My January was filled with so many snow days/ice days/days spent at home hiding from the cold in general. And it showed in my reading – I read 25 books in January, and I had a blast doing it.
I read a bunch of books about the Olympics as I got myself hyped up for the Winter Olympics. I read some books (Workhorse, The Midnight Library, Stories of Your Life and Others) that had been on my ‘to be read list’ for months or years. And I read a bunch of really great upcoming releases.
I attribute much of my reading success to the magical gadget that is the Brick. The Brick really helped me cut down on my screen time in January and I need to stick with it to avoid the temptation to doom scroll.
Anyway, without further ado, here are my January book reviews!
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder
For fans of The Interestings, Who We Are Now, Early Thirties, or The Christmas Orphans Club, I give you Grant Ginder’s So Old, So Young. It tells the story of a group of college friends through five perspectives across five different gatherings spanning 17 years.
To me, there will never be enough books that focus on long-term friendships, and this one is especially good. The writing and characters are funny and incisive, and the plot is relatable. I wished the ending had been a little sharper or more unexpected, but a book like this is always going to be hard to land.
So many different kinds of readers will see themselves in these characters. I think this will be a popular and fun book club pick this spring.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
This Is Not About Us follows two years in the life of a Jewish family after the death of one of the family’s matriarchs Jeanne. After her death, Jeanne’s two sisters, Helen and Sylvia, have a falling out and stop speaking. The story moves forward one month at a time, each chapter taking place in a different month and told from a rotating family member’s perspective (except for one chapter told from the perspective of a minor character’s dog walker, the sister of another minor character, which I’m still a little puzzled about).
I liked this structure. The chapters are short and propulsive, and the tone shifts to match each character. Seeing different plot points from multiple perspectives gave the book a good pace, even though it’s more character-driven than plot-driven. The writing is lovely. The characters, their motivations, and the ending (which was good and not too pat!) all felt true to life.
I’m not sure how much I’ll remember about this book in a few months, but that’s fine. I really enjoyed the evening I spent reading it and would recommend it widely. I think it’ll be an especially big hit with Jewish readers.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Workhorse by Caroline Palmer
In Workhorse, readers follow Clodagh P. Harmon (aka Clo), a 20-something assistant at a nameless magazine (let’s be real, it’s a thinly veiled Vogue) over several years as she tries to climb the ladder both socially and professionally. I won’t say much more because it’s best to go in not knowing what’s going to happen.
This book is often described as The Devil Wears Prada-adjacent, but it’s much closer to The Talented Mr. Ripley. It’s gripping, soapy, and propulsive. I couldn’t put it down. But the lengths Clo goes to in order to fit in and excel? So stressful to read about. Especially in the last 80%. If reading about people making really, really bad decisions isn’t fun for you, skip this book.
But if that doesn’t bother you, run to read it now! Even though it’s 560 pages, I devoured it in 24 hours. I know I’ll re-read it (but maybe not before taking a Xanax!). Also hoping it gets a film or TV adaptation. 🤞🏻
Note: This book is available right now on Kindle Unlimited!
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
In The Midnight Library, Nora Seed believes she has nothing left to live for and tries to end her life. But instead of dying, she finds herself in a mysterious library run by her old school librarian, Mrs. Elm. Each book on the shelf represents a different life Nora would have lived if she had made just one different decision.
The story is part Sliding Doors, part It’s A Wonderful Life, with a lot of philosophy thrown in – too much, in my opinion. It felt like the book kept telling us it was deep and philosophical instead of showing it. I also didn’t find the writing particularly strong. So, it didn’t live up to the hype for me, but it wasn’t a bad read either.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Kat and Heath are Olympic ice dancing partners who’ve been competing together on and off since childhood. The book follows them through their tumultuous upbringings, to a prestigious training camp in LA, and to multiple Olympic Games. The story is framed as a documentary, jumping around in time. You know something awful happens at their last Olympics, but you’re left waiting to find out what.
