I have a lot of thoughts and opinions about the things I read, and I read quite a lot. Unfortunately, sometimes the echo chamber becomes, well, tedious, and I wish I had someone to talk to about said thoughts and books. Enter: the Internet! An actual, real life echo chamber for me to spew my thoughts on the things I read this month. Also, because I love lists, I'm doing it in list format.
stuff i read in january, sort of in categories:
Books That Made Me Think
Biography of X by Catherine Lacey- this was highly recommended by a friend. My main takeaway from this book was that X was supposed to be this all-encompassing, genius art figure who just blew every single person away and was simultaneously a terrible human being. I struggled with the Manic Pixie-ness, and flatness, of her character. Regardless, Catherine Lacey is a super talented author and her writing is well-crafted. If you're in the mood for a sad- queer-art-mystery meets dystopian alternate USA, this is right up your alley.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (re-read)
returning to old dystopian YA favorites as an adult, who studied politics, is fun in the nerdiest way. the gut wrenching and straight up disturbing parts of this book were even more so this time around, and i did finish it feeling a bit despondent about humanity. nonetheless, the hunger games is a gem. i personally consider it a classic.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, which I aptly read in the Tokyo airport in a single sitting. I really appreciated how the perspective of the book turns the 'normalcy’ of society's rules and rituals on its head. A remarkable and irreverent book.
Dune by Frank Herbert- it only took me 3 years to finish! I hilighted so many politically apt quotes. I don't know if I love or hate this book. The world is so built out I feel like I barely can get my head around it. I want to read Dune Messiah, but I don't know if I will be able to read it any faster than this one. I think also that reading about people transforming themselves into Messiahs/Chosen Ones can be…a bit tedious.
Books that Were Light, Fluffy, Goodness
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean- ★★★★
Think All The Boys, but if Lara Jean found out she was secretly a Japanese princess. Also the younger cousin of Crazy Rich Asians, in its tone and humor. This book was fluffy, cute, and a nice meditation on coming of age and discovering how you fit into your own culture and heritage. Who doesn't love a Princess Diaries moment? And a hot bodyguard?
Books that i devoured in less than 24 hour periods and dont know if they were particularly good but i enjoyed them and their romances/plots:
The Enforcer by Avery Keelan (hockey romance! mwah!)
7&8. Deadly Divine Duet by Ella Fields. actually one of my preferred fantasy romances i've read in the last year. doesn't reinvent the wheel but is pretty good!
Kingdom of Villains by Ella Fields (re-read) I had to re-read this after the Deadly Divine duet because the formula of the book is almost identical, but this one has a dragon. Her nickname is also Mother of Monsters, which is fun. Ella Fields is great for not groundbreaking but entertaining, steamy fantasy books. She writes tension well.
Books that I could not tell you a lick of what they were about and you don't need to read:
not bad, just not really for me. the downside of reading like a maniac is that if something doesn't stay with me, it really doesn't stay with me. from what i remember these are all cutesy HEA books.
Books that Got Me
If Only You by Chloe Liese (re-read)- this book is from a series of standalones about a bunch of Swedish-American siblings. It's awesome. This one is neurodivergent, a sports romance, and touches on overcoming self harm and trauma. It's pretty wonderful: the romance is one of the purest ones I've ever read, personally, and is a delicious slowburn. I did my first re-read of 2024, but know I will re-read it again. and again. and again.
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood - I deeply enjoy all of Ali Hazelwood's books, and for whatever reason had put off reading this one, but I think it might be my favorite of her STEM adult novels. Chronically people-pleasing protagonist, grumpy genius mushy male love interest… just excellent. I've already re-read my favorite scenes a bunch.
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood- finished this book in a day then went back and read it again cover to cover the next day, lol. maybe i'm still in 2019 living out The Queen's Gambit obsession but there's something about the arch rivals chess romance that just REALLY does it for me. I loved this book.
Nobody Like Us (Like Us #14) by Krista and Becca Richie- trying to explain the Addicted and subsequent Like Us Fictional Universe to people not in the know is literally like trying to explain a cult. That being said, I have a really deep attachment to the main characters in this book, and this is my favorite book in the series for sentimental and character growth/getting their flowers reasons. Teared up on the plane as i was finishing this book literally lmao but yeah just near and dear to my heart, this one.
ok, thats it (for now!) see ya on the other side of february, probably having read more smut! Although I am currently reading a cool Scottish folklore inspired fantasy duet so, maybe less smut. if you made it this far, you're a rock star! thanks!