📖January Reading!📖

[Foxy]

My goal was 35 books last year and I got 39, but I didn't read the first 9 months of the year because I was writing.

I got book 2 written of my series! but probably won't publish until all 4 are written 🥴.

I've gotten really into contemporary romances if anyone has any good recs.

I just finished the hating game, and 99 percent mine and really enjoyed both. I also just finished Ruthless Vows 💕

[Foxy]

I'm just starting the wishing game,  how did you like it?

Jan 2, 2024 8:52:00 GMT -6 Pizzaslut said:

My December books. The Wishing Game and the Wake Up Call were probably my favorites. The Christmas Guest was my least. At least it was only like 100 pages.

[Foxy]

I loved the 7 year slip! That was one of my December reads! I liked it a lot more then the dead romantics,  which was still good, but I thought the 7 year slip was better

Jan 4, 2024 0:45:55 GMT -6 DGM said:

I just downloaded The Seven Year Slip after hearing about it on here.

I finished Today We Go Home by Kelli Estes last night. Wow. I love dual timeline books, and that one was powerful. TW for war scenes. My next dual timeline will be a re-read of The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. It is a faith-based story around an Oregon Trail diary and how it impacts the modern day main character.

[Pizzaslut]

Jan 8, 2024 12:53:31 GMT -6 Foxy said:

I'm just starting the wishing game,  how did you like it?

Jan 2, 2024 8:52:00 GMT -6 Pizzaslut said:

My December books. The Wishing Game and the Wake Up Call were probably my favorites. The Christmas Guest was my least. At least it was only like 100 pages.

It was one of my favorites for the year! I wish is longer because once they got to the game, it seemed like they could’ve done a lot more with it.

[thatgolfb]

I have a bunch of books going right now for various reasons.

Kindle- I am reading Circe but finding it just kind of dragging. Does anyone have opinions on this? Should I finish? I’m about 20% through it.

I started The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden to help break up Circe. I know it’s been said she ripped off Verity, so I wanted to compare, plus I know her books are quick and keep me interested.

I also have Of Mice and Men on Kindle, but haven’t started it because I’m debating just waiting for the audio.

Hardback- The Match, the sequel to The Boy in the Woods. I am liking it , but reading paper books is just more difficult with DS around.

Audio- ACOMAF. Everyone has told me this one is better than ACOTAR and it’s… fine. Not sure it needed to be 22 hours. I am about 85% through though.

[emma]

thatgolfb, i thought Circe was beautifully written but kind of boring. I slogged through the whole thing hoping it would get better based on everyones reviews but meh, my biggest compliment was it was nice. If it's not grabbing you by now it probably won't

[cdnfroggy]

I finished Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert and it was a fun, spicy pirate fantasy story. I'll definitely pick up the next one - but Robert is probably one of my favourite smutty writers - I also appreciate the diversity in her books.

I am currently reading The Birthday Party by Laurent Mauvignier and it is...a wordy slog so far (The first sentence is a whole page and almost 300 words long). It's supposed to be a literary thriller, but I'm not far enough to have gotten to that part. It's for my book club, so I have to finish it. It's translated from French, and I'm wondering if some of my issues may be with the translation. I debated trying to find a french copy, but the holidays got in the way and I don't think I will have time to before book club, so I shall continue on with this one.

[adelbert]

Jan 8, 2024 13:43:20 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

I have a bunch of books going right now for various reasons.

Kindle- I am reading Circe but finding it just kind of dragging. Does anyone have opinions on this? Should I finish? I’m about 20% through it.

I started The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden to help break up Circe. I know it’s been said she ripped off Verity, so I wanted to compare, plus I know her books are quick and keep me interested.

I also have Of Mice and Men on Kindle, but haven’t started it because I’m debating just waiting for the audio.

Hardback- The Match, the sequel to The Boy in the Woods. I am liking it , but reading paper books is just more difficult with DS around.

Audio- ACOMAF. Everyone has told me this one is better than ACOTAR and it’s… fine. Not sure it needed to be 22 hours. I am about 85% through though.

I would try to get to 50% on Circe and if it hasn't grabbed you by then it probably won't. Personally I loved it, but I also enjoy Greek mythology and feminist literature and it just hit all the right spots for me. I don't know that it's a total crowd pleaser though.

[wedding]

I finished a few books recently.

