This is purely a timing issue but hey better late than never right, keep reading for all of my January reads! February has come and nearly over, I think we can all agree that the start of 2025 was a nice combo of eventful and stressful. But we made it and we’re leaving those vibes in the past and continuing to put one foot forward, literally and figuratively! Are you still getting your steps in and working towards those physical goals? I’m so excited because my walking pad came in, and I love its convenience. I just put on an audiobook or my favorite YouTuber and rock out for 30-45 min, which is roughly 1-2 miles. I would recommend it!
One thing I absolutely love seeing and discussing is how people rate the books they read! Reading is subjective; what may be considered a fantastic read for one could totally be a flop for someone else.
What were some of your favorite reads in January??
Unravel Me – Tahereh Mafi
I can’t say too much about this one because it is the 2nd book in this series, but man, o man, I am really enjoying this series! Book 1 is a great setup for a vastly expanding world, but you only get the tip of the iceberg. But just keep going!
If you enjoy dystopian settings, character-focused stories, and X-Men Origins, you will love this one. There is a bit of closed-door romance; nothing too explicit has happened, but the tension is definitely there, and we, the people, are eating it up!!! I hope to fully catch up with this series by the end of the year!
A Broken Blade – Melissa Blair
A Broken Blade is actually a re-read for me. I am a sucker for a gorgeous cover, and the final book in this quartet was published in January, so I felt like it was a great time to restart this series. I’ll admit I wasn’t completely gripped the first time I read this one, but the re-read was so much more!
This story has a lot of grief processing, and the FMC struggles with alcoholism as a coping mechanism, but honestly, watching her progress through the story was a breath of fresh air. I think she is quite relatable because life is messy, and sometimes, we don’t always make the best decisions for our lives; we just have to figure out how to deal with those consequences. A slow-burn romance happens (90%…stick with it, lol), and then the last 10% is insane, leaving you sitting there contemplating your life choices because the cliffhanger makes you instantly want to jump into book 2. This was the fastest library hold I ever put in, so stay tuned!
The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
This year will be the year I am reading LOTR in its entirety for the first time…with the help of Aaron over on Youtube. She is hosting a Middle Earth read-a-long from January to April, reading 1 book on Fable monthly. I felt like this would be a great opportunity to attempt this widely loved series and discuss it along the way. As much as I do enjoy fantasy, A LOT of the world-building goes way over my head, and then I get so overwhelmed that I end up just DNF-ing. This provides a great community to discuss and interact with others reading along the way.
I actually really enjoyed The Hobbit. If you plan on reading this, please, please PLEASE read via audio; Andy Serkis did a PHENOMENAL job. He really adds so much character and personality to all the characters and makes this journey so much more entertaining. Oh, and there’s singing, lol. Who doesn’t love a good jingle now and then?
Genesis Begins Again – Alicia D. Williams
There’s a ‘funny’ story regarding this book. So, a group of us were chatting, and at some point, I recommended this book to someone. No, I had not yet read it. I also do not remember recommending this book lol. But their feedback was, “This was ok, not really my vibe.” Ok, fair enough. A few years later, here we are, where I have now read this book…and I get it: this book was ABSOLUTELY NOT FOR THEM! This book has an audience, and that audience is young Black girls of all shades.
This book tackles a very difficult subject that I feel most, if not all of us, experience at some point, whether it’s from our peers or even those within our family. This concept is that if you’re dark-skinned, then you’re ugly. Or our elders having this false narrative that beauty only comes in the shade of a paper bag.
I loved this story so much; watching Genesis going through specific scenarios and being forced to grow and having to mature at only 12 years old, not just seeing the strong-minded kid that she was but also being super relatable with her struggling with very real and very traumatic experiences. These experiences are what makes us all individuals and what makes us all unique in our own way. These aren’t to be picked and poked at but rather to be nurtured, and we should seek to understand. I remember being in middle school and struggling with my peers because I didn’t act a certain way, which really hindered how I maneuver in certain social circles today. This is a small plug: middle-grade books are not just for middle grades. These books really have fantastic life lessons that can be reinforced for all ages!
I would recommend this book, but be prepared for some good conversations.
Under The Whispering Door – TJ Klune
Oh my stars, if you have not read a book by TJ Klune, what in tarnation are you doing?
One thing this man is consistent with, is giving you a beautifully written story with quirky characters and found family with some fairly difficult themes; but at the end of the day I truly believe your heart will be so warm after reading it.
This story specifically centers around death and the process of moving on, so please take care while reading this. I intentionally held off on reading this because I lost my Dad a year ago and I just knew I would not be able to appreciate this story. But little did I know this story helped me take one step forward in my grieving process. Grief has no timeline, there is no one way to process the loss of a loved one. Klune helps us see this process of letting go from the other side through the lens of the passed individual.
Additional Books read in January
That brings us to the end of all the books I read in January. I’m having a pretty decent start to the year and I can’t wait to see what other stories I get to dive into and share with you all. Happy Reading!
Book Reviews & ARC’s
Firstly, I want to say thank you for considering me for your book reviewers; I am super excited. I love to read and encourage adult readers to take the leap, pick up a book, slap on a pair of headphones, and listen to an audiobook. While I love reviewing ARCs and books from authors, I want to provide guidelines and answer frequently asked questions on our process.
See HERE for further ARC requests