January 2023 Reads

Y’all. Welcome to 2023. 

I came into January full force and binge read almost all of the Shatter Me series within the first week and a half. After that, my reading slowed down a little bit as I took my time with literally every other book I read this month lol. 

Although I read more than 200 books last year, I’m sticking to my goal of being intentional with my time and energy this year. That includes reading and making sure I’m indulging in this hobby as something I enjoy and not turning it into a competition with myself because that would spoil the fun I get out of reading. 

Therefore, I’m starting this year with a reading goal of 100 books. If I read more than that, great. If I don’t hit that goal, that’s also totally fine. 

If you’ve stuck with me and my monthly book blog posts, then I am truly grateful and appreciate your support lol. 

Cheers to another year of reading, ratings, and reviews!

Now let’s get into everything I read in January.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi

FRACTURE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam’s focus couldn’t be further from the upcoming battle. He’s reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend’s life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James’s safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It’s time for war. On the battlefield, it seems like odds are in their favor - but taking down Warner, Adam’s newly discovered half brother, won’t be that easy. The Reestablishment can’t tolerate a rebellion, and they’ll do anything to crush the resistance… including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about. 

My Thoughts: Okay so this was a very short novella from Adam’s POV between the second and third book in the Shatter Me series. Y’all, at this point, Adam has become to the story what Chaol became to the Throne of Glass series… lol. (If you know, you know). I do appreciate that he wasn’t obsessing over Juliette in this though because that’s what I was expecting. The group of rebels that he’s been fighting with go through a very traumatic event here which puts Adam’s priorities into perspective - with his 10-year-old brother James being number one. He still does his fair share of bitching about Warner, but I can’t fault him for that based on what he knows. I do think it’s necessary to read this novella because what happens here is extremely important information that doesn’t seem to be elaborated on in the next book. It’s a quick read though (like 70 pages?), so it won’t take up too much of your time.

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world… but that’s not all he wants with her. 

My Thoughts: EEK. This is the book I’ve been WAITING for - when Juliette and Warner finally start working together under the same roof. A LOT happened in this book that kept me on the edge of my seat as what’s left of the rebel group from Omega Point starts to plot how to take down the Reestablishment from the inside out. I was obsessed with the romance storyline between Warner and Juliette even though I got frustrated with her for a minute because she wasn’t being honest with herself. Later on, though, I understood why she was hesitant to give into her feelings and it felt super justified. We also learn some new abilities of Juliette’s powers which is a catalyst for how they proceed with their plans of action. When Warner’s dad, the current Supreme Commander of North America, shows up to take them down, all hell breaks loose. Needless to say, this was the shit that everything they’ve been through has been building up to and I am so satisfied with how it all played out.

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi

RESTORE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette Ferrars thought she’d won. She took over Sector 45, was named new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she’s still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch - and now she’s got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

My Thoughts: Holy shit lol. I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but I can tell you, what I got was beyond anything I could’ve guessed. The story picks up about 2 weeks after Juliette overthrows the last Supreme Commander, and the format flips between Juliette’s and Warner’s perspectives. Everyone is trying to get their footing with new responsibilities while keeping an ear to the ground to see how the rest of the world is going to react to a 17-year-old girl with supernatural abilities taking over an entire continent. Especially since she accomplished that in the matter of a few months when people have been trying to do that for decades. The first third of this book is a bit of a slow burn. Juliette is starting to realize she was ill-prepared for the job of Supreme Commander, but is trying her best to have everything under control. Warner (aka Aaron) is unexpectedly grieving the loss of his father even though that man never showed him any love. All of the chapters in this book from his point of view are SATURATED in emotion. Like just DRIPPING with heartache, heartbreak, anger, confusion, and more. The last time we got a glimpse of his character’s emotional vulnerability was in his novella, Destroy Me. I will say I was a tad frustrated with Warner in this book because although his emotions are completely justified, and he’s still supporting Juliette in ways he knows how, I felt like he needed to be communicating with her and guiding her so much more. Anytime someone would push him to tell her about his background and the secrets he knows, he didn’t understand why because he thought the knowledge would hurt her more than help her. It just made me so frustrated lol. We’re starting to learn a lot more about the international groups that make up The Reestablishment as the leaders of other nations send their teenage kids to North America to meet the new Supreme Commander. I loved how all of these new characters and pieces of information added such depth to the story. We also learn a HUUUUUUGE secret about Juliette that basically sets her on a downward spiral. To the point of where she learns a new deadly boundary to her powers that comes into play right at the very end of this book. When I tell you I was SHOOK at the last 15% of this book, I’m not exaggerating. What started as a 3-star book for me quickly became a 4.5-star. Like wow. 

