Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a small compensation to help support my blog if you decide to make a purchase through my links at no cost to you.
Find out what I’ve been reading and loving lately before you reach for your next book!
Ahh, January. I have never embraced a new year with such enthusiasm and excitement!
That enthusiasm definitely carried over into my reading this past month because I read five books. I have been making a conscious effort to put down my phone at night and pick up a book instead. I feel like my nights are so much longer now that I am not spending hours doom scrolling on social media.
In January, my reading focus was picking books I already own. I had 94 unread books on my shelves on January 1, and I really want to decrease that number by more than 50% this year.
I also focused on the bonus reading challenge in my book club, which was to read only books from new-to-you authors. With the exception of my final book of January, every book I finished met the challenge!
With that said, I skipped Book of the Month in January, but I did catch up on books from previous months. I would love to get my TBR to a point where I am reading my BOTM picks in the month I get them. So I will probably utilize the skip option more often this year and limit myself to one book a month unless there is an add-on I want that month. We’ll see how it goes!
Now let’s talk about all of the books I read in January.
Always, In December by Emily Stone
Josie and Max have a chance encounter days before Christmas. Both were looking to avoid the holiday, but a whirlwind romance leads to the two spending Christmas together.
Max disappears with no explanation, but their paths continue to cross for the next year. It turns out Max had a reason for disappearing. As Christmas approaches again, Max and Josie find themselves together when they need each other the most.
Even though this made me cry, Always, In December is 100% my kind of Christmas book. I could see myself rereading this in 11 months during the holidays! It was the perfect amount of romance and drama.
Rating: ★★★★½
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: New-to-you author
The Collective by Alison Gaylin
The Collective was one of my Book of the Month add-ons in December 2021. I had major FOMO after not picking this book in November 2021.
Unfortunately I didn’t really understand the hype for this book. It was definitely a unique concept-mothers who have lost children meet on the dark web and seek revenge on their children’s murderers. The middle section drags on and then the ending is just a few pages. The final twist was decent but the pacing of the ending felt off compared to the rest of the book.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: A book you meant to read in 2021
Related: Is a Book of the Month Subscription Worth It?
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier
Little Secrets has been on my shelves since 2020. I had honestly forgotten what it was even about, but I decided to borrow the audiobook when I saw it was available on Libby.
As it turns out, I’m glad I didn’t know the synopsis before starting this book because I felt surprised by every twist and turn in this story! It is a domestic thriller about a couple going through a rough patch after their son has been kidnapped. That’s really all you need to go going in.
Rating: ★★★★★
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: BIPOc author
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden
Many thanks to the publisher for reaching out to me about an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, Road of Bones was my first DNF of 2022. I was expecting a quicker pace from this book considering the length, but it was 20% before anything remotely interesting or tense finally happened. I was expecting something totally different based on the title and description. I wish it had focused on the Road of Bones more instead of being a creature feature.
Rating: DNF @ 38%
Related: Why I’m Breaking Up With ARCs in 2022
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this title in exchange for a cover reveal post and my honest review.
This thriller was a Book of the Month pick in December. I already had an ARC from the publisher, but I waited to listen to the audiobook the week it released. I’m really glad I waited for the audiobook because I’m not sure I would have enjoyed this one much if I had physically read it.
This was a pretty predictable thriller, so I wouldn’t really go in expecting much if you read a lot of mystery/thriller books. I do think it is perfect for readers new to the genre because it is easy to follow and the twist might catch you off guard.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: Debut author
House and Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
I had put this massive 800 page tome off for almost a full year, but with the upcoming sequel releasing in February, I thought it was finally time to tackle the longest book on my TBR.
I am glad I had been warned about the beginning because very slow and info-dump-y because I might have DNF’d otherwise.
I would not read the synopsis for this book because it does give away something shocking that happens in the first 100 pages. I will say that the world SJM has created in this series is just fascinating and she could do so much with it! It is nothing like ACOTAR, but I really enjoyed it and already have the next book preordered next month! I highly recommend the audiobook through Audible too.
Use my affiliate link with Audible to get your first month free! If you are an Amazon Prime member, you will get two free credits with your trial!
Rating: ★★★★★
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: 500 pages or more
What books did you read in January? Did you read any books for the 2022 Reading Challenge? Let me know in the comments!
Talk Bookish To Me