Happy belated January wrap-up! Yup, I’m very behind. Blame either work (for making me tired) or me (for just being a lazy bum). Either one is correct.
Anyways, I read (and listened) to a grand total of … five books. It’s not the biggest amount, but I’m very proud of it. I call myself a lazy reader, which means I want to read all the books but I lack the motivation to start and actually read them. So I end up reading one book over months.
But with the reading goals I set for myself, I’m way more motivated to pick up a book. Which is great for my reading (but not so great for my wallet because once I start reading all the unread books on my shelves, then I, of course, need to buy more!! It’s the only logical conclusion).
I’ll Be Missing You
I’ll Be Seeing YouSuzanne Hayes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’ll Be Missing You by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan is a historical fiction that takes place in the United States during the Second World War. It is told through letters between two women who have husbands fighting in the war. So the whole book is basically about their budding friendship and their every day lives.
I thought the setting was interesting because I feel like we rarely see the home lives of women left behind in the United States during the Second World War. But, unfortunately, I was bored. I skim read the last 150 pages-ish because I just wanted it to be done and over with. Nothing really happened, I didn’t relate to the characters at all and I didn’t care about what happened in their lives. It’s not a terrible book, just not for me.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
All the Missing Girls
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda. This mystery/thriller is about a girl who returns to her hometown years after her close friend went missing. When she returns, another girls goes missing and then the whole books is basically told backwards and you can try to figure out what happened.
I was really excited to read this book because I read her other book, The Perfect Stranger, and I thought it was good, very atmospheric. I had high hopes for this because it’s told through a backwards timeline and I usually like stories that are not written in chronological order. But this book, however, wasn’t well executed. For a thriller book, it was not scary, atmospheric or thrilling at all. Only one part was and it wasn’t that scary. The reveal didn’t make sense (and felt like a cop-out) and there were so few foreshadowing or hints throughout the book to keep you engaged. It was very disappointing.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Actual rating: 4.5/5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo is a YA fantasy novel that takes place in the wonderfully magical and interesting Grishaverse. Without revealing too much, it’s about an orphan girl who discovers there’s a strong power inside her, and it changes her life.
I honestly just wanted to read the trilogy (yup, it’s a trilogy) so I can read the Six of Crow duology that takes places in the same universe. But I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The first half was a little slow, but it makes sense because it’s explaining the world and magic system, and introducing the characters. But the second half picks up and it’s amazing. I liked almost all of the characters and the main antagonist was probably my favourite character in the whole book. Definitely recommend.
Rating: ★★★★.5☆
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is a historical fiction novel about a bisexual duke (?), lord (?). I can’t remember his title but his family is pretty high up in the social ladder. Anyways, “Monty” embarks on a trip around Europe with his sister and his best friend (who he is secretly in love with) and they get in a whole bunch of shenanigans.
I borrowed the audiobook from the library on a whim (just to have something to listen to when I get headaches) and I wasn’t really expecting much. But omg, I absolutely loved this book! It’s one of my favourites. It was funny, fun and surprisingly touching. Since being involved in any form of same-sex relationships during the 17th century is extremely frowned upon and can get you sent to jail, we see how Monty struggles with his attraction for men and his love for his best friend, Percy. I thought it was so well done.
The only negative, I guess, is that I felt like the plot dragged on and I would liked to see more focus on the characters’ relationship and emotions than all the action. But other than that, I loved it.
Rating: ★★★★★
Siege and Storm
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The last book I read in January and it wasn’t that great. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo is the second book in the Grisha triology (with the first being Shadow and Bone). I’m not going to talk about the plot in this book to prevent spoilers but all I can say is that it wasn’t as great as the first book. This felt repetitive and slow. The only action-heavy part was the end (which I thought was good). There was a couple that annoyed me so much it wanted to throw the book at a wall. Their relationship is the main reason I disliked this book. There were unnecessary “love” drama and the guy in the relationship was so possessive, obsessive and jealous. It would have been way better without an romance.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
classically casual 