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

BENEATH THE SUGAR SKY by Seanan McGuire

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can’t let Reality get in the way of her quest - not when she has an entire world to save! (Much more common than one would suppose.) If she can’t find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests… 

My Thoughts: This book was chaos lol, but not chaos as in “I have no idea what’s going on.” Chaos as in “what the hell is happening and why does it also make so much sense?” We meet two new peculiar characters named Rini and Cora, but also get to interact with a few characters from the first book including Cade, Christopher, Sumi, and Nancy. Needless to say, it was quite the adventure for this oddball group of kids who are trying to bring Sumi back in order to save Rini’s existence. I liked that we got to see a couple of different worlds in this book including the land of the dead where Nancy resides and Confection where Sumi traveled and Rini is from. The best way to describe their time in Confection is like reconfiguring your brain to remember how you used to think as a child with a GIANT imagination (zero boundaries, world-is-your-oyster type of big). Once you’re in that mindset, imagine a world where literally everything is made of candy, baked goods, and sweets, but have it actually come to life as a possible reality. I freaking love Seanan McGuire’s mind and the way she says “Why the hell not?” when building worlds like this. This was a really well-structured plot and I obvi have a soft spot for the characters, but I think the world building and vivid descriptions of their surroundings is what did it for me here. 

Shadow Me by Tahereh Mafi

SHADOW ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Juliette is still reeling from Warner’s betrayal, and Kenji is trying to balance his friendship with her and his responsibilities as a leader of the resistance against the Reestablishment. Things get even more interesting when an unexpected person from Omega Point’s past surfaces. 

My Thoughts: YUUUS TO KENJI GETTING HIS OWN NOVELLA!! Although he rubbed me the wrong way when we first met him in this series, Kenji has quickly become one of my favorite characters. There’s so much depth to him that people underestimate just because he’s the goofball and everybody’s friend. He’s experiencing all of his own struggles, but people never remember to check on their seemingly happy friends. I loved that we got to see his interactions with Nazeera from his POV instead of third-party character’s. I ten thousand percent ship Kenji and Nazeera. <3 Our little invisible boy deserves someone to love with his giant heart. Although there weren’t any pivotal moments in this book as it parallels what we just experienced through Juliette’s and Warner’s eyes in Restore Me, there is a HUUUUUUUGE plot twist towards the end that we didn’t get to see from their POVs. I did a double take and had to reread the last few paragraphs because I was second guessing everrrrryyythingggg. Do not skip this novella in the Shatter Me series, PLEASE.

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

HOW HIGH WE GO IN THE DARK by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus. Once unleashed, the Arctic Plague will reshape life on earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects - a pig - develops the capacity for human speech. A widowed painter and her teenage granddaughter embark on a cosmic quest to locate a new home planet. From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead to interstellar starships, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes readers on a wildly original and compassionate journey, spanning continents, centuries, and even celestial bodies to tell a story about the resiliency of the human spirit, our infinite capacity to dream, and the connective threads that tie us all together in the universe. 

My Thoughts: I went into this audiobook without reading the premise, and within the first two perspectives, my reaction was WTF lol. Although this book has an incredibly melancholy mood to it, I appreciated how imaginative it was. Basically, it’s set in the future where a pandemic has spread from an ancient virus that was unearthed from a girl they found in melting permafrost. From there, the book follows the perspectives of various people from around the world and how this viral outbreak is affecting each of their individual lives. Some people are being affected in more ways than others, but the main message is clear: everyone is looking for some type of connection especially in the face of adversity. Some of these stories are pretty dark, but there was something beautiful about the ugliness of it all that made every perspective easy to empathize with. I feel like I should also note that the author doesn’t really make any parallels between the pandemic we’ve been experiencing and this fictional one. So, personally, I didn't necessarily get any deja vu or whiplash which I appreciated. This book definitely isn’t going to be for everyone because of the content though, so just check trigger warnings before going into it. 

