Derek Owusu ( ©Josima Senior) – Hunger Pains (Merky Books, Penguin Random House)

The Reading Agency has today revealed the six authors behind the 2026 Quick Reads titles – marking 20 years of the life-changing initiative – publishing during the National Year of Reading.

Quick Reads helps adults overcome barriers to reading by providing short, accessible books by leading authors. Unlike other short-form fiction, Quick Reads go through a rigorous review process to ensure accessibility – including testing for readability, concentration, and suitability for those rebuilding reading confidence. The 2026 collection spans thrillers, romance and contemporary fiction – genres proven to tempt new or lapsed readers back to books. The full list is:

• Rachel Hore – The Girl in the Picture (Simon & Schuster)
• Leye Adenle – Cell One (Simon & Schuster)
• Rosie Goodwin – Sweet Charity (Bonnier Books UK)
• Louise Jensen – The Woman Next Door (HQ, HarperCollins)
• Derek Owusu – Hunger Pains (Merky Books, Penguin Random House)
• Carmel Harrington – The Last Bench (Headline, Hachette)

The new titles will be published in the run-up to World Book Night (23 April 2026), when thousands of free copies will be gifted through libraries and community groups. Additional books will be available in supermarkets and participating retailers for just £1. The Reading Agency’s Quick Reads support readers who have lost confidence, face concentration challenges, or are living with or recovering from illnesses such as cognitive disorder or brain injury.

As short, affordable, and carefully crafted books, Quick Reads help to give readers confidence and rediscover a joy of reading. In 2026, 30,000 Quick Reads will be distributed free of charge, supported by publishers, libraries, charities, trade unions and employers nationwide.

Karen Napier, CEO, The Reading Agency, said: “Quick Reads are more than short books – they’re stepping stones back into reading that are designed to fit modern life. Literally turning a page can change your life – improving wellbeing, focus, and even life satisfaction. The National Year of Reading is the perfect moment to make reading part of everyday life again.”

The announcement comes as new findings from The Reading Agency’s State of the Nation’s Adult Reading 2025 report show:

• Only half of UK adults (53%) describe themselves as regular readers – down from 58% in 2015.
• Nearly half (46%) struggle to focus on reading due to distractions, rising to 55% among 16–24-year-olds.
• Almost half of under-44s now read “on the go” while commuting, exercising or doing chores.
• Three in five adults (nearly 33 million) say the cost-of-living crisis leaves them with less time and money for leisure.

The Reading Agency is calling on supermarkets, employers, NHS libraries and trade unions to back the 2026 campaign and help get Quick Reads into more hands. Since the programme launched in 2006, Quick Reads has collaborated with over 30 publishers to create and distribute 5.4 million copies with over 6.2 million library loans. Quick Reads 2026 titles will be available from participating retailers for £1, or free from libraries nationwide.

The books can be ordered online from The Reading Agency. In 2025, Quick Reads is sponsored by Penguin Random House and Hachette.

When a chance encounter leads to murder, Ella Bridges finds herself trapped in a deadly game of secrets and lies. On the Wrong Track – the all-new case in the Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries by the fabulous J. New.

When Ella Bridges steps off the London to Linhay train after witnessing a sudden death on the platform, she hardly expects it will lead her to a windswept island estate and a house filled with strangers. But something about the woman’s passing strikes Ella as suspicious and she’s a woman who won’t ignore her instincts.

With Detective Sergeant Baxter at her side, Ella follows the trail to Gifford House, where a group of guests has gathered after winning a mysterious competition advertised in The Times. But when a storm cuts them off from the mainland, suspicions rise and long-buried secrets begin to surface. As tensions mount within the grand house, Ella must use all her wits to unmask a killer before more lives are claimed.

On the Wrong Track is ideal for fans of Agatha Christie, Helena Dixon, and classic British whodunits. Pre-order: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G43ML227/ @ £1.99

The Mystery of the Christmas Bauble A cozy 1930s murder mystery (Jack and Frances Mysteries) by Carmen Radtke. I do love this period, and it particularly suits cozy crime, don’t you think?

A clairvoyant, a crime, and a prophecy: It seems some mysteries ripple through time. Ann inherited Christmas ornament reveals a hidden message, which connects the past and the present in more than one way. When Fiona Langdon discovers an old, hand-blown bauble hidden in her grandmother’s attic, she expects nothing more than a touch of nostalgia. Instead, she uncovers a hidden message that links her family to a long-forgotten mystery. The trail leads back to London in 1931, where her daring ancestor Frances Palmer helped a clairvoyant named Madame Gloria catch a jewel thief during a glittering Christmas performance. As Frances’s adventure unfolds, it sets in motion a legacy that will echo across decades.

Nearly a century later, Fiona’s search brings her to a charming shop called Christmas Magic—and to Simon Coutts, whose family owns a bauble identical to her grandmother’s. As old secrets surface and fate weaves its spell, two families discover that some mysteries are meant to be solved… and that love can bridge even the distance of time. Do have a look: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G25F8P7X/ @ £0.99

Christmas for me, is a house full of people letting their hair down and enjoying plenty of food and drink. And whilst cocktails seem to add to the party atmosphere, quite often by the time I have made the last cocktail, the person served first, is almost ready for a second.

At a point in the year when time is at a premium, this can soon ruin the vibe, which is where these cocktails in a can come in.

At Christmas I am guaranteed to be short of two things, space and time and anything that assists with such challenges is always welcome.

No more juggling bottles for me or taking 5 to 7 minutes to make one cocktail per person as Sierra Tequila has launched a delicious range of ready-to-drink Margaritas in the UK.

These ‘bar quality’ Margaritas are available in two flavours, Strawberry and Lime.

