January 2024 Reads

I am trying to reach my goal of 70 books for the year, and January started off strong. So many great books to add to your TBR!

💛 Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare | 4 ⭐️

This was my first Shadow Hunters book, and it is in the middle of a longer series. Set in old London but with some twists. There are demons, magic, and gods with nefarious agendas out to take on the protectors of our world as we know it. Cordelia Carstairs is born into the Shadow Hunters and in her mission to restore the reputation of her arrested father, she soon finds there is much more to fear. With her crew of new friends, including well-to-do (and dare I say gorgeous) James Herondale, she is thrust into the adventure of a lifetime. The writing was beautiful, and I fell in love with each member of the motley crew. Definitely worth a read if you love fantasy but want to branch out.

💛 Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly | 4 ⭐️

Utterly heartbreaking. Martha Hall Kelly beautifully tells the story of three women living through hell in World War II. One, an American philanthropist working for the French consulate, another a Polish teenager in war torn Poland, and the third, a German doctor. The book highlights the atrocities of the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp for women. Through unimaginable horror, medical experimentation, and N@zi brutality, these women encounter impossible challenges. Readers will be unable to put down this novel based on a true story.

💛 The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson | 4 ⭐️

Historical fiction from 1950s Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, this story follows the tale of two black women who face the challenges of love before the Civil Rights Movement. Eleanor, a college-age student at Howard University, and Ruby, a teenager from inner-city Philly. Sadeqa Johnson skillfully shows readers the effects of racism and colorism in this gripping novel.

💛 The Housemaid by Freida McFadden | 4 ⭐️

I could. Not. Put. This. Down. It just wasn’t possible. I had to know what happened next, and spent two very late nights devouring this thriller.

💛 Congratulations The Best is Over by R. Eric Thomas | 3 ⭐️

I think I would've liked this memoir more if I had listened to the audio. Short and sweet, I loved R. Eric Thomas' description of returning to Baltimore, my hometown, after years away. Funny and clever, I appreciated how he talks about his experience as a gay man being married to a Presbyterian pastor and his experience with the church.

💛 Beartown by Fredrik Backman | 3⭐️

The first in a trilogy all about hockey in a remote town in Sweden, this one was told from the perspective of about 20 different people. It was slow going for the first half of the book, but once the action got rolling, I was able to stay interested. If you're into hockey, you'll love this.