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

NEON GODS by Katee Robert (REREAD)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth… a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her - for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste of Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…

My Thoughts: Okay so I originally read Neon Gods back in October of 2021 and was going to start the second book, Electric Idol. However, after maybe two pages into that book, I realized I didn’t remember who any of the characters were from the first book. I could definitely remember the bigger events that occurred in it but still decided to reread this one first before jumping into Psyche and Eros’s story. My friends, the second time through this was just as enjoyable as the first. I’ve read a couple of Hades/Persephone retellings over the last couple of years and this one remains my favorite. The main characters are magnetic in their own right, but the character development that happens throughout is everything I could have wanted. Hades and Persephone have an instant chemistry with some flirty banter that’s laced with some bite. Then their connection only grows stronger as the story goes on. It’s the perfect balance of swoony sweetness and HELLA SPICE. Honestly, if you’re trying to decide between this book and A Touch of Darkness, I’d recommend this one every time. As I said though, it has plenty of steamy scenes, so if that’s not your jam then you can probs keep it moving lol. 

Electric Idol by Katee Robert

ELECTRIC IDOL by Katee Robert

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: In the ultra-modern city of Olympus, there’s always a price to pay. Psyche knew she’d have to face Aphrodite’s ire eventually, but she never expected her literal heart to be at stake… or for Aphrodite’s gorgeous son to be the one order to strike the killing blow. Eros has no problem shedding blood. But when it comes time to take out his latest target, he can’t do it. Confused by his reaction to Psyche, he does the only thing he can think of to keep her safe: he marries her. Psyche vows to make Ero’s life a living hell until they find a way out of this mess. But as lines blur and loyalties shift, she realizes he might take her heart after all… and she’s not sure she can survive the loss. 

My Thoughts: Omg I loved this. I’ll admit I had to Google the OG story of Psyche and Eros to better understand the dynamics in this retelling, but I adored what Katee Robert did here. Starting with Psyche, she is my favorite type of main character - strong, intelligent, clever, and confident in herself. She’s a plus sized influencer and the author really did that narrative justice. I loved that Psyche’s self confidence never faltered and she didn’t need outside validation to know she was a bad B. Eros is the broody type everyone keeps at arms length because of his reputation for “taking care of issues” his mother has with other people. It made my heart melt how much he adored Psyche for the simple fact that she saw who he was and still accepted him as a good person. This dynamic duo could not be separated or turned against each other no matter how hard Aphrodite tried to ruin their relationship. Also, Psyche protecting Eros by putting herself in the line of fire while simultaneously taking down his sociopath mother?? Absolute SWOON. Honestly, if you enjoyed Neon Gods, pass go, collect $200 and continue on to Electric Idol. You will not regret it!

Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi

DEFY ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her - secrets that change everything. Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge. 

My Thoughts: This book was fucking WILD. The number of plot twists that showed up and showed out was unreal. This book picks up where the catastrophe of the last book ended after Juliette’s speech at the North American Symposium went to absolute SHIT. She’s still reeling from learning a bucket load of secrets about her past that Warner knew, but wasn’t sharing with her. When she wakes up after being abducted in plain sight, she’s in New Zealand with her biological parents who are absolutely disgusting people that want to do more and more experiments on her. She also reunites with her sister, Emmaline, who she JUST learned about in the previous days and the current state she’s in is GROTESQUE to say the least. I liked that the format flipped between Warner, Kenji, and Juliette’s points of view since the group gets split up at various points. We get more insight into what The Reestablishment is planning to do with Juliette and what’s going down now that they’ve basically re-taken over Sector 45 back in the United States. This book is extremely intense in a multitude of ways including the tsunami of emotions, big moments and plot twists. I am truly addicted to the plotline and characters in this series and cannot wait to see what happens next.

Reveal Me by Tahereh Mafi

REVEAL ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Kenji Kishimoto is still reeling from what happened in Defy Me. He and all the others are still at the Sanctuary, trying to heal and recover. As lies and betrayals stack up, Juliette feels her sister, Emmaline, grow stronger…

My Thoughts: Yeesh. It hurts me to rate this book so low, but like after reflecting on it, I was just kind of frustrated with how it panned out. It’s from Kenji’s point of view again and although he has quickly become one of my favorite characters in the book, this short story didn’t really shine the best light on him. I think the author might have intended this novella to add some depth to his character, but all I really felt from him was unhinged anger. We do get to see more of his interactions with Nazeera and we learn what’s happening to the kids who had to stay behind at the Sector 45 compound. The ending of this book also leads into the start of the next, but I don’t necessarily think you have to read this novella to keep up. I was just kind of waiting for Kenji to sit down, chill out, and drink a glass of water lol.

Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi

IMAGINE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette Ferrars. Ella Sommers. Which is the truth and which is the lie? Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong - between Ella and Juliette - blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control. The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on. 

