What I Read in January

First reading recap of 2023 – I can’t believe we’re already here! I kicked off the year slow and steady with five delightful books! I am easing back into my “reading physical books again instead of just binging audiobooks” era, and so enjoying it! I have high hopes for 2023 and what my reading life will look like this year. But enough about me – let’s get into what I read in January!

The Honey Don’t List by Christina Lauren – 4 Stars

Starting the year off with a bang with this fun audiobook from one of my favorite romance writers (romance duos? How do we talk about Christina Lauren since they’re actually two people?). This was a fun and quick read that gave off MAJOR Chip and Joanna vibes if they were messy people. We follow Carey, personal assistant of Melissa and Rusty Tripp – famous tv home makeover sweethearts – as she works with Rusty’s personal assistant/set architect to keep the Tripps from blowing up everyone’s lives with their surprisingly messy relationship. 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan – 3 Stars

I don’t think I even have to give a description here – you’ve all seen Crazy Rich Asians! I love love love the movie – it’s just so visually stunning. The book was definitely different in some aspects, but it was still a fun read!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – 5 Stars

I don’t even know where to begin with this book. I was so skeptical of all of the rave reviews and people telling me that you don’t have to care about video games to love this book – they were right. We follow Sam Masur and Sadie Green throughout their youth and adult lives, from their close friendship as young kids to their college years and beyond, as they navigate relationships, school, working together developing video games, experiencing heartache, and more. I don’t really know how to describe the book because it spanned so many years and so many heavy topics, but I just loved it so much. I recommend it to everyone, whether you care one lick about video games or not (because I surely don’t).

One Day in December by Josie Silver – 4 Stars

This book gave me the same feelings that I had when reading One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s just one of those books that presents moral dilemmas in a way that has you empathizing with everyone involved. Laurie is on the bus one day the week of Christmas when she spots a guy sitting at the stop – they lock eyes and everything changes – and then the bus drives away. She spends months and months looking for him with the help of her best friend Sarah, but eventually resigns herself to the fact that Bus Boy won’t be found. Until she meets Sarah’s new boyfriend that she’s already head-over-heels in love with… 

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall – 4 Stars

I chose a wonderful book for my first Book of the Month pick – this thriller had me so interested from the very beginning, and my jaw was literally on the floor by the end of it. This book is about Naomi Shaw, brutally attacked in the woods at 11 years old, and her two best friends who witnessed her attack from afar. The three girls’ testimony put a serial killer behind bars, but was any of it even true?