Always Remember, the sequel to Charlie Mackesey’s bestselling The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, could be this year’s Christmas number one. Anna Moloney despairs

What makes a number one Christmas book? The formula for the last 20 years has been remarkably consistent: five Guinness World Records books, four Jamie Oliver cookbooks, three David Walliams children’s books and a partridg—no: a smattering of autobiography (Michelle Obama and Alex Ferguson). Adult fiction as a whole has only managed to muster mass appeal twice (Richard Osmon, 2020 and Dan Brown, 2009) while a murder-mystery-themed puzzle book – that’s right – took the top spot in 2023, presumably reflecting some sort of national yearning to solve things. Alas.

So, what could take the crown this year? Richard Osmon’s cosy

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