The bonkers thing about this post is that I’m already working on the next – I got gift cards for Christmas, still had birthday money left over, and I’m interviewing again. This list is all gifts and gift cards.

Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀: Stay With Me – I have wanted this (hardback) book since the early days of its publication. I very much remember being in the formally older of my city’s two Waterstones (Waterstones Above Bar, sadly suffered an arson attack and didn’t return), looking at this book, Polly Clark’s Larchfield, and Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry Of Utmost Happiness, wanting all three, but I ended up only buying the latter two. I later regretted not buying all three but put off buying the Adébáyọ̀ because I thought there would be time still to purchase it. Reader, there wasn’t. And so I’ve made some time the past couple of years to look for one. This copy I’ve bought isn’t quite in perfect nick as described, but it was £5 so that’s fine. I made a very brief TikTok to celebrate. (It didn’t do very well – BookTok isn’t reading literary fiction from 2017 at the moment…)

Alex Hay’s Housekeepers – Yes, I have already got a copy of this book and have reviewed it and interviewed the author twice. But I have the ARC and, as much as I love it (thank you, Caitlin), I re-read it enough (AnAn enjoyed it), and the hardback is different enough, that I wanted the published copy. It’s got a Cluedo-esque blueprint of the fictional house in bright neon pink and white and it’s fantastic.

Flora Carr: The Tower – I think I first found out about Carr on Instagram and was instantly taken by her book because it’s part of my most favourite period to study. I expect much from the contents. And look at that gorgeous colour!

Hannah Kaner: Godkiller – This is a continuation of my making a firm effort to get back into fantasy because I don’t read enough of it. Also, it’s very popular and everything I’ve heard about it sounds like there’s good reason it’s popular.

Jennifer Saint: Hera – I’ve read two out of Saint’s prior three and have the third on my shelves ready. She’s an exceptional writer.

Travis Baldree: Bookshops and Bonedust – My friend introduced me to this book; she hadn’t read it, but as the person who got me into TikTok, she knows a lot about what’s hot over there (way more than me).

If it’s not obvious already, I can’t wait to read all five of these new books and am happy to have the Hay in hardback.

A few more books here since the last, recent, post – it’s my birthday month.

Aliya Ali-Afzal: The Big Day – Tasneem Abdur-Rashid featured this book on her Instagram and the premise was it; I put it on my list.

Ashley Poston: The Seven Year Slip – When I was more active on TikTok earlier this year, this book was doing the rounds and the time travel aspect and nod to Marilyn Monroe’s film were enough for me.

Christina Courtenay: The Runes Of Destiny – The second book in Courtnay’s series of Viking time travels, I read this book a few years ago in ebook and very much wanted the series in hard copy. I’m yet to read books 3-5, I hope to do so soon.

Natalie Jenner: Austen At Sea – From the author for review; the book is out in May. This book sees a cast of characters including Louisa May Alcott travelling across the Pond and discussing Austen; the two main characters, who, if I recall correctly, are fictional, are travelling to meet Sir Francis Austen for a purpose they do not yet know. I have high hopes for this book and I have a feeling Jenner will meet them. This book is the exact sort of thing she does very well.

Nydia Hetherington: Sycorax – From the publisher for podcasting purposes, this is a retelling/expansion on the story of Sycorax from Shakespeare. The Tempest is probably my favourite of the Shakespeare plays I have studied or seen so I’m very much looking forward to reading it and also talking to the author about it.

Phoebe McIntosh: Dominoes – I originally put this book on my TBR after reading Andrew Blackman’s review. Then I got the ebook on Netgalley, but couldn’t read the format. This hard copy was a surprise to me – I had forgotten I had added it to a wishlist but I’m very glad to have it now.

I’m looking forward to working some of these into my reading list soon; the Hetherington has a time set, effectively, but the others don’t. That said, I’m very likely to re-read the Courtenay because I enjoyed it so much – it has time travel one way and then both characters go to the future which I absolutely love.

I believe the existence and make-up of this list says three true things: I’m reading more; I spend a bit of time on TikTok (and I’m putting more priority on fantasy which has been a long time coming); I’m blogging again.

Alex Hay: The Queen Of Fives – Out on 30th January, thus from the publisher, this is Hay’s second novel. The first, last year’s The Housekeepers, was a perfectly-paced Edwardian heist taking place over 24 hours, this second is a Victorian con taking place over five days. At the time of writing this I am a few chapters in and it’s not going to disappoint.

Lee Seong-bok: Indeterminate Inflorescence – For review, out on 14th of this month, this small book is ‘a collection of meditations on poetry, art and life, taken from the creative writing lectures of one of South Korea’s most prominent living poets’. I reckon I’ll be taking a lot of notes.

