Read This Now: with Emily Darlow
January always arrives with a strange mix of relief and expectation. The year is wide open, but there’s also a quiet desire to do things a little differently this time around. Whether that means changing habits, slowing down, rethinking the future or simply finding a sense of calm, the right book can gently set the tone.
This month’s reading list is about intention rather than pressure. These are books to spend time with, return to and let guide you into the year ahead.
The Atomic Habits Workbook by James Clear
If Atomic Habits lit a spark, this workbook is where the real change happens. Rather than revisiting theory, it invites you to apply James Clear’s ideas in a practical, achievable way. The focus is on small shifts and consistent behaviours that actually stick, which feels particularly welcome at the start of the year.
The workbook format makes it feel interactive rather than prescriptive. You are encouraged to reflect on why certain habits matter to you, what tends to derail progress and how to set yourself up for success in realistic ways. It’s structured enough to feel purposeful, without becoming overwhelming.
What really sets this apart is its gentle pace. This isn’t about fixing everything at once. It’s about recognising that lasting change is built slowly, and January is simply the place to begin.
Buy it HERE
Joy Chose You by Donna Ashworth
Joy Chose You is a book to keep close, especially during moments when the year still feels uncertain. Donna Ashworth’s writing is quiet, tender and deeply relatable, offering words that comfort rather than instruct.
Each piece can be read on its own, making this a book you dip into rather than rush through. It’s perfect for early mornings or last thing at night, when you want reassurance rather than answers.
At its heart, this book reminds us that joy is not something we have to chase or earn. Sometimes it simply arrives in small, ordinary moments, and this collection helps you notice and appreciate them.
Buy it HERE
How to Have an Epic Retirement by Bec Wilson
Retirement is often framed as an ending, but Bec Wilson approaches it as a beginning. This book invites readers to rethink what retirement can look like, encouraging curiosity, confidence and a sense of possibility.
Wilson explores the practical realities alongside the emotional shifts that come with this life stage. Identity, purpose, relationships and finances are all addressed with warmth and clarity, without overwhelming the reader.
Rather than prescribing a single version of an ideal retirement, the book encourages readers to define their own. It’s reassuring, energising and particularly powerful for anyone standing on the edge of change.
Buy it HERE
The Seeker and the Sage by Brigid Delaney
Brigid Delaney’s The Seeker and the Sage is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to look for meaning in everyday life. Drawing on philosophy, spirituality and personal experience, Delaney examines how we might live with more awareness and intention.
The book is structured around reflection rather than instruction, offering ideas to sit with rather than rules to follow. It gently invites readers to question long held beliefs and consider new ways of seeing the world.
For January, it feels especially appropriate. It’s a book that encourages slowing down, listening inward and allowing curiosity to lead rather than urgency.
Buy it HERE
The Calm and Happy Home by Kimberley Gallagher
The Calm and Happy Home explores the connection between our physical spaces and our emotional wellbeing. Kimberley Gallagher focuses on creating a home that supports calm, clarity and ease rather than adding to life’s noise.
Rather than pushing perfection, the book offers gentle guidance on routines, organisation and mindset shifts that feel achievable. It’s as much about how you feel in your home as how it looks.
This is a comforting read for anyone craving a reset. It encourages readers to think about their environment as a form of self care, especially at the start of a new year.
Buy it HERE
Age Like a Girl by Dr Mindy Pelz
Age Like a Girl challenges the outdated narratives around ageing, particularly for women. Dr Mindy Pelz blends science with lifestyle insights to help readers better understand what’s happening in their bodies as they age.
The tone is empowering and informative, offering practical knowledge without fear or judgement. It encourages curiosity and self-advocacy, helping readers feel more in control of their health and wellbeing.
Rather than framing ageing as decline, the book positions it as a phase of strength, wisdom and renewed confidence. It’s a refreshing perspective to carry into the year ahead.
Buy it HERE
These books are not about radical reinvention or rigid resolutions. They are about reflection, intention and choosing how you want the year to feel.
Whether you work through one slowly or explore several, each offers something valuable to carry forward. Sometimes the best way to start the year is not with a list of goals, but with a good book and the quiet decision to begin again.