The Bookish Cronicles: Books I Read in January
Welcome to The Bookmark Chronicles! Every month, I’ll take you between the pages of the books I’ve read—some I loved, some I struggled through, and maybe even a few I had to DNF. Looking for your next great read? Or just curious to see what made it onto my shelf this month? Either way, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about what I read in January.
The Love Lyric: Kristina Forest
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary: Iris had big dreams but after losing her husband, everything changed. Her priorities shifted to raising her daughter, Calla, on her own and building her career. She holds it together for everyone… but forgets to care for herself first.
Angel is a R&B/pop star artist who seems to have it all together, but beneath the fame, he struggles to be his true authentic self in an industry that demands perfection (If you’ve read the earlier books in the series, you’re aware of who Angel is but you don’t really know him know him until now!)
My Thoughts: I’ll admit, I was nervous after seeing a few early low-rating reviews but I’m convinced we did not read the same book! The Love Lyric was such a sweet, beautifully written love story! Angel’s patience, understanding, and respect for Iris were everything. Their chemistry was fire! Iris’s character as the one who holds it together for others is so relatable. So many women (myself included) can relate to being the “strong” sister, friend, or daughter who takes care of everyone around her before prioritizing her own needs. When Angels asked her “𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑡?” I melted. The discussions around grief were real, too. It truly impacts every decision you make.
I think this may be my favorite of The Greene Sisters series
Who Should Read It: If you love stories about self-growth and healing. Highly recommend it for my lover girls!
The Night Guest: Hildur Knútsdóttir
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Quick Summary: Meet Iðunn who’s aware that something is wrong. She’s always fatigued due to not getting enough sleep but doctors and friends dismiss her. When she begins sleep tracking, she wakes up and realizes she’s walked over 40,000 steps along with bruises all over her body… but how??
My Thoughts: It’s a very short read so many details are left out. It started off mysterious then kinda turned a bit strange. I kept asking myself what the hell am I listening to, but I pushed through since it was so short.
Who Should Read It: If you’re looking for a super quick suspenseful audiobook to pass the time, go for it. I listened while doing my hair.
Trigger warning: animal cruelty
The Midnight Library: Matt Haig
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Meet Nora, a woman who is completely over her life and feels she no longer has a purpose to keep going. That is until she stumbles into the Midnight Library, where every book offers a new opportunity to live a life as if she made different choices. On her journey through countless lives, she’s challenged to answer one question, “What’s the best way to live?”
My Thoughts: I first read The Midnight Library back in January of 2024, and it was a great book to set the tone and mindset for the year. Fast forward to January 2025, I reread this time with my book club. It was great to refresh my memory for my book discussion and allowed me to reflect on 2024 and the lessons I want to take into 2025.
Even though the book is written as fiction, it belongs in the self-development section.
Takeaway Quotes
- “Life is meaningless without love.”
- “You can be as honest as possible in life, but people will only see the truth if it’s close to their reality.”
- “You don’t have to understand life. You just have to live it.
Who Should Read It: This is a must-read for anyone who’s felt stuck, lost, or unsure about your next step in life.
The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster: Shauna Robinson
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary: Mae never felt fully connected to the black side of her family, but after her grandmother’s passing, she’s on a mission to uncover the roots of her identity while also uncovering family secrets.
My Thoughts: I listened to the audiobook of The Townsend Family Recipe. It was a heartwarming, funny, and emotional listen following Mae’s journey to uncover all the secrets that were kept from her growing up.
Who Should Read It: If you love books about reconnecting and rediscovering your roots, it’s perfect for you.
Have you read any of these? What books were on your list this month? Let’s chat in the comments.
