January 2025 Reading Round-Up
New year, new books! January was a great start to our reading year (we spent much of the month inside trying to stay warm, letting us read quite a few books). From heartwarming romances to thrilling mysteries and even a touch of magic, our reading list had a little bit of everything. Some books completely swept us off our feet, while others left us wanting just a little more—but that’s all part of the fun, right? So grab a cup of tea, get cozy, and let’s dive into our January book reviews!
The Hunger Games
It has been so long since I read The Hunger Games! I am in a book club, and The Hunger Games fit into one of the categories that I needed to fulfill, so I decided to give it another read. I am glad I did! I forgot how much I loved this books, and I enjoyed being able to go back and see the Katniss and Peeta before they go through everything in the books. Just like I remember, the book is well written and progresses nicely through the story. If you haven’t read it, you have to read The Hunger Games!
II. Iron Flame
I really enjoyed Fourth Wing when I read it in November, so I was really looking forward to read the next book in the installment. Plus, I have heard so many good things about it too! While I did enjoy Iron Flame, I did find it to be a little bit of a let down from Fourth Wing. When reading Fourth Wing, I could barely put the book down, but I do not feel quite that enthralled with Iron Flame. Honestly, I am not sure exactly what the difference is between the two books. I think Iron Flame feels a little repetitive after reading Fourth Wing. It is the same danger, the same school and procedures, but slightly different. Instead of being worried about dying because of classes and school, now Violet is worried about dying becuase of her research or her knowledge. It feels very similar to Fourth Wing in that way. With that said, I did enjoy the book! While it seemed a little slow, there was always something going on or something to be concerned about or focused on, it just wasn’t always the most fast-paced danger. I also found the romance between Violet and Xaden to be very repetitive of the first book too. While understandable, it felt like the trope from the first book was repeated in this one. At first Violet and Xaden do not get along, but, as the book progresses and they go through things together, they grow closer until finally they’re together. Again, I did enjoy the book while reading it despite these things! I will definitely be reading the third book when it comes out!
III. Realm Breaker
I have loved Victoria Aveyard and her books for years. It’s taken me a while to get around to Realm Breaker and I wish I had read it earlier because I enjoyed the journey I went on! The book follows Corayne an-Amarat as she learns she is the last of an ancient lineage and the only one who can stop a villain bent on ripping the world apart. As someone who’s favorite part of every book is the characters, this book was perfect for me. Aveyard magically blended together the stories of wonderfully complex characters (loved Valtik) that make the story compelling. Victoria Aveyard does a great job of weaving and creating a new world as a backdrop for this fun adventure. From full of life cities to thick forests, each new location this group travels to is rich with its own story and details.
I found the story to be fast paced and the multiple POVs kept the story really moving and kept me engaged throughout the whole book. And I loved that we got to explore this new world through multiple perspectives!
IV. Murder in an Irish Bookshop
Let me start this out by saying that this book is part of a series and I did not realize that when I first started reading it. So, I was thrown in to a book where other readers would already be familiar with characters, I wasn’t and it took me a minute to catch up. I love a good cozy mystery and loved the premise of this book (who wouldn’t love the idea of spending time in a small town in Ireland??). Overall, I enjoyed the story, but found that there were side stories that I didn’t feel like added much to the overall plot/mystery and made the pacing of the story feel slow (although this could be because they were substories from the other books in the series that I wasn’t catching on to!).
Additionally, as someone who really loves stories because the characters are compelling and fun, I have to say that I didn’t really connect with the main character Siobhán O’Sullivan. Honestly, I couldn’t get over how she called her siblings her “brood” and how she was passive aggressive to everyone that enjoyed reading haha.
Though the story wasn’t my favorite, I did like O’Connor’s descriptions of the Irish countryside and she really made the small town seem cozy and inviting. Overall if you like cozy mysteries that focus more on the characters lives and setting than the mystery, I think you should check this out! (though maybe start with the first book in the series: Murder in an Irish Village)
V. We’ll Prescribe You a Cat
This book is not one that I would have typically picked up for myself, but listened to it for a book club I’m in. And I’m glad I did because it was so whimsical and yet also cozy. The premise of the book was intriguing to me as soon as I read about it: people struggling with various emotional and psychological challenges are “prescribed” a cat as a form of therapy. Each chapter follows a different character and how the cat prescribed to them brings them both comfort and perspective on their situation. Honestly, loved this book. The cats were so cute and the characters disbelief when they were prescribed a cat was always a little bit funny!
While the book did explore some heavier topics like grief, anxiety, and self doubt the book didn’t feel heavy. It was a cozy, overall feel good read and is perfect for cat lovers (and really anyone that wants a cozy/heartwarming read).
VI. A Novel Love Story
I’ve read and enjoyed most of Ashley Poston’s other books, so I fully expected to love this book. And I did! This book beautifully combines whimsy, a celebration of storytelling, and an exploration of grief and hope. The story follows Eileen Merriweather as she finds herself in the town of her favorite romance books where she gets to meet the characters she’s come to love as well as a new character that she hasn’t read about: Anders.
I loved that this book celebrated the power of books and storytelling as a way to make sense of our own lives. I found the book fun and charming and loved the characters. Even though they are fictional characters in the book, they still felt wonderfully real with their own flaws and hopes. If you’re in the mood for a light, heartfelt read I suggest picking this book up!
VII. The Spy Coast
I have really been enjoying books about retired spies recently. It’s not something I would have thought I would enjoy, but between this book and Killers of a Certain Age, I’m thinking I need to read more of this genre! In The Spy Coast, Tess Gerritsen weaves together espionage, small-town intrigue, and fast-paced action that had me unable to put the book down. The story follows Maggie Bird, a former CIA operative seeking a quiet life in rural Maine—until her past catches up with her in the form of a dead body on her property. As Maggie is pulled back in to her old life, she teams up with her fellow ex-spies to unravel the mystery of who is after her.
The blend of fast paced action and character development creates a main character that is witty, believable, and compelling. Not only is Maggie a great character, but her friends are as well. They are charming and lovable! If you are wanting to read thrillers or spy thrillers, but aren’t sure where to start, then I suggest this one! It’s fast-paced, clever, and impossible to put down!