Readers! I just completed my monthly bucket list and was eager to share my thoughts with my lovely audience. Like I always do, I couldn’t resist sharing everything with you that will either help you or may bring a smile to your face.
I gathered the monthly book list from my community members and friends. Eight books per month is less for me, but some home tasks kept me from crossing the limits. This time, I tried different genres and new releases. I bought the books and shared them with my friends after reading, trying to be a good person as well 🙂
January went amazing as the new year brought new books with some juicy authors. It’s great to be a literature lover, one life only, and you can experience many by reading books. I generated my report with a briefing of all my January readings.
Here are My Top Picks of the Month:
One day, after wrapping up my last book, I started writing. I hope it reaches you soon. The journey is going to be amazing. Stay up with me; this might help you create your own bucket list of books for this month.
These are my Top Picks of January. Arranged in the order from my best read to the lowest. Let’s Begin:
1. House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3):
“House of Flame and Shadow” is a Fantasy Romance book with adult fiction and Urban Fantasy.
This is the third book of the Crescent City Series. The book is filled with excitement, romance, and danger, just like the first two books (I have covered a separate post for the whole series; CLICK HERE to view). The story features Bryce Quinlan, who never thought she’d leave her home, Midgard.
Bryce, through some dangerous consequences, is stuck in a strange new world, and all she wants is to go back. Her family, friends, and mate are all back in her hometown, Midgard. She is now trying to find her way home and escape the problems. She can’t trust anyone, so she has to do this without help.
Hunt Athalar has faced challenging situations, but being trapped in the Asteri’s dungeons is the worst. He’s trying and struggling to help Bryce, but he’s stuck until he can escape Asteri’s control. As Bryce and Hunt navigate this dangerous new world, they face challenges that could change everything. The book completes the story with a thrill in you: Will the world be safe, or is this the end?
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
| Publishing Date | First published January 30, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 815 Pages |
| Series | Crescent City (#3) |
| ISBN-10 | 1681193094 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1681193090 |
“House of Flame and Shadow” is a sequel to “House of Earth and Blood” and “House of Sky and Breath”. The series is written by all-time famous Sarah J. Maas. Don’t miss the first two books; each book is interconnected.
Thoughts:
The plot of the story was exciting and full of surprises. Obviously, it’s Sarah J’s book; it has to be excellent. Sarah’s skill in storytelling is outclassed here. The connections between the Sarah-verse worlds, particularly to ACOTAR and TOG books, are impressive and keep readers engaged. The history lessons are provided through darker aspects of familiar worlds. The frequent mid-chapter POV changes, with up to three different perspectives per chapter, sometimes detracted from the flow of the story. Still, it was great to put this much in a single book.
2. All the Dangerous Things:
“All the Dangerous Things” is a thriller and fictional mystery book.
The plot starts a year ago when Isabelle Drake‘s life changed forever. She is a mom and loves her child. Her little boy, Mason, vanished from his bed. Isabella and her husband were sleeping, so they didn’t know what had happened that night. The police couldn’t find enough clues about Mason. The case went cold. But Isabelle can’t sleep until Mason is back with her.
She’s barely slept in a year, only dozing off now and then. Isabelle spends all her time trying to find Mason. She agrees to talk to a podcaster who covers true crime stories, hoping it might help find new clues. But his questions bring up painful memories from her past. The love of mom and her son made me cry.
Isabelle starts to doubt her memories. She starts thinking of the night Mason disappeared. She’s not sure about anything. The trust issues made the scene more complex. She stops trusting anyone, not even herself. Still, Isabella is determined to uncover the truth. She stops taking the tension of everything. She has to find her son, no matter how hard it gets. ~Cannot uncover the ending; just what I can say here is that I cried.
| Publisher | Minotaur Books |
| Publishing Date | First published January 10, 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 326 Pages |
| Awards | Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2023) |
| Settings | Savannah, Georgia (United States) |
| Characters | Isabelle Drake, Ben Drake, Mason Drake |
| ISBN-10 | 1250803853 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1250803856 |
Stacy Willingham, the author of this book, is in my best thriller writers list from now.
Thoughts:
“All the Dangerous Things” is described is such a way that if you start reading it, it’s hard to put down. This indicates the highly engaging storytelling and writing of this book. The author, Willingham, created an interesting thriller centered around the theme of sleepwalking. Really a unique and unexplored concept in this genre.
