Books

Get lost in a good book: February’s new releases

Looking for that next juicy read? Wallingford indie bookshop owner Ali Jinks reveals the new tomes she's most looking forward to curling up with this month. Bye-bye reading rut.
Books for bright sparks – a top school librarian’s picks

Magdalen College School in Oxford is one of the top academic successes in the UK. Where better to tap up for smart suggestions on the best books to captivate kids?
The best cookbooks to buy now

Sick of making the same seven dinners, week in, week out? Or just a sucker for tempting pictures of food? If any of the above apply, we’ve got you covered.
Presents sorted! 10 best books to gift in 2020

Books make for excellent Christmas presents - but with so many stunners coming out this year, which ones to gift? We picked the brain of local indie bookshop, Mostly Books in Abingdon
5 best new books to read in November

There's only so much TV a gal can watch during lockdown, so give your gogglebox eyes a break and dive into one these new reads, as recommended by The Book House, Thame.
Read these! Best new books for October

After a new read for your bedside table? Local haunt Daunt Books Summertown shares the best new titles to sink your teeth into this month.
Bookmark this! Best indie bookshops in Bucks and Oxon

Forget online shopping - there's nothing like getting lost in a great bookshop (is it just me who loves the smell?). To celebrate Bookshop Day this month, here are some of our fave local indies to support.
Your ultimate autumn culture planner 2020

Culture vultures, grab your diaries. Here's your Muddy-curated cheat sheet to the season's best art, theatre, TV, books and film in the UK.
Books you need to read this September

It’s back-to-school time and even if we're not of school age, there’s a lot to be said for embracing a reading list. Luckily, our friends at Gerrards Cross Bookshop have supplied us with seven must-reads for the month ahead.
Culture queen! My August highlights

A whole month of lolling in the sun (hopefully) requires a whole host of entertainment. Here are the culture picks I'll be soaking up this August, from must-see art to new albums
Culture vulture: my July hitlist

Missing the theatre and live venues? OMG, me too. Until normal service resumes for the arts world (your guess is as good as mine), here's my personal culture planner for July - podcasts, books, music and theatre. I'll budge up on the sofa, come and join me.
Culture vulture: my June hitlist

Less time propping up bars means more time enjoying the creative arts right?! Here's what I'm loving this month.
Kids driving you nuts? The best parenting books

And we all thought parenting was hard BEFORE lockdown. Jeez! We've got five brilliant new books that promise to help.
The best ‘holiday’ reads for lockdown

Okay, 'holiday' might be stretching it - but these books are certainly providing us with welcome escapism during lockdown! Here are the latest releases the Muddy editors are reading in the back garden with a cocktail.
10 of the best gardening books

Fancy getting all green fingered in the garden but don't really know where to start? Here's a helping hand with 10 terrific tomes to add to your reading list.
5 things I’ve learned about motherhood

Acclaimed author (and Muddy favourite) Clover Stroud is in the midst of raising her 5 children. Miraculously she's found time to write a book about it all. Here's a taster.
Muddy’s 10 best books of 2019

So many rip-roaring reads, so little time. But Muddy's books editor Kerry Potter has made it easy for you - here's her definitive list of the year's best books. Get stuck in!
The top 10 books of the summer

Don't pack your suitcase or load up your Kindle until you've read this! Muddy's books editor Kerry has picked the 10 best books to get stuck into on holiday.