• All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker – This was one of those rare books that quietly took over my evenings. Whitaker traces the long tail of a crime in a small Missouri town, following its impact across decades. The writing is steady and unhurried, but the story moves with an undercurrent of tension; every time I thought I understood where it was heading, it shifted again. It had echoes for me of The Lincoln Highway — not in plot, but in that feeling of being carried through a sweeping, character-driven narrative that lingers long after you close the book.
• The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman – I do love Osman’s books. When I see the next one is out, I buy; even if I’m in an airport and paying airport prices. Set in his reliably quirky universe of unlikely detectives and everyday mysteries, this story follows a once-famous art thief who’s spent decades avoiding both the law and his own past. When a long-lost treasure resurfaces, so do all the complications that come with it. Osman has a knack for making crime cosy without making it trivial, and for writing characters who feel both familiar and a little bit ridiculous in the best way. I’ve featured his books in lists before, and this one earned its spot too.
• The Names by Florence Knapp – This one stayed with me long after I finished it. The story traces three alternate versions of a boy’s life, each unfolding from a single moment at a birth-registration desk when his mother chooses a name. What follows is a quiet, haunting exploration of how identity is shaped. Not just by who we are, but by the small decisions made for us before we can speak. Knapp moves between the three narratives with a kind of gentle precision, revealing how love, trauma and circumstance echo differently across each path. It’s a thoughtful, sliding-doors story that asks big questions without forcing neat answers. I’ve recommended it often this year, but with a gentle trigger warning; it’s beautifully written and deeply affecting in parts.
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy – This one had echoes for me of Robbie Arnott’s work;  lyrical, atmospheric, and deeply anchored in place. Set on a remote island between Tasmania and Antarctica, the story follows a family guarding a seed vault as a mysterious woman washes ashore and quietly disrupts their fragile world. McConaghy layers the narrative with rising seas, old grief, and the kind of tension that builds slowly rather than loudly. It’s been picked up by Reese’s Book Club, and there’s talk of a film adaptation, which makes sense; the writing is so visual it almost feels like you’re watching it unfold. A beautifully crafted eco-thriller that lingers.
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – Often called “The Octopus Book”,  I was late to the party, but I really enjoyed it. At the centre is Marcellus, a Giant Pacific Octopus with a voice that’s sharp, funny, and surprisingly tender. If you watched My Octopus Teacher a few years back, you’ll recognise that same sense of unexpected connection; the way an octopus can hold up a mirror to our own messy, hopeful attempts at being human. Through Marcellus, the story becomes a gentle exploration of grief, loneliness, and the small moments that quietly shift a life. It’s warm, thoughtful, and lingers long after you finish.
• Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal – Unsurprisingly, I’ve read (and tried) more productivity frameworks than I care to admit, so I wasn’t expecting anything particularly new here. But this one surprised me. Abdaal takes the pressure out of productivity and flips it on its head;  leaning into joy, energy and ease rather than grit and force. I listened to it as an audiobook first, then immediately bought a physical copy so I could mark it up properly. It’s practical without being preachy, and offers a genuinely refreshing way to think about getting things done without burning yourself out in the process.
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore – This was my first book of the year, and the fact that it’s still made the list (60 books later) says something. Set around a missing girl at an upstate New York summer camp, it unfolds slowly, with that steady, simmering tension Liz Moore does so well. The narrative slips between timelines and perspectives, revealing layers you don’t quite see coming. It’s atmospheric, clever, and quietly gripping in a way that stays with you long after the last page.
• The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson – Those that know me know I love a good fantasy series. I always know work is taking the best of me when I start gravitating toward the escapism of big, sprawling world-building novels. My dad, when he was downsizing before his passing, gifted me the first three books many years ago. They got lost on my bookshelf, and then one day, randomly, I picked one up. The next minute I’d lost three months in the entire series (including the novellas), disappearing into 6,000+ pages of epic storytelling. Reading it took me right back to walking down to the library with Dad as a teenager to pick books for the week. It was comfort reading in the truest sense. If you love the glory of a traditional fantasy saga, I’d strongly recommend this series.

(As you scroll down, there’s a bunch more of my favourites – but would love to draw attention to Kate’s first two. I loved both of these and would have included them in my list if I’d been more organised and wasn’t (predictably in the end-of-year chaos) the last one to get their reading list in!)

• Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton follows Noah Cork, a 44-year-old crime journalist whose obsession with a true-crime case starts to unravel his family life. Dalton blends gritty, emotional storytelling with humour and heart, exploring ambition, guilt, and what it means to chase the stories that consume us. It’s more character-driven than a straight thriller, but very compelling.
• Mindset by Carol Dweck explores the idea that how we think about our abilities shapes how we learn, grow, and respond to challenges. The book compares “fixed mindset” (believing our abilities are set) with “growth mindset” (believing effort and learning can expand our potential) and shows how adopting a growth mindset can transform teaching, leadership, and life. 
• Lead: 12 Extraordinary Insights for Every School Leader by Dr. Pete Stebbins explores 12 practical, high-impact leadership insights tailored specifically for school leaders, helping them balance the demands of strategy, team, and self‑care. Three is lots of real experience, combining psychological wisdom with advice for thriving – not just surviving – in school leadership.
• The Residence is a slightly screwball whodunnit set in the White House, where eccentric detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) and skeptical FBI Agent Edwin Park (Randall Park) investigate the murder of the Chief Usher during a state dinner. With 132 rooms and 157 suspects — from upstairs politicians to back‑stairs staff — the show mixes mystery, humor, and a dash of political intrigue.
• Department Q is a gritty crime‑thriller follows Carl Morck (played by Matthew Goode), a once‑top detective left scarred by a traumatic ambush that killed a junior officer and paralysed his partner. Relegated to run the newly‑formed “cold case” unit (Department Q) in a dingy Edinburgh basement, he leads a motley team of misfits to dig into the disappearance of a high‑powered lawyer, uncovering corruption, buried secrets and personal redemption along the way.
• The Art of Teaching Podcast, hosted by Aussie educator Mathew Green, dives into the craft of teaching through real conversations with teachers, researchers, and school leaders. It’s all about mixing practical classroom strategies with big-picture thinking on leadership, wellbeing, and innovation.

