Everything I Read in January 2024
Well, Congrats everyone…we survived the longest month! It definitely felt like it was creeping by, but as I sit here typing, I’m also in shock that it is February. While I love the start to a new year and the idea of a blank slate, January isn’t my favorite. It equates to cold weather, darkness, and a long stretch to Spring Break. Theoretically, I should have been using the time to read and put a dent in the stack of books littering my apartment, but I somehow found myself in the trenches training for a half marathon, consuming any WW2 movie/tv show I could find, and using any excuse to go out to HH that I had. (Note from this editor to readers: It did not take much of a reason to convince me to go out this month. Dry January isn’t a thing in my world). Nonetheless, I read four books this month (a little off track for my one a week, Type A brain), but I am finding that I would rather read for quality and enjoyment than quantity. Let’s dive in…
#4: The Mystery Guest- Nita Prose
The Mystery Guest is the highly anticipated follow up novel to The Maid. Following the endearing protagonist, Molly, this sequel is another murder mystery, where she is tasked to uncover who killed a famous author at the Grand Hotel, where she is now head maid. I have enjoyed both books, but these do not provide me the suspense fix that I look for in this genre. They read more like a light, beach read to me rather than a gritty, psychological suspense book that I always crave. With that being said, Molly is highly likable and has you rooting for her throughout the series!
#3: Yellowface- B. F. Kuang
Yellowface was full of intrigue and deceit, which made for a fun way to start January! June, an aspiring, yet struggling writer, steals her friends manuscript when she suddenly dies and publishes it as her own. She finds instant success as it is released, but she must go to great lengths to conceals the books’ true origin. It is fascinating to hear the inner dialogue as she tries to ration how her actions are justified!
#2: With the Old Breed- E.B. Sledge
Hi, my name is Lauren, and I went down a massive WW2 rabbit hole of shows and movies while training on the treadmill this winter! The first show that I binged was the Pacific, which followed Marines as they fought the Japanese from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima. This show had me in awe of the realities that our men faced fighting in the Pacific theatre. What makes this show even more fascinating is that they based it on the first hand accounts from 2 Marines who survived fighting in these battles- Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge. With the Old Breed is humbling and descriptive of what E.B. Sledge experienced during WW2- let’s face it, none of it was pretty. I only wish I had read it before I saw the show!
#1: Only If You’re Lucky- Stacy Willingham
Stacy Willingham has quickly become one of my favorite suspense writers, and I couldn’t wait for the release of her 3rd book this January! I polished, Only If You’re Lucky, in one blissful snow day from work! Set on a college campus in South Carolina, this suspense thriller follows four friends living in an off-campus house, who find themselves in the middle of investigation when one of the girls goes missing and a member of the fraternity next door is murdered. Stacy is a master of twisty plots and creating unexpected endings!
I am excited to announce that Stacy Willingham has generously donated a signed copy of Only If You’re Lucky for the next Closet Hook book club event on Thursday, March 28th! Details to come and I hope to see you there. This has become such a fun way for women in the DC area to connect!