Books Monthly

December 2025 Volume 26 Number 3 Nonfiction Books



Ella Mills: Quick Wins - Healthy Cooking for Busy Lives 18th December 2025
Delicious recipes to help you eat more plants, supercharge your health and simplify mealtimes! Quick Wins is your guide to making healthy eating effortless - helping you cut down on ultra-processed foods, enjoy 30 or more different plants each week, and bring fresh, nourishing meals to your table without the stress. No chasing perfection. No complicated ingredients. Just real food, full of flavour, designed to fit your life.

Inside, you'll find:

- 8 flexible weekly meal plans with shopping lists for six dinners and two lunches

- 75 simple, balanced recipes that make eating well feel easy

- Adaptable ideas and batch-cook tips to save time and reduce waste

Chapters include: One Pan, Easy Lunches, Fridge-Raid Suppers, A Little Longer, Batch Cook, Simple Snacks & Breakfasts, Meal Plans and Shopping Lists. Each section is crafted to make wholesome, satisfying cooking a natural part of your day.

With clear meal plans, practical shopping lists and flexible recipes, Quick Wins helps you find balance, confidence, and joy in the kitchen.

It's all goodness, no fuss - a fresh, achievable way to eat well every day.

John Gregory-Smith: The Greatest Traybake Cookbook Ever
29th January 2026

Preorder and discover the ultimate in low-effort, big-reward cooking.

Join TV chef and social-media superstar, John Gregory-Smith, to enjoy global recipes that make putting showstopping meals on the table easier than ever. From elevated Tuesday-night bangers to simple dinner-party centrepieces that you'll turn to time and again, this really is The Greatest Traybake Cookbook Ever.

- Creamy Harissa Sausage Casserole
- Elektra's Greek Chicken Traybake
- Creamy Thai Peanut Chicken Curry
- Speedy Cheesy Ravioli Bake
- Crispy Gnocchi with Burrata and Green Pesto
- The Ultimate Cauliflower Cheese

And so many more . . .

Zoe Tehrani: A Walker's Guide
25th November 2025

Zoe Tehrani’s Britain, A Walker’s Guide—discover Britain’s beauty just a train ride away.

Escape the city and immerse yourself in the rolling hills, historic villages, and breathtaking landscapes of Britain.

This beautifully illustrated guide offers:

30 carefully curated routes—all accessible by train Expert recommendations for walks suitable for all levels Stunning photography that captures Britain’s natural charm Practical tips and essential information to make every journey stress-free Interactive QR codes linking directly to each walk via AllTrails

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a casual stroller, this guide is your key to unforgettable walks—without the hassle of driving. Perfect for weekend adventurers or those seeking a peaceful day out, Zoe Tehrani brings you the best of Britain’s landscapes, all within easy reach of London.

Your next adventure begins at the station.

Luna Lapin: Stitched With Kindness
18th November 2025

A delightful collection of sewing patterns from the creator of Luna Lapin, Sarah Peel. Immerse yourself once again in the whimsical world of Luna Lapin with this collection of patterns and instructions for five delightful animals.

Luna Lapin is a quiet and kind rabbit with impeccable taste and, in this collection, she introduces us to some of her nearest and dearest friends. This brand new collection will resonate with fans of Luna and sewers of all abilities. The designs are perfect for making wonderful heirloom toys which will be treasured forever.

The new animals include Gracie Grenouille the frog, Sidney and Sol the beach donkeys, and Erik Eriksen the polar bear.
The step-by-step instructions and diagrams explain the patterns for the animals and their wonderful wardrobes.
There are full-size templates for all the patterns whether it's Erik's duffle coat or or the donkeys' striped bathing suits.
If you are a fan of this particular rabbity hare you will want to collect the latest collection of designs and stories so you can immerse yourself in the whimsical world of Luna Lapin once again.

Lindsay Nikole: Epic Earth
27th November 2025

Hold on tight for a bold and epically fascinating journey through time packed with bizarre creatures, jaw-dropping facts, and all the chaotic drama Earth has to offer.

Known for turning TikTok and YouTube into her own digital science classroom, viral content creator Lindsay Nikole brings her signature energy and storytelling to Epic Earth—a book that transforms 4.6 billion years of history—from the Precambrian era to the present—into an unforgettable adventure.

This is the story of Earth like you’ve never seen it before—from the first spark of life to prehistoric monsters to the rise of humans…and all the weird stuff in between. This book takes you through every era of the Earth’s history.

Meet some prehistoric creatures too weird for Hollywood:

Opabinia – a five-eyed, backward-facing, vacuum-nozzle-mouthed oddball that looks like it lost a bet with evolution
Anomalocaris – a giant ocean predator with sideways-facing claws (basically nightmare shrimp)
Aegirocassis – a filter-feeding sea giant Lindsay calls “absolutely grotesque”
Titanoboa – the largest snake to ever exist (yes, it could eat you)
Smilodon – the legendary saber-toothed cat with a bite far scarier than its Instagram profile would suggest
Plus: ancient sharks, giant bugs, and way too many creatures with way too many teeth

In Epic Earth, you’ll uncover:

The chaotic early days of Earth (volcanoes, meteors, and non-stop disaster)
Paleozoic oceans teeming with alien-like life
The rise and fall of dinosaurs (plus some you've never heard of)
Mass extinctions that hit like plot twists
Ice Ages, megafauna, and why prehistoric animals were so extra
How life survived again and again — and how we fit into the story

The history of Earth is a wild ride. Let Lindsay Nikole be your guide.

Perfect for:

Fans of Lindsay Nikole’s TikToks, YouTube videos, and animal content
Curious readers ages 10 and up
Science lovers, animal nerds, dino-obsessed kids (and adults)
Classrooms, science teachers, and homeschool families
Anyone who loves fun facts, wild creatures, and epic storytelling

Anya Lautenbach: The Money-Saving Gardener - Containers
29th January 2026

The money-saving gardener, Anya Lautenbach, shows you how to create beautiful displays in pots all year round for less, no matter your space.

With arrangements for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, there are projects for you to create in your own garden for colour and interest every month of the year – from spring bulbs to brighten your day to charming paperwhites that make a meaningful and beautiful gift in the darker months.

Throughout the book, Anya shares her money-saving advice on choosing pots and creative ways to repurpose everyday items, as well as tips and tricks to conserve expensive resources such as compost and water, and plenty of guidance on propagating plants for free.

Find joy in the small things all year round with The Money-Saving Gardener Containers.

Ian Failes: Industrial Light & Magic - Fifty Years of Innovation
5th February 2025

A spectacular celebration of the first 50 years of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the award-winning visual effects house behind the Star Wars saga, Indiana Jones, E.T., Terminator 2, and Jurassic Park

Industrial Light & Magic: 50 Years of Innovation is the official decade-by-decade visual retrospective of the legendary visual effects house.

Founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas in 1975, ILM has won 16 Academy Awards in Best Visual Effects and pushed the boundaries of what can be visually realized in storytelling, from the big screen to emerging technologies such as streaming television, 3D immersive adventures, and more.

Breaking down ILM’s evolution in visual effects decade-by-decade, 50 Years of Innovation features stunning visuals and analysis of the creative and technical processes from concept to execution, and highlights 50 of their key projects that have helped shape the visual effects industry.

Concluding with a look at both the future of ILM and the visual effects industry at large, the key creative forces at ILM speculate about what the next 50 years may have in store for the innovators that transformed entertainment forever.


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 :
Healthy Cooking
Best Ever Traybakes
Stitched soft toys
Walker's Guide to Britain
Epic Earth
Garden Containers
Industrial Lighty & Magic
Gyles Brandreth

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