This blog post uses affiliate links to some products I use from Amazon.
January is usually a pretty good month for reading for me, I finally get around to some of those reads that have been sitting on the shelves staring at me for most of the previous year, plus a few new fun ones for Christmas. I’ve never been a modern reader until now, so this feeling of having to wait for the author to literally write the next book is a foreign one. I used to just read older completed series or standalones. While I love my new favourite authors, the wait on some of these cliff-hangers is excruciating!
Photo by enrico bet on Unsplash
Luckily though my tastes are pretty varied and there’s always something I want to pick up next while I’m waiting for series’ to finish. January has been fun so far, finishing up a huge series and starting a few smaller ones. Here’s some highlights below:
I heard about Zodiac Academy a lot through the Facebook book groups but I couldn’t really find it in the UK for a decent price (I believe they do have them in Waterstones, but I was trying to budget), so when they popped up on my Kindle Unlimited, obviously these went to the top of the list. I started the series in August I think of 2025, and I finished the last book as my first read of this January. It was a long journey, but it was perfect to read on my kindle in bed every night while I got through my paperbacks, and I’ll definitely miss these fun characters.
Lucy Score’s Blue Moon series is a romantic comedy, set in a small town of interfering neighbours and plenty of young people for the beautification committee to pair off. It’s definitely got a unique spark compared to other small-town series’ I’ve read, and by the 8th book in the series the town is so familiar with its cast of characters and wacky goings-on. I love Lucy Score as an author, her other series, Riley Thorn, is about a psychic working with a police detective, while living in a house share with some wacky old people, it just brings this comedy to it that makes it less about the romance and more of a fun story.
I’m just finishing the last in the trilogy right now, these have been very cosy fantasy reads about a scholar who studies fae and her adventures when she goes searching for them. Even when things went wrong, it didn’t feel too stressful, so definitely a nice cosy one to bring you back into reading in the new year. Rather than just being about ‘fae’ as human-like creatures that are beautiful and powerful, it also included brownies and sprites and other creatures that are a more traditional definition of faerie folk you find in the woodlands. I think this was a more interesting aspect and learning about their traditions and behaviour.
Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash
Standalones
It’s nice to take a break from a series sometimes isn’t it? I like a good standalone, especially a thriller, so here’s a few I read this month that I loved.
This Dracula retelling by Amelie West was an ARC this month, and I loved it. I love the story of Dracula but I did struggle with the classic due to the language, I did find it interesting though, especially how often blood transfusions were used at random with no ill side effects. I realised that the book was actually written before the discovery of blood types, which obviously would have affected how blood transfusions could be used. Anyway, Midnight Covenant was a retelling but from the point of view of Mina arriving to the castle to become Dracula’s bride. I honestly wasn’t sure how much we were sticking to the story because he actually didn’t see like a bad guy for a while, although she was confined to the castle and kept very close by. The story developed anyway and was left on a really interesting cliffhanger, so we’ll see when part two comes out! It was a great read and kept me so much more engaged than the classic, and I loved the feminine POV.
12 ways to kill your family at christmas
This was one I had on my kindle from before Christmas and didn’t get to, it was a murder mystery party gone wrong as family members started dropping. It’s crazy how bad I am at figuring things out, even when the suspects had whittled right now I still didn’t guess the killer correctly!
A surprise when this book was actually based in North Wales, but a really good read. Three friends on a getaway with secrets being revealed and twists right to the end. Books like this do make me a bit tense when there is so much conflict between characters, but I still enjoyed the story.
This was one on my list for a while, I treated myself to a nice copy from the local bookshop in Llandovery, Books at the Dragon’s Garden for my birthday. It’s based supposedly on a true story about a Japanese serial killer. The book follows a journalist as she befriends the killer through letters and prison visitation, exploring a range of cuisine while trying to pry into her life before the killings happened.
Bookish Accessories for Ease and Comfort
I never thought I would be someone that needed lots of bookish accessories, but it’s incredible how useful they actually are! Especially for the kindle. I find myself using all these a lot, so it makes the small price tag well worth it.
I love my kindle sleeve that I actually nabbed from my own shop, I travel sometimes and obviously need my kindle so I feel better with it being secure in my bag and padded for some safety. It can also fit a few accessories inside, like my page turner, which is perfect to keep all the important things together.
