January was a great month of reading for me! I started out the month pretty heavy on audiobooks, and it was so cold for much of the month that I was in full-on hibernation mode. And not only did I read a lot, I really enjoyed what I read, too. Here’s everything I read in January.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

I actually started this book back in 2020, but had to pause it because it’s dystopian and I needed light escapism. In the afterword, Celeste Ng says that the book isn’t about our world, but it’s not not our world, and that honestly feels more true now than ever. The world of the book is ruled by PACT, legislation passed that is extremely pro-American and anti-Asian, resulting in banned books and children being removed from their homes. Bird is a twelve year old boy who lives only with his father, a university librarian, after his mother left years ago after her poetry started being used by the resistance. Bird finds a clue as to where his mother might be, though, and decides to run away and try to find here – in doing so, his eyes are really opened to the reality of the world. It was honestly tough and chilling to read at times, but such an incredible story.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

This book was delightful and so charming, as the title would imply. I don’t actually watch The Bachelor, but I do love to read about fictional versions of it! In this one, a recently-disgraced tech entrepreneur is the romantic lead of Ever After – but he is not at all the typical star. He’s shy, awkward, and only agreed to be on the show to try to salvage his career. So the show pairs him with Dev, one of the best producers, to help him feel more comfortable and bring him out of his shell. It works… but possibly too well! This was such a fun read, but also handled mental health really thoughtfully, and made it a more complex and beautiful story.

Saltwater by Katy Hays

(I got an ARC of this from Netgalley and Ballantine Books – it will be out on March 25.) This is kind of a slow-burn thriller and family saga combined, set against the beautiful backdrop of Capri. The Lingates are a very wealthy and well-known family, who had to deal with the tragic death of Sarah, mother to three-year-old Helen, in the early 90s while on vacation on the island. 30 years later, back on the island, the necklace Sarah was wearing the night of her death is mysteriously delivered to the family’s villa, and Helen is determined to solve the mystery around her mother’s murder. The book flips back and forth between Sarah and Helen’s stories, unraveling more and more of the Lingate family secrets. The ending was a bit unrealistic for me, but it was a fun ride overall, and it would be great to read while on the beach in the summer.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

I’m going to keep this one brief, because I don’t want to spoil anything for people who haven’t finished yet! This is the third book in the Empyreon series, which starts with Fourth Wing. Onyx Storm picks right up where Iron Flame left off, with Violet searching desperately for a fix to her newest Xaden problem, and also desperately looking for allies for the war. This was just medium for me… it felt like a lot of filler, and a lot of side characters that I’m not invested in. I did feel like the pacing was better than Iron Flame, though, and I will still read the next book in the series.

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

(I got a copy of this through Libro.fm.) I really loved this multi-generational story, and the way it examines trauma and perseverance and resilience through different perspectives. Ebby has been somewhat “famous” in some circles ever since, at 10 years old, she called 9-1-1 to report her brother had been shot in their house while she was upstairs. The murder was never solved, and she’s been dealing with the trauma ever since. When she’s left by her fiance on the morning of their wedding, she decides to get away from everything and take up her friend’s offer to stay at her place in France. Even across the world, her past has a way of finding her, and she has to figure out how to move forward. The story also weaves in aspects of Ebby’s ancestors and the people and stories that have brought her to where she is today – I loved how they were interwoven, and how everything came together.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

I know I’m a bit late on reading this book, but wow – it not only lived up to the hype, but way exceeded it. I could not have loved this book more. It’s a modern(ish) day take on David Copperfield set in Appalachia. I’ve actually never read David Copperfield, but was still completely able to enjoy and appreciate the book – maybe there were references that I missed, but it can definitely be read on its own. Be warned going into this that it’s a heavy, incredibly sad story at many times – Demon, the narrator, basically has everything that could go wrong go wrong in his life at one point of another. But he has such a unique voice, and manages to keep a sense of humor, somehow… it’s all just such a powerful, moving story! There’s a little bit near the end about the power of books and reading, and I always love that. Everyone should read this.

Wild West Village by Lola Kirke

(I got an ARC of this from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster, but it’s out now.) I always love a memoir – which, I know the title says it isn’t a memoir, but it’s close enough for me. In a series of essays about her life, Lola talks about what it was like to grow up for her, being part of a “famous” family full of incredibly large personalities. It’s basically a story about growing up and coming-of-age, but it’s told through very, very funny vignettes of Lola’s life. She’s so open and willing to share it all, and really comes into her own by the end.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

(I got the a copy of this from Libro.fm, but it’s out now.) I don’t read a lot of stories about women in their 30s, who have been married and are now divorced and figuring things out for themselves again. We need more of them, and this one is a great addition to the genre. Shiloh and Cary were best friends growing up – everyone thought they’d end up together, but something happened in college and they haven’t spoken in years. When the two meet again years later at a friend’s wedding, they get the chance to get to know each other again – to reconnect as the new versions of themselves, while rekindling their history as childhood best friends. This was a messy, real love story in all the best ways.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

This was delightful – I ended up liking it so much more than I expected! It’s a cozy and fun mystery – a woman spends her whole life trying to stop her own murder, after it’s predicted by a fortune teller at a fair. When she is found murdered – 60 years later – it’s up to her great-niece Frances to figure out what exactly happened. Frances follows the hints, clues, and intense research that her great-aunt left behind, working with (and against) a somewhat wacky set of characters in the town where her great-aunt lived to find the murderer. It’s a mystery, but it’s not stressful at all – just fun!

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

(I got a copy of this from Libro.fm, but it’s out now.) This book is so messy and so fun and captivating – I didn’t want to stop reading at all! Katarina and Heath both had turbulent childhoods, but together they claw their way out of their situations by focusing all their attention on two things: ice dancing, and each other. Their chemistry on and off the ice is undeniable, and their dedication to training (mostly Katarina’s dedication to training, and Heath’s dedication to Katarina) takes them far. Their Olympic dreams are in sight… and then something goes very, very wrong. Ten years later, an unauthorized documentary is being filmed, as we try to unravel the messy strings of what happened to Katarina and Heath – what tore them apart, and what could bring them back together. The audiobook is full cast, and if you’re into audiobooks at all, I definitely recommend it.