My Thoughts: Y’all. This is the type of ending that makes you want to high five someone nearby as you’re reading. The start of it threw me for a whirl because the Reestablishment gets a second wind and their plans start falling into place. Starting with successfully abducting Juliette back to New Zealand, wiping her memories and reprogramming her mind as to who she is as a person and her purpose in the greater scheme of things. Some of it was kind of cringey because she basically becomes a pet soldier to Anderson aka Warner’s psychotic father and the former Supreme Commander of North America. He keeps pushing the limits for her to prove he can trust her - including telling her to cut off her own finger. It gets INTENSE. Meanwhile, everyone else is back in the United States trying to figure out what to do because they’re not certain where Juliette is nor what purpose the Reestablishment has for her. There is no shortage of action-packed scenes in this final book. Especially during the rescue mission? Buckle in because my heart was racing for Aaron, Kenji and Nazeera as they infiltrate the compound where Juliette is being brainwashed. I will say, though I loved how this book/series ended, the epilogue left much to be desired. Like after going through ALL OF THAT, I just wanted a little bit more insight into their lives after the storm. I saw some reviews on Goodreads that said this series should have remained a trilogy, but I cannot disagree more. I highly recommend the Shatter Me series with all six of its main books. 

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

THE HACIENDA by Isabel Cañas

Rating: 3.75/5

Summary: In the overthrow of the Mexican government, Beatriz’s father is executed and her home destroyed. When handsome Don Rodolfo Solorzano proposes, Beatriz ignores the rumors surrounding his first wife’s sudden demise, choosing instead to seize the security his estate in the countryside provides. She will have her own home again, no matter the cost. But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined. When Rodolfo returns to work in the capital, visions and voices invade Beatriz’s sleep. The weight of invisible eyes follows her every move. Rodolfo’s sister, Juana, scoffs at Beatriz’s fears - but why does she refuse to enter the house at night? Why does the cook burn copal incense at the edge of the kitchen and mark its doorway with strange symbols? What really happened to the first Dona Solorzano? Beatriz only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her. Desperate for help, she clings to the young priest, Padre Andres, as an ally. No ordinary past, Andres will have to rely on his skills as a witch to fight off the malevolent presence haunting the hacienda and protect the woman for whom he feels a powerful, forbidden attraction. But even he might not be enough to battle the darkness. Far from a refuge, San Isidro may be Beatriz’s doom. 

My Thoughts: I realized after reading this book that if I’m going to read a mystery/thriller, I want it to be gothic. A few days before starting this, I listened to an NPR podcast interview with the author who said she was scared by the dark when she was younger and that was her inspiration while writing this book. Let me tell you, the terror I felt every time night fell in San Isidro was real. Beatriz running through this giant manor trying to make it to her room so she could light some candles and burn copal to ward away the evil had my heart racing. I absolutely adored her as a main character. She was a fighter from the very beginning of the book after her father was murdered and their family house burned down for political reasons. After marrying the wealthy Rodolfo and moving to his hacienda in Apan, she’s determined to create a home safe for her mother and that reflects her new societal stature. I was obsessed with the bond she formed with the local priest, Andres. In a world where they both felt like outsiders, they found peace and safety through willingness to understand and trust the other in such a trying situation. My small critiques are that the “whodunnit” realization happens SO QUICKLY after having been dragged out for so long and it made me feel like I should’ve seen it coming when I, in fact, had not lol. ALSO I cannot be the only person who flipped the last page back and forth at least six times to confirm my copy wasn’t missing any pages because WHY ARE WE ENDING IT WHERE WE ARE? Obviously, the author is intending to make this into a series and clearly I am going to pick up the second book once it’s published lol. If you liked Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, then I think you’d really like this one as well!

Believe Me by Tahereh Mafi.

BELIEVE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Juliette and Warner fought hard to take down the Reestablishment once and for all. Life in the aftermath isn’t easy, as they and their friends at the Sanctuary work with their limited resources to stabilize the world. Warner has his sights set on more than just politics. Since he proposed to Juliette two weeks ago, he’s been eager to finally marry her, the person he loves more than anything and has endured so much to be with. But with so much chaos around them, it’s been nearly impossible for them to have a wedding. And even Juliette has been distracted by everything they need to do. At long last, Warner and Juliette’s future together is within reach but the world continues to try to pull them apart. Will they finally be able to be happily, officially together?

