Books Monthly

November 2025 Volume 26 Number 2 Nonfiction Books



Book of the Month: Charlie Mackesy: Always Remember 9th October 2025
Charlie Mackesy’s four unlikely friends are wandering through the wilds again. They’re not sure what they are looking for. They do know that life can be difficult, but that they love each other, and cake is often the answer.

When the dark clouds come, can the boy remember what he needs to get through the storm?

The hugely anticipated new book from Charlie Mackesy, revisiting the much-loved world of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – the bestselling adult non-fiction book of all time, with over ten million readers around the world.
Charlie Mackesy's gentle, homespun philosophy shones through like a beacon of light in this world of darkness we now inhabit - this is Winnie-the-Pooh for the 21st century, and another sure-fire smash hit for Charlie. The most astonishing book of 2024 has a sequel, and it continues the adventures of the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse. Charlie's paintings and illustrations are extraordinary, and his ability to convince you that all you need is love (and cake) is second to none. I'm proud to have this book on my shelf.

INDIA KNIGHT: HOME 16th October 2025

In this book inspired by her phenomenally popular Substack newsletter, India Knight explores the essence of what makes a home, debunking intimidating ideas about ‘taste’ and trends, offering practical and reassuring advice for every room, and above all celebrating the joy and comfort that comes from being surrounded by things you love. This is partly a book about a feeling. We all know it, regardless of where we live. Home is when you open the front door and exhale. In this joyous, practical, wise and entertaining book, inspired by her phenomenally popular Substack newsletter, India Knight explores and celebrates the essence of what makes a home. Whether it is grand or modest, urban or rural, rented or owned, shared or occupied solo, her mission is to make you sigh with contentment the moment you’re through your front door. From its understanding the best lightbulbs and the most flattering paint colours, or knowing what to make when you’ve asked people to dinner and have forgotten (or maybe never learned) how to cook, Home debunks intimidating ideas about ‘taste’ and celebrates the timeless importance of charm. Inspiring you to think imaginatively about how to use the things you’ve already got, advising you on what to look out for when buying a sofa, and opening your eyes to the transformative power of a well-chosen picture frame, India will steer you far, far away from trends and Instagram and helps you find, trust – and take pride in – what you like.
Going from the hallway to the bedroom, via the bathroom, the kitchen, the sitting room and all the spaces in between, India shares everything she knows about how to create and find joy in every room. Along the way she shares life lessons, tips and stories of the things and people that have shaped her, and the places she has called home. So, step over the threshold and come on in. India Knight has a huge online following and is well placed to be something of a guru on all matters to do with the home. In this charming and essential book, she takes us on a journey through the "home" room by room, lifting the lid on how to create the perfect living space, and one the way emphasising the absolute need for "stuff", recognising the need to surround yourself with the things you like arranged in ways that fill you with joy and ultimate satisfaction. The book is a little short on photographs, but what there are illustrate perfectly the art of making your home perfect for you. I thoroughly enjoyed my journey through the home with India, and you will too.

20 Minute Low-Cal KITCHEN BANGERS 4th December 2025

Hit your calorie deficit goals with these delicious low-calorie meals, ready in just 20 minutes!

It can feel like there's never enough time to eat well, let alone cook for yourself. But it is possible! Bestselling author Alex Hughes returns with 100 brand-new slimming recipes that are all under 600 calories and can be made in only 20 minutes.

Perfect for anyone looking to lose weight but short on time, these are quick and easy recipes you'll keep coming back to. Discover your new favourite recipe:

Loaded Egg and Chorizo Hash Browns
Bacon Cheeseburger Bowls
Sweet Chilli Glazed Chicken Bites
Crunchy Garlic Butter Salmon with Couscous
Creamy Peppercorn Steak Potatoes

STAR WARS REVENGE OF THE SITH EPISODE III 14th October 2025

REVENGE OF THE SITH: THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION
This stunning deluxe edition of Revenge of the Sith, the bestselling novelization of the final film in George Lucas’s epic Star Wars prequel trilogy

• Over 170 annotations and a new introduction by author Matthew Stover
• Full-sized poster jacket
• Black digital edges with red text of an iconic quote
• Illustrated endpapers depicting two pivotal scenes
• A red-satin ribbon marker
• Foil design on board featuring an iconic quote

Based on the story and screenplay by George Lucas, bestselling author Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization captures the iconic characters of Star Wars in all their complexity and brings a space opera masterpiece full circle. The pivotal final steps of Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side, the end of the Republic, and the rise of the Empire are rendered in stunning style.

