December Book Haul | 2024

[@taneesewilson8844]

Oh my gosh, a lot of really interesting books to look forward to reading in the coming new year! I don’t mind a short blurb or two and yes to a video of your most anticipated books. Also, your very welcome and enjoy reading The Liberators when you have some time. It’s also on my tbr and I’m sure to be adding more from this video! 😁📚

[@SavidgeReads]

Thank you so much for the book Taneese it was super duper kind of you. I’ll be heading to The Liberators at some point in January or February and am looking forward to it!

[@giftofthegabby]

You do a very good balance of reading blurbs and giving brief descriptions that don't give away the plot or vibes of the book so we can still go in blind and excited for the twists and reveals :) I'm also an avid supporter of ten word blurbs that give you barely anything before you dive into the story! x

[@SavidgeReads]

Awwww thanks Gabby. I’m so pleased that you think I get the balance right. It can be quite the minefield to blurb or not to blurb. Hahaha.

[@moonchild1837]

I love it when you either read the blurb or at least give the genre of a book. I just preordered ‚i hope your happy‘ because you mentioned that it has horror aspects and the blurb sounded interesting. I love your hauls even though I mostly read horror. Have a good start into the new year!

[@SavidgeReads]

I hope it is horror. I think it might be supernatural comedy possibly. Maybe. I’m not sure. Lol. Here’s to a fab 2025!

[@clairebanks1903]

Hi Simon ‘Girls of a Certain Age’ is from me Sorry about the lack of gift card Thank you so much for your marvellous videos, and hard work, in 2024 Looking forward to attending your chat with Sarah Waters next month and Hallie Rubenholds new book Happy New Year!

[@SavidgeReads]

Thank you sooooo much for the book Claire. That’s so kind of you! Glad you’ve enjoyed the videos this year and looking forward to more bookish shenanigans in 2025!

[@issywelsby6698]

I like to know as little as possible about a book before reading it - I’ll read a blurb up until the point that I am intrigued as I find so many publishers give too much away!

[@SavidgeReads]

Yes! That is my issue with blurbs and why I tend to avoid them quite a bit, too much can be revealed. I want to be teased. Hahaha.

[@GillyHowe-z4i]

Blurbs are sooo helpful! Keep them coming! Happy New Year, so happy that I came across your channel this year! You are doing a brilliant job of everything! x

[@SavidgeReads]

Awwww thank you very much. Happy New Year to you too!

[@juditkovacse]

Re. 12:11 I personally don't like it when people read out the blurb. The longer such a segment is the more I zone out and won't remember any of it. Also, I can look up the blurb online. Tell me why you (as in the booktuber I am watching) bought the book/accepted the ARC/proof or just move on. (the 'you' here is the general you) I even prefer the sometimes very vague (and potentially wrong) summaries you (Simon) give to having the blurb read out to me.

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha I do tend to Simon-ise dreadfully on occasion. I like an idea of a book and sharing that idea of a book I like with you all, if that makes sense.

[@leeh4343]

Happy New Year to you and yours! 🎉🥂😊 a lot of people I know over here have loved Rapture - it’s on my holds list at the library. Oooh The Sirens - can’t wait to read it that one!

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh that’s promising about Rapture. Though frankly the moment Charlotte Wood raved about it I was sold. I need to find out who her favourite author is actually. Charlotte’s I mean, and head to her backlist.

[@cecilialau_]

I need to thank you for introducing Sarah Moss to us. I love her writing to an almost absurd extent (not afraid to admit it, lol). She has become an auto-buy for me for sure. So thank you ☺️ And not to do my usual ramblings but I just wanted to add that I really enjoy your Simon-isation of “presenting” a book where we don’t get the blurb read out to us but we get a one sentence-ish like only you can do them kind of expectation of them. I love the “it’s set in the 70’s in Australia and that’s all I need to know” - same! 🙌

[@SavidgeReads]

I am thrilled I was your introduction to Sarah Moss. She’s brilliant isn’t she. Glad you enjoy the Simon-ising. Hahahaha. I think that style will stay!

[@cecilialau_]

@ sounds ace, nothing but encouragement from me! Yesss, she really is

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Happy new year to you and Chris, Louise and all the family ❤ I’m looking forward to you talking about your most anticipated reads of 2025 in future videos.

[@SavidgeReads]

You’ve seen some of the most anticipated reads in this video but I’ll do an epic one of them in the new year.

[@shannonkatereadsstuff]

Oh gosh, I squealed at Sarah Moss bringing out a new one!! I must read Rapture, I’ve had it for a few months (I’m in Australia). I read blurbs myself, but I hate when people read them out on videos, especially if they are longer! I only read them because I got into a bad habit of preordering stuff from pretty covers and it ended badly after a while.

