Deep Reads for the Bleak Midwinter
Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash.
It's time to get cozy and hunker down (in the northern hemisphere, at least). With that in mind, and a strange pull to get off the Internet and away from ChatGPT for a hot minute, we’ve asked adland's bookworms to delve into their shelves to unearth their favourite doorstoppers.
From favourite hefty tomes, fiction or non-fiction on anything from philosophy to fantasy, these reads have the power to inspire, reframe and make you think differently… or just help you forget what the world’s put you through in 2025.
Liz Taylor
Global chief creative officer at Ogilvy
‘I See You’ve Called in Dead’ by John Kenney
Come for the title, stay for the book. ‘I See You've Called in Dead’ is sharp-witted and insightful, funny one minute and quietly moving the next. An obituary writer drunkenly publishes his own obituary – cue chaos, midlife reflection, and a surprising reset.
Described as ‘The Office’ meets ‘Six Feet Under’ mixed with ‘About a Boy’ (spot on), it’s also a love letter to New York: street-level, observant, gritty, full of odd moments of kindness and people who feel instantly familiar. Easy to dip into, hard to shake off, and more relatable than you might expect.
Andre Moreira
Global chief creative officer at T&P
‘Faith, Hope and Carnage’ by Nick Cave and Seán O'Hagan
OK, I confess, I've never been a fan of Nick Cave's music (shame on me). Yet, since I've heard him say "Hope is the warrior emotion" in a truly emotional interview with Stephen Colbert, I've become a fan of his worldview. With that in mind, I decided to give his book 'Faith, Hope and Carnage' a go... and I would advise anyone to do the same, especially if you're in any way connected with the creative industries.
It's structured as a series of conversations with journalist and friend Seán O'Hagan, therefore not just intelligent and captivating, but easy to dip in and out of (which I know is a very superficial thing to say... but we're only human).
And if I'm not doing a good job of selling it, I'll leave you with a passage:
“It seems to me that my best ideas are accidents within a controlled context. You could call them informed accidents. It's about having a deep understanding of what you're doing but, at the same time, being free enough to let the chips fall where they may. It's about preparation, but also about letting things happen.”
How's that for a '26 resolution? Enjoy.
Louise Scodie
Podcast host and senior PR and communications manager at NABS
‘The Marmalade Diaries’ by Ben Aitken
Only yesterday I was googling 'cosy reads for winter'. I've always turned to the power of a good book to lift my spirits when it's cold and wet outside. I'm particularly comforted by real-life stories of humanity, of people coming together, and of finding amusement and light in the everyday. ‘The Marmalade Diaries’ combines these qualities beautifully.
It's the tale of writer Ben Aitken, who is looking for a cheap room in London – a gargantuan task if ever there was one.
Ben does find a room that's affordable, but with a surprise addition: Winnie, an 85-year-old housemate. She's a spiky widow who always has an axe to grind, especially towards Ben when he first moves in.
However, as Ben's absorbing diary reveals, the two slowly but surely form an unusual yet utterly lovely friendship that will have you beaming from ear to ear by the time you finish this book.
A really super read on the power of connection and community (something we truly believe in at NABS).
Lola Milner-Barry
Marketing manager at true
‘The Bee Sting’ by Paul Murray
My standout read of 2025 is Paul Murray’s ‘The Bee Sting’.
This was very much a “buckle down and get through January” kind of book. A lovely, weighty read (I’ll always choose pages over Kindle swipes), its true power lies in its compelling characters.
The narrative centers around the dysfunctional Barnes family, whose flaws are laid bare from the start. And yet it’s precisely this intimacy with their imperfections that gives the characters a vibrancy and life that feels almost palpable. It begs the question how much of our lives are shaped by choice versus what we inherit simply by being who we are.
The book is deeply moving whilst also, in parts, deeply disturbing. Murray’s writing feels so immediate and immersive that at times, I had to put the book down, almost afraid of being sucked far into the Barnes family downward spiral.
For anyone who loves exploring what makes us human, and wants to admire some brilliantly daring writing, ‘The Bee Sting’ is a must-read.
Justine Feron
Chief strategy officer at Havas New York, writer and author of ‘Cleave in Two’
‘Wintering’ by Katherine May
If you’re looking for permission to do less and chill for once: ’Wintering’ by Katherine May beautifully sums up how there’s a season for everything… not just gunning-for-the-win pitch season, but also curl-up-under-a-blanket-and-forget-your-to-do-list season. It’s heartfelt, cozy, and uplifting.
‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear
Or, conversely, if you’re a person who uses the word “grindset” unironically:
James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits’ is the book that turned me into a person who actually flosses and exercises daily (although healthy eating and going to bed before midnight continue to elude me). It’s practical, actionable, and the rare self-help book I wouldn’t feel ashamed to read on the subway.
