover of historical fiction, this challenge is perfect for me and I couldn’t resist it when I saw it. During the year, there is a monthly link up, to add your blog posts about the historical fiction books you have read.

This is a very simple challenge, for me, as historical fiction is my favourite genre. All that is needed to do is sign up and start reading historical fiction novels.

During 2025, there are different reading levels:

20th Century Reader – 2 booksVictorian Reader – 5 booksRenaissance Reader – 10 booksMedieval – 15 booksAncient History – 25 books

Prehistoric – 50+ books

Top 10 Historical Fiction

This year I have read 59 historical fiction books. Trying to choose my top 10 historical books was just too hard, so I have extended it to Top 12 and even that was difficult. The Great Alone was a re-read. On my first read, I read the audio book but this time I was very keen to read the print book.

Top 2

“1928 Paris: A boy is found, moments from death, and taken in by a kindly family. Gentle, precocious, talented, he flourishes in his new home, and the family show him a life he hadn’t dreamed possible. But he refuses to speak a word about who is really is. As he grows into a young man, falling in love and taking classes at the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris, he can almost forget the terrors of his past, or the promise he has vowed to keep. But across Europe an evil is rising, and no-one’s safety is certain. In his heart, he knows the time will come where he must flee once more.
2008, the Aegean:The seven sisters are gathered together for the first time, on board the Titan to say a final goodbye to the enigmatic father they loved so dearly.To the surprise of everyone, it is the missing sister who Pa Salt has chosen to entrust with the clue to their pasts. But for every truth revealed, another question emerges. The sisters must confront the idea that their adored father was someone they barely knew. And even more shockingly: that these long-buried secrets may still have consequences for them today.
Spanning a lifetime of love and loss, crossing borders and oceans, Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt draws the Seven Sisters series to its stunning, unforgettable conclusion.” – Goodreads

“All Hanna Fischer ever wanted to do was to study physics under the great Albert Einstein. But when, as a teenager in 1919, her life is suddenly turned upside-down, she is catapulted into a new and extraordinary life – as a student, a secretary, a sister and a spy.From racist gangs in Berlin to gangsters in New York City, Nazis in the 1930s and Hitler’s inner circle during the Second World War, Hanna will encounter some of history’s greatest minds and most terrible moments, all while desperately trying to stay alive.She is a most unique secretary and she will work for many bosses – from shrewd businessmen to vile Nazis, to the greatest boss of them all, Mr Albert Einstein…

Spanning forty years, this is the thrilling tale of a young woman propelled through history’s most dangerous times. But read it carefully, because all may not be as it seems…” Goodreads

I’m not sure where this year has gone, but I know that it’s gone very quickly. As the end of the year looms, I find myself feeling quite exhausted and looking forward to a few quiet days, curled up with a pile of books.That is where you will find me on Boxing Day.

Bur firstly, it’s time to look back on 2023 in books, and what better way than using A to Z Taking Stock prompts.

Admiring: Of the books that we read in our online book club this year

Becoming: A fan of cozy romance. Who would have thought it!

Curious: As to whether The Bridal Trilogy #3 which will released in late 2025, will be as enjoyable as #1 and #2 in the series.

Delighted: That I have read well over my 2024 goal of 140 books

Excited: All year about the online book club that I joined earlier in the year. We have read some great books

Feeling: Quite happy with myself for finishing the 52 bookclub challenge

Happy: That I had much more time for reading this year

Going: To read more fantasy in 2025

Hoping: The books I read in 2025 are as great as those read this year

Intentions: Are to make more bookish connections in 2025

Jacket: The Jacket that I loved the most this year was The Mirror, Bridal Trilogy #2

Knowing: That I miss my bookish buddy who died suddenly just a few weeks ago

Loving: The Christmas books that I read this year

Making: Reading plans and goals for 2025

Naming: My Book of the year – Mr. Einstein’s Secretary by Mathew Reilly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Observing: That my number of crime books read this year is much higher than usual

Posting: Published 101 book reviews on the blog this year

Queen: The Remarkable Mrs. Reiby was my favourite historical novel this year

Reading: 164 books so far this year

Surprise: The book that surprised me most IN 2024 was Mr. Einsteins Secretary.

