January Newsletter '23

January Reading Wrap-Up!

What a great start to this next year of reading! January was a great month to curl up in my new reading chair, with a blanket, slippers, a cup of tea, and a great book! And that's exactly what I did, as often as I could.

I finished 13 books this month!

Book 1: The Winners - Fredrik Backman

I started the month off with The Winners by Frederik Backman, which concludes the Beartown trilogy. Ending this read was bittersweet; I am so happy for the time I spent in this little hockey town, but wish I could pick up a fourth book and continue these characters' lives. He wrote this entire trilogy like an onion, where each book peels back more and more layers of each character, as the reader is left there with tears in their eyes.

Book 2: Other Birds - Sarah Addison Allen

I followed that book up with Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen and this worked so well. The characters bring you in immediately, which helped me over the book hangover The Winners left me with. This story brings you to a little coastal town you explore for a summer, as you watch these characters help each other grow through different changes.

Book 3: The One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot - Marianne Cronin

I then accidentally doubled down on the grief undertones in Other Birds, by picking up The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot. Despite the happy, artistic cover, this book will leave you in tears. We get to know two characters as they recap their combined one hundred years of life, through paintings and stories. This was a wonderful way to get to know two very different characters. 

Book 4: Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan

Similarly, Mad Honey, which was my fourth book of the month and year, has two main characters that we follow. We see perspectives from Olivia's point of view working through present events, which is alternating with Lily's point of view, which works backwards through time. Sounds confusing, but works really well! This book covered many topics through a carefully woven story. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these two perspectives play off each other, the twists and turns throughout the book, and the wonderful insight these authors provided on so many issues. I highly recommend going into this book with little to no information and letting it wow you. 

I could discuss this book forever, but on to the next!

Book 5: The Orphan Witch - Paige Crutcher

Wanting a fast-paced, completely different read, I picked up The Orphan Witch next. This book starts by introducing you to a girl unsure of who/what she is. She has this longing for connection that she didn't receive throughout her life, which encourages her to accept an invitation from a friend to visit an island. On this remote island we learn about magic, curses and witches, in a fast-moving adventure of a story that completely enthralled me.

Book 6: The Prisoner - B. A. Paris

I then picked up a book that happened to feature another girl orphaned at a young age. She works hard to build her own life from scratch after her father dies. The Prisoner by B. A. Paris had the past and present timeline, and I enjoyed the way they came together. Paris creates a story where you will think you know what is happening, and then flips part of the story on its head and you will be left guessing again. This was a quick read (less than 300 pages) that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end.

Book 7: Dark Rise - C. S. Pacat

The next book I picked up coincidentally featured a young man, 17, who loses his mum and is now an orphan as well. Dark Rise, by C. S. Pacat was amazing! You start by meeting this boy, who is working at the shipyard, and is then kidnapped and held in the cargo hold of a ship unsure why he's been taken. If that isn't a hooking beginning as is, Pacat then takes us through this incredible journey of unlikely friends as they - literally - try to save the world. This book was so well done. The description has you picturing what the characters are seeing without slowing the story down, has you understanding this centuries-long line of events leading to the events playing out in the book, and doesn't let the reader look away until the book closes. We are left wanting more story, and I was happy to learn that the author is planning a trilogy!

Book 8: The Witch of Willow Hall - Hester Fox

I then moved to another story featuring magic, The Witch of Willow Hall. This was Hester Fox's debut, and it combines supernatural elements, romance and mystery in a captivating historical fiction tale. This was a story with a focus on family, and sisters, much like my next book.

Book 9: For the Wolf - Hannah Whitten

For the Wolf starts with two sisters, Neve and Red, who are turning twenty in a few days. Their religious village has a centuries-long promise of sending the second born sister to the Wolf. Being twins, Red is born minutes after Neve, meaning she will be sacrificed. This story shows the love these two sisters have for eachother and what ends they will go to trying to save the other. This is a magnificent story of love and sacrifice, with magic thrown in!

Book 10: The Widow of Rose House - Diana Biller

I read my January bookclub book next, The Widow of Rose House, and this was a fantastic read. I didn't want to put this one down. This read so similarly to Simone St. James' older books, with ghost hunting, mystery, suspense and romance. This was a wonderful read you won't eant to end. You will fall in love with this adorable genius who is so upfront and caring, even the FMC can't resist, despite her efforts. I loved the sprinkling of humour and feminist issues throughout this one, and I'm sure you'll also fall in love with this group of characters.

Book 11: Night Music - Jojo Moyes

I turned to my TBR shelf for my next book and picked up Night Music by Jojo Moyes. This was the only book I finished this month that did not enjoy. Struggling to connect to the characters, and without enough plot to keep me captivated, I closed this book with relief and moved on.

I went for a thriller next, to hopefully catch my attention and picked up Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. After a boring 50 pages, I moved on to a different thriller, and was not disappointed!

Book 12: The Passengers - John Marrs

The Passengers by John Marrs is an absolutely riveting story. This had a diverse cast of characters that quickly draw you in and captivate you, and then the story doesn't let you go until you turn the last page. Marrs debates ethics and morals associated with technology throughout this one, which add to the climatic story you're immediately dropped into. The first chapter ends on a hanger and the urgency doesn't end. This was well done and incredibly gripping.

Book 13: The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo - Amy Schumer

My last read of the month was my first non-fiction of the year! I picked up The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, which is Amy Schumer's memoir. Told in her trademark blunt and open way, this handled some serious topics right alongside her embarrassing moments. This was a good memoir, although I definitely missed some references to people, shows and movies. 

In January I participated in Tackle Your TBR challenge and met my goal of reading 8 books off my bookshelf. January was a great start to the year and I am excited to see what February will bring!

If you're interested in individual reviews, following along with my reading updates or chatting about books, check out my Instagram page @reading.with.t !