Best Books of January
As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she read that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better about doing this.
So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.
These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from January. I clearly had another great reading month—I liked a lot of books.
The Eighth Detective (Alex Pavesi): It’s a set of “classic murder mystery” stories framed within a larger story about an editor preparing these stories with the author for re-publication. They each follow one of the author’s rules about murder mysteries. The stories range from decent to great, and while I saw the twist coming from a mile away, I still enjoyed watching the book unfold.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Toshikazu Kawaguchi): This is such a sweet set of intertwined stories, all featuring a coffeehouse where you can go back in time. You can’t change the past, and you can only stay for a short time (until the coffee gets cold), but somehow every person who goes backward manages to find peace with the present. Loved it.
Admission (Julie Buxbaum): This is a fictionalized account of the college admissions scandal, and it highlighted what drives so much of the anger (that situation and also now in terms of the pandemic). There is an unwritten social contract that we follow, and when someone breaks that contract—that trust that we’re all going to operate from an “attempt to do no harm” space—it enrages us. I should probably unpack this in its own post.
I Let You Go (Claire Mackintosh): Such a great story. It felt a lot like Broadchurch (the television show) but in book form. And a very different murder. And not really following all the people in a town. So not Broadchurch at all, but still very Broadchurch-y. Maybe this is more accurate: if you miss the show Broadchurch, you will probably like this book.
People Like Her (Ellery Lloyd): Instagram influencer meets obsessive fan in a couldn’t-put-it-down book. It’s a commentary on social media—the real from the curated—but it’s also, at its heart, the story of a relationship. And the smoke and mirrors of the celebrity world.
The Duke and I (Julia Quinn): Yes, I watched Bridgerton. Yes, I immediately got the series and started reading it. (Expect more blurbs in the upcoming months because I think I’ll get through at least the first five books.) I already know that the books get better as the series progresses, but this first book was so enjoyable.
Finna (Nino Cipri): This is definitely my favourite thing I read this month. It may become my favourite book of the year. And it’s only January! That’s how good it is. It’s about two employees in an IKEA-knockoff store, who enter a Scandinavian Narnia through one of the fake “homes” in the store showroom to save a customer who was sucked into a wormhole. There were points where I laughed so hard that I couldn’t breathe. And others where I felt wistful. It is such a lovely book, and there’s a follow-up to it coming out soon.
The Wife Upstairs (Rachel Hawkins): This had such an unbelievable build-up before it came out, and I was scared that it wouldn’t deliver. But it was amazing. It’s Jane Eyre meets Rebecca in the modern South. It’s creepy and wonderful and you could probably read the whole thing in one sitting. It’s that good.
What did you read last month?
4 comments
Ooh, some of these sound good!
I read five books last month, which is pretty good for me, and a promising start to the new year. I’ve reviewed them all more fully on my own blog.
* “Hoax” by Brian Stelter — about the relationship between Fox News and You-Know-Who.
* “Confessions of a Forty-Something” by Alexandra Potter. This was for the Gateway Women book club. It is funny and wise and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
* “The Jane Austen Society” by Natalie Jenner. Based on a true story about the formation of the society in post-WWII England, in the village where Jane Austen once lived. Very enjoyable.
* “The Truths We Hold” by Kamala Harris. This was obviously written & published to coincide with her run for the Democratic presidential nomination. She’s had an interesting life, and I wish there was a little more about the personal stuff to balance the policy stuff.
* “American Baby” by Gabrielle Glaser. I devoured this in less than 24 hours, after reading a review in the NY Times. An absolutely riveting look at adoptions in the U.S. in the 20th century, framed by the story of one birth mother and the son she relinquished, trying to find each other. A must-read for anyone interested in or affected by adoption.
I look forward to your reviews each month.
Here are the books I read in January:
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I enjoyed it, but I like Trevor Noah.
Beach Read by Emily Henry. I put off reading this one because of the hype — I am often disappointed when books are built up before I read them — but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not something I’ll remember in five years, but a good read.
I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajai. I love Luvvie but thought that this book was just OK.
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory. My love affair with Ms. Guillory’s books continues. . . .
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Can you believe I’d never read this book, or watched the movie(s) based on it?! Shocking. It was really good.
So You Wanna Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. This is a good, basic read for people who want to be able to discuss issues around race with the folks in their lives.
Fractured, and Undone, both by Karin Slaughter. These were both good, solid, entertaining books in Slaughter’s signature style.
I am also S.L.O.W.L.Y working my way through Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi: I started it the first week of January and in addition to the fact that I’ve only read it on and off, I find it difficult to read more than a chapter or two at a time. But I am determined to finish it because it’s informative and I want to learn about the topic. (Note: the Goodreads blurb describes this book as a “fast-moving narrative.” I disagree. I think it reads like a more-engaging-than-average textbook vs. a fast-moving narrative.)
Oooh, so many good things! Finna sounds amazing. Is Admission YA? I loved Julie Buxbaum’s Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next. I will have to check out The Wife Upstairs, there are so many Wife titled books that I missed this one! I loved People Like Her even though I genuinely hated pretty much all the characters.
I will have to do a January books post of my own, I read too many for a comment. I did love The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison and Sing For the Unraveling of the World by Brian Evenson. That one I read on New Years Day, which seemed appropriate.
Will have to check out “Before the Coffee gets Cold” – that sounds intriguing!
I read a few books last month, but my favorite was “His Only Wife” (Peace Adzo Medie) set in Ghana following seamstress Afi as she secures her financial future by marrying a rich man…with the catch that he’s in love with a woman that his family doesn’t approve of and the family expects Afi to find a way to displace in her new husband’s life. Afi is a strong, believable character – I was really impressed with the way she chooses to navigate a lot of tremendously tricky currents and makes her way.