Top: 100 books list was released in June, and I was shocked to see that I’ve only read 42 books on the list.

Urging: You to pick up a book each day, even if you only read a few pagers. Reading is mood altering.

Very: Very pleased that this year was the sixth blogiversary of Best Bookish Blog.

Welcoming: Many new readers to Best Bookish Blog this year.

Xmas: Christmas at Fountains Hall by Joanne Tracey was my stand-out Christmas book this year.

Yes: A few 52 Book Club Book Challenge prompts were tricky this year, but I managed to find a book for each.

Z or any choice: Historical fiction is my favourite genre, but I’m finding myself becoming a fan of Historical Romance.

This post is linked to the monthly #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge linkup hosted by bloggers Deb, Sue, Donna, and Jo. 

© 2024 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com

The Christmas books that I’ve read this year have been a little bit different than usual. I usually read a couple of Christmas Crime books, but this year there was no crime that interested me. I would classify the following Christmas books that I read as Cosy Christmas novels.

My favourite Christmas book of all time is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I didn’t, however, read it this year, as I have done in previous years. I can’t remember how many times I’ve read it, but can just say that it is many, many times.

The Christmas Postcards by Karen Swan

⭐️⭐️⭐️

What drew me to this book, was this beautiful cover, and also the author. I’ve read a couple of books written by this author, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I very much enjoyed The Christmas Postcards, except that I did have one issue with it. The story, though enjoyable, was not a Christmas story, and in fact, Christmas was not mentioned, until the last sentence on the last page. At the end, I felt a little bit ripped off, as my intention was to read a Christmas book. This is the reason for the lower star rating.

Christmas at Fountains Hall by Joanne Tracey – Brookford #2

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“A Christmas-themed television special is coming to the Cotswolds. And it could change everything…

Tallis Harlow is reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity, but thankfully she has her job as an assistant on a reality baking show to keep her busy. At least that was the case until charismatic London chef Ziggy Giudici is cast on the Christmas special. Now the mutual attraction she’d previously dismissed with the younger man is proving impossible to ignore.

Gail Longmuir can’t help from feeling that her life is growing smaller compared to her friends in the cookbook club, especially since her daughter has just left for university. She knows she should be elated when the gorgeous vet from their village asks her out, but it only makes the feelings she has for her boss Liam more complicated.

At a time when Tallis and Gail need each other the most, events in their lives suddenly seem to be driving a wedge between them. With the entire production at Fountains Hall in doubt, will they be able to save their friendship before Christmas comes?” – Goodreads

Christmas at Fountain’s Hall is the second in the Brookford series. I fell in love with these characters in the first book, and have been looking forward to connecting with them again. I wasn’t disappointed.

My fingers are crossed that there will be a third book in this wonderful series.

The Christmas Cafe by Amanda Prowse – No Greater Strength #2

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This Christmas, USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with another heartfelt exploration of change, the power of books to heal, and the enduring strength of female friendship. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Jennifer Weiner.

With its historic charm and picture-perfect library, the Maple Sugar Inn is considered the winter destination. As the holidays approach, the inn is fully booked with guests looking for their dream vacation. But widowed far too young, and exhausted from juggling the hotel with being a dedicated single mom, Hattie Coleman dreams only of making it through the festive season.

But when Erica, Claudia and Anna—lifelong friends who seem to have it all—check in for a girlfriends’ book club holiday, it changes everything. Their close friendship and shared love of books have carried them through life’s ups and downs. But Hattie can see they’re also packing some major emotional baggage, and nothing prepares her for how deeply her own story is about to become entwined in theirs. In the span of a week over the most enchanting time of the year, can these four women come together to improve each other’s lives and make this the start of a whole new chapter?

