January Wrap-Up & Thoughts

January was a pretty good reading month for me - I finished eight books and two short stories that were in-betweeners for two series I read. I will be touching on these chronologically in the order I read them, including my ratings and a few thoughts about each book.

6 - five-star rated reads

4 - four-star rated reads

The Love Hypothesis - by Ali Hazelwood

This was my first read by Ali Hazelwood - and I was hooked! I gave this one 5 stars. I loved the characters and the story. 

Because of this book - I purchased Love on the Brain, Loathe to Love You, and preordered Love, Theoretically.

I recommend this one for lovers of romance, Women in STEM, grumpy x  sunshine, and fake dating.

And Now This: A Memoir in Essays - by Rick Bailey

Author Rick Bailey found my page and reached out to send me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I was a bit nervous, as I am generally not a non-fiction reader, and this would be the first book I had read in the memoir genre.

I was pleasantly surprised with this one, giving it a 5-star rating. 

Check out my review linked in the title above for more info!

From Blood and Ash - by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Red Pearl Scene (short story) - by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I picked up this first book of the Blood and Ash Series last summer - but just got around to reading it a couple of weeks ago. I also read book 1.5 in the series, a short story from another POV for the red pearl scene that takes place early on in the novel.

I gave this one 4 stars - I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters, and the twists were anticipated, but not for the characters, and that really added to the tension. 

I love when the reader knows things, but the characters do not.

I ended up ordering the rest of the books in this series because when I finished this one, I wanted to keep going - but I didn't have them yet, which is just the worst! At least I found the short story, but I am happy to say I have the rest of the books in hand now. 

Just the Nicest Couple - by Mary Kubica

Mary Kubica has been an automatic buy for me since her debut novel, The Good Girl. 

The Good Girl will always be my favorite, but over the years, The Other Mrs. and Local Woman Missing became next on my favorites list by this author. 

Just the Nicest Couple was a 5-star read for me, and I will say it is up there with Local Woman Missing! 

Kubica fans will not be disappointed; she comes through to give us a twisty, dark, and suspenseful story that I read in one sitting. 

Check out my review linked in the title above to find out more!

Trapper Road - by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan

Identity (short story) - by Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine, the creator of the Stillhouse Lake Series and many other works, sadly passed away in November 2020.

Carrie Ryan has picked up the Stillhouse Lake series, using Caine's outlines and plans for the rest of the series. 

Honestly, I felt that Carrie Ryan did a great job - it felt just like Rachel's writing to me.

I love this series, it's dark and suspenseful, and the characters are fantastic. Definitely give this series a try - you'll be hooked!

This was a 5-star for me!

Love on the Brain - by Ali Hazelwood

After I enjoyed The Love Hypothesis so much, I had to pick up some more Ali Hazelwood!

The reviews I read on this one were all over the place - many complaints about it being too similar to TLH. 

I think Ali Hazelwood's focus on Women in Stem means that many of her novels will have some similarities. I don't see the issue - but that's just me.

I loved the story and the characters in Love on the Brain. I am always a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers trope, and Hazelwood delivered! I gave this one 4 stars.

I also like that the author often touches on struggles that women in science, or even women who work with men (especially in male-dominated industries), have to deal with at work. 

I have picked up Loathe to Love You and will be reading that in February before my local bookstore's Galentine's event, in which that book is the focus. I also preordered Love, Theoretically, which comes out in June!

Yellow Slicker - by Deanna Nese

This was another eARC I received from an author who reached out to me in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this one 4 stars. I enjoyed the story and connected with the main character, Duncan Knight. 

Yellow Slicker is a psychological thriller filled with paranoia and suspense. 

I have written the review for this one - but it is not scheduled to publish on my website until February 6th - this book will be available on February 7th!

Fans of psych thrillers should check out my review and read

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