My January Books

 My reading year is off to a great start!  I've been trying to read book I've had on my Kindle for awhile, as well as some books I've checked out from the library while also sprinkling in a few of the books I received for Christmas. 



1. The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev-- This was such a sweet and funny novel about 3 generations of women pursuing happiness while trying to both conform to and shake off societal norms that have been ingrained in women since birth.  Bindu is 65 when she inherits a large sum of money from a secret/ mistake she made in her youth.  She impulsively spends the money to live in a retirement community in Florida where she makes both friends and waves.  Bindu moving on out on her own leaving her 47 year old daughter in law Aly living alone and feeling a bit lost.  Determined to get her career on the right track Aly pushes for the promotion she's been promised for 10 years.  Meanwhile Aly's daughter Cullie is trying to design a new dating app she pitched to her boss but since she never dates she's forced to turn to her single mother and grandmother for help. 


2. Five Winters by Kitty Johnson-- I debated about adding this to my Christmas book list... I guess I should have known that 5 winters would include some Christmas scenes too but I ended up keeping it on this list since the main plot of the story didn't have much of anything to do with Christmas and the story would have been pretty much the same if it had been called 5 summers, or 5 springs...  Beth Baily has been in love with her best friend's brother since she was 11 but now that he's getting married she must set aside her feelings for him and move on with her life.  Told in snippets taking place over 5 winters, Beth decides to focus on her other deepest wish-- to have a baby and a family of her own.  With a few unexpected and some completely predictable turns it was a very cute story. 


3. Over Her Dead Body by Susan Walter-- This was such a fun and twisty tale!  Unlike any story I had ever read before it's going to be hard to give any sort of summary without giving away plot points... so suffice it to stay that Ashley is an aspiring actress who meets Louisa and thinks she's getting her first big break. But Louisa turns up dead the next day and leaves nearly all of her Earthly possessions to Ashley.  Louisa's nephew Nathan, her son Charlie, and her daughter Winnie unearth family secrets galore and try to figure out why and how Ashley is involved.  Meanwhile Ashley's life and even that of her roommate Jordan is completely changed as well... but all is not as it seems with the majority of these characters.  With lots of plot twists, foreshadowing galore and hints of what was to come I was still surprised at times and found it hard to put down as I wanted to know what the whole/real/full story.  


4. After I Do By Taylor Jenkins Reid-- Another enjoyable TJR book!  This one followed the lives of Lauren and Ryan-- how they met, their early years together, their wedding, etc. up until 11 years later when they're contemplating a long separation from one another.  They decide to spend 1 full year apart with no communication of any kind hoping to somehow rekindle the spark they once had.  Told only from Lauren's point of view the story mostly deals with her trying to figure out what love means to her, what she wants and needs to be happy, and with a little help from her sister, her mother, her best friend, a new blind date, her brother and a whole cast of characters I did think it was an interesting story... though I did roll my eyes quite a few time over Lauren and Ryan themselves and how they acted. 


5. The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth-- You know any book that starts with a wedding and a possible murder is probably going to be a good one!  Stephen and his new wife Heather are getting married when someone is injured at the wedding and the cops and paramedics are called... only the reader has no idea who was hurt or how badly.  The story then jumps to a year ago when Stephen and Heather had lunch with his two grown daughters for the very first time. Tully and Rachel are actually a little bit older than Heather and are shocked that their father wants to get remarried since their mother is still very much alive and their father is still married to her.  In a long care home for dementia patients, the girls' mother is rarely lucid enough to recognize them.  As the story unfolds secrets do too and it seems like everyone has something to hide-- an ex spouse, a long ago rape, a penchant for stealing, a history of violence, alcohol abuse, and more.  It was such a fun story to read (even if I did guess most of the plot as I went along)! 


6. Big Chicas Don't Cry by Annette Chavez Macias-- Cousins Mari, Gracie, Erica, and Selena come from a close knit Mexican family and spend lots of time with their grandparents and great grandmother.  The story starts with them as kids and then jumps to 15 years later when they're all struggling with life and love.  Mari has lost touch with the family and is unhappy in her marriage. Gracie is working at a small catholic school and has a crush on the new basketball coach. Erica has recently been dumped and her new boss is making her life miserable.  Selena is contemplating a huge move to New York City for a fabulous job opportunity but all 4 women are stuck; afraid to make the wrong decision and make their lives even worse. When family tragedy strikes the family must pull together and the girls find that sharing their worries and fears helps them move forward. 


7. Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren-- This was a delightful tale about Josh and Hazel.  Hazel met Josh in college and did not make a good impression so when she runs into him 7 years later she's shocked to realize that neither of them has changed much and yet Hazel just knows they're going to become best friends this time.  Hazel is quirky and loud and had no filter so Josh is never quite sure what she's going to say or do but he quickly realizes that she has the biggest heart.  They decided that since they would not be a good match for each other that they should set each other up on a double blind date-- only it turns into many double blind dates with each one having it's own disastrous effects. It was funny and sweet and I just loved these two characters. 


8. Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano-- I felt like I was the last person on the Earth to read this book but I'm so glad I did; Finlay is hilarious!  A struggling single mom trying to hold onto her kids after her ex threatens to petition for custody.  An author by day, Finlay is struggling to get her next book written, she's having troubles paying the bills and everything seems to go wrong every time she turns around.  But when Finlay is overheard talking to her agent about her latest book plot she's mistaken for a contract killer and somehow finds herself contemplating the job.  It was a bit absurd at times but utterly adorable and funny and just so much fun to read. I can't wait to check out the next book in the series. 

9. Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo-- The second book in the Kate Burkholder series was really good. When an entire Amish family of 7 is found brutally murdered in their home Kate and her team must work hard to try and uncover what happened.  With little evidence and only murky clues it's a race against the clock to beat this one from becoming a cold case. 


10. The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne -- I didn't expect to get so sucked into this story.  When 5 people are stuck together inside of a library without power with a blizzard raging outside.  Nora, the librarian who spends her time not working searching for her missing brother and volunteering at homeless shelters. Marlene the old cranky loner who comes in to use the computer that seems to believe the worst of everyone. Lewis, the homeless man that nearly died outside the library early in the evening before they all realized they'd be trapped inside. Vlado the security guard at the library who has been secretly in love with Nora for some time. And finally Jasmine, a teenager who is struggling and dealing with more than any teenager should have to. As the night wears on these 5 people share stories, work together, and learn from one another. 


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Comments

  1. Good job on the reading! Many of those you read sound like they'd be books that I would enjoy reading. I will check some of them out. I'm always on the lookout for a new books and authors. Thanks for sharing and Happy Valentine's Day!

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  2. Oh wow there are some great suggestions here- thank you so much for sharing!

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  3. You read some great ones! It's funny how one person likes a book and someone else thinks it's one of the best books ever written. That's how I felt about After I Do! I don't know why it struck such a chord with me...maybe because I value and preach communication all the time? I don't know, but you read some great books! I have the Christina Lauren book on hold through Libby.

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  4. I'm listening to the third Finlay Donovan now.

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    1. I am picking up my copy from the library tomorrow!

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  5. The Night of Many Endings sounds great. And Josh & Hazel is one I'd like to read eventually.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  6. Gosh, I was just at the library and wish I had this list then, haha. Thanks for sharing,
    XOXO
    Jodie

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  7. Wow, Joanne you read a lot of books for January. I will be adding these my reading list.

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  8. Thanks for so many recommendations. I'm definitely putting a few on my TBR list.

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  9. I haven't read Finlay yet, but it sounds good, so now I may need to pick it up.

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    1. It is such a cute series! I'm picking up the final book in the series tomorrow and I can't wait to dive in.

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  10. What a great month of reading - and some good diversity in there, too! I've had a very slow month of reading and actually find myself in a bit of a literary slump right now! I had a great read, and then following after that has been difficult!

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    1. I hate when that happens and I seem to lose my momentum for reading after that as well.

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  11. Lots of good books here, Joanne! I added several to my TBR list!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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  12. I enjoyed After I do and the Younger Wife too. I have the Finlay book on hold.

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    1. I just picked up the 3rd book this afternoon!

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  13. I'm adding several of these to my list! I have heard good things about After I Do!

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    1. I felt so bad for both of the main characters and yet so angry at them for their total lack of communication.

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  14. I think I read about 1 book in 3 months, lol. But I do love to read, it's so relaxing.

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  15. You have got off to a good start with your reading. I do like the sound of all of these books.

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    1. Thank you! I really feel like I have been reading lots of great ones.

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  16. Your reading year is off to an excellent start! A couple of these I've read...and I've marked another couple as being books I'd enjoy.

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  17. Thanks for joining us for #WOYBS Joanne. I always enjoy Sally Hepworth's books so I must look for that one!

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    1. I always enjoy her books too and yet I rarely think to seek them out!

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  18. Hi, Joanne - Thank you for joining us for What's On Your Bookshelf. I haven't yet read anything on your list, but I greatly appreciated the reviews and your recommendations.

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  19. I've read The Younger Wife but none of the others. I think I need to double the number of hours in a day to read all the books I see reviewed which pique my interest!

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  20. Hi Joanne some great books here which I've noted - The Vibrant Years, After I do and The Night of Many Endings will be added to my TBR list. I've read The Younger Wife. Thanks for being a supporter of #WOYBS and joining us each month with your recommendations. Happy reading!

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    1. So glad you found so many wonderful suggestions!

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  21. I'm definitely checking some of these out! Also, Josh & Hazel's Guide... was my first Christina Lauren book and I loved it so much.

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    1. It is so cute! My first book of theirs was the Unhoneymooners and I've been trying to go back and read through others.

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  22. I always enjoy a TJR novel but I haven't ventured into her earlier works. I've been fascinated by the newer books because centers on different kinds of fame (superstar, a rock band, children of celebrities). "The Night of Many Endings" sounds like it could take a comedic turn.

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    1. It certainly could have.. but it did not. It was a sweet story though.

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