Megan Pinto
Account director at VML
‘Wintering’ by Katherine May
Winter is a contemplative season, in part because of its long nights. One of my favorite books for the season is ‘Wintering’ by Katherine May, a nonfiction book that blends memoir and research, exploring literal and figurative winters – what does it mean to enter a dark period of our lives and how can it transform us? What purpose does darkness serve?
‘Anna Karenina’ by Leo Tolstoy
Another book I love is ‘Anna Karenina’ by Leo Tolstoy. Set amid a snowy landscape, the novel grapples with passion, how it can destroy and/or liberate us. The book was written serially, so each chapter is short, and ends on a cliff hanger, which is perfect for a quick read before bed during busy days, or a longer read during train / plane rides to see loved ones.
‘A Horse at Night: On Writing’ by Amina Cain
Finally, ‘A Horse at Night: On Writing’ by Amina Cain is a beautiful, slim essay collection that explores the blurred line between fiction and living, reading and writing, and how each mode leads to a deeper experience of the other.
Cassie English
Media analyst, search at Attention Arc
‘Babel, or the Necessity of Violence’ by R. F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang’s ‘Babel, or the Necessity of Violence’ is a truly stunning and thought-provoking historical fantasy read, perfect for a seat in front of a fireplace or, as I read it, at an airport bar after your flight from Chicago has been delayed for snow storms. Set in the 1830s, ‘Babel’ follows a Chinese orphan through his life in England and at the Royal Institute of Translation (also called Babel), the most powerful school at Oxford dedicated to studying language and crafting the magical silver bars that powers the world’s cities and leaders. I was nervous about beginning this book as it deviates from my literary fiction tendencies (and because I saw it described as similar to Donna Tartt's ‘A Secret History’, which I disliked), but ‘Babel’ had me entranced from its first pages, pulling me into the story in a way I find most fantasy often cannot. It is a perfect read for those intrigued by themes of colonialism, language, power, revolution, and, titularly, the necessity of violence.
Jeannette Weinstein
Director, media operations at Attention Arc
‘Tribal Leadership’ by Dave Logan
Reading ‘Tribal Leadership’ by Dave Logan opened my eyes in a way I didn’t expect. It helped me understand not just how teams function, but why people show up the way they do, how culture forms, and how much power we have to shape the energy around us.
What I loved most about this book is how simple and human the message is, every workplace is a collection of “tribes,” and each tribe reflects the conversations, relationships, and values we create together. Dave Logan breaks down these tribal stages so clearly that you start seeing them everywhere, in meetings, in hallway conversations, even in yourself.
For me, this book reminded me that leadership isn’t about titles or control. It’s about the small, intentional shifts we make in how we speak to each other and what we choose to stand for. It’s about pulling people forward with purpose instead of pushing them with pressure.
It also made me reflect on the kind of tribe I want to help build, one that’s trusting, aligned, motivated, and proud of the work we do together.
If you care about team culture, if you want to understand people better, or if you’re trying to grow into the kind of leader who elevates everyone around you, this book is absolutely worth reading. It’s practical, eye-opening, and honestly, it made me better at what I do."
Jennie Spellman
Analyst, research and insights at Attention Arc
‘The Great Alone’ by Kristin Hannah
‘The Great Alone’ by Kristin Hannah will transport you to an Alaskan winter. It has a lot of themes of survival and instinct physically and socially. It’s one of my favourite books by her.
‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin
Another great one is ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin, one of my faves to date. It takes place in New England with connections to Harvard and the Boston area. It's about college students who create unique video games and their world build process pixel by pixel. It’s sooo good!
Sarah Anderson
Creative director at The Variable
‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara
Two of my all-time favourite hobbies are reading and crying. Not necessarily in that order. So, it's an absolute treat when they come together in an epic gut punch like ‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara. Coming in at a respectable 832 pages, this book follows the coming-of-age of a group of friends in New York and how trauma impacts them. Grab your tissues and that good tea from Harney & Sons. You’ll be here for a while getting your heart warmed and then broken on repeat.
And finally, one of my own…
Alex Reeves
Managing editor, EMEA at Little Black Book
‘Mayflies’ by Andrew O’Hagan
As someone who reads a lot of trashy sci-fi (Warhammer 40,000 books and not ashamed of it), I’m not always expecting a book to change my perspective on the most important things in life. But Andre O’Hagan’s ‘Mayflies’ shifted how I approach friendship. It’s split into two halves – one following a group of boisterous teen boys on the most vivid day of their lives, one much further in their future after the timbre of their friendship has become something totally different. And like the most affecting fiction, it straddles the bittersweet continuously, plunging you from ecstasy to sorrow. I’ve never had a more nuanced depiction of male adult friendship reflected back at me. At a time when we’re still wrestling with how men can lead healthier emotional lives, ‘Mayflies’ allows us to reflect on what our priorities might be in our relationships. It’s a good yarn, too.