Identical by Ellen Hopkins. Because someone said it was disturbing, I just had to. It was. I listened on audio and wish I did the book so I could skim the detailed SA parts. Unfortunately, I didn't think the book was that great. I have read other books that I have felt similarly disturbed, but the book was well written and had alot more meat to it. I gave it 3 stars but I don't really recommend it.

Those Empty Eyes by Charles Donlea. I also thought this one was just ok. We never got to know the main character all that well and there were some tangents that were unnecessary to the story. 3 stars.

The last was also a 3 star rating. Here in the Dark by Alexis Soloski. It took quite a while to pick up but I did really enjoy the main characters wit and wanted to see where it went. I enjoyed the plot but it had some serious holes.

Not the best start to 2023 but my current books look promising: The Seventh Girl and The Taken Ones.

[bearfootzcontinued]

I'm having a hard time getting through Happiness Falls. I'm going to stick with it but need something that grabs me more for my next read.

Also, I tried starting Fourth Wing over the holidays and realized that even with my cheaters the font is too small for my 44 yo eyes. Been eyeing up page magnifiers on Amazon - anyone else use something like this? This is why the paperwhite is so much easier to read on but I forgot my age when I acquired all these physical books Guess I should have gone for the large print copies like I've been doing at the library.

[melohdy]

I'm here! My goal for the year was 35 and I ended up with 50.

Recently read:
Iron Flame - 5 stars - I started it right when it first came out but my library loan ran out before I could finish. I finally stole it from my sister's audible account to finish
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic - DNF at about 50%. This book couldn't decide what it wanted to be
The Thief - 4 stars - this was a quick re-read to help me break 50 by the end of the year
A Merry Little Meet Cute - 4 stars - cute, sugary sweet, spicy
The Golden Spoon - 3 stars - I wanted more from this, but it was cute. Whodunnit murder mystery inspired by Great British Bake Off
Lovelight Farms - 4 stars - I LOVE a best friends to lovers trope
A Court of Sugar and Spice - 3 stars - a spicy Nutcracker retelling
The Idea of You - 3 stars - basically Harry Styles meets single mom fan fiction. My BFF was obsessed with it. There were a ton of things about the writing that really annoyed me

Currently listening to:
You by Caroline Kepnes (I've watched the show)

Currently reading:
Gloom Town by Ronald L. Smith - my 10yo got this in her book box and told me it was so good that I have to read it. She's never recommended a book before, so I am excited.

[melohdy]

Oh, my sister also asked me to be a beta reader for a friend of hers who is trying to publish her first book. It sounds promising, I just have to figure out how to download it.

[starrynight]

Jan 8, 2024 13:43:20 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

Kindle- I am reading Circe but finding it just kind of dragging. Does anyone have opinions on this? Should I finish? I’m about 20% through it.

I read it for my book club years ago, and I enjoyed it. If it isn't working for you right now, always OK to just move on to something else.

[cnf]

Jan 8, 2024 13:43:20 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

I have a bunch of books going right now for various reasons.

Kindle- I am reading Circe but finding it just kind of dragging. Does anyone have opinions on this? Should I finish? I’m about 20% through it.

I started The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden to help break up Circe. I know it’s been said she ripped off Verity, so I wanted to compare, plus I know her books are quick and keep me interested.

I also have Of Mice and Men on Kindle, but haven’t started it because I’m debating just waiting for the audio.

Hardback- The Match, the sequel to The Boy in the Woods. I am liking it , but reading paper books is just more difficult with DS around.

Audio- ACOMAF. Everyone has told me this one is better than ACOTAR and it’s… fine. Not sure it needed to be 22 hours. I am about 85% through though.

Did you not have to read Of Mice and Men in high school? I definitely remember reading it.

[cnf]

I finished Those Who Wish Me Dead last night. I very much enjoyed it and will definitely read more by the author.

I started both Divine Rivals on Kindle and Hummingbird on hard copy today. I didn't start a romcom last night, but my preorder on Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire dropped into my Kindle overnight, so I'll start that tonight.

[kittyriot]

The second half of Weyward was much better!!

[byjove]

WaPo has a great Dept of Data feature on reading in the US. Gifted link

[yellowwallpaper]

The Tent Generations: Palestinian Poems was a great read. I’m not a huge poetry reader, but still enjoyed it. 4*

I also read The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody. This was a middle grade fantasy book and also a Nutmeg Nominee for CT. I wasn’t a huge fan - 2*.

