January, February & March 2025 Books

What I've been reading...

One of the greatest joys of reading is that it is both solitary and communal. We turn the pages alone, caught in the quiet magic of a story or the challenge of an idea or feeling the book gives us, but when we emerge, we bring those experiences to each other. This book club has become a space where the stories can transform through our conversations, perspectives, and debates, I often find myself feeling completely differently towards a book after our insightful discussions. I am endlessly grateful for this community, for the way we come together to celebrate something we all love so much - reading.

As we move through the year, I find myself reflecting on everything I’ve read so far. Some have been wonderful, others challenging, a few deeply frustrating, but each one has contributed to an ongoing dialogue, both within myself and among all of you. In this post, I’ll be sharing a review of everything I’ve read so far in 2024. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, because, as always, the best part of reading is sharing it. Let’s jump into the reviews.

1984 by George Orwell ⭐️⭐️⭐️

We follow Winston Smith, a man living under the rule of the Party in a totalitarian future where every aspect of life is controlled and watched by Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to rewrite history to fit the Party’s narrative. But as he begins to question the world around him, he becomes involved in a dangerous rebellion.

I know, I know—1984 is the original dystopian novel, the inspiration for so many books and films that came after it. And I completely see why it’s so important. The ideas Orwell explores - Big Brother, thoughtcrime, a society stripped of free will - are chillingly relevant, and I found myself highlighting so many passages. However, I just didn’t enjoy reading it. The story itself felt bleak in a way that didn’t grip me, and I struggled to connect with the characters. I appreciate its significance, but for me, it was more thought-provoking than truly engaging. This was our January book club pick and I really enjoyed our discussion (which was over Zoom), I am glad I read it, purely because it’s a classic and our meeting deepened my understanding of it.

Love Story by Erich Segal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This classic romance follows Oliver, a wealthy Harvard student, and Jenny, an intelligent music student from a working-class background. As they navigate their coming from different worlds, their love is tested by family expectations, financial struggles, and tragic illness.

This book holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of the first "grown up" novels I encountered as a teenager, having sneakily borrowed it from my mum's bookshelf. It was also the first book to make me cry. I was so excited to revisit it with all of you, more than two decades later, for our Valentine’s special book club pick in partnership with Sezane. Love Story is simple, heartfelt, and completely devastating. It’s a book that wears its emotions on its sleeve. Oliver and Jenny’s relationship feels so effortless and real, with dialogue that’s sharp, witty, and full of warmth. I loved how it wasn’t trying to be overly complicated, it’s just a beautifully told love story that sweeps you up and breaks your heart. I devoured it in one sitting and felt very emotional by the end. A classic romance for a reason. Our in-person book club chat about this one was such a special evening, 20 of you came to the Sezane store in Notting Hill and we sat around a big table, drank wine and ate delicious canapés, I could have chatted for hours more. I always love seeing how different people connect with a book, and this discussion was proof that just two hours of conversation can completely change your perspective. Someone came in feeling a bit “meh” about it, but by the end, after hearing everyone’s thoughts and unpacking the layers, they left saying they had changed their mind and now feel a lot of love for it.

Hot Milk by Deborah Levy ⭐️⭐️⭐️

We follow Sofia, who has traveled with her mother, Rose, to a coastal town in Spain in search of a cure for Rose’s mysterious, shifting illnesses. As Sofia navigates the oppressive heat, a questionable doctor, and her mother’s suffocating presence, she finds herself drifting through a surreal and unsettling summer.

Hot Milk had some stunning, lyrical moments, but the pacing dragged for such a short book. While poignant at times, the unlikeable characters made it hard to fully enjoy, and I found myself feeling a little detached from the story. That said, Levy captures the complexities of family dynamics in such a clever, almost hypnotic way - there’s a dreamlike quality to her writing. It’s the kind of book that seeps into your thoughts long after finishing, even if it didn’t completely grip me in the moment, even writing this now, I am thinking should I have given it 4 stars?! I’m torn on how to rate it -beautiful prose, but not one I’d rush to recommend. I would however like to read more of her work.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While on a flight, a woman who becomes known as the Death Lady, suddenly starts walking through the plane predicting the age and cause of death for every passenger. As the story unfolds, we follow all the characters as they navigate life in the months following their death predictions.

I tend to read one of Moriarty’s books every couple of years, and they always feel like a bit of a guilty pleasure / beach read – the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. This novel was no exception. I read it quickly, it’s a true page-turner with unexpected twists that kept me hooked until the very end. While the book deals with heavy themes of life and death, it also offers a poignant reflection on the fragile nature of existence, making you think deeply about the moments that define us. I shed a little tear at the end, which surprised me, considering I initially thought it would be a light read. I would really recommend this one if you are after a quick read!

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, sisters Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky Blue reunite in New York City to clear out their family apartment on the first anniversary of their sister Nicky’s death. The novel explores sisterhood, grief, and addiction.

I couldn’t put this book down, I felt so engaged in the story and in the sisters lives and relationships with each other. I read Cleopatra and Frankenstein (I think last year??), which I enjoyed, but this was even better. The sisters’ shared history has its troubles with love, resentment, and unresolved trauma, making their reunion both problematic and emotional. The writing is sharp and immersive, capturing the complexities of sibling relationships - the way they wound, heal, and ultimately hold each other up. Despite its heavy themes, I found this book to be warm, funny at times and hopeful. I love character-driven storytelling and I think Mellors does it brilliantly. A poignant and beautifully written novel, I would highly recommend, especially if you have sisters.

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in 412 BC Syracuse, Glorious Exploits follows two potters, Lampo and Gelon, who decide to stage Euripides' Medea using captured Athenian soldiers as actors.

This was our March book club pick and I was so relieved when during our Zoom discussion, I realised that lots of you gave it 3 stars too. It’s such a unique premise and there were definitely parts I really enjoyed, particularly some beautiful prose, however I never found myself wanting to pick this one up and felt let down by the fact so many reviews claimed it to be hilarious and I didn’t laugh once. Lennon captured the chaotic atmosphere of ancient Syracuse amazingly and I did feel really immersed in the world, however, the modern Irish vernacular used by the characters, was a bit jarring and I found the book to just be missing something, although I can’t put my finger on what exactly.

Despite everything I’ve said, I do think Glorious Exploits provides an intriguing exploration of the power and the importance of art and storytelling. And while it didn't fully captivate me, certain scenes linger in my thoughts - it’s a bit like Hot Milk this one, difficult to review and rate.

James by Percival Everett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In James, Percival Everett takes a fresh and deeply moving perspective on a classic American tale, Huckleberry Finn. The novel follows Jim, an enslaved man who is on the run to save himself and his family. Meanwhile, a young boy, Huck, has faked his own death to escape his violent father who recently returned to town. They go on a journey together along the Mississippi River, towards the elusive promise of the free states and beyond.

Oh my goodness, I just loved this book so much. Sometimes I ponder for a while over how to rate a novel on Goodreads, but this was unquestionably 5 stars. Although it’s a reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, you don't need to have read it to enjoy this. However, I now really want to read Huckleberry Finn, as I am sure it would deepen my appreciation for James based on what I have read in other reviews from people who’ve read both. James is profound, exploring identity, race, freedom and much more. Everett's writing is lyrical and gripping, and I loved the quiet intensity of this book, which really made me reflect on humanity. All the descriptions were so vivid, I felt as if I was watching a film whilst reading this one and just couldn’t put it down. It’s an unforgettable and necessary read, if you choose one book from this post to read, please make it this one.

Let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading recently and don’t forget to use the ‘chat’ section of this Substack to talk all things books!

Lots of love,

Tanya xx