The Best Book I Have Read This Year

Features, Travel

Posted on November 3, 2023

I recently had the pleasure to meet Kate Wickers, journalist, travel writer and author. Her story intrigued me and that always means something exciting to share with you.

Kate has done something I have been promising myself I would do, for years and never seem to have the time or focus, so my admiration for the book that Kate has produced is huge. This is the best book I have read this year and I highly recommend you read it too. It makes THE best Christmas gift!

Kate’s story:

I had the idea for the book during the first lock down when we were all at home together and I was often chatting about our family travels with my three sons. I dug out my journals, which I’ve kept religiously over the years, and was struck by how many life lessons my sons had been given, often haphazardly, while travelling with me.

I wrote a non-fiction book proposal — three chapters, a chapter breakdown, and detailed synopsis — and had offers from two publishers within a month.

I am by no means a parenting guru. I’ve written a very honest book, with lots of humour, about who we are as a family (including the mistakes I often make as a mum!), and I think that’s one reason readers have warmed to it.

I sent it to Helen Fielding, author of Bridget Jones’s Diary (never thinking I’d hear back!) and she wrote back to say she loved it, and would I like a quote for the cover! That was a real pinch me moment. It was also a dream come true when the book was listed by National Geographic Traveller and The Independent in ’The Top Travel Books of 2022’. Wanderlust Magazine listed it in ‘The Best Books to Inspire your Next Adventure’. It’s also been published in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US.

Here’s a little more about my career:

I have written professionally for over twenty years. My writing credits include features for many British publications including The Scotsman, The i, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, Suitcase, Tonic Magazine, Lodestars Anthology, Family Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller, Italia, The Times, JRNY magazine, and The Jewish Chronicle. I have contributed features to international publications Islands, Porthole Cruise & Travel, Luxury Travel, The Australian, The New Zealand Herald, and The Globe & Mail and have written features for the inflight magazines of Qantas, British Airways, Kenya Airways and Bangkok Airways.

I’ve been invited to do some podcasts over the last year (lovely ones with Family Traveller, Perks of Being a Booklover, and Take a Wander with Shebs if you’d like to listen, and coming up soon with JRNY mag and Formidable Over Forty).

My next book is underway also!

H&N Magazine Review:

What a great read! Kate very kindly sent me a copy of Shape of a Boy – My Family and Other Adventures and I could not put it down. Kate takes the reader through every emotion and if you have children, this will resonate deeply.

I so enjoyed travelling the world with Kate and her family through the pages of this book, and it’s one of those reads you will pick up time and again to re-read. In fact this book is now doing the rounds of family and friends. Big mistake! I think I need to get another copy!