(Nic’s note: I was super stoked to jump in as a guest in recent weeks. The time totally flew – so much so that Matthew and I have another follow-up planned for next year. You can check out the first conversation here.)

• The EdSurge Podcast is a US-based podcast show exploring the future of education, learning, and edtech with journalists, educators, and innovators. It mixes big ideas with practical insights, from AI in classrooms to student engagement and policy. For anyone curious about what’s shaping schools and learning globally, it’s a useful listen.

• The Crowded Room (TV Mini Series) – Apple TV – Such a great show that actually keeps you watching, super cool to see how it all unfolds. It dives deep into how trauma and mental health shape who we are and how we see the world. It’s confronting at times, but it really shows the power of empathy and understanding before judgment. It reminded me how often people’s actions are rooted in experiences we don’t see and how important it is to listen, not just look.
• The Diary of a CEO – Podcast/YouTube – I’ve listened to a fair few episodes, the chats with Mel Robbins, Simon Sinek, Lewis Capaldi, Louis Theroux, and Neil deGrasse Tyson really stood out. It’s one of those podcasts that makes you stop and think about what actually drives people, and how success often comes with a fair bit of struggle behind the scenes. I love how open and real the conversations are, it’s less about perfection and more about being human.
• Educate to Self-Regulate (Book) – Dr Shyam Barr – I loved this book, it gave me such a clear breakdown of my own self-regulation habits and how I can build on them. It’s full of practical tools and insights, but what really stuck with me was how simple and achievable it all felt. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about noticing patterns, making small shifts, and giving yourself the space to grow.

• The Real Housewives – You may have spotted that Nic gave me a cheeky shoutout in our newsletter for a recent Real Housewives binge – but trust me, there’s far more nuance to this than meets the eye. If you’re a newbie looking to escape into the glitz, glamour, and chaos, here are my top franchises, in order:
  • Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – An absolute classic.
  • Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – A newer franchise with only six seasons, so far less daunting than some of the others. I cannot even begin to tell you about the lore of this show, it has to be seen to be believed.
  • Real Housewives of New York – Easily the most eccentric cast, they non-stop deliver iconic moments.
  • Real Housewives of Atlanta – A goldmine for fun quotes and unhinged confessionals. Don’t be tardy to this party (iykyk).
  • Real Housewives of Miami (my current binge) – I’m still getting to know the Miami Housewives so they do have the potential to move up. They had a 10-year gap between S3 & S4 and seeing how they have (and have not) changed has me hooked.
• Who Shat on the Floor at My Wedding? (And Other Crimes) – It was the perfect day… until someone shat on the floor. The mystery has tormented the brides ever since, and they need answers, which of their closest friends, family members, or staff had the audacity to… let loose on their special day? Join the brides and their wildly underqualified “detective” as they interrogate guests, hook bridesmaids up to polygraphs, and consult forensic experts in an attempt to crack the case. This podcast had me cackling in public and briefly wondering if I, too, could be a detective. If you’re already familiar, there are 2 follow up seasons – one following a reverse theft aka the sudden appearance of a suitcase and a tiny three-piece corduroy suit, and the most recent season (of which I’m yet to listen to) in which they attempt to solve real non-crime crimes and ridiculous mysteries submitted by listeners. Their selection criteria for new cases is simple: “Anything the police laugh at is a case for us.”
• Butter, Asako Yuzuki – Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Center convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back. I left each chapter hungrier than the last and I have to admit that I ate more butter the month following this read than I would like to admit.
• The One, John Marrs: – One simple mouth swab. That’s all it takes – a quick DNA test to find the perfect partner you’re genetically designed for. If you love thrillers packed with twists you’ll never see coming, John Marrs is your guy. The One is the first book in his Dark Future series, and the follow-up takes it even further, exploring a world where you marriage and divorce is dictated by the state. Absolutely addictive.
• Why Women Kill – Why Women Kill follows three women across three different decades – a ’60s housewife, an ’80s socialite, and a 2019 lawyer each dealing with infidelity. The series explores how the roles of women have evolved… but their reactions to betrayal absolutely have not. This was my most addictive watch of the year and I can’t stop recommending it. The styling alone is chef’s-kiss.
• Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett & Josh Widdicombe – Anyone who met me at the National Grand Final knows I’m a Scottish expat, and although these are 2 comedians from the UK, Rob just wrapped his Aussie tour, so you might already be familiar with at least half of this duo. I’m not a parent myself, but I love hearing Josh and Rob’s stories, especially their regular segment on the “creative” parenting methods of their Boomer parents. I promise it will make you giggle.