Orlando Ortega-Medina: Emerald Road – From the author for review (out 14th January), this is a follow up slash prequel to Ortega-Medina’s previous novel, The Fitful Sleep Of Immigrants, which was a slightly/semi autobiographical novel. I noted at the time that the winning character of the book was Issac, loosely based on the author’s partner and was delighted to find out that Orlando was writing a prequel about Issac. This looks at Issac’s journey as an El Salvadorian during war and the events that led to his immigration to the US.

Rebecca Yarros: Iron Flame – If you told me last year, after I was struggling through my first TikTok-famed romantasy, that I was going to adore my second one, I may not have believed you – I try my best not to go along with hype. Well, Fourth Wing may not be the most amazing novel ever written but it’s pretty darn marvellous regardless. I need the second book in my life and don’t be surprised if I’ve book three in January when it is published!

Saara El-Arifi: Faebound – I’ve been kind of circling around El-Arifi’s work ever since she debuted and in my quest to read more of one of my favourite genres, I’ve gone and got this book.

Sue Lynn Tan: Heart Of The Sun Warrior – I’ve Daughter Of The Moon Goddess soon to be put on my new non-podcast reading list once I’ve finished the first ten books. I was also very aware that it was becoming difficult to get the hardback of book two to match the first, so I went for it.

It goes without saying, really, but I’m excited about the above very much.

This list isn’t exhausted; I’ve chosen to exclude books that I’ve reviewed and some I’ve posted about on Instagram – this post is an edited version of the books that have entered my life since April.

Chloe C Peñaranda: The Stars Are Dying – From the publisher for interview. This has a The Hunger Games-esque aspect to it with vampires, a romantasy with darkness. I’m very much looking forward to giving it a read.

Edward Carey: Edith Holler – From the publisher for interview. I’ve previously read Carey’s B: A Year In Plagues And Pencils and enjoyed his style (I’ve also a copy of his Madame Tussaud novel, Little, I really should read some time…)

Gill Paul: Scandalous Women – This is with much thanks to Gill Paul who gave me a copy of her book. It’s out in the UK now and looks at the work and rivalry of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann. I have high hopes for this book.

Kaliane Bradley: The Ministry Of Time – I saw this book in a bookshop. No idea what it was about. I definitely have a thing for very plain covers with fonts that have been jazzed up. I now know that it’s about Arctic exploration and potentially some time travel.

Kristin Harmel: The Paris Daughter – Harmel’s latest book has been much lauded and I did love The Forest Of Vanishing Stars.

Kristy Woodson Harvey: A Happier Life – Woodson Harvey’s latest; I said in a TikTok video, and probably also on this blog, that since reading The Summer Of Songbirds I would be reading more Woodson Harvey. My second read, The Wedding Veil, confirmed it.

Sue Lynn Tan: Daughter Of The Moon Goddess – I first saw Tan’s book on Amazon and didn’t realise she was big on BookTok, at least it sounds like she was before I saw any videos.

Susan Stokes Chapman: The Shadow Key – I wanted to read Pandora back when it was released and never got around to it (and don’t have a copy either). I thought I’d get ahead of my inevitable desire for her second novel and buy a copy early.

Tan Twan Eng: The House Of Doors – Years ago I stayed at a monastery for a week (they had a guest house) and the bookshelf in the common room had a copy of The Garden Of Evening Mists. I kept meaning to pick it up and see what it was about, but didn’t. And then every now and then I’d remember it and knew I had too many books to read to consider it. Like with Susan Stokes Chapman, when this newer book was released I made a decision.

Toshikazu Kawaguchi: Before We Say Goodbye – My friend bought a copy of Before The Coffee Gets Cold a while back, and told me of Kawaguchi’s fame. I’ve suggested we read each of our books at the same time and compare as much as is possible.

Zadie Smith: The Fraud – I don’t believe this requires a comment!

I’m currently reading both Edith Holler and Scandalous Women, and The Stars Are Dying will follow as soon as one of those ‘slots’ is up for grabs. I’ve currently a podcast TBR and a not-podcast TBR to work with and that’s proving fairly manageable so far; I’ve been actively using the idea for a month or so after a few months of thinking about it.

Tell me about your latest books!

Another reason for excitement last month: I started getting myself back into the swing of things in regards to new books. I went to Netgalley to look up the details of Lisa See’s Lady Tan’s Circle Of Women and picked up a ‘read now’ book; I responded to an email; I bought a few of the books I had come across on my various quick looks at news during the last couple of years.