In celebration of the twentieth anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, this deluxe fully annotated edition features never-before-shared insights into the creation of a masterpiece, with over 170 annotations and a special new introduction by New York Times bestselling author Matthew Stover.

ALICE LOXTON: ELEANOR - A 200-MILE WALK IN SEARCH OF ENGLAND'S LOST QUEEN 13th November 2025

In 1290, England mourned the death of a queen, Eleanor of Castile, beloved wife of King Edward I. Her body was carried on a 200-mile journey from Lincoln to London, a solemn procession that would become immortalized in stone. To mark the places where her cortege rested, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve magnificent Eleanor Crosses.

More than seven centuries later, bestselling historian Alice Loxton set herself an epic challenge: following in history’s footsteps by walking the entire 200-mile funeral route on the corresponding dates.

As Alice journeys in search of England’s forgotten Queen, over ancient paths and modern motorways, history comes alive in surprising ways. Lively and entertaining, Eleanor uncovers the extraordinary life and formidable character of this lesser-known royal, revealing her inspiring legacy and the hidden history of Britain.

FLORA SHEDDEN: WINTER IN THE HIGHLANDS 16th October 2025

Banish the winter blues, embrace the stark beauty of the colder months and step into an invitingly warm world of comfort and culinary delight.

In this her eagerly anticipated fourth cookbook, food writer, acclaimed bakery owner and Bake Off semi-finalist Flora Shedden invites readers on a joyous, heart-warming journey through the enchanting winter season in Scotland, celebrating the region’s rich and distinctive culinary heritage and cherished festive traditions.

Offering creative, deliciously do-able savoury and sweet recipes that cater for the entire winter season, it includes a mix of both traditional dishes and modern alternatives, as well as tips to get ahead for Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night, ensuring your table is always graced with warmth and flavour from the first snowfall to the final thaw. Set against the backdrop of Scotland’s dramatic landscapes and picture-post­card wintertime charm, it is a stunning culinary adventure that is nothing short of magical.

DAME PENNY MORDAUNT & CHRIS LEWIS: POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE

In this extraordinary new book, former Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt and co-author Chris Lewis build on the success of their Sunday Times-bestselling Greater: Britain After the Storm to celebrate the traditions and values that underpin British life.

Pomp & Circumstance explores Britain’s traditions – both the ancient and the new. From coronations and national events to local customs, they provide stability, reinforce identity and foster resilience to help us steer a course through the uncertainties of tomorrow. Nations, organisations and communities that have them thrive. Where they are absent, it is harder to adapt to the fast-changing world.

At a time of great worry about our ability to adapt to an uncertain world, this book should give every Briton confidence and courage. It contains a unique perspective from someone who has had a ringside seat at many of our national events and crises over many years. Mordaunt, who in her ceremonial role as Lord President of the Council famously carried the Sword of State and presented the Jewelled Sword of Offering to King Charles III at his coronation, examines areas of traditional British culture – including the monarchy, Parliament, the law, sport and local traditions, as well as values such as sacrifice, courage and remembrance – to show how a country often thought of as old-fashioned actually uses its historical conventions to navigate the future.

Far from being a brake on progress, our traditions offer a predictable rhythm to life, promote values, encourage reflection and create a sense of continuity while allowing room for innovation and growth.


