January Reading Wrap Up | 2025

Ooh he’s had a right time uploading this. Anyway, here’s me chatting about the books I read (and DNF’d) in January. #readingwrapup #wrapup #booktube

Channels Mentioned

@benreadsgood
@BooksandLala

Books Mentioned…

Dusk by Robbie Arnott
Midnight Beastiaries by Andre Bagoo
Giant by Mollie Ray
She’s Always Hungry by Eliza Clark
I Remain in Darkness by Annie Erneaux
365 Poems for Life by Allie Esiri
The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead
Sweat by Emma Healey
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
Astrea by Kate Kruimink
Brandy Sour by Constantia Soteriou
A Room Above A Shop by Anthony Shapland
Dim Sum Palace by X Fang
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Piglet by Lottie Hazell
Lie With Me by Philippe Besson

Me Elsewhere…

[aiscahill]

Simon: “this book made me cry twice”
Me: immediately adds it to wish list

[janepeacock]

Fingersmith is one of my favourite books ever 🤓👏🏻📖💛

[carolewatson]

So glad you loved Fingersmith! BEst twist ever

[sylandbooks]

I am not a big fan of child narrator either but honestly Demon Copperhead has my heart now 😍

[antineah]

Don’t give up on the Whitehead! It has stuck with me over the years. Astrea sounds intriguing, I also loved IWHNKM, so must add to huge pile of tbr!! Dim sum, oh dear, sounds perfect… Love Sarah Waters, beautiful writing.

[sbeale]

All I’ll say is the list of suspicious things made me weep. It had such a nostalgic feel to it and i can’t wait to see what this author does next too. Dusk is on my to be brought list at some point! 😊

[Glgj]

I need to stop watching your videos my TBR is getting so long!
Loved the Tipping the Velvet adaptation shoutout, I watched it when I was newly out and desperate to consume everything I could, and its so brilliant.

[wren]

i feel the exact same way about the sea!

[bibliobelle]

I read Brandy Sour recently too and really enjoyed it. I’m half Greek Cypriot so it was very special to me - I took lots of notes and researched the less well-known people she references in the stories which was interesting.

[cindyhaiken]

A black and white sped up combo! Be still my heart! Every time you talk about Dusk, it only makes me want to read it more. And shame on me for not having read List of Suspicious Things yet!

[pampam]

I’m so glad you enjoyed Fingersmith - only novel I’ve ever gasped out loud at!

[Rosiemayj]

Love your list, adding a few more books to my ever growing TBR, and also trying to keep reading space for the Women's Prize NF longlist!

[libraryofallie]

I read my first Annie Ernaux book last year for the Read Good Challenge and it was amazing . I loved The Years! Am hoping to get to more of her work. Lovely wrap up with many books added to my list! Xxx

[karenmoore]

Hi Simon thanks for the Women’s Prize interview with Sarah Waters. I have bought Affinity recently and will get to it soon. I picked up Black Wood Blue Sky at the library today.

[emte]

The first Annie Ernaux book I ever read was Happening and it was so blunt and real I ended up reading 4 other books by her in a row (A Man's Place, A Frozen Woman, Cleaned Out, Shame). Her writing just hooks you

[alexander-de]

I have read German translation of the Philippe Besson novel and have no distinct memories of the omission of the word. The English translation is on my tbr. Loved the movie as well - it’s what made me discover the book in the first place. Happy February and congratulations on getting through January!

[fozzymup]

Lots of great books there Simon, more on my list! For Savidge Prompts January, I read I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. Best Wishes 💕

[caitlind]

You definitely need to watch The Handmaiden (the Korean movie adaption of Fingersmith). It's so good!

[susprime]

Stephen King writes child narrators well. Demon Copperhead is now my favorite read in a very long time, a great child narrator. Those doughnuts look great on the Piglet cover, sounds an interesting read, wish I had a 🍩.

[sonjatonnesen]

Uuuuh, just Got Fingersmith for my winterholiday and now I really really really can`t wait to read it!😅