This book hit me like a tonne of bricks right smack into my heart and I should have known.

Set in on the west coast of Ireland in the beautiful county Kerry, Though the Bodies Fall tells the story of the Burns family who move into a picturesque (and surprisingly cheap) cottage on the end of Kerry Head overlooking Atlantic Ocean. Unbeknownst to them, the cottage comes with a price much higher than a stack of Euros. For these cliffs hold a dark secret, they are the final call of many "visitors" - people who make their way to the cliffs to end their lives.

Discover the best books to read in January 2025 with our curated list of must-read titles, including thought-provoking fiction, groundbreaking feminist philosophy, and captivating non-fiction. From Miranda July’s wry and bold All Fours to Han Kang’s hauntingly beautiful We Do Not Part, and Kate Manne’s urgent call to dismantle fatphobia in Unshrinking, these books explore themes of identity, freedom, relationships, and resilience. Whether you’re looking for a fresh perspective, a compelling story, or a deep dive into cultural criticism, our Books on Our Radar for January 2025 has something for every reader.

'Tis the season of giving, and if you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift for someone who lives for bottomless mimosas, thought-provoking novels, and a good dose of feminist sass, you’ve come to the right place. This year, let’s skip the generic gift cards and show your brunch book clubber just how well you know them with presents that feel personal, inspiring, and, of course, a little indulgent.

Welcome to Books on Our Radar, your go-to guide for unearthing the most exciting reads this December. Whether you’re a seasoned bookworm with a fellow book-buying addiction or someone looking to step outside your literary comfort zone, this month’s list is packed with fresh releases as well as some up and coming hidden gems to inspire your next read.

Ever wondered what it takes to keep Brunch Book Club running like a well-oiled (and mimosa-fuelled) machine? Let me give you a behind-the-scenes peek! Spoiler alert: It’s just me, Taragh.

In this post, I’m breaking down the many roles I play to make Brunch Book Club happen and sharing a glimpse of the love (and coffee) that keeps it all going. Grab a cup, settle in, and let’s meet the team!

This month, journey through the electrifying world of music in Deep Cuts, uncover hidden truths in the familial drama of The Homemade God, and immerse yourself in the eerie allure of The Silence Factory. For readers craving nonfiction, Mask Off: Masculinity Redefined and Please Find Attached offer fresh perspectives on the human experience. And if you’re looking for tender, unforgettable love stories, both May All Your Skies Be Blue and Love in Exile will leave you deeply moved.

Highlights this October include Hungerstone, a sensual, atmospheric reworking of the classic Carmilla, set against the rugged backdrop of the Industrial Revolution. For nonfiction lovers, Sexy But Psycho delivers a bold and unflinching look at the ways society pathologizes and silences women. Meanwhile, The Coast Road offers a poignant exploration of freedom, family, and the cost of living authentically in a deeply judgmental community.

A Spell of Winter tells the story of teenage siblings, Cathy and Rob, living in Edwardian England. Their parents are dead, and they are raised by their grandfather – often mentioned but rarely seen – in a crumbling house somewhere in the English countryside. We follow Cathy as she comes of age, navigates her increasingly fraught relationship with her brother, and decides what she wants from life.

Anne Enright manages to make the reader feel as though they are growing and learning with the characters, and somehow makes their odd dynamic feel incredibly relatable.

“There is value in both learning about this history of eyeliner, but also considering how the beauty industry has often exoticized and co-opted it for a white audience.”

If you could access every memory you've ever had and interact with the intimate details of other people's memories, would you want to?

The Candy House presents a Black Mirror-esque concept developed by Bix Boulton, a hot-shot tech entrepreneur. To participate, all you have to do is upload every memory and emotion you ever had or felt into a convenient and sleek "Own Your Unconscious" box. Once your memories are uploaded, you can - of course - further upload your entire consciousness to the "Collective Consciousness," a not-at-all-intrusive program that allows you to access the memories of every other person who has chosen to do the same. If this isn't your choice of brunch cocktail, you could also give up your entire life and go off-grid to become an Eluder.

Set in Northern Ireland in 1975, Trespasses by Louise Kennedy is a beautiful novel that weaves a complicated love story amidst the backdrop of the Troubles. Kennedy masterfully portrays the challenges of living a normal life while surrounded by violence and political unrest.

How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee is a powerful piece of historical fiction that rightfully deserves a place in your TBR pile. Just make sure you actually get around to reading this one!

It weaves the stories of Wang Di, a former 'comfort woman' during the Japanese occupation, and Kevin, a young man combing through his family's history. As their stories criss-cross past and present Singapore, you'll discover a touching narrative about resilience and healing.

Weyward by Emilia Hart is a fluffy bit of fiction that’s worthy of a place in your beach bag. It weaves the lives of three women over five centuries into one over-arching narrative about the grit of womanhood and the stirring power of Mother Nature​.

We start with Kate, who bolts for Weyward Cottage to escape her abusive husband. This cozy, crumbly Cumbrian place comes courtesy of her Great Aunt Violet, a lady she barely remembers​. Now, Violet is an interesting bird, more keen on bugs and climbing trees than being the dainty lady society wanted her to be​…

This April, which is Stress Awareness Month, we read When the Body Says No and it’s safe to say it was a fitting choice. In the book, Gabor Maté draws on his years of experience working as a GP in Canada and the many patients he’s seen, alongside a body of evidence from countless studies in the field of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI for short) which back up the anecdotal stories he shares. In very basic terms, PNI is the idea that your psychological state and your immune system are not separate and unrelated, instead the former has a significant impact on the latter. As someone who seems to live in a constant state of stress, emotional upset, and anxiety, my increasing reaction as I got through each chapter was ‘I am so screwed’.

A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing tells the story of an unnamed female protagonist living in Ireland with her older brother -  whose childhood brain tumour casts a long shadow over the family -  and her fanatically religious mother. As she grows up and moves away from home, the girl navigates abuse, sexual assault and the stress of her brother’s failing health; as well as the relentless double-standards imposed on her by both her family and wider society.

The book’s experimental writing style proved to be divisive among book club members. It is written in a stream-of-consciousness, disjointed style with no speech marks and sparse punctuation. It is also distinctly Irish in both its dialect and themes, leading some members to feel that they were missing out on important context.

Of course I read Spare!

After a week of listening to Harry narrate his way through “his” book – it was ghostwritten – I have some thoughts.

Living a hermit-like existence in her remote and self-sufficient home in Australia, Rachel has no idea that the outside world has entirely crumbled until another woman and her sick baby knock on her door in the middle of the night. Hannah, mother of poorly baby Isaiah, explains that something mysterious and invisible has spread throughout the world, causing the near-instant death of whoever they encounter. Nearly everyone else has died and society as we know it has disintegrated into chaos, though Hannah and her baby have somehow survived. They ask for Rachel’s help to find medical supplies, so she reluctantly leaves her protective bubble with them on a dangerous hike through the forest.

A serial killer with an interest in medical experimentation, a badass forensic pathologist trying to stop him, all set against the backdrop of New Orleans – The Butcher and the Wren sounded like the perfect choice for spooky season at Brunch Book Club! 

Renowned storyteller and Morbid podcast co-host, Alaina Urquhart further develops her world-building and storytelling skills in this debut novel, showing off her extensive knowledge of serial killers and forensic science.