14. I did what everyone tells you not to do (of course), and responded to the bad review. I’m still glad I did - tinyurl.com/yc6pe6ns
15. I got thoughtful reviews from other reviewers, readers, and generous, wonderful emails and DMs. THANK YOU!
16. I rested.
17. I lost some close friends, and felt baffled, again, that this kind of grief is so rarely acknowledged.
18. I made some new friends.
19. I became seven years sober.
6. I had 2,000 words of my writing in The Sunday Times, was an Editor’s Pick and revealed to the world that I live (platonically) with my two ex-husbands. It's only sexy because it's so fucking pragmatic.
7. I fulfilled a childhood dream and appeared in Smithsonian Magazine as part of a global feature on drystone walling.
8. I supported my daughter through her ongoing health struggles (see: bodies, admin, complaints).
9. I became an early riser, not a night owl. And I am being very smug about it.
10. I rested.
11. I let misanthropy in. This counts as growth because I only let it in a little. Not a lot.
12. I was shortlisted for the Anne Brown Essay Prize.
13. I got a really bad review from a well-known (in Scotland) male reviewer who seemed disappointed that I hadn’t written a different book, and that I wasn’t more likeable.
14. I did what everyone tells you not to do (of course), and responded to the bad review. I’m still glad I did - tinyurl.com/yc6pe6ns
15. I got thoughtful reviews from other reviewers, readers, and generous, wonderful emails and DMs. THANK YOU!
16. I rested.
17. I lost some close friends, and felt baffled, again, that this kind of grief is so rarely acknowledged.
18. I made some new friends.
19. I became seven years sober.
20. I deleted all social media and entertainment apps from my phone.
21. For the first time in two decades, I kept up my reading momentum for a whole year. I’m still going.
22. I realised how good I am at cutting in when painting. Truly. I don’t even use painter’s tape. OnlyFans pending.
23. I learned that I love doing book events, and that I’m good at them too. More in 2026.
24. I finally accepted that being disliked by others is sometimes the entry fee for liking yourself.
25. I rested
Strong list. Number 24 is inspirational.