The Book Club Hotel is a lovely story of female friendship, and the strength that women can gain from each other. It was very predictable but also very cute and cosy, with lovely, likeable characters. For me, that is exactly what I like in a Christmas novel.

Book Club Hotel by Karen Swan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Below is the Goodreads summary for this book. I won’t give my opinion here, as it’s a bookclub book and members are still reading it. All I would say is that The Book Club Hotel has everything you would want in a cosy Christmas novel.

“With its historic charm and picture-perfect library, the Maple Sugar Inn is considered the winter destination. As the holidays approach, the inn is fully booked with guests looking for their dream vacation. But widowed far too young, and exhausted from juggling the hotel with being a dedicated single mom, Hattie Coleman dreams only of making it through the festive season.
But when Erica, Claudia and Anna—lifelong friends who seem to have it all—check in for a girlfriends’ book club holiday, it changes everything. Their close friendship and shared love of books have carried them through life’s ups and downs. But Hattie can see they’re also packing some major emotional baggage, and nothing prepares her for how deeply her own story is about to become entwined in theirs. In the span of a week over the most enchanting time of the year, can these four women come together to improve each other’s lives and make this the start of a whole new chapter?” – Goodreads

The Worst Noelle and Holly Ever After by Anna Foxkirk

I won two novellas written by Anna Foxkirk, on Instagram, by just liking and sharing a post. They were both little surprise packets and lots of fun.

Exciting News! Best Bookish Blog is celebrating it’s sixth blogiversary.

When I first had the idea to start Best Bookish Blog in December 2018, I was very excited about book blogging, and I haven’t grown tired of it at all. If fact, six years later, I find myself becoming more enthusiastic every day.

How it all started

At first, I was terrified. I was expecting to be told to go back into my little hole where I belonged. After all, who did I think I was to be a book blogger? My only qualification is that I absolutely love reading. I have no qualifications to judge anything as being ‘literary’. My opinions about the books I read, are based only on my enjoyment of the book.

In my ‘real life’, I have very few people to talk with, about the books I read, so this blog is my bookish outlet. I was gobsmacked right from the start, when I was accepted by the book blogging, and blogging community in general, proving to me what I know from my other blogs. Bloggers are very special and wonderfully supportive people!

Best Bookish Blog went into what was meant to be a very short hiatus, just as the world was struck by the pandemic. I was working long hours, and all the worry about Covid, and what was ahead for us, caused me to lose my way a bit, and I had the idea that blogging about books was a flippant thing to do, during this crisis. Once the world started to right itself again, Best Bookish Blog was back, and better than ever.

❤️❤️ 6 Things I Love About Book Blogging on my 6th Blogiversary ❤️❤️

• Connection with like-minded book bloggers, bloggers and readers, who share a passion for reading and literature.
• To have variety in my reviews, I need to read outside my preferred genre
• I now spend more time than ever before, reflecting on books that I read, in preparation for writing a review.
• Sharing my passion for books and recommendations with others who are looking for their next read.
• I love it when readers let me know that they read a book that I recommended and enjoyed it.
• I feel very grateful when readers comment and give me reading recommendations.

My thoughts about book blogging

• If you’re about to start a new blog, take your time choosing your blogging platform and your theme. It’s well worth it not to rush this process.
• Decide if your blog will be for book reviews only, or for general bookish posts
• Write reviews quickly, after reading the book. It doesn’t work for me to write a review for a book I many have read weeks or months ago.
• Share your posts on social media
• If people are kind enough to leave a comment on your blog, always reply and have a conversation.
• Try to choose a broad range of books to review, without sticking to your own favourite genre. This is advice to myself as I try to expand my genres, but always read a majority of historic fiction.