My Thoughts: THIS. This is the epilogue I wanted at the end of Imagine Me, but didn’t quite get. I adored this novella and seeing where the relationship Warner and Juliette have worked so hard for ended up. I will say, this book is a little spicier than I was expecting, but I also didn’t hate it lol. Like Warner is head over freaking HEELS for this girl and his emotions throughout this entire series always punched me right in the heart. So chapter 8, specifically, is something I think we’ve all been craving based on the intense chemistry between these two. I also loved that we got to see snippets of how the lives of various side characters have panned out since things calmed down and where society is headed. Honestly, if you read the entire Shatter Me series, this book is a must. It’s almost like getting a warm hug from all of the characters after going through an extreme book hangover. 

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR by Nicola Yoon

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story. Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store - for both of us. The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

My Thoughts: This book was super cute! Kind of cheesy - especially with an instant love trope - but nonetheless enjoyable. I will say, I was a little confused by the format at first and I think that’s mainly because I was listening to the audiobook instead of seeing the text on pages. It switches between Natasha’s and Daniel’s perspectives, as well as zooms out on occasion to the narrator who briefly focuses on the storyline of a side character within the orbit of the two MCs. Once I got my footing with the cadence of everything, it was much easier to follow. I really appreciated that we got to see how different the dynamics were for Natasha’s Jamaican family and Daniel’s Korean one. It showed how much pressure and expectations are put on first generation American teens and how their families navigate making a life for themselves here. I liked Natasha and Daniel as main characters - they balanced each other out perfectly with Daniel wanting to be a poet and having a more whimsical outlook on life and Natasha wanting to be a data scientist who focuses on the facts. The writing style really flowed and I liked how the story was paced. Will I ever read this book again? No. Do I recommend it if you’re interested? Sure.

You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy

YOU’RE NOT LISTENING by Kate Murphy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Who listens to you? New York Times contributor Kate Murphy asked people on five continents this question, and the response was typically a long, awkward pause. People struggled to come up with someone, anyone, who truly listened to them without glazing over, glancing down at a phone or jumping in to offer an opinion. Many admitted that they, themselves, weren’t very good listeners, and most couldn’t even describe what it meant to be a good listener. Despite living in a world where technology allows distant digital communication and opportunities to connect, it seems no one is really listening or even knows how. And it’s making us lonelier, more isolated, and less tolerant than ever before. A listener by trade, Murphy wanted to know how we got there. In this illuminating and often humorous deep dive, Murphy explains why we’re not listening, what it’s doing to us, and how we can reverse the trend. She makes accessible the psychology, neuroscience, and sociology of listening while also introducing us to some of the best listeners out there. While listening is often regarded as talking’s meek counterpart, Murphy discovered it’s actually the more powerful position in communication. We learn when we listen. It’s how we connect, cooperate, empathize, and fall in love. Listening is something we do or don’t do every day. While we might take listening for granted, how well we listen, to whom, and under what circumstances determines who we are and the paths we take in life. 

My Thoughts: This book was really interesting! It’s not so much a how-to book as it is an informational book full of various interviews, anecdotes, and summaries of what great listening looks like, why it’s important, why so many people aren’t able to do it effectively, etc. My goal this year is to be really intentional in all facets of my life and listening to this audiobook has made me much more self aware during my daily interactions with people. Am I listening to what the person is saying or just thinking about what I want to say next? Am I giving space for them to expand on what they said or am I cutting in as soon as I can to say my two cents? Am I pushing my input into the conversation in an unnatural way or is this maybe a time when I don’t share as much as I listen to what the other person has to say? Honestly, it was truly eye-opening as to how badly most people in the world listen, but also gave me a better understanding as to why that is. If you want to work on your listening skills and are trying to become a better communicator this year, I think everyone can get something from this book.

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese

TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT by Chloe Liese

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all - an undeniable need for revenge. Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all. To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder, what if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so far off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

My Thoughts: Ugh. If there is one thing Chloe Liese really knows how to write about, it’s neurodivergent characters. I adored Jamie and Bea and could not get enough of their enemies-to-lovers storyline. Although I didn’t totally buy into the “let’s fake a happy relationship to get back at our friends” situation, I was completely sold on their chemistry. Especially in vulnerable moments when being a supportive, happy couple came incredibly naturally to Jamie and Bea. My heart did backflips every time Jamie or Bea realized they were actually falling pretty hard for the other. Although there’s KIND OF a third-act break-up, I felt the resolution came at exactly the right time and in the perfect way. I think the storyline about noticing the signs of a toxic, manipulative, emotionally abusive relationship was handled with such care, and really added another dimension to this romance plot. The only other thing I wish would have been emphasized a little bit more is Jamie’s anxiety disorder. It gets mentioned here and there and is present enough, but I felt like the story focused more on Bea’s autism, so there wasn’t a complete balance there. Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book and definitely recommend it. However, please check trigger warnings before diving in!

