book club

I don’t know about you, but the one New Year’s Resolution I always seem to stick to is to read more. And for 2026, my resolution is no different. I adore reading because you can be so swept up by the words on the page that you are propelled into a completely fictitious world that can feel so real. Reading is not only educational, both academically and emotionally, but also an amusing and relaxing pastime. There is no genre I’m particularly infatuated with; I just really enjoy a good book. Which is, of course, entirely subjective, but that’s what makes discussing literature so thrilling! Everyone interprets stories uniquely, and I truly believe it’s important to discuss what we read as it offers a fresh perspective, which is the whole point of literature. Some may argue that the role of an author is how they can articulate a character’s emotional journey, even if we may not even remotely agree with what the protagonist does, the writer can help us understand why the protagonist did what they did, and sometimes really empathise.

I’ve already read some of my most anticipated books on my shelf for this year: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, and I look forward to reading the rest. Some of the ones I’m really looking forward to getting around to are The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra and The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. Anyway, in case some of you lovely readers of this blog are also avid lovers of fiction, I thought I’d share a list of my favourite books!

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

A beautiful short story that follows a lonely man dealing with his own emotional struggles and the pain that comes with unrequited love after he meets a woman devastated by her lover's leaving, but ultimately, they are reunited, and the man is left alone again. I’m normally quite a slow reader, but I was unable to put this book down. Dostoevsky is widely regarded for writing his stories in a way that makes you feel like you are right there with the characters, feeling the same emotions and experiencing their raw reactions as the story unfolds, and White Nights was no different.

Domincana by Angie Cruz

This novel follows Ana Canción, a fifteen-year-old girl married off to Juan Ruiz, who promises to take her and eventually her family to New York City. Initially, her arrival in the Big Apple is cold and gloomy, but a sudden change allows her to get a glimpse of a new life she could lead in America, until it all changes again, and she must choose between love and family. Ana’s story is a deeply tragic one; it ultimately explores the trials and tribulations immigrants from Latin America faced when coming to the USA in the 1960s and how she is finding her own voice and feet in the world in the shadow of her abusive husband and overbearing family. I loved this book because you easily grow to love and care for Ana, not just because it’s written entirely from her perspective, but because of her nature. I don’t know about you, but if you’ve read it, I felt as if I was there with her. Like when she starts to find her feet in New York, I had such a wide grin across my face, but also even in the darker parts of the story, like her wedding night with Juan, I was so close to tears.

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

This was my favourite read of 2025. Undoubtedly so. Ironically, Giovanni’s Room is mentioned throughout this book, which was another one of my favourite reads from last year, and it’s clear to see how Jedrowski’s novel was influenced by James Baldwin’s writing. This is, in a way, a very classic coming-of-age novel. It ultimately follows Ludwik, a post-graduate navigating city life, but one who also gets wrapped up in politics and a tragic, forbidden romance. Similar to Giovanni’s Room, Swimming in the Dark explores shame and arguably unrequited love. How much is one willing to give up for the one they love?

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

This book is funny. Dark, but heartwarming and unequivocally honest, yet funny. Espach’s protagonist, Phoebe, has a witty and very sweet attitude, and she is incredibly relatable, which is what makes this novel so beloved and warm. It feels as if any reader could see even a little bit of themselves in Phoebe. The rest of the characters are also fleshed out and feel real. As Espach reveals new characters, we learn who they are, just as Phoebe does. Also, the setting is painted as clear as a photograph in the reader’s mind. This luxury, boutique hotel on the East Coast is undeniably perfect for a wedding location… and maybe for some, the reason Phoebe goes…

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

Never has a book left me with such a sense of melancholy. It’s painful because from the very first few pages, you figure out a sense of what’s happened and what’s gone wrong, yet you hope for the rest of the novel that somehow it will get better. It does not. Baldwin is one of my favourite authors of all time, my second favourite to Giovanni’s Room being If Beale Street Could Talk, and I find that he always manages to pinpoint the exact emotion anyone would feel if they were in his characters’ shoes and articulate a description of people, places and situations so creatively and clearly. Giovanni’s Room is written in the first-person and honestly feels like rereading your own diary; everything is so vivid and raw, and every time the protagonist finally confronts his own feelings, which are not always easy to relate to and sometimes very complex, Baldwin manages to put even the most difficult thoughts into such an understandable manner. However, this talent Baldwin possesses of being able to communicate any emotion and scene so succinctly and beautifully does leave you heartbroken once you’ve turned the final page. In Giovanni’s Room, Baldwin explores shame, forbidden love, and essentially investigates how much you’re willing to give up for the person you love. Whether you’re willing to live in secret to have each other, or force one another to suppress feelings to be free to live a “normal life”?

I do hope you enjoyed my little summaries, where I had to practically gnaw my hand off so I wouldn’t give away spoilers. I love reading, as you can see, and hope you enjoyed this kind of post. Next, I will discuss my latest reads and what I plan to read next <33