I’d like to give a huge thank you to everybody who has found their way here, and read my bookish posts and book reviews. Thank you for connecting and commenting, for sharing and subscribing. I am absolutely in awe and very grateful that you take the time to drop in and discuss books and reading with me. I love our conversations.

Find me here: Facebook and Instagram and Goodreads

© 2024 Copyright. all rights reserved: bestbookishblog.com

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Most people who know me, know that I love, love dogs. I also love books about dogs. The following four are favourites. Muster Dogs: From Pups to Pros by Lisa Miller is a book that I read recently. The other three were read two years ago and have stayed with me.

Muster dogs: From Pups to Pros by Lisa Miller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Muster Dogs was first shown on TV in 2022, it audiences immediately loved it. Five very cute and boisterous Kelpie pups were adopted by farmers across Australia and underwent an intensive training program. The puppies very quickly became TV stars. The challenge was to see if they could learn to herd and muster within a year, which is a much shorter time that it usually takes to train a muster dog. The trainers were interested to see if their natural abilities enabled them to be quickly trained. With the guidance of expert breeders and trainers, these dogs and their new handlers demonstrated not only the puppies’ capabilities but also how using dogs can improve stock and farm management.

Lisa Miller, author and narrator of the TV show was among those who fell in love with these gorgeous and very clever puppies. Lisa shares her journey over two television seasons, updating us on the human and canine characters from series 1 and introducing us to five new collie pups, their trainers, and the challenges of season 2. Lisa writes that Muster Dogs profoundly impacted her life.

I decided to listen to the audio book instead of reading the book. I loved both series of Muster Dogs and I had no doubt that I’d enjoy the book. However I couldn’t see how the series, with it’s gorgeously cute, photogenic puppies, could translate to an audio book. I very quickly found that I was very wrong in my thinking. Lisa Miller, also narrates the audio book, so it feels like there is a continuation and feeling of taking up where the TV show left off. Muster Dogs also describes behind the scenes on a TV show like this, with it’s difficulties and funny moments of working with dogs.

Published January 1, 2024
292 pages, Paperback

Good Dogs Don’t make it to the South Pole by Hans-Olav Thyvold

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Good Dogs Don’t Make It to the South Pole is quite a dark, funny and whimsical story of aging and death, told through the eyes of a grumpy yet lovable dog. This very sweet story proves that sometimes a dog’s story more human than we would imagine.

Tassen has always been a one-man dog, completely devoted to Major Thorkildsen. When the Major passes away, Tassen and Mrs. Thorkildsen are left to go through their grief alone. Tassen mourns by indulging in too many treats, while Mrs. Thorkildsen turns to drinking. Despite their sadness and emptiness, they find solace in a shared interest: researching Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole, led by a courageous pack of dogs.

Their quiet days at the library are soon disrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Thorkildsen’s son and daughter-in-law, who plan to move into the Major’s huge house and send Mrs. Thorkildsen to a nursing home. As Tassen contemplates his own uncertain future, he shudders at the thought of what might happen to him. However, inspired by Amundsen and his dogs, Tassen and Mrs. Thorkildsen find the strength to face whatever challenges come their way.

I picked this book up because the dog on the cover was just so cute and irresistable. At first, I thought it was a lightweight book of cute dog stories, but nothing could be further from the truth.

As Mrs. Thorkildson ages and her health declines, Tassen is by her side, listening to her relate the story of an expedition and the role dogs played. Tassen’s thoughts on hearing the story are very funny and yes, exactly what a dog would surely think.

There are so many animal insights in this book, some comical and some sad as he has imagined conversations with himself about what he sees around him and what he supposes Mrs. Thorkildsen is up to.

Even though there is a thread of humour through the book, the story is definitely not light and superficial. As an older person, I could very much identify with the  themes of  ageing, death, companionship and life. I enjoyed this book very much.

Published August 2020
320 Pages

Love, Clancy: A Dog’s Letters Home by Richard Glover