Welp that’s that on that. 

2023 Book Count: 16

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October 2021 Reads

Ah yes. October. The Harvest Month. Spooky szn, if you will. 

Besides being in a wedding, my October was pretty lowkey. I ate my weight in pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, broke out all of my cozy sweaters, drank some Witches Brew wine, broke out all over my face, and read quite a few books. :)

So let’s get into these reviews!

*All summaries taken or paraphrased from Goodreads. 

Dune by Frank Herbert

DUNE by Frank Herbert

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for… When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream. 

My Thoughts: Oo-wee. Where to even start with this book? Dune was a DOOZY to say the least, and pretty complex right from the get-go. The first 100 pages are an information dumpage to the extreme and I had to keep rereading pages because it was hard to get my footing with the storyline until probably 25% into the book. In general, this book definitely serves a foundation-building purpose for the rest of the series, so take that in stride. The other aspect of Dune that made getting thoroughly invested a little tough was the style of writing. I’m not saying I didn’t appreciate it, but I’ve never read anything else like it. I realized after finishing the book that it was written in 1965, and was basically patient zero for books of the science fiction genre. So, I have mad respect for it in that regard, but whether it was the pacing, the characters, or overall storyline, I was never 100% enthralled. Like so much shit happens and so many characters are introduced throughout, there was no point in trying to hypothesize any plot twists. Am I going to go see the movie? Hell yes. Am I going to continue on with this series? I honestly haven’t decided yet. If science fiction is usually your jam, then I say go for it! If sci-fi isn’t your cuppa tea then I’d say to let this one sit until you’re in the m00d for it. 

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

CEMETERY BOYS by Aiden Thomas

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants him to leave.

My Thoughts: All the feels, my friends. All the feels. This was the perfect book for me to kick off my sp00ky season reading list with, and absolutely stole my heart in the process. Starting with the main characters, Yadriel and Julian. Each was vibrant and complex in his own unique way, but never overpowered the other. If anything, they were the perfect serving of chaos, comfort, bravery, understanding, and selflessness. I also loved Yadriel’s cousin, Maritza, because she was Yadriel’s O.G. confidant and companion, and added sass where there needed to be. The overall storyline was beautifully written, and although the plot twist probably should’ve been more evident to me, I did not see it coming right away. Just learning so much about the brujx community and traditions was interesting enough to keep me invested. My favorite takeaway from this book, though, was learning more about the experience of a person who is transitioning, but not taking hormones. It was incredibly eye-opening about the daily adversities trans-people encounter - both in their personal and public lives - and the author wrote Yadriel’s experience in a way that made it easy to understand how to be a better ally to those in the trans community. Cemetery Boys is an empowering story that you really shouldn’t sleep on. 

Isn’t it Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams

ISN’T IT BROMANTIC by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville. Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance. The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love - and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt. 

My Thoughts: The Bromance Book Club series has become somewhat of a guilty pleasure read for me, and the fourth installment was no exception! I loved the different approach the author took in this one with the relationship stemming from childhood best friends who married out of convenience. We’ve seen Vlad, aka The Russian, in previous books, but all we knew about him from those was that he has stomach issues all the time. So, I really enjoyed getting to see some depth added to his character through this storyline. It gave me all the feels to watch Vlad and Elena work to be vulnerable with each other in order to save their marriage. That said, it mildly irks me when poor communication skills are the main issue in a book between two characters, and that was basically the case here. Like they never just said what they were thinking, which was so irritating because so much could’ve been addressed by having a frank conversation lol. I also wish the swoony romance parts would have been either longer or more frequent. It kind of felt like Elena’s side storyline over-shadowed that a bit when it didn’t really need to. Overall though, this was a cute read if you’re looking for something along the lines of a rom-com!

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer - in case he or she decides to strike again. 

My Thoughts: This was my first Agatha Christie book, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised in different ways than I anticipated. Firstly, I liked how she immerses you into the story at the start of the book by setting the scene, introducing you to some of the characters, etc. Then once the investigation actually begins, everything is broken down in an organized format where the chapters are titled by interviews and evidence. With twelve different characters you have to remember specific details about, I found this setup to be incredibly helpful for keeping track of everything. Especially as I was reading chunks of this book every night and not in one sitting. Overall, I really enjoyed this murder mystery and never suspected the outcome. So, if you’re looking for something quick, this would be a good book to pick up!

