Happy 2026. I am not a fan of New Year. Too much pressure. Too much reflection. Just too much. Weirdly, I like the history of New Year in Scotland. Historically it was more important than Christmas for many years. Influenced by Vikings, medieval Scottish traditions and by the fact that "Yule vacations" were banned in 1640 due to Reformation influences and took more than 300 years to be recognised as a public holiday again. All of this resulted in Hogmanay being the main mid-winter celebration. My Mum remembers people working Christmas Day, it just being ‘another day’ - which seems quite unbelievable that within her lifetime this was the case. My Gran would say she preferred Christmas and wished more was made of it compared to New Year. If she could see it now… I am rambling again. I just find there’s too much pressure to change, make resolutions, be better, have a better year, etc. etc. Inevitably over estimate what can be achieved and then by the time next New Year rolls around you just feel deflated. Although maybe there is something nice about a fresh start. 365 days of new starts. Or maybe that is too much pressure?! Or maybe, as always, I am overthinking. I prefer thinking about what I am grateful for already and build on that. (Like the weather we’re currently having in Scotland right now - the sunsets have been pretty spectacular - want to see more of them in 2026!) I don’t know how people have time to be parents, work full time, keep fit, have hobbies, see friends, keep up with family - life is too busy as is never mind adding in annual transformation! I mean, I don’t know why I thought I would add running a bookshop and a mini book festival to my life. So clearly I am mad (and at the time of it all, highly hormonal!). And I haven’t even started on how am I meant to even contemplate a good New Year when there are ongoing genocides and the World is moving more and more into authoritarian facist leadership… Alas, I was trying to stay positive. I am going to stop digressing. Maybe now I have written it all out I need to actually pare back and not be so hard on myself. My blog is really just me journaling while I am not seeing a therapist!

My husband read this and said it sounded like I wasn’t doing too great. I said “but I just hate New Year” and my eariwigging daughter shouted “Why?! How can you hate New Year?! It’s a whole new year of adventure! And then you get to celebrate it all again at the end!” So at least I’ve not passed my negative energy on! Something to celebrate. In all seriousness though - wishing everyone who reads this all the best for this new year. This new adventure.

I am excited about a number of new books being published in 2026. And after one full year of learning on the job about the world of bookshops (to be honest I am unsure what I have learned, I think I need a mentor so if anyone knows anything about selling online always happy to take advice! That is a whole other blog post) I am excited (nervous!) to see what this next year brings. A few books I am particularly looking forward to stocking over the next few months . . .

January 2026

A Waffle Lot of Love: Book 10 of the Narwhal and Jelly Series by Ben Clanton - check out his instagram here
Our Dreams by Fatima Ordinola - see more of her work here

February 2026