This new year started off rough. But luckily my reading didn’t.

First month of 2021 complete!

While it was a rocky start in general, my reading year started off strong. I even had a couple 5 stars this month!

I’m reformatting these wrap-ups just slightly!

Since I review almost every book I read, it feels redundant to do it again here. So I’m just sharing some quick highlights.

*Referral Codes to Book of the Month and Libro.fm are linked*

First let’s start with some stats –

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January Stats

Books Read: 15
Pages Read: 5,611

Genres
YA Contemporary: 1
Contemporary Romance: 3
Paranormal Romance: 3
Historical Romance: 3
Historical Fiction: 2
Mystery/Thriller: 1
Fantasy: 2

Age Range
Adult/NA: 9
YA: 6

Format
Physical: 2
Audio: 13

Other
ARCS: 7
Owned TBR (Owned physically prior to reading): 7

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Books Read

Now here’s what I actually read this month! (In the order I read them) If I have a review, it is linked in the title. I also made sure to include the Goodreads page for all of these in case you want to add them to your own TBR!

1. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Goodreads Page
Audiobook (Libby)

Highlights: Sapphic romance, Pride & Prejudice retelling, Enemies to lovers, Fake dating, Set in Seattle during the holidays, Astrology, Women in STEM (Actuary)

Pros: Steamy romance, Amazing chemistry, Peak fake dating tension

Cons: This wasn’t exactly anything unique or life changing, The twists, conflicts, and conclusion are pretty straightforward obvious

2. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Goodreads Page
BOTM, ARC (Edelweiss+), Audiobook (Libro.fm)

Highlights: Mystery/Domestic Thriller, Secret Identities, Jane Eyre retelling

Pros: Page turner, Tons of secrets, Great audiobook narration, Captivating writing

Cons: Lacking a shocking twist/reveal

3. The Darkest Star (Origin #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Goodreads Page
Audiobook (Hoopla)

Highlights: YA Paranormal Romance series (NOT a trilogy…), Spinoff of Lux series (I highly recommend reading that one first), Sexy aliens

Pros: Great banter, Snarky hero, Lots of secrets, Always fun to return to a world and characters you already love

Cons: This will be the same for the other 2 books I read in this series – this is exactly like every other YA book JLA has written but will different names and hobbies.

4. Fable (Fable #1) by Adrienne Young

Goodreads Page
Audiobook (Scribd), Physical TBR

Highlights: YA Fantasy duology, Pirates, Thieves, Set at sea, Diving, Found family, Secret identities, Swoony romance

Pros: Found family at sea, Swoony slow burn romance, Tons of action

Cons: The characters are definitely a little basic and trope-y (but personally, I love that sometimes)

5. You Have a Match by Emma Lord

Goodreads Page
e-ARC (Netgalley)

Highlights: YA Contemporary, Seattle summer camp, DNA testing, Secret sibling, Adoption, Sister relationships, Friends to lovers, Slow burn romance

Pros: Emma Lord’s signature humor, Amazing exploration of sisterly bonds, Great friendships, really slow burn romance, fun summer camp setting

Cons: Absent parents, Teens keeping massive secrets from their parents and putting their families in potentially harmful situations

6. If It’s Only Love (The Boys of Jackson Harbor #6) by Lexi Ryan

Goodread Page
Audiobook (Audible), Physical TBR

Highlights: Contemporary Romance series following siblings, Last book in series, Second chance romance, Brother’s best friend, Friends to lovers, Unexpected pregnancy, Athlete

Pros: Character had great chemistry and history, Solid friends to lovers build up, Loved being back in this world and with these characters

Cons: UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY IS THE WORST TROPE. UGH.

7. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Goodread Page
ARC (Netgalley), ALC (Netgalley)

Highlights: Historical Fiction, Dual timelines, Feminist themes, London setting, Women seeking revenge, Divorce

Pros: Both timelines were equally intriguing and engaging, Well developed characters, Amazing themes, Beautiful and captivating writing, Unique story

Cons: This story is very straightforward/linear in how it’s told – it’s a “mystery” but there are no real twists or reveals

8. Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Goodreads Page
e-ARC (Edelweiss+)

Highlights: Magical, haunted forest, Evil tree sirens, Enemies to lovers, Star-crossed lovers, Epic battle, Grey morality

Pros: Insanely unique premise, Beautifully prose and story format, Magical, Explores what it means to be human, Epic love story

Cons: None, this book is perfection

9. The Rogue of Fifth Avenue (Uptown Girls #1) by Joanna Shupe

Goodreads Page
Audiobook (Hoopla)

Highlights: Historical romance set in New York City, Different classes, Forbidden romance, Fiercely independent Robin Hood-like heroine

Pros: Amazing, story heroine, Super steamy slow burn romance, All the banter

Cons: None – this is my new favorite historical romance!

10. The Devil in Spring (The Ravenels #3) by Lisa Kleypas

Goodreads Page
Audiobook (Hoopla)

Highlights: Part of the Ravenels series but could stand on it’s own, Wallflower, Marriage of convenience, Independent heroine, Rake turned romantic

Pros: Super swoony hero, Unique wallflower heroine with funny quirks, Feminist themes and discussions, Witty & charming banter

Cons: Pandora is a little too naive and quirky at times, Hero falls really fast

11. A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (A Lady’s Guide #1) by Manda Collins

Goodreads Page
Auidobook (Audible)

Highlights: Historical mystery romance, London serial killer (not Ripper), Enemies to Lovers, Widowed heroine, Heroine owns a newspaper

Pros: Amazing female friendship, Strong independent heroine, Great chemistry and banter between the main characters, Engaging and twisty mystery

Cons: Romance progressed very quickly

12. Enjoy the View (Moose Springs, Alaska #3) by Sarah Morgenthaler

Goodreads Page
Audiobook (Hoopla)

Highlights: Part of a series but can stand on it’s own, Mountain climbing, Opposites attract

Pros: Easton (That’s it he’s amazing), Fun mountain climbing plot, Same goofy humor as the rest of the series

Cons: Heroine makes a lot of frustrating and terrible decisions, The romance is a little lacking since so much time is spent on the climbing plot

13-14. The Burning Shadow (Origin #2) & The Brightest Night (Origin #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Goodreads Page / Goodreads Page
Audiobook (Audible)

Highlights: Spinoff of Lux, Amnesia, Sexy aliens, Evil government entities, Hidden abilities, Epic battles

Pros: Luc is still one of the best characters in the Lux world, Great chemistry between the characters, Lots of twists and turns, MAJOR CLIFFHANGERS

Cons: Book 3 has no plot (just Luc and Evie confessing their undying love for each other and making terrible decisions), MAJOR CLIFFHANGERS (yes it belongs here too 😅), THIS IS NOT A TRILOGY (this is on me… but I totally thought this was the final book. It’s most definitely not.)

15. In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce

Currently Reading

Goodread Page
Audiobook (Libro.fm)

Highlights: Serial Killer, True Crime, Revenge plot, Dual POV, Historical (set in late 1800-early 1900s), Creepy AF

Pros: Dual POV plot really highlights some of the creepy things happening, Being in the mind of a serial killer is so unsettling, epic revenge arcs

Cons: Not sure yet, I haven’t finished 😅

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Highlights

*** Favorite Book of the Month ***

*** Least Favorite Book of the Month ***

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Phew… that was LONG.

What was your favorite book of January??

♥♥♥♥