What I read in January
A fresh start to the year
2025 is off to a great reading start. I set a few simple goals and worked throughout the month to rebuild my reading routine, which infused such an invigorating energy into my reading life.
I read a fantastic short story collection, had a disappointing read, found a new favorite author whose books I've been queuing up from the library, and listened to a lovely audiobook. More on all that below!
The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Mystery | It was okay
I read and loved The Plot and was excited for this sequel. I love Korelitz's writing and her literary take on the mystery genre. Sadly, I found this sequel too repetitive compared to the first one and didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.
Chemistry by Weike Wang | Literary fiction | Really liked it
Weike Wang is now officially an entry on my list of favorite authors. After loving Rental House I immediately tracked down a copy of Chemistry, her debut novel. I love that it had similar themes to Rental House and Wang's subtly hilarious wit she infuses into her novels. If you haven't read any of her novels, I highly suggest you do!
The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes | Literary fiction | Liked it
This novel about four Irish sisters had a distinctly Bad Sisters feel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The oldest sister disappears, and the three others converge to find her, which they quickly do. It's a quieter novel with a unique structure (the middle section is in the form of a play) that meditates on many modern-day issues. And it had one of the most surprising endings I've encountered recently!
You Have a Friend in 10A by Maggie Shipstead | Short stories | Loved it
One of my goals this year is to read a short story collection each month so I started by pulling this collection off my shelves. Shipstead is a favorite author and I, unsurprisingly, adored these stories. She takes us around the world, and I was eager to enter the world of each new one as soon as the previous one finished.
Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy | Irish lit | Loved it
Ah, Maeve Binchy. Her books are gentle and funny and perfectly capture a slice of life, much like Anne Tyler's. This was my second novel by Binchy, a revered Irish author. It follows Benny and Eve as they embark on their first year at university in Dublin in the 1950s. They fall in love, they laugh, they cry, they grow. It's such an endearing novel and I couldn't stop reading all 700 pages of it as soon as I started. It reminded me of one of my favorites, The Country Girls, but had a more hopeful tone.
Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers | Historical fiction | Really liked it
After spending time in 1950s Dublin, I hopped to 1960s London and dove into Shy Creatures. I listened to this book on audio and it was a delight. It follows a woman, Helen, who works as an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital and one particular patient that she connects with. The novel jumps back and forth in time and perspective, which I found immersive. I loved Chambers' last novel, Small Pleasures, and I loved this equally as much. I love the strong female main characters she writes.
Andromeda by Therese Bohman | Literary fiction | Liked it
This slim novel is a meditation on a relationship between a young woman and an older man who meet while they both work at the same publishing house in Sweden. It's quiet, lyrical, and so beautifully written. Despite being slim and relatively quiet, I found myself turning pages to see where Bohman would take the story.
Tara Road by Maeve Binchy | Irish lit | Loved it
After finishing Circle of Friends, I dove into another Binchy novel and loved it just as much! Tara Road is about a woman who is content in her beautiful Dublin home with all her lovely friends and family coming and going. Then, one day, her husband leaves her unexpectedly. To recover from this surprise, she agrees to swap houses with an American woman in Connecticut. The book feels like a Nancy Meyers film between the descriptions of the cozy house on Tara Road and the premise of two women swapping lives. This one had a lovely cast of characters and reminded me of Katherine Heiny's Early Morning Riser. As soon as I finished this one, I quickly started Scarlet Feather. It looks like I'm on a kick...
Have you read any of these? I’d love to know what you think! Or, what was your favorite book this month?
Until next time,
Maybe I need to pick up some Maeve Binchy? She sounds a little Rosamunde Pilcher-esque, who I love.
So many new-to-me books to explore—what a great way to kick off 2025! I started Tuesdays in Winter, a short story collection by Lily King, and this post reminded me to pick it back up. I sometimes struggle with short story collections, finding it hard to dive back in after each story wraps up. I think I just need a little reset between each one to fully re-engage. Still figuring out the best way to navigate that!