I had a realization in 2023 that my attention span was decreasing rapidly and my reliance on autocorrect and google was becoming alarming. I realized that I hadn’t read an actual book in years. I used to love reading and I read hundreds of books throughout my childhood and high school years. Over the years I stopped prioritizing picking up a book and I would reach for my phone instead. Realizing that reading was something I loved to do, I decided to pick it back up again and polish up the skills I used to have. In July of 2023 I started with a lot of audiobooks and soon transitioned to e-books and physical copies. I read maybe fifteen or twenty books in 2023 (including audiobooks). I do count these as “reads”, contrary to some, due to the fact that I have a busy life and children. It’s another way to explore my senses and make a book come alive.

Going into 2024 I decided that I wanted to set an actual goal that would force me to be intentional with my reading time. I set my sights on fifty books for the year. Cold and gloomy January came and went and I had read/listened to eleven books. At this pace, I’m going to raise my goal to 100 books for the entire year.

As a way to keep me on track with my goals and to make sure that I’m being intentional with the books that I’m choosing to read, I’ve decided I’m going to track my books and write a summary each month with a quick review.

Without further ado, let’s jump into my January 2024 reads!

Please note that if you click on the books and shop my Amazon link, I’ll earn a small commission.

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

This was a quick, albeit painful, read. As an aspiring writer, I couldn’t help but want to give her more than one star. I took to GoodReads to see that I was far from the only one struggling with criticism. The plot holes were enormous, the ending was sickening and I now know that when there’s 10 copies of a book at Goodwill for $1, you should keep walking. I wish this wasn’t my first read of 2024… better luck next year. Obviously I gave this read one star.

A Hidden Affair by Pam Jenoff

Scrolling through Libby, after the train wreck that was The Perfect Marriage, I was ready for something fresh and well written. I was intrigued by this “skip-the-line-lucky” pick in Libby and decided to go for it. About ten minutes into reading, I realized that it is the second book in a two-book series. I was already invested and the author honestly did a great job of summarizing the previous book, so I quickly googled the synopsis of the first book and went back to reading. I gave “A Hidden Affair” three stars because I felt like the story could have been developed a bit more. It had a few plot holes and a random twist at the end that I didn’t love. Overall, it was a decent, quick read. I even went on to read 3/4 of her book: “Code Name Sapphire”. I didn’t include that in my list because I returned it early. It was a brutally detailed account of families from the holocaust and my heart couldn’t handle it. Overall, I’ll probably read a few more books from Pam Jenoff when I am not in such a sensitive mental state.

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

This book will have you laughing, crying, reminiscing and dreaming of what life was like for your mother, before she was your mother. This book left me wanting more from the author and I only gave 4/5 stars because I felt like the ending was rushed and I truly wanted a little bit more of a storyline from the perspective of the mother.

This Bird Has Flown by Susanna Hoffs

I LOVED this book. I guess now that I’ve rated everything, I’ve realized a book has to be practically perfect to get 5 stars. This book felt like a YA novel with some mature themes sprinkled in. While he storyline is a bit predictable, the characters are quirky and the romance was well balanced by the relatability of the main character. I read this book but I am sure it would’ve been a great audiobook listen as well.

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Belleza and Emily Harding

I really wanted to love this book and I just did not. I listened to it, which might’ve been part of the issue. I could not get into the characters and the voice actor was unbearable to listen to. I really toughed it out just to finish the book. The romance was drawn out for way too long, predictable and the characters were frustratingly “dumb”. I did give it 2 stars instead of one because I am a sucker for any book set in NYC.

Winter in Paradise by Elon Hilderbrand

I immediately put all of the woman’s books on hold upon finishing this book. WIP is #1 in the “Paradise” series and I cannot wait to finish the series. I love when an author switches character perspectives and this author did a great job of switching back and forth without losing details. Although some of the plot lines were a tad bit predictable, the ending left me ready for the next book. I read this in 2 days and I definitely recommend it as a vacation/light read.

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

I really enjoyed “Bad Summer People” from the beginning to the end. The character’s came to life very easily and the way the story played out was entertaining. There were definitely a few plot holes as the characters switched perspectives. I also didn’t see the point in a few of the chapters; they felt like fillers. Based off of the first few chapters I thought it was going to be a thriller/mystery… it was not. Definitely has mature content, I’d only give it 🌶️🌶️ for spice.

Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead

My first 5 star book! I freaking LOVED this book. The characters were intricately thought out, mysterious and heart-wrenchingly beautiful. The plot was incredible and I found myself tearing up often as the main character developed. I would love if this was adapted into a series or a movie. I’m currently reading “Where the Crawdad Sings” and this book has a very similar tone. I already have this author’s other titles on hold. I will warn you that there are themes of abuse (both sexual and religious) and occult references/themes. These darker themes are not celebrated, instead they are well integrated to make you think about ancient cultures and how easily evil can slip in and bring confusion. I did listen to this book, the audio version was fantastic. I’ve considered reading it again in a physical form.

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

This was my 2nd paperback book of the month. For some reason, one that I can’t fully articulate, a book like this must be read in paperback form. The first half of the book was difficult to get through. It was a bit slow and I had to get used to this author’s voice. Once I hit “part two” of the book, I was hooked. This is a book you read on a cozy afternoon to get lost in the pages of a simpler time. You will enjoy Jayber Crow if you love historical fiction.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

I love a good thriller/mystery. I’m also a scaredy cat. There were some moments of this book that I truly did feel myself getting scared. I don’t enjoy feeling scared, hence the three stars. I enjoyed the characters in this book and the twists and turns that the author chose to take. There were a few plot lines that felt unnecessary and I personally did not like how rushed the ending felt. It was a quick read and felt like an episode of Criminal Minds.

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

I did not enjoy how this book was written. There are zero quotations. All of the dialogue is done through the first person. My brain honestly hurt reading this book. That being said, the plot line is beautiful, the characters are easy to sympathize with and the actual story of a young girl, sent away to marry for the “good” of her family, forced to figure out life with an abusive man, will make you cry. It will also make you cheer her on and every other immigrant woman who has survived so much more than most of us could even imagine. I am writing this review in February and as of a few days ago, I finished another one of Angie Cruz’ novels. I recommend reading “Dominicana” first and then “How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water”. I will fully review that book in my next post.