High-quality, convenient cocktails, the Sierra Margarita cans are available in stores throughout the UK, as well as online via Amazon and are also available from Aldi and Lidl

Sierra is known for its bold, fruity, and award-winning flavour, made with the finest blue Weber agave, guaranteeing that the cocktail inside the can is full of bold flavour, expertly mixed, and made for those moments worth savouring.

Sierra Strawberry Margarita is a delicious combination of juicy, sweet strawberries with smooth agave notes of Sierra Tequila Blanco. Whereas the Sierra Lime Margarita is the perfect combination of tangy lime, well-balanced sweetness, a hint of salt, and cooked agave notes.

These would also make superb stocking fillers and guarantee you top billing at the office secret Santa.

And if I am not too early, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Christmas.

RRP: 12 x 250ml cans for £30. ABV: 6% per can. Available to purchase online from Amazon. https://www.sierratequila.com/en/ @sierra_tequila

Oh, fab-u-lous: The Carlswick Mysteries return with a tale of blackmail, forbidden art, and a deadly game played out on the streets of New York City. Stephanie Cooper joins her boyfriend James Knox and his band in New York for the final week of their tour. But teh bands new found popularity has attracted unwanted attention and Stephanie’s research project at a New York museum puts her on a collision course with an old adversary. From the glitzy modern day bars and clubs of Manhattan to the gritty Lower East Side tenements of the 1940s, Stephanie tries to keep one step ahead of an increasingly desperate faceless blackmailer as she traces the final legacy of war time Nazi art liberator Karl Hoffman. (Fascinating) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXLZ3SDL/ @ £1.99 Kindle edition

Here we have a three book offer – Kindle edition. Dr Margaret Demeray – Historical Crime Box Set 1-3. I find historical’s fascinating as one usually learns so much, and you certainly will from these three books. The Wrong Sort to Die by Paula Harmon: June 1910. Dr Margaret Demeray gives a stranger called Fox information about a dead down-and-out. When a second man dies the same way, Margaret starts to wonder why the enigmatic Fox keeps turning up to ask ever more complex questions. Margaret must discover the truth before someone silences her for good. Death in the Last Reel by Paula Harmon After the violent murder of three policemen in the line of duty, Fox asks Margaret to help with a mission and she can’t wait to assist. How can they discover who is behind the threat to London when it’s not entirely clear what the threat actually is? The Treacherous Dead the third in the series by Paula Harmon: It’s summer 1912. When Dr Margaret Demeray tells Fox about an unlikely spy plot, something reminds him of an old case. Just as they decide the allegation is nonsense, a young woman is found dead and evidence at the scene links Fox to her murder. Is someone now seeking revenge? 

Get all three captivating novels in one box set at the incredible price of £2.99 –https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G35HG4XY/

I absolutely love, love, love Cozy Crime, and here we have three historical cozy crimes by the fabulous Celina Grace. This collection of Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate (Historical Cozy Crime Box Set 1-3) is a simply lovely Golden Age murder-mystery collection with three witty and delightful whodunits.

Book 1: Murder at Merisham Lodge Derbyshire, 1930s. When Lady Eveline Cartwright is found dead in her study, life at Merisham Lodge begins to unravel. Amid lies, loyalties, and hidden dangers, Joan Hart and Verity Hunter must uncover the truth before they become the next to fall. Can they expose a cunning killer before they become the next victims?

Book 2: Death at the Theatre
London, 1932. A night at the theatre turns deadly when the curtains rise on an unexpected tragedy. A man has been stabbed to death almost under their very noses. Behind the glittering lights, Joan and Verity uncover a world of deception and ambition where the stage is set for danger.

Book 3: The Hidden House Murders West Country, 1934. What begins as a peaceful retreat quickly descends into chaos after a poisoned dinner. The deadly dish proves fatal for one unlucky soul. As Verity and Joan begin to delve deeper into the tangled relationships of the Ashford family and their guests, it becomes apparent that too many people have secrets to keep … some of which are worth killing for … https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G366L1R4/ @ £2.99

Once the clocks go back, and we are overtaken by the dark nights, watching Bake Off becomes a must; and whilst I could never hope to emulate those talented bakers, it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to give it a go.

A kitchen filled with the scents of baking is always comforting, and never more so than in the run up to Christmas. I then spend far too long searching for the baking tins which seem to migrate throughout the kitchen into a variety of cupboards and drawers.

But no longer, as the Green Pan Reserve Bakeware 6 – piece set stack neatly inside one another. These come in a stylish range of colours, and I chose the Pine Green to match my kitchen, the two other colours being Oxford Blue and Black. Featuring the beautiful and eye- catching gold PVD coated stainless steel handles.

My wife likes these not because they are beautiful, which she agrees they are, but because with the exception of the muffin tray, these are all dishwasher friendly, and for some inexplicable reason, she thinks that I am a messy baker.

Each item is sturdy with an impressive weight that exudes quality, combining performance and beauty, heating up quickly and evenly up to 230° C in the oven.

They are perfect for planet – friendly baking, as the range has 2 layers of PFAS – Free ceramic non – stick coating on durable aluminised steel that won’t warp or bend.

The set is comprised of one of each of the following 6 items. A baking tray, roasting tray with roasting rack (and I would also use this as a cooling rack), round cake tin, loaf tin and a 6 cup muffin tin.

I would buy this for an aspiring baker, it would make the perfect Christmas gift for the star baker in your life, and should you see me on next year’s Bake Off you’ll know how it all started.

Green Pan Reserve Bakeware 5 – piece set in Oxford Blue, Black and Pine Green, RRP £129 greenpan.co.uk