Charlie Mackesy Claims Christmas No. 1 with "Always Remember"

Charlie Mackesy has achieved the coveted Christmas No. 1 spot in the UK literary market with his new book, *Always Remember*. This illustrated fable, subtitled *The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm*, follows the adventures of four friends as they navigate both literal and metaphorical storms. The book sold 43,825 copies in the week leading up to December 20, 2025, translating to a sale approximately every 14 seconds, according to NielsenIQ BookData. Since its release in October, *Always Remember* has sold a total of 365,000 copies, averaging one sale every 17 seconds.

The Guardian

This marks Mackesy’s first time reaching the No. 1 position, having narrowly missed it in 2019 when his previous work, *The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse*, was surpassed by David Walliams’ *The Beast of Buckingham Palace*. Walliams has since faced controversy, as his publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him following allegations of inappropriate behavior, which he denies.

The Guardian

Mackesy’s *Always Remember* outperformed other notable titles in the Christmas sales rankings. Richard Osman’s *The Impossible Fortune*, the fifth installment in the Thursday Murder Club series, secured the second position with 35,271 copies sold last week and a total of 457,000 sales for the year. Other titles in the top ten include *Guinness World Records 2026*, *The 1% Club Official Quiz Book 1 and 2*, and *Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper*.

The Guardian

The UK book market saw consumers spend £85.1 million on printed books last week, reflecting an 18.1% increase compared to the previous week, although this figure is down 4.4% from the same week last year. *Always Remember* also topped the sales charts in Ireland, indicating its widespread appeal.

The Guardian

While Mackesy’s work has been celebrated, the literary landscape remains competitive and critical. The success of *Always Remember* comes amidst a backdrop of changing consumer preferences and the ongoing impact of controversies surrounding other authors, such as Walliams.

The Guardian

• “1m on printed books in the UK last week.” — NielsenIQ BookData

The Guardian

Mackesy’s *Always Remember* not only highlights his artistic talent but also reflects current trends in the publishing industry, as it navigates both competition and controversy.

The Guardian