January is all about new beginnings and resolutions. It’s also about going a bit slower and hunkering down and what could feel more ‘hibernation mode’ than a good book and a fresh nightie. In celebration of this we chatted to our book crush, Sarah Gwonyoma to share a selection of her favourite reads – and yes, it doesn’t hurt that she is a fellow nightie devotee and looks just perfect in some of our designs!

Writer and Book Critic, Sarah Gwonyoma is the Founder of the popular online platform What Sarah Read Next. With an acute eye for the hottest reads, Sarah writes brilliant book reviews and has interviewed an array of notable authors on literary circuit; Douglas Stuart, Abi Morgan, Annie MacManus and Musa Okwonga, Ayobami Adebayo, Paul Murray and many more. Her joy of reading is contagious, and we adored hearing her thoughts below.

Dive into to Sarah's literary world, discovering her perfect nighttime routine as well as her monthly online book club - What We Read Next.

WHAT IS ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND?

Lumity Morning and Night capsules, Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep Mist (Lavender, Chamomile and Patchouli), Magnesium Glycinate tablets and Wideye Lavender Oil. Oh and books of course. 

THE LAST BOOK YOU READ WAS...

'The Wedding People' by Alison Espach - laugh out loud funny. Oh my goodness, EVERYONE has to read it

BEDTIME READING: PAPER BOOK OR KINDLE?

Paper book every time. Kindle only if I can’t get hold of a book I’m desperate to read or when I’m travelling. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK OF ALL TIME?

'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara. I think about this book (Jude) every day. No book has ever affected me like this one.

WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE BEDTIME ROUTINE?

If I’m not travelling or out at a work event, I’m usually tucked up in bed by 8:30pm. My routine usually involves cleansing my face and whacking on my Aesop Fabulous Face Oil, slipping on my PJs and getting into bed by 8:30pm. I spritz my pillow with Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep mist, take both my Lumity Night and Magnesium tablets, and then lie in bed with my book, until I fall asleep. 

THE ONE BOOK EVERYONE SHOULD READ IS...

‘Possibility’ by Sareeta Domingo - A romantic novel about a woman called Anika who wakes up in hospital on her thirtieth birthday with a second chance at life, vowing not to waste another second. It’s a book about manifesting the life of your dreams and lots of sexy love.

WHEN IT COMES TO BED, NOTHING FEEL BETTER THAN...

Wearing your favourite luxe pjs, lathered in lavender oil, propped up in bed with a unputdownable book. 

IS THERE A BOOK THAT YOU ALWAYS GO BACK TO AT THIS TIME OF YEAR?

'With Love Grief and Fury' by Salena Godden

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR BOOK CLUB, HOW IT CAME ABOUT AND HOW PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED?

My friend Charlie and I set up our monthly online book club - WHAT WE READ NEXT - last year. Every month we sit down and chat to a different author about their book, which I have specially picked from the hundreds I’ve been lucky to read and love.

The online events will all run virtually, so you can watch it from the comfort of your home or on your phone. As a book club member, you will also have the chance to ask the author questions during the live event AND chat about the book in our very own blog space. The monthly subscription covers your ticket for the online event and 3 free newsletters from me.

Charlie and I REALLY want to build a community of book lovers from all over the world because for us books ARE JOY.

To find out more about the What We Read Next Book visit: Website // Instagram