Did anyone else feel like January was the longest month ever? That’s quite possibly why I was able to make it through 7 books…maybe it actually was longer than any other month we’ve ever had! January always seems to be my best reading month. It’s likely a mix of New Year motivation, anticipation over the new Diversify Your Reading Challenge, and a flurry of new releases that I’m keen to read that make it this way. Regardless, I tend to read a lot in January.
This year, I ticked off 7 books, putting me at 7/52 for my Goodreads challenge. Perhaps the most shocking this is that I only gave TWO books the whole five stars. I’m very generous with stars so I feel like this is a really big deal. Here’s a look at what I read in January 2020:
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
This book needs to sit on every family’s bookshelf (it’ll be placed in our guest room in the new house!). The illustrations are so simple but beautiful, the story is heartwarming, and the message is inspirational from the first word. You can read the entire thing, but it’s also possible to just flip to a page (and the author even recommends it!). I’m definitely going to pick a page whenever I’m feeling down because I’m almost certain it’ll put things into perspective and make me smile again. Buy in hardcover, keep it on display, and enjoy! [5 Stars]
All We Left Behind by Danielle R. Graham
I’m a huge fan of WWII Historical Fiction, but this book didn’t do it for me. The story was lovely, but the narrative style was not my favorite, so I found myself quite annoyed while reading it. I really did love the storyline, though- it was the first WWII novel I read that focused on Canada and, due to the Japanese connection, it reminded me of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. So, I would not rule it out entirely – I struggled to get through, but I’m sure it would suit someone else’s reading tastes much better than mine! Read my review on Goodreads. [3 Stars]
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
I have so many feelings about this book and I don’t even think I know how to put them into words yet! I mentioned it as a highly anticipated January release and it certainly delivered – there’s so much hype around this book right now and I think it deserves it even if only for the fact that it would make a fantastic book club discussion. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re looking for something that will get you thinking. If you need a second opinion, it’s also a Reese Witherspoon recommendation, and she always kills it. [4 Stars]
Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson
This is very different to Daisy Jones & The Six, but I love that I’ve read two music focused books recently. Daisy might have been my favorite book of 2019 and I listened to the curated Apple Music playlist nonstop. I can’t wait to create (or find!) a playlist for Mix Tape – so many songs were mentioned and I really need to listen to them all! This book was so enjoyable and would be perfect for anyone who loves missed chance stories such as One Day in December. Such a cute love story! Read my review on Goodreads. [4 Stars]
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover has done it again! I read my first Colleen Hoover novel last year – It Ends With Us – and it was one of my favorite books of the year. It brought out ALL of the emotions and I simply couldn’t put it down. Regretting You was very different but the same in the sense that it was so addicting. First love, true love, mother/daughter love – this book covers it all! [5 Stars]
You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld
This is a collection of modern day short stories that are incredibly relatable and will definitely get you thinking. However, I didn’t really find them memorable. In fact, I read a couple of people’s reviews after the fact and when they referenced a particular story, I had to go back and read a bit of it to remember what happened. So, I definitely found the stories enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. This is certainly worth reading and discussing with friends, though – I’m very keen to hear my own friends’ takes on the messages in the book! [3.5 Stars]
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
The final book I read January was our first 2020 Diversify Your Reading Challenge group pick. I heard so much hype around this book last year and was eager to read it. This historical fiction novel is an important one that highlights something that isn’t talked about very often. However, I didn’t gel too well with the writing style and the order of things. I felt that the author sometimes spent too much time on little plot points and brushed over the bigger plot points. But I did enjoy reading it and found that it made for great discussion. It’s also a relatively short book, which is always a bonus. [3.5 Stars]