Last month's book of the month: Gyles Brandreth: Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear

'Whatever subject an author chooses or has chosen for him, he reveals no secret but the secret of himself’ A A Milne

When Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print on Christmas Eve 1925, his creator had no idea that this bear, and the fellow inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, would go on to capture the imaginations of people of all ages all over the world for the next hundred years.

In this new biography Gyles Brandreth tells the remarkable story of A A Milne – and of the ‘bear of very little brain’ who went on to become a global phenomenon.

Drawing on his friendship with Milne’s son, the real Christopher Robin, Gyles Brandreth has produced a revealing and intimate portrait of a prolific author whose legacy came to be defined by his most famous creation, and of the divided Milne family who for many years had a conflicted relationship with the iconic bear.

This is the story of a man, a boy and a bear – but it is also a gripping family drama, and a fascinating exploration of the complicated nature of growing up, and the impossible longing for a return to the enchanted places of childhood.

In his third major book in the last three years (Odd Boy Out, Elizabeth & Somewhere...), Gyles lifts the lid on the life and times of Alan Milne, A A Milne, the man who was responsible for writing those tales about Winnie-The-Pooh in four of the most successful books ever published. I had no idea that the Winnie-The-Pooh books (and later the Winnie-The-Pooh estate) were quite so successful; Alan Milne was a brilliantly successful playwrite and novelist, but it's not that body of work for which he is chiefly remembered - it's Winnie-The-Pooh and Christopher Robin that caught the public imagination and established Milne as one of the undisputed giants of that Literary Golden Age which began around the middle of the 19th century and ended in the 1950s with the incomparable Enid Blyton. Gyles's pedigree in biographies is, for me, second to none - not only does he know most of the people who populate this story, (some personally, of course) he also makes connections, which are absolutely the most important part of this biography and make it so readable. And, of course, he knew and spent time with the real Christopher Robin, whose observations on his relationship with his parents, and his relationship with Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Tigger are paramount. Then there is the fact that Gyles is a world-renowned expert on Teddy Bears (I have a small collection myself, although no Pooh, and I appreciate them all). There are the literary figures who dominated the Golden Age: J M Barrie, H G Wells (Milne's one-time teacher and later mentor) and Lewis Carroll, amongst others; there are the various editors of Punch, of which Milne himself was later the assistant editor; and there are the various members of Milne's family, of whom Gyles has much to say, all of it essential reading and which makes for the most enthralling and fascinating background of a man destined to be remembered for his contributions to children's literature. Childhood is everything in this book, whether it's Milne's father, J V Milne, son of a missionary; or Alan Milne, who told the Pooh stories to Chriistopher Robin in his formative years; or finally Christopher Robin himself, who survived Winnie-The-Pooh and became a highly successful bookseller in Devon. This is a magnificent book, an examination of a literary giant and his most famous creation, populated by people of note and with tales of incredible attitudes to work and success, and above all, a devotion to family members (not all) and an overwhelming longing for the joys of childhood to remain forever within memory. I cannot remember enjoying a biography as much as this one - yes I can, it was Gyles's recent autobiography, Odd Boy Out. On balance, I would happily read anything by Gyles, but this terrific tale of a boy's bear and other childhood companions, published to coincide with Winnie-The-Pooh's centenary, has to be one of the best books this year, and certainly one of the best biographies of all time.
On this page :
India Knight: Home
20 Minute Kitchen Bangers
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith
Alice Loxton: Eleanor
Winter in the Highlands
Pomp and Circumstance


About BOOKS MONTHLY: This publication started life as FANTAZONE in December 1998. Within a month publishers were starting to send me review copies, and I changed the name to Books Monthly as the new title reflected the new primary purpose of the magazine. Many people, including Bernard Cornwell and Gyles Brandreth have commented on how much they like the magazine, which this month has morphed into a newsletter, although its premise remains the same - to alert readers to a selected number of newly published books with my reviews when I've managed to persuade a publisher to send me a copy. To the best of my knowledge, Books Monthly is the longest-running book review magazine on the web. I hope you enjoy it in its new format!

contact me at paulenorman1@gmail.com