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Reading is your Superpower and Top 20 – Exclusive Books Recommends January 2025

Jampacked January!

January is often about starting anew on a fresh clean slate, a blank page as it were. But in the publishing world, there is simply such a profusion of new releases in December that we often need January to catch up on literary gems and bookish finds we may have missed in the festive mayhem.

Exclusive Books Recommends for January celebrates these heavyweights in fiction that you may have missed at the end of last year.

The Granddaughter Bernhard Schlink The Granddaughter, Bernard Schlink – From the author of the no.1 international bestseller The Reader, The Granddaughter is a gripping novel that transports us from the divided Germany of the 1960s to contemporary Australia, asking what might be found when it seems like all is lost.

Thirst, by Giles Folden – 2039, the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. 160,000 kilometres-square of ocean-crashed desert, littered with bones, shipwrecks and shattered dreams. Searching for her mother and a rumoured aquifer in northern Namibia, Chalice Conroy must contend with desert lions as well as rapacious humans…

Fire John BoyneFire by John Boyne – In Fire, John Boyne takes the reader on a chilling, uncomfortable but utterly compelling psychological journey to the epicentre of the human condition, asking the age-old question: nurture – or nature?\

Before We Forget Kindness, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – In the fifth book in the sensational Before the Coffee Gets Cold series translated from Japanese, the mysterious café where customers arrive hoping to travel back in time welcomes four new guests. Soothing and warmhearted.

And then a superb debut, longlisted for the Booker Prize, Pearl, by Sian Hughes is a haunting novel inspired by the medieval poem of the same name. At its heart it is a family story – the narrator’s mother disappeared when she was a small child and her younger brother was a baby, and the narrator becomes obsessed with her legacy and the local folklore she loved. Lyrical and poetic.

For non-fiction, stand out titles include:

Night Sunday Morning, by PJ Morton– Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, keyboardist for the mega pop band Maroon 5, and founder of Morton Records, PJ Morton details the inspiring journey that led to his unique sound and urges readers to follow their own dreams.

And then, simply the perfect way to begin the new year: How to Let Things Go, by Shunmyo Masuno, Feeling overwhelmed? Step away from life’s mounting demands and free yourself up for what matters with this succinct and sensible guide by the Zen Buddhist author of the international bestsellers The Art of Simple Living and Don’t Worry.

Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish – First Atomic Habits transformed your behaviour. Now, Clear Thinking transforms your mind. From the most influential smart-thinking writer in America.

Words to Live By – a daily journal by Donna Ashworth – is the ideal companion to intentional living. Brimming with inspiration, comfort and encouragement, from the UK’s no.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Wild Hope.

As a juicy extra, here is also a list of Exclusive Books’ current Top 20:

 

  1. Atomic Habits Clear, James – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd
  2. Disciple Walking With God Thandekiso, Rorisang & Manabe, Nkhensani – NB uitgewers/publishers
  3. Diary Of A CEO The 33 Law Bartlett, Steven – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd
  4. How Did We Get Here Ledwaba, Mpoomy – Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
  5. Spud The Reunion van de Ruit, John – Pan Macmillan South Africa
  6. Psychology Of Money Housel, Morgan – Pan Macmillan South Africa
  7. Capitec Stalking Giant Strydom, T.J. – NB uitgewers/publishers
  8. We Who Wrestle With God Peterson, Jordan B. – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd
  9. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 19 H Kinney, Jeff – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd
  10. John Platter Wine Guide 2025 John Platters – John Platters Wine Guide
  11. Leo Eng Edition Meyer, Deon – Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
  12. Subtle Art Of Not Giving Manson, Mark – Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
  13. Mountain Is You Wiest, Brianna – Pan Macmillan South Africa
  14. Witness To Power Phosa, Mathews – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd
  15. Unreasonable Hospitality Guidara, Will – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd
  16. It Ends With Us Hoover, Colleen – Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
  17. 12 Rules For Life Peterson, Jordan B. – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd
  18. 48 Laws Of Power Greene, Robert – Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
  19. 5 Am Club Sharma, Robin – Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
  20. Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down Sunim, Haemin – Penguin Random House (Pty) Ltd

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