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha. I’m sorting my bookshelves out at the moment and I know the preordering pretty books and the carnage it can bring only too well at the moment. But we are only human and the heart wants what it wants. Hehehe.

[@janepeacock3704]

Hi Simon 🖐🏻 I like a bit of book blurb 👍☺️

[@SavidgeReads]

I’ll sprinkle some in now and again 😉

[@Victoria-Claringbold]

Hi Simon, Happy New Year! I have just heard about a new book called The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole that is set in Nigeria and New Orleans with folklore to boot. Thought I would recommend. Hope this year brings you lots of 5 star reads. 🎉

[@Mesa37122]

I love a blurb. I never read a full summary and just read blurbs or skim summaries for words that intrigue me.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oh I don’t mind skimming a blurb… as long as I forget it quickly.

[@renee_3364]

I've just received my ARC for I Want to Go Home but I'm Already There and can't wait to start it! Also, please yes: bring back the anticipated-books video's. I loved those videos for some inspiration of what to look forward to!

[@SavidgeReads]

Your wish is my command 😉

[@Nicole-n9x]

Happy New Year Simon! Loved your videos this year, the festive vlogs were great! Just read Case Histories after you so often talked about your love for the Jackson Brodie series and it went straight into my fave books of the year. Can't wait to read the others now!

[@SavidgeReads]

Awww thanks Nicole. I hope you’ve had a lovely festive season. So pleased you loved Case Histories. You’ve some fab Jackson Brodie novels ahead.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

The Rapture cover is gorgeous!!! And I’ve been so intrigued to read Things we do to our friends, definitely adding the next Darwent as well. As for blurbs, I like the short taglines or hook things, but otherwise I prefer it when people give me the gist of the premise, basic building blocks like setting, conflict, whatever, and then as little as possible! If you show a book that intrigues you, and the cover or title intrigues me, a short hook is all I need to decide if I want to read more about it or not! I read a couple of lines about Sharp Scratch and that was more than enough! 😊 I’m ridiculously excited for the prompts 😂 I never look forward to January 1st, but this year I do! 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

Have you seen the Australian cover of Rapture. It is insanely good. So beautiful. I think a hook is all I need too. That said I worry I ‘Simonise’ a book and my summary is possibly completely wrong. Ha. Glad you’re excited for the Savidge Prompts, there are some absolute corkers this year.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@ With the peep hole? It’s interesting! Well that still gives us why you’re interested in the book, even if you misread it. I’m sure you get most of them sort of close ^^

[@kbal1451]

I have a copy of Rapture from The Canberra Writer’s Festival in November, excited to read it in 2025. All Fours has been getting great reviews too. Red Head by the side of the road is very good. So many great books. Happy Reading in 2025!

[@SavidgeReads]

It’s lovely to have some absolute gems ahead. I just hope they don’t get lost in the madness that is the library. I’m sorting the shelves at the moment and it’s been an eye opener in terms of forgetting I have some absolute bangers on the shelves already. Much food, well many books, for thought. Hahaha.

[@katheriner37]

Yayy a treat!!

[@SavidgeReads]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@kduhy4379]

Thanks Simon for another year of great book recommendations and fab videos. Quite a few of the books in your December Haul are now on my TBR for next year. Happy 2025

[@SavidgeReads]

A pleasure. And there’s still one more video to go this year. Imagine!!!!! Thank you so much for watching and commenting in 2024. Here’s to 2025.

[@sbeale276]

Thank you as always in showing us your anticipation of what is coming up next for your reads. I am also looking forward to the new Hallie rubenhold’s book as i really thought the five was exceptional. Also i felt the same about the tigers wife when i read it many years ago, wanted to like it way more but i felt something was missing so looking forward to seeing what you think of this authors new book. Looking forward to your next video as always 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

Awwww thank you for your lovely comment and indeed all your comments this year. Here’s to the new Rubenhold. I am sooooo excited for it. I’m intrigued to see how I get on with the new Obreht too!

[@bookswithbeckip]

I’d love quarterly “most looking forward to” 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

@@bookswithbeckip I’ll see what I can do 😉

[@passeronanthony8532]

❤ thank you so much

[@SavidgeReads]

A pleasure!!! I am very much looking forward to your book!

[@kai-e-rhone]

Ohh I want the cover of Dayspring framed and hung up on my wall, it's so beautiful. And Girls of a Certain Age? On my list now.

[@SavidgeReads]

@@kai-e-rhone Dayspring has got the most stunning cover. Very excited for it. Keep debating if I should squeeze it in before 2025!

[@janedolman6691]

Don’t be worried about Black Woods Blue Sky…I loved it and there are bears! What more could you want.