“Sometimes, the mind is just stronger than our attempts to override it.”
Stacy Willingham, All the Dangerous Things
The main protagonist’s journey of seeking answers about her past and her son’s disappearance proved to be a gripping and suspenseful plot.
I experienced several themes, such as memory, mental health, and self-reflection, adding depth to the psychological thriller genre. Packing up, it was really a great book.
3. What Lies in the Woods:
“What Lies in the Woods” is a Thriller, Mystery, and Fiction book. It covers aspects of Horror and Crime genres.
The plot states that once a girl named Naomi Shaw believed in magic. She had two bestfriends, Cassidy and Olivia. They had a wonderful summer adventure twenty-two years ago. They explored the woods, dreaming up tales of enchantment and charm. They called this magical exploring game the Goddess Game.
But their summer of fun suddenly ended. Naomi Shaw was attacked by unknows. Instead of being stabbed seventeen times, she miraculously survived. Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia started finding the attacker. With the help of her friends, she found the attacker. He was a serial killer and was responsible for the deaths of six women. Due to the three friends, the city was safe and sound. People hailed them, and they were declared as heroes of the city.
| Publisher | Flatiron Books |
| Publishing Date | First published January 17, 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 322 Pages |
| Awards | Book of the Month Book of the Year Award Nominee (2023) |
| ISBN-10 | 1250859883 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1250859884 |
They have been hiding some old dark truths from each other. However, the friends shared the secret, the secret that they kept hidden for decades. If the secret reveals, it could risk their lives. Now, Olivia wants to reveal the truth. She wants to uncover what truly happened in the woods all those years ago; Naomi is ready to face whatever dangers the truth may bring. To know what happened next, you have to read the book.
Thoughts:
“What Lies in the Woods” offers a suspenseful storyline. The unexpected twists and engaging plot thrillers kept me reading onwards. I liked Naomi, the main protagonist. She was a well-developed character. The story was fictional, but it felt relatable, giving a reality touch. It was commendable when Naomi refused to hide her facial scars, adding authenticity and depth to her character.
THEY WERE ELEVEN WHEN THEY
Kate Alice Marshall, What Lies in the Woods
SENT A KILLER TO PRISON
THEY WERE HEROES …
BUT THEY WERE LIARS.
The audiobook for this book is worth a try. Karissa has made it a quality stream with a great voice experience for the listeners. The story concludes satisfyingly. Slowly, all the myths get clear, and all the knots open. The child trauma and secrets theme added more fun to the book.
4. First Lie Wins:
“First Lie Wins” is a Thriller Mystery book with Fiction and Suspense. The book is mainly adult fiction.
In this book, we meet Evie Porter, living in the South. She has a perfect life, a loving boyfriend, a comfortable and cozy home, and a circle of fancy and enjoyable friends. Everything is going great, and here comes a twist: Evie Porter is not real (Not a spoiler, it’s written in the synopsis).
Then we go to the start. All the confusions begin with her mysterious boss. The mystery starts with a name and a mission from her boss, Mr. Smith. Evie remade herself with a new identity. She is learning everything about the town and its people. A man named Ryan Sumner is her target, and now, she has a job to do.
But things get complicated when Evie starts to feel a connection with her target, Ryan. She begins to imagine a different life for herself. Yet, she can’t afford any ups and downs, especially after a mistake she has made in the past.
To make matters worse, her true identity is unexpectedly exposed in town. Now, Evie has a problem here. She must solve her past while securing her future. Tension is high but Evie accepts all the challenges. If you are ready to read the book, you must also be ready for a thriller coated with secrets and suspense. The plot is fast-paced, so you will keep on guessing and the twists will break your expectations.
| Publisher | Pamela Dorman Books |
| Publishing Date | January 2, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 340 Pages |
| Settings | Lake Forbing, Louisiana (United States), Eden, North Carolina (United States) |
| ISBN-10 | 0593492919 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0593492918 |
After reading, I understood why Rees’s Book Club featured this book.
Thoughts:
The book offered a unique and intense Psychological Thriller. In my view, “First Lie Wins” stands out due to the typical thriller plot. I started reading and ended up with my eyes open. The author could use the old writing fashion like an unfaithful couple, or a simple relationship but she explored a new territory.
