January 2025 Reads

TL, DR above

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). 

StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned. 

Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here: 

Engrossing Reads

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson - I got approved for this title quite a while ago but saved it to read in January to kick the year off right. I believe I did the same with Wilkerson's first novel, Black Cake, which I also loved. This story and this family will stick with me. The kind of book where the story is so vast and good you don’t want to finish it, and the writing is so good you want to write something yourself. I loved this, which seems inadequate in summation. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, and to Barnes & Noble Philly for bringing Charmaine Wilkerson in for a book talk at the end of January - thrilled to be there for that and to own a signed copy of this one

The Note by Alafair Burke - I typically tear through Alafair Burke books, and this one was no exception. They're not deep and they're not perfect, but books don't need to be for entertainment. OCNJ library hardcover

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen - I always think of myself as a reader not that interested in historical fiction until I read books that remind me that I *do* like historical fiction. Partially set in a time in history I haven't read many perspectives of is always a bonus, and that was the case here - the impact of country, politics, and position on the lives of these people through many decades and changes, from Shanghai to Hong Kong, Taiwan, New York, California. This was engaging, heartbreaking, hopeful. OCNJ library hardcover

The Fourth Monkey (4MK Thriller #1) by J.D. Barker - I'm late to this series. I believe we arrive at books when we are supposed to, most of the time, and my only regret about being late to this is that I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading the rest. OCNJ library paperback

The Cove (Detective Erica Sands 1) and The Trap (2) by Gregg Dunnett - Read in preparation for an advanced copy of the third in the series because I'm not starting a series on the third book. I enjoyed these two, the first more than the second - at first I was confused as to what was happening with the shifts and absence of the main character which are not my favorite parts or arcs of these books - but I did eventually get into the story within the story and see how it pieced things together. Digital copies, own

Passed the Time Just Fine

Saltwater by Katy Hays - Entirely unbelievable but that was part of what spurred the story forward. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 25

The Hunt (Detective Erica Sands #3) by Gregg Dunnett - This book passed the time just fine, but was my least favorite of the three so far. Still invested and looking forward to the next one! Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes February 21.

Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff - Reads like Fitzgerald fan fiction, which I didn’t mind. Feels a little overwritten in spots but passed the time just fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 

Brothers by Alex Van Halen - Did I immediately both a) listen to Van Halen the rest of the day and b) spend time googling various things mentioned in the book as well as things studiously avoided (Sammy) after finishing this? Yes. This was not a tell all in any sense, more of Alex claiming his role in the thing which is Van Halen and telling a lot about his family and how they grew up with music and nothing, where that music took them, and as is typical in these books - how the record industry wants to suck the blood of artists and pay them in sand. OCNJ library hardcover

Not For Me

A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler - I loved that the main characters were older in age and youthful in  heart, and I do love a second chance redemption arc and gentle storytelling. I think if I didn't compare all of his novels to Shotgun Lovesongs, one of my favorite books of all time, that I would have liked this one more, and the fault in that is mine. I know better than to think the feeling evoked by one reading experience can translate to every other one by that author.  It's earnest, but not in a way that felt authentic to me. It also contains everything plus the kitchen sink, which is I think one of the ways it went off the rails. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Bookseller by Valerie Keough - Love a story set in a bookstore, love a main character who loves books as much as I do. That's about the end of my love for this one - I think I'm an outlier but this was not for me. I could not deal with Helen. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 3

Nowhere by Allison Gunn - This was a little out of my preferred zone - I thought it was more mystery/thriller but maybe a little more horrorish than I bargained for. Likely a good for you, not for me read. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 25

The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz - I don't think this is a thriller, or anything remotely related to Gone Girl so if that is an expectation, you should adjust. I was not thrilled with the consistent "her looks are just okay what is he doing with her" themes. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia - Advanced copy from Netgalley

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What have you been reading?