January 2018 Book Review

Ah, January. Winter break. Travel. Resolutions. A perfect storm for kicking off the year with a good list of books. Seven books in one month was a pretty lofty accomplishment for me considering that’s almost half of how many books I read in all of 2017. I used to marvel at busy moms who still had full libraries of completed books and wonder how in the world does she find time to read?! Because she makes the time, I found to be the answer. I watch less tv, I combine my reading time with my exercise time, I prioritize at least 15 minutes per night in bed to settle my mind with a few pages. All small practices that add up!

So let’s kick it off. A brief summary of my overall takeaways and feelings of all the books I’ve read with links to buy if my descriptions trip your trigger. Shall we? We shall.

Winter Stroll

OK, to be fair, this book sort of was more of a December book, but I finished it on January 3 so I had to count it as a 2018 read. It’s a part of a trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand (Winter Street, Winter Stroll, and Winter Storms) all set at Christmastime in Nantucket. I have read 2 out of the 3 books from the trilogy thus far and will finish the last one in December to get myself in the Christmas spirit again. I definitely enjoy the books, the drama, the love triangles and the relationships, plus the way she describes Nantucket at Christmastime is charming and pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or a deep glass of red wine by the fire. Nothing groundbreaking, but a solid, festive read nonetheless!

The Perfect Girl

Oooooh! Now THIS was turning up the intensity a little bit after my holiday themed books! New to the thriller/mystery genres in general, I must say I really enjoy them. No other genre can keep me as on my toes and turning pages as quickly. This book was about a young girl who finds herself in a tragic family situation after mom marries a less-than-gentle man who becomes the ugly stepfather. A mysterious death, deep investigation, secret camaraderie among step-siblings… it was a fast read and one I definitely recommend!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

This one was kind of risqué! Famous actress, Evelyn Hugo, married seven times, gives her life story to one young and unlikely reporter in an attempt to go to her grave without any secrets. In the telling of her story, you get a glimpse into the crazy dysfunction of Hollywood relationships (and I can’t help but think there’s a major element of truth in it!) and because it walks through her entire eventful romantic life, I found myself staying really engaged throughout. I file this one away under “beach read” because it didn’t require a whole lot of brain power to consume and was just simple and entertaining.

The Language of Flowers

What a beautiful book this was. I loved the story. It was rich, tragic, hopeful, beautifully developed and the scenes were vividly described. Even now as I sit here and write this review many months after reading it, actual pictures come to mind instead of words. I think this book ranked among other literary treasures to me such as The Kitchen House, The Secret Life of Bees, etc. It’s not light and fluffy, it’s not scary, it’s just good reading.

Tell Me Three Things

Meh. Remind me that I don’t love YA next time I go to grab something about 16 year olds in lust. It wasn’t BAD, I think it was just generally boring for me. This book got lots of positive reviews, though, so if YA is your jam, jam on.

Forever, Interrupted

Nope. Just wasn’t for me. I can’t even fully remember the story line because it didn’t stick with me, but according to my Instagram story highlights where I keep mini synopses of all my books, this one was low on the list. I have loved other Taylor Jenkins Reid books, though, and if you want to try one, I would definitely have you read One True Loves or the above mentioned The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Nothing to Prove

This book is awesome and you would know I felt that way if you saw all of the dogeared pages and highlights throughout my copy. One of those books I could never give or loan away because it has become SO PERSONAL to me with notes in the margins that it is almost like a diary. Jennie Allen tells about her own personal struggles and God’s triumphs through her life and encourages readers to dig deep into what God is calling them to do. It is now July as I write this and I am reading this book for the second time in the same calendar year. Check it out!!!