[@SavidgeReads]

Well quite! I do love a 🐻

[@ssiobhankelly]

Happy New Year, Simon. Hope you are well!! Looking forward to further videos from you in the upcoming future. Especially the prompts videos. Take care PS (I ordered you a book :)

[@SavidgeReads]

I am good thanks, happy new year to you and yours too. The prompts video will be on Mum’s channel on Wednesday, there’s some corkers in the mix.

[@ssiobhankelly]

@@SavidgeReads Look forward to seeing if you enjoy the book I sent you :)

[@SavidgeReads]

@ oooh. I look forward to seeing what it is. Eek! I love a surprise. Thank you in advance.

[@benreadsgood]

For goodness SAKE Simon, I was hoping to reduce my new release reading but there are books here that are new to me that I now must get my grubby little paws on 😂 Rapture, Fish Tales and Greater Sins are all going on the Waterstones wishlist. And your Waterstones sale buys include some corkers - My Friends and All Fours were both 5 star reads for me. I went today to try and get Tim Winton’s Juice, but loads of books had been removed from the sale already. Was so disappointed!

[@SavidgeReads]

Maybe there will be an even better sale after the New Year, that has happened on occasion. In fact that used to be the way it always was when I was young… in the good old days. Hahaha. Sorry for all the fab books but you see why I had to talk about them all and had to make this video.

[@MoniqueBourgeois]

love it:) HNY 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

And to you too!!!!

[@mradcaqbdb]

Yes, please on a video of most anticipated books! Five * prediction video would also be fun. Blurbs: only short ones to whet my appetite. I don’t like it so much when the full long description inside is read. As I mentioned on the Patreon video, I squealed when you held up the new Sarah Moss. Instant preorder! I still giggled at the fingers! 😉

[@SavidgeReads]

I giggled internally at Fingers. I am such a child. Thanks for your thoughts on anticipated books and blurbs.

[@Ali-AvidReader]

Flipping ‘eck Simon, what are you trying to do to me with all these new books😂

[@SavidgeReads]

I know, yet I couldn’t not share them. Well I almost didn’t but so many good books that u didn’t want people to miss out on. Oops. Thankfully they’re not all out imminently so can be preordered or requested at the library in advance.

[@janepeacock3704]

PS - My Friends (Hisham Matar) was one of my favourite reads of 2024 😌

[@SavidgeReads]

I’m looking forward to reading that soon.

[@juliehughes1258]

Oh my gosh, so great to hear that Hallie Rubenhold is coming out with a new book in 2025. I read The Five this yea (2024) and absolutely loved it, but I'm afraid of books with 500+ pages. Regarding Retreat, by Krysten Ritter, it's just not fair for one person to have so much talent. (I know her from Breaking Bad.)

[@SavidgeReads]

@@juliehughes1258 with the right author 500 or more pages fly by and Hallie is one such writer. Though I think it’s more around the 440ish mark so you should be grand.

[@juliehughes1258]

@@SavidgeReads You’ve convinced me. I’m pre-ordering the Hallie Rubenhold.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I love your long videos. I hope you’ll do five star predictions. 🤩🤗📖📚📕☕️🍀👋☘️🤗

[@SavidgeReads]

I quite fancy doing on of those so let’s see when the whim takes over and I’ll film one and see how I get on.

[@cindyhaiken5644]

I would love to know your most anticipated books of 2025 (a year at a glance or a quarter at a time or what have you). It will definitely add to my TBR! And now I’m trying to figure out what video is dropping here before the end of the year!

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooooh, it’s a good one. It should be live Tuesday. I hope. I’ll be filming it that morning. Eek. Will do anticipated reads videos throughout the year I think as things come in. But hopefully that’ll also be what my hauls become. All thriller, no filler. That’s the aim.

[@cindyhaiken5644]

@ “All thriller no filler” is a good motto!

[@SavidgeReads]

@ it what I’m trying to have in my head with the whole PAINFUL process of sorting the shelves out for 2025!

[@a_bookish_gemini]

Did I miss the Savidge Prompts announcement? How’s a girl supposed to plan without them? 😅😂

[@SavidgeReads]

Nope you haven’t. They will be announced on Mum’s channel on Wednesday. We only filmed them on Friday. There are some corkers.

[@a_bookish_gemini]

@ woohoo!

[@racheldemain1940]

Not like as they can eat too much into the Video and i want to see the Books you are getting and think I will look into that!

[@SavidgeReads]

Do you mean you don’t like people reading the blurbs?

[@susprime7018]

Itchy nose, you're going to have visitors, relax, it won't be me, just another old saying by earlier old people. Yes, I love proofs, no longer an advance reader.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh. No one has visited yet!