January Book Round Up

Why not start February by being on time with a book round up for the year? January is typically my biggest month for reading I think, but this year was slightly slower. I had the privilege of hosting my dear scene friend Alex while she dealt with some personal things locally, so I spent more time being present with people than hiding in books. I still did some “damage” though and it was an 7 book month!

1. I mentioned my first read of the year earlier in the month, but this was my first novel by Rufi Thorpe and Margo’s Got Money Troubles was sooo good. Books that truly capture the flaws of people and present them realistically, are hard to come by. Some that try are too messy, too unbelievable, but some really hit the mark and this is one of them. It’s not gratuitous, it isn’t romantic or fantastical, and every character is easy to love.
2. My second read was one I stumbled on when actually seeing a different book in my suggested reads from the library. I realized it was a series so I headed to the beginning. Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors is the first of the “The Rajes” series by Sonali Dev, a favorite south asian female writer of mine. I really enjoy her easygoing storytelling. The Raje family is a complex entity and I appreciate the depth not only this book had, but the others, to the family aspect of the storytelling.
3. My third read was VERY long awaited and sadly, a bit disappointing? I had hoped Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl with its professor-daddy vibes, academic setting, and mentions of spanking would be a bit more…more? Although I truly do love Sierra Simone, I notice her collaborations with Julie Murphy are just a bit less on the nose with the kink content than her individual writing. There were probably 6-7 moments I was literally yelling at this audiobook, “OMG SPANK HERRRRRR” and it just…never happened. Well, once, but it wasn’t a spanko spanking, more sexy roleplay and this had SO much potential! It’s a spicy mainstream open door romance but not more than that, sadly.
4. So four and five were the second and third books in The Races and I am always cautious about series, because what if I don’t like the other books as much as the first? Fortunately, Recipe for Persuasion was just as easy to like and meeting the rest of the Raje siblings was fun instead of cumbersome.
5. I felt the same about Incense and Sensibility, though this was possibly my least favorite of the four total (I just finished the fourth as my first Feb read!). I am not sure why I liked this one less than the others but if I had to order them, it would be at the bottom of my list.
6. I am a sucker for a title or cover that pulls me in, and that’s how I ended up listening to I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney. You’re more likely to see Kenney in the New Yorker than in the novels section, or writing poetry, so this was a deviation for him – and he did it well! This was funny and awkward and the kind of character study I really enjoy.
7. If you read and enjoyed Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died then you simply must read her debut novel, Half His Age. I admit, the title caught my eye and when I realized who the author was, I listened to this in one day. I didn’t “put it down” once I started. It reminded me a lot of All the Ugle and Wonderful Things by Brynn Greenwood. CW for statutory rape and some other sensitive topics.

Like I said, I finished the fourth book in the series about the Raje siblings, The Emma Project, as my first February read, and I am onto Isabelle Allende’s Island Beneath the Sea next. It’s a long one, and already proving deep. I am looking forward to getting further into it. What’s on your reading list? What are you reading now? What’s up next?

-M