There’s a book left off this list – Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights. I accounted for it last week… and I may have forgotten to add it to the stack when taking the above photo. (For transparency’s sake I will note the image above is a composite as I have the books at the sides in ebook format.)

Amanda Prowse: All Good Things – This is the ‘read now’ book, which I chose because of a slightly-relatable fact: at least until a few years ago, Amanda Prowse was one of the few big authors to visit Southampton for a signing, and this made me make a note to read one of her books one day. As we all know, putting an author on your to-be-read, especially without naming a book, is a sure-fire way to ensure you remember them only sporadically. I saw the book, I remembered, and I’m doing it now. This is effectively from the publisher for review.

Daisy Harrop has always felt like she exists in the background, and since her mother stopped getting out of bed, her life has come to a complete standstill. Daisy would give anything to leave the shabbiest house on the street and be more like the golden Kelleways next door, with their perfectly raked driveway and flourishing rose garden…

Winnie Kelleway is proud of the beautiful family she’s built. They’ve had their ups and downs – hasn’t everyone? But this weekend, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary is truly proof of their happiness, a joyful gathering for all the neighbours to see.

But as the festivities get underway, are the cracks in the ‘perfect’ Kelleway life beginning to show? As one bombshell revelation leads to another and events start to spiral out of control, Daisy and Winnie are about to discover that things aren’t always what they seem.

Brit Bennett: The Vanishing Half – I have read a little about Brit Bennett; she’s a name I’ve seen around a lot, and I could do with becoming reacquainted with prize shortlists again, in this case the Women’s Prize for Fiction. (This book won the GoodReads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction in 2020.)

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?

Orlando Ortega-Medina: The Fitful Sleep Of Immigrants – This will be the fourth book by the author I’ve read, and it’s his third novel. I have read it, and would say it’s the most accessible of his books yet; the others are all excellent but this one has more mainstream appeal. From the author for review.

Attorney Marc Mendes, the estranged son of a prominent rabbi and a burned-out lawyer with addiction issues, plots his exit from the big city to a more peaceful life in idyllic Napa Valley. But before he can realize his dream, the US government summons his Salvadoran life-partner Isaac Perez to immigration court, threatening him with deportation.

As Marc battles to save Isaac, his world is further upended by a dark and alluring client, who aims to tempt him away from his messy life. Torn between his commitment to Isaac and the pain-numbing escapism offered by his client, Marc is forced to choose between the lesser of two evils while confronting his twin demons of past addiction and guilt over the death of his first lover.

Peng Shepherd: The Cartographers – I came across the author and fell in love with the cover of this book (I’ll note it was the US edition, which has a library on it) and simply kept it in mind. It’s time.

Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.

But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable and exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence… because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one – along with anyone who gets in the way.

But why?

To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret and discovers the true power that lies in maps…

Raven Leilani: Luster – For a while, I was seeing Leilani’s name everywhere and The Guardian in particular seemed rather taken with her work so while I was away from books and reading I noted her name down for when I was back.

Edie is just trying to survive. She’s messing up in her dead-end admin job in her all-white office, is sleeping with all the wrong men, and has failed at the only thing that meant anything to her, painting. No one seems to care that she doesn’t really know what she’s doing with her life beyond looking for her next hook-up. And then she meets Eric, a white middle-aged archivist with a suburban family, including a wife who has sort-of-agreed to an open marriage and an adopted black daughter who doesn’t have a single person in her life who can show her how to do her hair. As if navigating the constantly shifting landscape of sexual and racial politics as a young black woman wasn’t already hard enough, with nowhere else left to go, Edie finds herself falling head-first into Eric’s home and family.

Warsan Shire: Bless The Daughter Raised By A Voice In Her Head – A couple of weeks ago I read about the line-up for this year’s Dylan Thomas Prize, was happy to see poetry included, and got Shire’s collection very soon after. Award-nominated, current, poetry, and a new-to-me poet? Yes please.

With her first full-length poetry collection, Warsan Shire introduces us to a young girl, who, in the absence of a nurturing guide, makes her own stumbling way towards womanhood. Drawing from her own life and the lives of loved ones, as well as pop culture and news headlines, Shire finds vivid, unique details in the experiences of refugees and immigrants, mothers and daughters, Black women, and teenage girls. In Shire’s hands, lives spring into fullness. This is noisy life: full of music and weeping and surahs and sirens and birds. This is fragrant life: full of blood and perfume and shisha smoke and jasmine and incense. This is polychrome life: full of henna and moonlight and lipstick and turmeric and kohl.

What books have you bought/borrowed/acquired recently?