One of Us is Lying by Karen M McManus

ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M. McManus

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Pay close attention and you might solve this. On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app. Only Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon’s Dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them. 

My Thoughts: Remix The Breakfast Club to include a murder mystery and those are the vibes this book is serving. I literally could not put it down - it’s a certified page-turner to say the least. No surprise to anyone, the characters are what did it for me in this book. I basically loved every single one of them AND they ALL (clap) HAD (clap) SOLID (clap) CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (clap x2). We love to see it, y’all. Besides, Nate and Cooper have both officially been inducted into the “Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame” for me, so lol. Bronwyn and Addy were absolute badasses though, so don’t underestimate them! The plot in general was thick and twisty, and although the solution to this mystery wasn’t necessarily the strongest, I definitely didn’t see it coming. So, I loved all of it nonetheless. If you’re looking for a great YA mystery/thriller, I definitely recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book!

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin

A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WOMEN by Laura Hankin

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: For years, rumors have swirled about an exclusive, women-only social club where the elite tastemakers of NYC meet. People in the know whisper all sorts of claims: Membership dues cost $1K a month. The women even handpicked the city’s first female mayor, but no one knows for sure. That is, until journalist Jillian Beckly decides she’s going to break into the club. With her career in freefall, Jillian needs a juicy scoop, and she has personal interest in bringing these women down. But the deeper she gets into this new world - where billionaire “girlbosses” mingle with the astrology-obsessed - the more Jillian learns that bad things happen to those who dare question the club’s motives or giggle at its outlandish rituals. The select group of women who populate the club may be far more powerful than she ever imagined. And far more dangerous too. 

My Thoughts: Honestly? This book was as enjoyable as it was strange lol. Jillian is experiencing some tough times after losing her mom and her job within just a few months of each other. So although Nevertheless keeps getting weirder as the story goes on, she doesn’t have much else going on in life, so I understood why she was drawn back to this secret women’s club time and time again. I will say, it’s only mildly odd until about 60% and then you hit a freaking bizarre plot twist that takes everything in a wild direction lol. There’s a friends-to-lovers side plot in this that was super cute and kept everything grounded as things got v strange with Jillian’s involvement with the club. Even though the conclusion to this odd ride wasn’t as groundbreaking or juicy as I had hoped, it was still satisfying. 

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faes a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful 13-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims - a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story - and survive this homecoming. 

My Thoughts: This book was dark and twisted and THRILLING. I’m going to start by saying this quick read is not for the faint of heart. There were portions of the story that literally made my skin crawl and I had to stop reading to get out of that mindset for a little bit. The main character, Camille, was the perfect unlikeable protagonist for this. She’s got a dark past and comes off as morally gray, but as you start seeing into her psyche, it’s clear why. The plot itself was creepy to say the least, and the side characters were all sorts of interesting, so I was constantly second guessing my prediction for “whodunnit” because everyone was looking a little sus. Like I said, it’s not for the faint of heart, but if you want a short book that will make your teeth clench a little bit, this is a good one. Please see the content/trigger warnings beforehand though. CW/TW: murder, self harm, alcholism, verbal and emotional abuse, gore/corpse descriptions, drug abuse, and rape.  

Barbarian’s Mate by Ruby Dixon

BARBARIAN’S MATE by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: ‘Renosance’ is supposed to be a dream - that’s when your soulmate is chosen for you. And everyone on the ice planet has hooked up with a hunky soulmate of their own except for Josie. Does she want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all she’s ever wanted is to be loved by someone. Expect the soulmate chosen for her? Her least favorite person on that darn ice planet. Haedan’s the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien. So why is it her khui sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to her that he’s not as awful as she thinks he is? Josie hates him... doesn’t she?

My Thoughts: This book took a different direction than other books, and I found the mini adventure of it incredibly enjoyable! We follow an enemies-to-lovers trope between Josie, a talkative ball of sunshine, and Haeden, the biggest grumpy alien around. This pairing is the last two anyone ever expected to resonate with each other because they’re complete opposites. That said, I really enjoyed both going through their character developments and watching them slowly open up to each other about their pasts. It made Josie and Haeden much more empathetic and understanding of each other’s behaviors better, which in turn made their relationship so much stronger. The plot twist of Josie finding another portion of the spaceship Kira crashed was a really exciting development in the series because we’ve been following each of the human women thus far, so I was wondering what would happen to keep the series going. Overall, I sincerely liked following Josie’s and Haeden’s story - it had spice, adventure, and all the things we love to see in a sci-fi romance. 