If you love getting cosy under a blanket, the page turner is an actually life saver. I use it mostly in bed when I’m falling asleep, so my kindle can be kept safe by the arm holding it, and all I have in bed with me is the page turner remote around my wrist. The battery life is really good, literally lasting weeks at a time, so it’s reliable and useful! Also, pink!
I tend to use my kindle strap the most on the sofa, maybe i’m drinking a cup of tea or got a puppy on my lap at the same time, so it makes holding my kindle and flicking pages with one hand much more comfortable. They look super cute too! I think other people may use a pop socket as an alterative, but I like how this is removable from the kindle so I am able to use my tablet arm as well.
I was really half and half on getting a case because I loved how light and thin the kindle was without one, but I thought for safety it would be a good idea. So I chose just a clear one which does the job, and I’ve covered it with stickers too.
I keep seeing these as decor for a bookcase and they are so cute! Definitely a good gift idea for someone who loves books and building things too, as they seem to be a little project in themselves.
Sometimes called a tablet mount, these arms are really strong and work great for kindles in bed, especially paired with a page turner! It just makes me feel safer reading in bed and falling asleep knowing the kindle isn’t actually in the bed with my somewhere, and could definitely hold my Ipad as well if I ever wanted to watch TV while i’m snoozing!
So there we are, some great gift ideas and some book ideas for the rest of this cold winter to read. I hope you found something useful here, let me know what you think if you’ve already read any books!
You can see all of our bookish gift range here.
1. What are good bookish gift ideas featured by Tahlia Paige?
At Tahlia Paige, some of the best bookish gift ideas include adjustable book covers, padded Kindle covers, pen and tab holder bookmarks, and book pocket cushions. These accessories are designed to make reading more comfortable and practical for everyday use.
2. Why should I use an adjustable book cover for reading on the go?
Adjustable book covers from Tahlia Paige protect paperbacks and hardbacks from creases, spills and wear when you’re out and about. They also help conceal your current read, which is ideal if you prefer privacy or simply don’t want to spoil the plot for others.
3. What is the benefit of a padded Kindle cover?
A padded Kindle cover provides lightweight protection for your e-reader, helps prevent scratches and bumps, and adds a tactile, personalised touch. It’s especially handy when travelling, commuting or reading outdoors.
4. How do pen and tab holder bookmarks make reading easier?
Pen and tab holder bookmarks allow you to keep a pen and sticky tabs with your book, making it easy to annotate, mark quotes or keep track of favourite passages. This setup is perfect for readers who like to interact with their books.
5. What makes the book pocket cushion useful for readers?
A book pocket cushion from Tahlia Paige gives you a cosy spot to read and a convenient place to store your current book when you’re taking a break. It helps keep your reading area tidy and makes lounging with a book more comfortable.
6. Can these bookish accessories work as gifts for non-readers too?
Yes. Many of the accessories featured in this blog, such as sleep masks, hand warmers and cushions, make thoughtful presents even for people who don’t consider themselves avid readers. They are useful for relaxation and everyday comfort.
7. How do you choose the right bookish accessory as a gift?
Think about how the person likes to read. If they prefer physical books, a book cover or bookmark could be ideal. If they read in bed or outdoors, a padded Kindle cover, hand warmers or book pocket cushion might be more suitable. Tahlia Paige products cover a range of reading styles and comfort needs.
8. Are these accessories suitable for travel and holidays?
Yes, many of the bookish accessories from Tahlia Paige are perfect for travel. Padded Kindle covers, book covers, and book pocket cushions are lightweight and durable, making them ideal for holidays, weekend breaks and daily commuting.
9. Do the products from Tahlia Paige support sustainable or mindful living?
Tahlia Paige accessories, such as reusable covers and bookmarks, are designed with mindful use in mind, helping reduce waste compared with disposable alternatives. Many products are handmade in small batches with durability and everyday use in focus.
10. Where can I find more reading recommendations and accessory ideas?
You can find more curated book lists, reading ideas and related gift inspiration on the Tahlia Paige blog, including posts like “January Reads and Favourite Bookish Accessories” and seasonal guides for cosy reading and gift recommendations.
