Our first wrap up of the year! Let me tell you, January was the best reading month (so far). January was all about mood reading. I literally picked up whatever I fancied in the moment which was…eclectic. I jumped from romance to horror to thriller all within a few days of each other. It doesn’t feel like reading out of my comfort zone anymore. This literally feels like the norm for me now. My reading taste changed about two years ago so I’ve been discovering a lot of my new reading interests since then. Keep reading to see what I picked up last month! (and do tell me how your reading month was <3)
The Deal by Elle Kennedy – ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
Really surprised by this one. I decided to make this my first romance read of the year. I’ve seen so many people talk about this series, especially on TikTok. I ended up loving this one! This wasn’t my first by Elle Kennedy but I noticed that I appreciate how her stories are not insta love. At least they don’t feel like that to me. This book was so entertaining. I enjoyed every second of it and honestly? I had to give it five stars.
The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead – ⭑⭑⭑⭑
Such a disturbing and uncomfortable thriller. It took me a long time to read it for that exact reason. Hard to put down but also hard to read big portions of in one go. The trigger warning list is definitely really long so proceed with caution?
The Mistake by Elle Kennedy – ⭑⭑⭑⭑
Didn’t love this one as much as the first book. It was still a really fun read but it lacked something and I’m not sure what to be honest.
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – ⭑⭑⭑⭑
One of the most whimsical books I’ve ever read. I’m mad at myself for taking so long to pick it up even though so many people urged me to read it (public apology over here). This book was so fairytale like with a nice dose of romance mixed in.
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo – ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
A masterpiece. I knew I’d love this book more than the Grisha trilogy! I mean obviously since it follows two of my favourite characters, Nikolai and Zoya. But seriously, how can these book still have twists? I’m at a loss for words.
Happy Place by Emily Henry – ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ (ARC)
I’m still over the moon about reading this one early. It’s one of my most anticipated of the year and it was perfect. Emily Henry writes the most beautiful stories and this was no exception. The characters, the setting, the story. I loved everything about this story to be honest. Some of it hit close to home and I think that’s one of my favourite things about her books. (Thank you Penguin Random House International for the gifted copy!)
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey – ⭑
Unbelievably disappointed about this one. It was my first by Tessa Bailey and as you can see, the impression was not the best. At. All. Cringy in the worst was possible and I did not see the appeal. The insta love was actually grating. Plus, some scenes in this were just not it.
Come Closer by Sara Gran – ⭑⭑
This was really short and as interesting as it was, I was kind of expecting more from it.
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black – ⭑⭑⭑⭑
I couldn’t even wait for them to bring this book back in stock. I had to read it immediately. I definitely enjoyed the main trilogy more but this was a really fun read. love how weird Holly Black’s stories always are and she always finds a way to surprise you. I love that we got new characters while also not letting go of the previous ones.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson – ⭑⭑⭑
Sorcery of Thorns was one of my favourite books when it came out. I loved how unique the story was and I’ve been looking forward to this one ever since I heard about it. A short book where you can lose yourself in the fun of it. I definitely missed these characters so it was nice to get another story with them.
The Last of Us: American Dreams by Neil Druckmann, Faith Erin Hicks, & Rachelle Rosenberg – ⭑⭑⭑
I started watching The Last of Us tv show and I’ve been obsessed! I played a bit of the game but didn’t get the chance to finish it. I read this just for fun and it was interesting.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
This book now has my heart. I’ve been meaning to read more classics for a while now and this was a part of my first book haul since moving to Dubai. Decided January was a great time to pick it up and I’m so glad that I did. I experienced the same feeling with this book as when I read Pride and Prejudice. I knew after the first 100 pages that I was bound to love it, and love it I did.
How was your reading month?
The Perks of Being Noura 
Glad you had a great reading month! January was also my best one in a long while. I tried reading The Deal a few years ago but couldn’t get into it; I’ve been wanting to give it another try though!
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Glad to hear it! Hope the second chance is a good experience. I didn’t really know how I’d feel about it but after a while I realized I really liked it.
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