Barbarian’s Touch by Ruby Dixon

BARBARIAN’S TOUCH by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: When Lilah wakes up on the ice planet, she’s scared of everything: this place is cold, silent, and the locals look more like blue devils than aliens. To make matters worse, one of the strangers decides she’s going to be his girlfriend and kidnaps her away from her sister. Lilah is completely and utterly alone. What’s a girl to do? Well, this girl escapes. Of course, that means she goes from the frying pan into the fire, and her situation gets even more dangerous. Just when Lilah has no hope left, a new hero appears. Sure, he’s blue, horned, and has a tail. He’s also fierce, protective and thinks Lilah is perfect. But is what they have real or just a mating instinct.

My Thoughts: Y’all, this one may just be my favorite of the series thus far. Lilah is deaf and everyone, including her sister Maddie, is hoping that once her khui kicks in, it will fix the hearing issue. Everyone except the very sweet Rokan who thinks Lilah is pure perfection and views the fact that others can’t communicate with her using ASL as a flaw on their end. I loved watching their relationship grow and it was incredibly heartwarming to see Rokan trying everything he can to communicate with Lilah to build her trust. One of the cooler parts of this book was the glimpses we get to see of the Metlaks - aka Yetis. Throughout all of the other books, they’ve been described as incredibly dumb and aggressive animals. During this adventure with Lilah, she has a few encounters with one specific Metlak who uses hand signs to communicate as well, and ends up helping her during a crisis. So, it was interesting to see a new side of these creatures. For y’all who want the lowdown on the smut, there was plentyyy of spice to be had in this book lol, and I definitely recommend reading it if you’ve made it this far in the series!

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons. Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had every imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture - by any means necessary. 

My Thoughts: Why do I love this YA mystery series so much? My friends, I cannot put my finger on it, but I’m invested and I don’t care who knows it. Between the teenage love triangle, the clues left by Gramps Tobias, and the insight we finally get into the missing Hawthorne’s disappearance - I was INVESTED. This book was just as fun as the first one and smoothly transitioned the story into a new puzzle Avery and the Hawthorne boys are left trying to solve. There were plot twists GALORE that left me feeling some type of way, and I was absolutely TORN between being Team Grayson and Team Jameson lol. Though this book is the second installment of what is supposed to be a trilogy by next year, I thought the ending wrapped up pretty nicely, so I’m not sure where the next book will go, but you best believe I plan to pick it up!

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

A TOUCH OF DARKNESS by Scarlett St. Clair

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible. She must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows - and it’s forbidden. 

My Thoughts: Love us a modern day Greek Mythology retelling, do we not? Admittedly, I had to Google what the OG tea was on Persephone and Hades as I started reading this because I had no prior knowledge of them lol. Having some context helped me understand the dynamics between the characters better, but I wasn’t blown away by either of them. I wish Persephone’s development arc happened a little quicker. She was just so insecure and naive for most of the book, which led to poor decision making. Hades’ character had more depth that was slowly revealed as the plot went on, but I wish he didn’t have to keep saving our girl P. Also, this book is supposed to be spicy - which it definitely is at various times - but that doesn’t happen until almost more than 50% into the storyline. Overall, it didn’t blow me away but it’s an enjoyable quick read if you’re looking for a romance that’s a little different!

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

NEON GODS by Katee Robert

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth - a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her - for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her. 

My Thoughts: So, I admit, I was on a Hades/Persephone retelling kick by the end of the month lol, and this book did NOT disappoint. It was the perfect balance of sweet and FREAKING SPICY. I liked that it gave a nod to the real tale of Hades “kidnapping” Persephones, but didn’t overdo the fantasy elements beyond an invisible barrier to the “Underworld” aka southside of the city. The main characters were absolutely magnetic and their development throughout the book was *chef’s kiss*. The chemistry between Hades and Persephone was utterly undeniable even an hour after they crossed paths, and that connection only grows stronger (and steamier) as the plot goes on. Personally, this was quite the page turner, but if you’re not into books that have a 50 Shades of Gray flavor to them, then this probs isn’t for you. Otherwise, enjoyyyy! :)

2021 Book Count: 88

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