The main character is built special. She was strong, tough, and smart; this added depth and caving to the story. Evie Porter had multidimensional characteristics with relatable qualities. The storyline is gripping and made me read till the end without having a single break. Obviously a great book to read for the suspense and thriller lovers.
5. The Fury:
“The Fury” is a Psychological thriller with crime scenes and suspense.
The different thing about this book is that it is from someone’s perspective, arranged in such a way that he is telling us the story. That one person is Elliot Chase. “The Fury,” narrated by Elliot Chase, unfolds slowly. The book gives us a tale of murder and love. As a fan of Alex Michaelides, the author, I was eager to guess the novel’s twists, but I found it lacking compared to “The Silent Patient.”
The initial chapters of the book hold a scene showing a murder on an island. This story is about a woman named Lana Farrar, who used to be a famous movie star. She is rich and has a private Greek Island. Lana invites her friends to her private Greek island for Easter every year. Even though people might think it’s a murder tale, it’s more about love. The friends get stuck on the island because of bad weather, and tensions rise among them. As the plot progresses, someone gets killed. This leads to a dramatic and intense conclusion.
| Publisher | Celadon Books |
| Publishing Date | First published January 16, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 340 Pages |
| Settings | Greece, Greek islands (Greece) |
| Characters | Mariana Andros |
| ISBN-10 | 125075898X9 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1250758989 |
In this high-tension and obnoxious environment, the real question is what they will do and what will happen next. Really amazing and interesting storyline.
Thoughts:
So satisfying it was. The flow of the plot was so smooth, and the prose was natural. Just felt like an amazing bedtime story told by a friend or Grandma.
Elliot Chase, the narrator, told the story in an engaging and catchy way. Elliot develops a personal connection with you. The characters are well-developed. They had nuanced personalities and backgrounds. The characters are explained avoiding excessive of information dumping. The story has an ideal pace with suspense and the reader’s attention maintained.
The “Evel Eye” symbol and the Greek Island add extra toppings to your enjoyment. The writing was limited to a high quality. The story is easy to understand. The story stands out for its originality within the thriller/suspense genre. It offers a fresh perspective and narrative approach that distinguishes it from other works in the same category.
6. The Heiress:
“The Heiress” is a fictional book targeting the Mystery and Thriller genre. We meet super-rich Rubey McTavish. She is one of the most important ladies in North Carolina. Being rich, she is known by everyone. Not only for her money but also for her interesting life story. She dies and her adopted son, Camden, inherits her huge house, lots of money, and McTavish’s family name.
Her full name is a bit strange; Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. I know it’s too long. But the twist is here, Camden didn’t want any of it. He preferred a simple life teaching English in Colorado with his wife, Jules. They both wanted to escape their pasts. However, after some years, they got a letter calling them back to Ashby House, the family estate, because Camden’s uncle had died.
When Camden returned home, he remembered why he left this place. But Jules saw this as an opportunity. She became a bit greedy and wanted Camden to get back his inheritance and everything Ruby had left for him.
However, as they settled back into Ashby House, they started uncovering some dark secrets about Ruby and the family. People wondered about Ruby’s past, especially her kidnapping as a child and the mysterious deaths of her four husbands. So why did she adopt Camden? As they went deep, Jules and Camden realized that family ties can be complicated, and an inheritance isn’t just about money, it’s about the secrets and bonds that tie a family together, even beyond death.
| Publisher | St. Martin’s Press |
| Publishing Date | First published January 9, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 294 Pages |
| Settings | North Carolina (United States), Colorado (United States), Blue Ridge Mountains (United States) |
| ISBN-10 | 1250280036 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1250280039 |
Thoughts:
The book is intellectually engaging and makes it difficult to put it down. Highly filled with surprising turns and maintained a gripping rhythm that kept me hooked. The setting was great. It contributed to the suspense and enhanced the overall reading experience. The hidden truths and complex characters increase the sense of mystery and thrill.
Ruby McTavish’s character added depth to the story. Her multidimensional personality brought complexity and unpredictability to the plot. If I talk about the plot, the interconnected plotlines create a satisfying narrative structure. The three points of view offered great insight into the book. The use of multiple points of view may be confusing for some readers, especially if not executed clearly.
Concluding it, the narrative is so absorbing that readers may find themselves unable to stop reading until they reach the end.
