Book: The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan

I’ve always wanted to pick up one of the gift-wrapped books that shops have. This was one of several temptations at Golden Hare Books in Edinburgh. I picked it as it was based in Edinburgh and it did not disappoint.

It’s another triumphant historical fiction, but based entirely around wonderful female characters in 1800s Edinburgh.

We meet a widow who has to approach her former husband’s gentrified family for support, and Belle, an independent woman with entrepreneurial skills who strives to earn a living and maintain a household. Their stories are compelling, but the supporting cast of other women adds rich colour and texture to this wonderful tale, which centres around horticulture. I’m surprised it hasn’t been featured on *Gardeners' World*. More, please!

I started at the end of October during a visit to Liverpool and didn’t do any reading in December. This always surprises me, as I always imagine I’ll be sitting by the tree reading the whole month. When I was younger, I would often reread Little Women. Now my favourite time of the year is filled with, well, Christmas.