---
title: "Watch – Books that had me hooked from the first page"
description: "Joy Watson, Daily Maverick’s Book Editor-at-Large, shares five unputdownable reads that are perfect for getting lost in, escaping, and discovering stories you won’t forget."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "VIDEO"
author: "Joy Watson"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/joy-watson/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-12-18-watch-books-that-had-me-hooked-from-the-first-page/"
published: "2025-12-18T14:14:32"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 42
---

# Watch – Books that had me hooked from the first page

> Joy Watson, Daily Maverick’s Book Editor-at-Large, shares five unputdownable reads that are perfect for getting lost in, escaping, and discovering stories you won’t forget.

By Joy Watson · Published 18 December 2025, 16:14 SAST

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kZAs0kCxUs)

Selection by: Joy Watson
Edited by: Anda Tolibadi
Filmed by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade
Creative Lead: Malibongwe Tyilo
Sub-edited by: Kevin Flynn

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