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Aria Holt's avatar

I've BEEN wanting to read 84 Charing Cross Road and just haven't gotten around to it 😞 You'll have to let me know what you think of it!

Right now, I'm trying to finish Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors. It was hard to get into when I first started it a couple months ago but I'm trying again!

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Ella's avatar

When I read it I'll post a little update!

Oh I've heard SO many amazing things about Coco Mellors! My friend just read Blue Sisters and said it was one of the best things she's read. So interested to hear what you make of Cleopatra and Frankenstein! 💞

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Cha's avatar

Such an exciting list! I just finished my first Jane Austen book (Pride & Prejudice) yesterday. It's the year of classics for me, I think! I absolutely adored Conversations on Love. I read it right before my wedding last year and had our celebrant read a passage from it!

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Ella's avatar

Oh stop it that's amazing!! There's so much beautiful writing in that book, I feel like she manages to capture the essence of what love is to so many different people. Hopefully I'll be joining you on the classics journey soon! Thank you for reading Cha <3

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Florentyna's avatar

Holy smokes sooo many good books in here! And a couple that are on my TBR too. (and a couple I admittedly dnf'ed) I'm so excited for you to read some of these - I'll not list everything but the most recent crossover - listened to Lucy Foley's The Midnight Feast last week and have immediately requested others by her. Thoroughly enjoyed! That one was perfectly plotted and characterised.

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Ella's avatar

oooh very intrigued to know which ones weren't your cup of tea? I am SO excited to get to Lucy Foley!! When I picked it up the lady in Waterstones was absolutely raving so I've got high hopes!

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Soph's avatar

I had many thoughts and then saw One Day and got so excited that I forgot everything else. It's one of my favourite books ever!!!

Yellowface is also brill and I am also super duper mega triple excited for Sunrise on the Reaping. The Hunger Games is my favourite franchise (? if that's the right word) so I can't wait for Haymitch's story.

(PS if u want a nosey I have my physical TBR on my Substack from a few months ago. I have barely scratched the surface since lol)

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Ella's avatar

Oooh okay I'll deffo have to put One Day higher up the list!! I feel like it will be a nice spring read -- I'm not much of a seasonal reader but I can just imagine it will hit different when the sky is blue.

Okay we'll need to discuss the new Hunger Games when it comes out!! Haymitch is my favourite character as well so this is a big moment. & I will deffo be hopping right over to your TBR, honestly my favourite thing to do is snoop at other people's book stacks

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Ellen's avatar

I’m so excited for you for some of these!! Yellowface, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, and The Hunting Party are all up there with my faves!!

Also Heartburn is next on my list and I’m EXCITED!

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Ella's avatar

Ooh I hope you love Heartburn!! I gave it 4 stars, and I'd highly recommend cooking some of the recipes for the full experience because they're genuinely delicious 🤌🏻

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Allie Smith's avatar

What a list! So many gems on there, the Stanley Tucci book is such a good read—more people should document what they eat!

Also, the curious incident! What a throwback, somewhat tempted to give that a read again.

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Ella's avatar

I can't wait to get to it! I've already started dipping in - have you read Taste?

Honestly I can't believe I've gotten this far without reading Curious Incident!

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Ciara ★'s avatar

I want to read conversations on love, looks very good! I saw about 4 books at WHSmith at the airport I want and you know they do the buy 1 get one half price offer - it’s so tempting but I have no where to put them or have to lug them around on my travels. Might do the offer when I go back home perhaps? 🤔 Loved this Substack and so interesting to see what books you’ve been reading or want to. Helps me add to my list! 💞

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Ella's avatar

Hahah I feel like you've got to indulge in some new books on your way back! A nice little treat for the airport and to soothe your post-holiday blues ☃️

I'd highly recommend Conversations on Love, it's really easy to dip in and out of and she explores so many different aspects of love, I feel like it's a very Dazy kind of book!

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Ciara ★'s avatar

Awh thank you Ella! Yes I am still debating whether to pick up books as my treat for getting out of my comfort zone with this holiday. Conversations on love I shall pick up if I do! 💞

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Izzy | The Sunday Reads's avatar

Ella I’m literally obsessed with this and I will be making one of these too thank you very much! Also “books at my sisters house that I need to steal” made me laugh out loud - I have a sister so same!!

Thank you for the mention 🩷

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Ella's avatar

AGH cannot wait for yours, the oracle of book-stack!! 🧡

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eva's avatar

i did NOT know brooklyn had a sequel?! so thank you for that very important information!! i also can NOT wait for sunrise on the reaping!!!! so excited. love this list and hope you love reading through it this year ❤️

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Ella's avatar

YES!! My sister has read it and says it's amazing so I HAVE to get to Brooklyn asap. Are you a hunger games fan too?? Haymitch is my fave so I NEED to know more of his backstory!!

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eva's avatar

i’m such a fan of thg!!! it’s what got me into reading and films!! and haymitch is such an interesting character 💕 can’t wait! and can’t wait to read your thoughts on it when the time comes..

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Aoife Byrne's avatar

Brooklyn is one of my all time favourites, it’s absolutely stunning. Enjoy every page! Agree the movie & also incred 👌🏻

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Ella's avatar

Agh so good to hear!! I can't wait to read it!!

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Amanda's avatar

Loved reading this! One of my resolutions is to (try to) actually read some of my TBR pile this year instead of just adding to it :)

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Ella's avatar

Hahaha me too!! Although it's SO hard to walk into a bookshop and leave empty handed...

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Emily Heather's avatar

My Year of Rest and Relaxation is really good! It really took me by surprise. I know you'll love it. I also have Before the Coffee Gets Cold downloaded on my Kindle but I haven't read it yet. I've heard some great reviews though.

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Ella's avatar

Honestly I've heard nothing but good things about Rest & Relaxation and I'm so intrigued!! I'd love to know what you think once you've read Before the Coffee Gets Cold, I've heard it's quite an emotional one but uplifting at the same time!

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Emily Heather's avatar

I'll try and remember to comment again when I've read it haha!

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Michelle's avatar

Ooh Yellowface is great, such a sharp and cutting novel!

Really hope you’ll love Before the Coffee Gets Cold – the whole series is perfectly cosy and sentimental and perfect for reading in-between lengthier books. And, thanks for mentioning me, you angel 🥰 I’m in my big books era, so I’ve got Wolf Hall, The Day of Fallen Night, Jonathan Norrell and Mr Strange, and Murakami’s The City and Its Uncertain Walls on my TBR this year. Trying to go for the big ol’ sagas in 2025!

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Ella's avatar

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is next up! I actually went into Waterstones today and I've got a real thing for Japanese fiction at the moment so I've stocked up. Not that I needed to given the amount of books on this list 👀

Oh we are going to need a big book breakdown from you... a marathon not a sprint!!

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