Monthly Wrap Up – January 2021

Hello everyone! Welcome to my first wrap up of 2021! I spent most of the month trying to get on top of my ARCs and blog tours which I’ve nearly done so then I can start to make a dent in my physical TBR pile! Also this month I set up a small, private, Discord server so if I have any mutuals interested in joining please DM me on Twitter!

Books read this month

This month I read a total of 10 books (4 physical and 6 ebooks)

1. The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell (ARC / Blog Tour)
2. Fable by Adrienne Young (ARC)
3. Now You’re One of Us by Asa Nonami
4. Gratitude by Delphine de Vigan (Publisher sent)
5. The Invitation by Katie Webster (ARC / Blog Tour)
6. A Burning by Megha Majumdar (ARC) 
7. Crow Court by Andy Charman (ARC / Blog Tour) 
8. Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford (ARC)
9. Of Magpies and Men by Ode Ray (ARC) 
10. Pine by Francine Toon

Favourite books read this month

The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell
Not only was this my first read of the year but it was also my first five star read of the year too! I loved the way Purcell crafted such a tense and mysterious atmosphere. It felt like a perfect marriage of contemporary fiction and classic gothic fiction. I was fascinated by how different all the characters were and I loved all the dark twists and turns this story took. 

Now You’re One of Us by Asa Nonami
My first Japanese fiction of the year was very dark and slightly disturbing… and I loved it. The entire novel was unsettling and it keeps you on edge as the mystery slowly unravels on the creepy family that Noriko has married into, which stays with you long after you’ve finished the book.

Gratitude by Delphine de Vigan
This was my first book mail of 2021 and I’m so grateful this was sent to me by Bloomsbury as otherwise I may have missed this one all together! Gratitude is a lovely, bittersweet, novella which has a lot of heart and contains a very important message – one that is vital to remember, especially after the events of the past year.

A Burning by Megha Majumdar
A Burning is another powerful novel which highlights the injustices that occur in India, especially against young women and Muslims. The three characters that this novel focuses on are so fascinating to read and you genuinely can’t help but feel strongly (either positively or negatively) about them. This is a novel that I urge you to read as it will open your eyes.

How did your January go? Was it a good start to 2021? Let me know in the comments!