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Books in January - Book recommendations
- The Little Bookshop
- Jan 3
- 7 min read
Happy New Year, Book Dragons! ✨ We hope you had a wonderful time with your beloved ones! We also hope you had a lot of time to read the books in your TBR because gosh, there are some great ones coming out this month!
Fantasy/Thriller/Sci-fi adults
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (15 January)
Because like always... this one was already on my list ^^
Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister’s lavish Caribbean wedding, she’s unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It’s a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots...
The Pass by Katriona Chapman (20 January)
Because we love graphic novels!
In her early thirties, Claudia is fast becoming a sensation on the culinary scene. In the midst of putting her chic London restaurant, Alley, on the map, she decides to enter the upcoming Chef of the Year competition. All this, as she is also attempting to make a name for herself beyond the shadow of her famous chef father. As the day of the competition nears, tensions simmer as the pressures of ambition, business, family, and friendship threaten to throw her world awry.
A Thousand Blues by Cheon Seon-ran (22 January)
Because this sounds great...
2035: In the shadow of a race course, two sisters grow up, helping their mother at their local canteen that serves renowned ramen. Family life is fractious especially when one of them loses their day-job to a humanoid. What makes the sisters' hearts sing is their friendship with Today, a nationally famous racehorse. But Today is now heading for the knackers' yard - she has been pushed too hard. With the help of a malfunctioning robot, the sisters hatch a special plan for the horse to compete in another race. Because it is only when she is running that she is truly happy. But it will be no ordinary race- they will train her to run the slowest time of her life. As Today runs, she is tempted to go too fast - her joints begin to break. In the final moments, to save their horse, one of them will commit the bravest act of their life.
The Good Patient by Nilesha Chauvet (29 January)
Because it's always thriller time!
Two patients are fighting for their lives. Nina, the hospital nurse, reads their notes:
Leroy: stab wound, gang member, police escort.
Dev: stomach pain, artist, distraught mother.
Nina is meant to treat all her patients equally: not to pick favourites, and not to judge. Except tonight, understaffed and overstretched, both patients need her. She makes a split-second choice - and leaves one man to die. And that's when she realises that on this busy hospital ward, no-one is exactly what they seem.
YA Books
Gaslit by Megan Davidhizar (1 January)
Because I loved her first book!
As Ella tries to recover from the tragic accident, deadly lies begin to seep through the cracks of the investigation, and Ella’s side effects escalate. She’ll soon discover the gas leak might not have been an accident after all—and that someone might be out to kill her next. But when she arrives at the house, she immediately knows something is wrong. The lights are off and the door is wide open. But it’s the creeping smell coming from the house that warns Ella of the real danger inside: a gas leak. In a panic, Ella charges into the house and calls 911. Her aunt and cousins lie unconscious on the floor—and Ella can’t rescue them all. Ella was supposed to have fun night with her friends until a crippling headache tied to a recent diagnosis cancels her plans and leaves her babysitting her cousin instead.
Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee & Shannon Lee (15 January)
Because to change a bit, this one is about martial arts...
Sixteen-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Heaven to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s pride—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother. But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. He believes there is no future in Jun honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin. Determined to be the next Guardian, Jun stows away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital where the tournament will take place. As Jun competes, he quickly realizes he may be fighting for not just a better life, but the fate of the country itself and the very survival of everyone he cares about.
The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar by Sonora Reyes (15 January)
Because queer...
Seventeen-year-old Cesar Flores is finally ready to win back his ex-boyfriend. Since breaking up with Jamal in a last-ditch effort to stay in the closet, he’s come out to Mami, his sister, Yami, and their friends, taken his meds faithfully, and gotten his therapist’s blessing to reunite with Jamal. Everything would be perfect if it weren’t for The Thoughts—the ones that won’t let all his Catholic guilt and internalizations stay buried where he wants them. The louder they become, the more Cesar is once again convinced that he doesn't deserve someone like Jamal—or anyone really. Cesar can hide a fair amount of shame behind jokes and his “gifted” reputation, but when a manic episode makes his inner turmoil impossible to hide, he’s faced with a stark choice: burn every bridge he has left or, worse—ask for help. But is the mortifying vulnerability of being loved by the people he’s hurt the most a risk he’s willing to take?
Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones (29 January)
Because tarot inspired fantasy graphic novel...
James, Daphne, Koko, and Sonny have all grown up surrounded by magic in the Arcana, an organization of witches that protects the magical world, run by the mysterious and secretive Majors. Eli Jones, however, didn’t even know other witches existed... until he stumbled into James. As James introduces Eli to the world of the Arcana, he finds the family he never had, and a blossoming romance with James. The five new friends soon realize that sinister things are afoot and everything may not be what it seems at the Arcana. When the group delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the deaths of their parents and the Major’s rise to power, they discover that they’re at the center of a curse - one they’ve just unwittingly set into motion. As the friends search for answers, they’ll have to confront the cursed legacy that links them in hopes of freeing their futures.
Children’s Books
The Really Beautiful Thing by Frances Tosdevin (1 January)
Because this squirrel looks so cute and wonderful messages as well!
Squirrel is prepared to sell everything he has for The Really Beautiful Thing, but at what cost? A cautionary tale with a heartwarming ending about the force of greed and the power of friendship and family. Squirrel isn’t sure what The Really Beautiful Thing is – or even what it does – all he knows is that he wants it. When he can’t afford the price, he sells his comfy sofa, his fridge full of food, and even the house he shared with his friends.
The Mythmakers by Tamzin Merchant (8 January)
Because of legends!
Gwyn has never wanted to act like a lady. She much prefers fighting with her wooden sword to weaving intricate tapestries. When her father takes her to join the royal court at Tintagel, Gwyn meets Merlin: a wild young boy with unique powers, in desperate need of her help. They flee Tintagel together, and before long, the young prince, Arthur, joins them. So begins an epic journey across ancient Britain, involving giants, mermaids, unicorns and witches - and their discovery of a truly monstrous plan. This band of unlikely friends must prevent the mythical Oakheart - the foundation of all magic in the land - from being stolen. Or magic will be lost forever...
We Grew a Dragon by Emma Chinnery (15 January)
Because dragon...
Tom has an amazing secret – hidden under his bed is an egg. An egg that's cracking, ready to hatch. An egg that contains... a dragon! When Tina and her mum come to stay with Tom and his dad, Tina and Tom strike up an instant friendship. Tom shares his magical secret with Tina and soon the pair spend their days caring for their little dragon. They make her a bed from a shoebox lined with moss and leaves, feed her tasty morsels of sausages and pizza in special midnight feasts, climb trees together and give her lots and lots of cuddles. Soon she grows - and grows, and grows! And as they grow their dragon, Tina and Tom grow their own very special friendship too. But then Tina's mum decides it's time for them to go back home. Tom and Tina's friendship looks like it will have to come to an end. Unless their dragon can keep them together...
Meanwhile Back on Earth by Oliver Jeffers (29 January)
Because this is the new Oliver Jeffers...
Meanwhile Back on Earth gives a unique look at life on Earth with a cosmic perspective – and an enduring message that what binds us together matters more than what sets us apart.
We hope you enjoyed our little list and that it gave you some book inspiration!
Looking to pre-order one of these books? Just follow the path! 👇
This blog post is written by The Little Bookshop, your bookshop for English books in Rennes.
