Hey there!
Happy new month! I’m so glad January is over, and I’m looking forward to February. Of course, March is my favorite month for obvious reasons, but we have to get through February first. Haha!
In January, I read six books and enjoyed most of them. They were quite different from one another in the best way possible, each offering something unique. Here’s a quick rundown of what I read:
Razorblade tears by S.A. Cosby
I absolutely loved listening to this one. The audiobook is fantastic—I finished it in a day! The narrator does an excellent job bringing the characters to life, keeping me engaged, especially during shifts in perspective. While the big reveal was predictable (at least to me), I still enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded. The story highlights how a common goal can unite even the most unlikely pair—one Black, the other white, both grappling with grief and guilt as they navigate their shared loss.
Parable of the sower by Octavia Butler
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, especially since I rarely read dystopian novels. Reading it while witnessing the California fires felt unsettling. It’s clear that Octavia Butler wrote this as a cautionary tale, and the future she imagined—a world shaped by climate change, inequality, and social breakdown—feels eerily close to reality.
What struck me most was the theme of community. In a world where survival seems like an individual pursuit, Butler shows that building connections and relying on others isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. I highly recommend this one! I rarely annotate books, but this one had me reaching for my pen. I’ll definitely be reading Parable of the Talents next. I wrote a longer review here.
The favorites by Layne Fargo
I received the audiobook from Libro and was so excited to listen to it—especially when I heard it had a full cast. It reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, and it did not disappoint. It was also fascinating to read about figure skaters. While I don’t actively follow the sport, I’ve watched a few performances in the past and loved them. There’s something so mesmerizing about their grace and precision. I wrote my full review here.
The sun’s shadow by Sejal Badani
It was easy to get into this story, especially since it touches on some of my favorite themes like motherhood, family, and healing. The story follows two main characters, Celine and Felicity—two mothers who deeply love their sons and would do anything for them. But we also see two women who let their lives be shaped by a man. It annoys me when women settle for crumbs from men.
While I mostly enjoyed it and found it an easy read, some parts felt rushed, and much of it was predictable. It seemed like the author was aiming for a near-perfect ending, but I think it would’ve been more powerful if things were allowed to stay imperfect.
Such a fun age by Kiley Reid
I first read this in 2019 and picked it up again in January for my book club. A member suggested it last year, and I decided to select it. I liked it the first time, but I loved it on this reread. Kiley Reid does an excellent job tackling serious issues and complex characters in a way that’s so easy to read. I had an amazing time discussing it with my bookclub members.
I also attempted to read her most recent book, Come & Get It, but I struggled with it. I may give it another shot later.
How the one armed sister sweeps her house by Cherie Jones
I wanted to love this one. I bought it specifically for Read Caribbean Month and was drawn in by the intriguing title. But I struggled with the slow start—it had me wondering, where is this going? It felt like one unfortunate situation after another, which made it a bit hard to push through. That said, certain characters intrigued me enough to keep reading. One thing about this book is that it stays with you after you finish reading it. That definitely made me go back to increase my rating.
Hope you had a good reading month in January! Did you read anything exciting this month?
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