aka: It’s Only January and I’ve Already Lost Control
It’s ten days into January and I’ve already broken my unofficial book-buying restraint.
New year. Same reader. No regrets.
If you’ve been anywhere near UK bookish spaces lately, you already know what happened next.
✨ The Works’ Spredguary Chaos, Explained
The Works chose violence (to our wallets) and launched Spredguary:
- 10 days
- 10 special editions
- £5 each
One book revealed daily.
One daily spiral for the rest of us.
Some were brand new.
Some were series-completers (dangerous).
All of them had sprayed edges.
I never stood a chance.
🛍 What I Actually Came Home With
Because “just browsing” has never once been true.
📖 Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi
Let’s be honest — it was the sprayed edge.
Soft celestial blues. Subtle detailing. Shelf presence.
Justified immediately.
🥃 The Bourbon Boys Series by Victoria Wilder
These dropped three days in a row, and the comment sections were… loud.
People called the block colours “boring.”
I call them cohesive.
The sprayed edges match the titles perfectly. On a shelf? Chef’s kiss.
And for £5 each? I will not be entertaining complaints.
🩸 Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet
The cover is dramatic.
The edge is bold.
The vibes are slightly unhinged (complimentary).
I love a book that knows it’s intense.
🌴 The Odds of You by Kate Dramis
Sun-soaked romance energy.
Holiday hues.
That edge feels like golden hour.
She’s a mood read waiting to happen.
⚔️ Three Shattered Souls by Mai Corland
Fun fact: I learned after buying that this is book three in a series.
So now I’m on a quest.
Because my brain refuses to let book three exist alone on a shelf.
🛒 Planned Purchases (Future Me Is Pretending to Be Responsible)
Because obviously I wasn’t done.
🔥 Dante by Sadie Kincaid
Chicago Ruthless series.
Releases 29th January.
Next payday? Yes.
No false promises here.
👑 Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Do I still need to read the earlier books?
Yes.
Will that stop me wanting the matching sprayed edge?
Absolutely not.
Shelf aesthetics matter.
🚫 The One I’m Skipping (Growth?)
❌ Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
The sprayed edge is lovely.
But this is the one reveal I didn’t feel pulled toward.
And listen — skipping one book during Spredguary counts as personal development.
💸 Bonus Damage: The “I Was Already There” Stack
Because I clearly couldn’t walk out with only the limited editions.
- Honor by Danielle Baker
- Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde
- Cash by Jessica Peterson
- Freeing the Wild by Paisley Hope
- First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
If I’m already at the till, logic is no longer involved.
☁ Closing Thoughts & A Little Bookish Confession
Was this sensible?
No.
Was it joyful?
Completely.
Spredguary has already set the tone for my 2026 reading year. My shelves look prettier. My TBR looks mildly concerned. And honestly? I’m at peace with that.
There’s something undeniably fun about limited editions and sprayed edges — about building a shelf that feels curated and personal and a little indulgent.
Now I need to know…
Did Spredguary tempt you too?
Which reveal nearly took you out?
Are you team read the unread first or team pretty edges now, logic later?
Let’s talk about it — I fully support enabling. ♡📚
Between the Pages & Pixels 