New Year, New Reading Lists! I started off the year with about the status quo for me – I completed 8 books this month with three other DNFs. Interestingly, I will likely go back and finish one of those DNFs as it has been selected for one of my in person books clubs. I am actually looking forward to finishing it now and discussing it as I am curious to see if anyone else shares my opinions. We can talk about that more at the end of February. Back to January. I had some standouts this month including two 5🍷⭐️ reads – I think there is a chance that How to Read a Book makes it all the way to the end of the year as one of my top books of the year. I am sure I will continue to be a moody reader through the year with the need to escape the dumpster fire reality we are living through. There are a few of these that are on my 2026 Reading Goals list, which is nice to start of the year checking some of those off.
Here are the books that helped me forget about some of that in January.
How to Read a Book – Monica Wood
I adored this book. From the first pages of meeting Violet in prison, the book club, Harriet, a retired school teacher nicknamed Bookie, through the woven story of hope, second chances and redemption. The world needs more Harriet, Frank and Violet right now. It is about much more than reading an actual book, but more about the story of our lives, how that story is interpreted from one to the other, how they meet up and intersect and how we all have a chance to write our own journey. This book was just what I needed at the right time. I enjoyed How to Read a book both in digital and audio form.
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Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice – Virginia Roberts Guiffre
I had to read this book. Not because I wanted to, but something drew me to know Virginia’s story. She had the courage prior to her death in 2025 to come forward and be sure it would be published and I felt the need to be a witness to it.
It is a 5 star from me, and most likely the only 5 star I will say is absolutely and utterly horrific. It took me quite a long time to finish as I often had to take breaks, sometimes days long. It is so horrific from her early years where her first abuse occurred from her father to a family friend to the absolutely sickening times under the control of Maxwell. I don’t have much else to say except that she was failed at every single turn where someone or something could have made a difference. I hope more people read Virginia Giuffrie’s story. And I hope that someday soon, everyone that was involved in anything related to this horrible ring will finally come crashing down. I am not sure what it will take. Believe the women.
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The Top of the World – Ethan Joella
A lovely, quiet story with a dual timeline one summer apart. Maggie is desperate to find out how her brother Chip spent his last summer near the end of a terminal illness. As we skip back into Chip’s timeline we learn all that occurred at The Red Maple Inn in the Poconos. This is a short and sweet look at love, loss, grief and redemption. Ethan Joella has become a favorite author and his deep understanding of empathy and humanity sets his books apart. I also very much enjoyed the mid 1970’s timeframe, I felt like I had jumped back to my childhood home in an east coast forest in which we lived, the trails we frequented and summers exploring all over. Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an advance e-copy. The Top of the World will be available on 6/30/26.
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The Briars – Sarah Crouch
I believe this is Sarah Crouch’s 2nd novel, and it did not disappoint. It’s highly atmospheric set in the PNW area of Washington state near Mount St. Helens called Lake Lumin, a small mountain town that comes to life in the summer tourist season. Since I’ve traveled throughout the PNW quite a bit, I was easily transformed into this setting and it added so much to the book. While it’s a multiple POV story of 3 characters, I would argue that Lake Lumin is character 4. If you love strong women main characters in roles predominantly held by men (Annie is a forest game warden), this thriller/suspense novel is one for you that will keep you guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance e-copy. The Briars is now available.
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The Sentence – Louise Erdrich
It was a bit confusing reading The Sentence and How to Read a Book around the same time. While they had similar plots, they were still quite different and yet both very enjoyable. Tookie has taken a position in a bookstore after her incarceration and we join her life throughout a year’s time where her most annoying customer Flora passes away and continues to haunt her in the bookstore. I loved Tookie and enjoyed this memorable story.
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In Your Dreams – Sarah Adams
In Your Dreams wraps up the Rome, Kentucky series where we have met 4 siblings and their quest for true love. This time it’s Madison’s turn and will she or won’t she finally turn to her lifelong family friend James Huxley as she returns home from New York to open a restaurant on his family farm. This was entertaining and a total popcorn romance read. The series was cute, mindless fun if you enjoy the predictable romance tropes.
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The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning – Margareta Magnusson
Well, I can’t say I learned a thing from this book but our narrator Margareta Magnesson is completing endearing and I enjoyed this short book. I recommend audio, it could only have been better if it was read by the author.
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A Shore Thing – Portia MacIntosh
I had looked forward this rom-com after enjoying a previous holiday romance but A Shore Thing was just ok for me. She throws way too many tropes at us early on and the whole thing just felt forced. It wasn’t bad, but a somewhat forgettable lighthearted read. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwell Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. A Shore Thing is now available.
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