7. No One Can Know:
This one is again from the author of “What Lies in Woods.” As you’ve read before, you will be aware of the author’s preferred genre. “No One Can Know” is a Fictional Horror, Suspense, and Adult genre book.
The book features Emma. She has been hiding her past from her husband. Emma hasn’t told her husband much about her past. He knows her parents are dead, and she hasn’t spoken to her sisters in years. They face some tough times as they lose their apartment, her husband loses his job, and Emma finds out she’s pregnant right when their bank account is running low.
In this difficult situation, Emma finally reveals a secret asset. She tells her husband about her parents’ house, which she co-owns with her estranged sisters. They can’t sell the house, but they can live there. However, going back home forces Emma to disclose more secrets. The house is not just any old farmhouse but a grand mansion, and her parents did not just die, they were murdered. Rumors suggest that Emma is the reason for their death.
| Publisher | Flatiron Books |
| Publishing Date | First published January 23, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 325 Pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1250859913 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1250859914 |
Emma and her sisters, Juliette and Daphne have never talked about what really happened that night. Returning to the house might bring her sisters back, but it also uncovers family and town secrets many people want to keep hidden. As Emma tries to reconnect with her old family while keeping her new one together, she realizes that the silence surrounding their past puts them in danger once again.
Thoughts:
The book showed a murder mystery combined with psychological thriller elements, which created an immersive experience, engaging the reader to solve the secrets alongside the characters. Emma’s relationship with her sisters added depth to the narrative. The portrayal of the sisters’ bond was shaped by trauma and secrets which added layers to the story, making it more compelling and relatable.
If I compare this book with her previous book, it doesn’t stand out. “What Lies in Woods” was more interesting and engaging than this book. Overall, the plot twists and characters were great. You should go for this book.
8. A Fragile Enchantment:
Started my year with a romance book, so why not end it with a romance book also? “A Fragile Enchantment” is a Romantic History novel combined with Young Adult Romance and Fiction. The book is written by the NY Times bestselling author Allison Saft.
The book gives us insight into Niamh Ó Conchobhair, a royal dressmaker. She gets caught up in a royal scandal. Niamh is hired to make clothes for a big wedding. Things get complicated when a newspaper writer notices her chemistry and bond with the groom.
Niamh has a special gift – she can weave and stitch emotions and memories into the fabric. But she has to pay for this gift, it is slowly killing her. Still, she’s determined to use her talent to earn for her family. So, when she’s asked to work on a royal wedding in the nearby kingdom of Avaland, she happily accepts.
Avaland isn’t as enchanting as Niamh imagined. Despite the fancy parties, there’s tension flowing among the common people. The groom, Kit Carmine, is unwilling to marry and is only doing it for political reasons. As Niamh and Kit spend time together, they form an unexpected bond that starts to blossom into real and deep love.
| Publisher | Wednesday |
| Publishing Date | First published January 2, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 373 Pages |
| ISBN-10 | 125089283X |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1250892836 |
Their growing romance catches the attention of a mysterious writer. He threatens Niamh that he’ll expose the royal family’s secrets unless Niamh helps him. Niamh must decide whether to risk everything she’s worked for to uncover the truth and pursue a love she never thought possible.
Thoughts:
One thing I noticed here is that the author skillfully wrote the elements of real historical events, such as England’s occupation of Ireland and the famine. But she explained it with a fantasy setting that added depth and authenticity to the book and content.
While reading, I was completely in a fairytale-like atmosphere, immersing in the story’s world and enjoying the lasting impression of the book. The characters, especially Niamh and Kit are well-developed. The romance was set beautifully, the love was soft and satisfying, the magical world was built great, and the emotions were in-depth.
The book represented LGBTQ+ and chronic illness content which may not be suitable for some readers. I personally do not prefer this kind of content. Concluding it, “A Fragile Enchantment” was not a great experience for me due to some sensitive themes of this book. Maybe it suits you, go and give it a try.
Conclusion:
After finishing eight awesome books in January, I can say it was really fun. It was also a great time for my friends who love reading. Many new writers showed up and gave tough competition to the old ones. Mixing romance with different types of stories like fiction, mysteries, and even mythology was super exciting. Each of those books means a lot to me. So, to sum it up, this January was one of the best months of the year, especially because of all the amazing books I got to read. That’s all for today Readers! Will meet you in my next post. Till then, Goodbye!