The literary legend Jane Austen herself once said “there is no enjoyment like reading”, albeit through the disingenuous mouth of Pride and Prejudice’s Caroline Bingley. In our opinion, though, never has a truer word been spoken.

To start with, entering a new world by way of its pages is a beautiful form of escapism. And when we’re feeling stressed or lonely, wrapping ourselves inside a story can be endlessly comforting. But there’s plenty of other benefits, too.

From improving memory and imagination to reducing stress and helping us sleep, there’s lots of reasons to pick up a book. Which is why, you might say, so many of us count ‘reading more’ as one of our goals for the new year - something which we have the perfect tactic for helping you succeed in.

These book subscriptions aren’t just a monthly treat: they also support female authors