Currently reading The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert on my kindle and listening to How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. I’m liking both so far.

[DGM]

Jan 8, 2024 12:44:52 GMT -6 Foxy said:

My goal was 35 books last year and I got 39, but I didn't read the first 9 months of the year because I was writing.

I got book 2 written of my series! but probably won't publish until all 4 are written 🥴.

I've gotten really into contemporary romances if anyone has any good recs.

I just finished the hating game, and 99 percent mine and really enjoyed both. I also just finished Ruthless Vows 💕

That's exciting for you! Have you said what genre/style your books are?

As for contemporary romance, I think anything by Susan Mallery, Susan Wiggs, or Sheila Roberts may fit the bill. I read Christmas books by all of them last month. They were all enjoyable in their own way. I normally veer towards faith based books which they weren't, but they weren't too spicy either if that makes sense.

[emma]

I finished Divine Rivals and it’s convinced me I’m broken because it was just fine, I wasn’t blown away by it.

[wedding]

I finished Almost Surely Dead which was an Amazon first read this month. It was good. Not my standard thriller and I could predict some of it, but I enjoyed the story and learning more about a culture I know so little about. I gave it 4 stars.

I also read The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey. It was really good and I’ll be reading more in the series. 4.5 stars rounded to 5

[sudsy]

Jan 9, 2024 18:09:49 GMT -6 emma said:

I finished Divine Rivals and it’s convinced me I’m broken because it was just fine, I wasn’t blown away by it.

I DNFd it. I may pick it back up another time, but I just couldn’t make fetch happen this time around.

[leatherpants]

The narration in Circe was gorgeous though and I think it was 90% of my enjoyment of the book. The story was fine enough but my gosh I felt like I was in an art painting listening to it

[nelzie]

I finished The Girl Who Was Taken and Twenty Years Later. I liked them both, rated them 4 and 4.5 stars.

Now I'm finishing up Heiress by Rachel Hawkins. It came out today but I had an ARC so I need to get it done lol.

[imapenguin]

I listened to First Lie Wins today and really liked it. Very twisty and fun. A rare Reese’s book club hit for me.

[loony]

Wayward was a 5 star for me.

It reminded me of Alix Harrow’s writing, and the female rage/family connections sealed the deal.

[thatgolfb]

Jan 8, 2024 16:59:17 GMT -6 cnf said:

Jan 8, 2024 13:43:20 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

I have a bunch of books going right now for various reasons.

Kindle- I am reading Circe but finding it just kind of dragging. Does anyone have opinions on this? Should I finish? I’m about 20% through it.

I started The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden to help break up Circe. I know it’s been said she ripped off Verity, so I wanted to compare, plus I know her books are quick and keep me interested.

I also have Of Mice and Men on Kindle, but haven’t started it because I’m debating just waiting for the audio.

Hardback- The Match, the sequel to The Boy in the Woods. I am liking it , but reading paper books is just more difficult with DS around.

Audio- ACOMAF. Everyone has told me this one is better than ACOTAR and it’s… fine. Not sure it needed to be 22 hours. I am about 85% through though.

Did you not have to read Of Mice and Men in high school? I definitely remember reading it.

I didn’t!

I was in the IB program and our reading list seemed quite different than what others usually say they have read. We had a Latin American unit, for example, where we read House of the Spirits and One Hundred Years of Solitude (which both remain a couple of my favorite books!)

I also didn’t read The Catcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird so I should add those to my list.

[thatgolfb]

I did read The Grapes of Wrath in middle school and LOVED it, which was definitely a UO at the time. 😂

[thatgolfb]

I don’t have the audio for Of Mice and Men yet, but I did start Animal Farm on audio because it’s short, and was included on Spotify.

I finished ACOMAF. So many people said it was better than the first one, which I agree with. But I gave it 3 stars. I will probably wait a bit again before starting the next one.

[thatgolfb]

Jan 9, 2024 18:30:46 GMT -6 wedding said:

I finished Almost Surely Dead which was an Amazon first read this month. It was good. Not my standard thriller and I could predict some of it, but I enjoyed the story and learning more about a culture I know so little about. I gave it 4 stars.

I also read The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey. It was really good and I’ll be reading more in the series. 4.5 stars rounded to 5

Ooh thanks for the reminder about the First Reads.

I just chose The Real Deal and Last Night.