January 2025 reading is a wrap! Did you have a memorable start to the new year?

January 2025 Reading Wrap Up

Did January seem like the longest month?!
Between the devastating fires in Southern California, the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C, and a few family health concerns, it’s been a difficult month all around.

Did you read Onyx Storm in January? It seems like everyone on Bookstagram read it!

Out of 14 books completed, I was fortunate to experience two 5-star reads, eight 4-star reads, three 3.5-star reads, and (sadly) one 1-star read (which I didn’t include in the above graphic because I’d like to pretend like I didn’t read it).

My most engaging and memorable fiction read in January was Kate & Frida by Kim Fay. Included in this post are the details of a new monthly link up I’m hosting on the blog. Check it out!

Don’t miss my Most Memorable Reads of 2024 post here.

---

***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Titles are Amazon affiliate links or my linked reviews.
ARC=Advanced Readers Copy (complimentary copy for review before pub date)

Kate & Frida by Kim Fay (ARC)

5 Stars. (ARC) Epistolary, friendship fiction. Lovely! My review of Kate & Frida here.
***You might also be interested in the introduction of my new blog feature and link up!***

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson (ARC)

5 Stars. (ARC) Another fabulous complicated family drama by the author of Black Cake. My full review of Good Dirt here.

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz (ARC)

4 Stars. (ARC) Engaging historical fiction. My review of Indigo Heiress here.

The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly (ARC)

4 Stars. (ARC) Cozy mystery with sides of baking competition and romance. My review of Crime Brulee (and other books about baking) here.

You Be Mother by Meg Mason

4 Stars. Contemporary fiction. Complicated family drama. More sad than “charming and funny” as the blurb indicates. Dementia. Not yet reviewed.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman (ARC)

4 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary fiction. Complicated friend relationships. Bleak. (child abuse). Review coming soon.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski

4 Stars. Contemporary fiction. Multi-generational. Books about food. PTSD. Heavy content…not as light as I was expecting. Not yet reviewed.

Dangerous Days for the Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble (ARC)

4 Stars. (ARC) Historical fiction series (WWII). Nursing. Women Supporting Women. Review coming soon.

The Great Western Railway Girls by Jane Lark (ARC)

4 Stars. (ARC) Historical fiction. (WWII home front) Women Supporting Women. Review coming soon.

A Girl’s Guide to Winning the War by Annie Lyons

4 Stars. Historical fiction (WWII home front). Writing. Family life. Not yet reviewed.

The Memory Library by Kate Storey

3.5 Stars. Contemporary fiction. Books about books. Dementia. Not yet reviewed.

Stormy Waters at Harbour House by Fenella J. Miller (ARC)

3.5 Stars. (ARC) Historical fiction series (WWII home front). Hardships and challenges during the war. Review coming soon.

The Cobbler’s Apprentice by Lynette Rees (ARC)

3.5 Stars. (ARC) Historical fiction series. Victorian England. Coming of age. Review coming soon.

---

***Not Recommendable in my Opinion***

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

1 Star. UGH. I had decided not to read this but then it was available at the library and I fell victim to FOMO after seeing it on many best-of-the-year lists. I had heard that the beginning of the story is depressing but after about 30% it gets better and better. Well, no it doesn’t. Even though we get brief glimpses of witty, poignant, and thoughtful dialogue, TRIVIALIZING SUICIDE AND USING IT FOR HUMOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. Mental Health is not well represented in my opinion. One minute she’s suicidal and the next she isn’t. If only despair was that easily managed. I skipped ahead a lot in hopes of reaching the part that others have loved. So, I did read to the end but it’s reading time I wish I could reclaim. In addition to not finding suicide funny, it’s too crude for my taste. Others have loved it and you will find many reviews that offer an opposite opinion. #notwopersonsreadthesamebook #outlier

---

---

QOTD:

Did we read any of the same books?
Did you have a favorite January read?

---

---

January Blog Posts

Captivating Character of January (Link Up) and Kate & Frida Review
The Maid of Ballymacool Review
Good Dirt Review
West With Giraffes Review (and FREE Book Club Kit)
The Indigo Heiress Review
Let’s Call Her Barbie Review
Books About Baking (Crime Brulee Review)
Love and Conductivity Review
Maureen Review
10 Bookish Goals 2025
Ace, Marvel, Spy Review
Little Wing Review
10 Books That Deserve More Hype
Top 5 Bookish Podcasts
2024 Blog Reflections
2024 Reading Stats and 2025 Reading Goals

Don’t miss my Most Memorable Reads of 2024 post!
Also, this Best of the Best 2015-2024 post.

---

---

Happy Reading Book Friends!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

---

---

Let’s Get Social!

Thank you for visiting and reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.

Find me at:
Twitter/X
Blue Sky
Instagram (Threads link in bio)
Goodreads and StoryGraph
Pinterest
SubStack: @carolreadingladies
Reading Ladies Book Club on Facebook

---

---

***Blog posts may contain affiliate links. I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Books I review are purchased by me or borrowed from the library unless explicitly stated that they are free (arcs).

Amazon or publisher websites receive all credit for author and book cover images.

© http://www.ReadingLadies.com

---