The Favorites is a Wuthering Heights adaptation, but the vibe is more Daisy Jones and the Six remixed with fan edits of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. If you’ve ever watched those fan edits and wondered what was happening behind-the-scenes, you need to read this book.
I’ve read it twice, once in print and once on audio, and the full cast audio is the way to go. That said, I cared about the book a lot less the second time. Kat was more unlikable than I remembered, and it felt longer than it needed to be.
Still, a great Olympic season read!
Note: Thank you to Libro.fm and Random House for providing me with an Advanced Listening Copy.
Mystery/thriller/suspense
Head Cases and Inside Man by John McMahon
The Head Cases series follows FBI Agent Gardner Camden, part of a specialized FBI unit called PAR (Patterns and Recognition). The team is made up of highly skilled but socially offbeat (even neurodivergent) agents .
In Head Cases, the team investigates the murder of a serial killer they believed had died long ago. That case kicks off a string of similar crimes, and their investigation leads them all around the country.
In Inside Man, the team takes on two seemingly unrelated cases: a militia group stockpiling weapons and a series of unsolved murders in north Florida. Inside Man is even faster paced and twistier than the first book, which says a lot because I thought Head Cases was nearly perfect. The crimes are creative, the plots propulsive, and the characters unique and still authentic.
This series hasn’t gotten nearly enough hype yet. It’s my top recommendation right now for fans of mysteries, puzzles, and high-quality suspense. Perfect for readers who enjoy TJ Newman, Criminal Minds, or Law and Order: Criminal Intent. I’m really hoping the TV adaptation happens and that McMahon keeps writing more books in this series!
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing me with Advanced Reading Copies. Also, Head Cases is available right now on Kindle Unlimited!
When I Kill You by B.A. Paris
When I Kill You, a dual timeline thriller from B.A. Paris, is her best yet. Paris’s books are usually a bit too graphic for me, but this was a perfectly twisty thriller that you can finish in one sitting. It kept me guessing the entire time, and I truly had no idea how the past or present plots would play out.
I can’t remember the last time I read such a satisfying classic thriller. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries and suspense.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
One of Us by Elizabeth Day
One of Us is a dark satire about the death of British aristocrat Fliss Fitzmaurice. It’s told from Fliss’s perspective from beyond the grave and from the points of view of her niece Cosima, Cosima’s mother Serena, Fliss’s brother’s old friend Martin, and a disgraced MP named Richard.
Although marketed as a funny thriller, this is much more a character study. I wouldn’t call it funny (perhaps British readers would), and it isn’t a typical thriller either, aside from the central mystery of Fliss’s death, which isn’t revealed until about 60% in.
I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy slower-paced stories about wealthy people behaving badly. I found out after finishing that it’s a sequel, but I hadn’t read the first book and that didn’t affect my experience.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
All the Little Houses by May Cobb
From the author of The Hunting Wives comes All the Little Houses, a fast-paced, soapy thriller set in a small Texas town. The story follows Nellie, her mother Charleigh, Charleigh’s best friend Jackson, and Nellie’s rival Jane over the course of one summer. We know it ends in a dead body, but who, how, and why? With everything happening in town, it could be anyone.
This was too soapy for my taste, but if you’re in the mood for a fun, mindless read that doesn’t require much brainpower, this could be a good fit. Be warned: it ends on a cliffhanger with a sequel clearly in the works, and the ending feels abrupt.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Romance
One & Only by Maurene Goo
One & Only follows a Korean American woman named Cassia, who has inherited her family’s gift of being able to see a person’s “fated”—the one person they’ve loved across lifetimes. Cassia has always believed in this destiny, until she falls for someone not her fated.
I had been hearing rave reviews for months and it quickly became one of my most anticipated reads of 2026. It lived up to the hype! If you’re a fan of Rebecca Serle, this is for you.
It’s a closed-door romance with a touch of magic, some great plot twists, and characters who feel real. And the chemistry in this book! As a single woman in my mid-30s, this story especially resonated with me. I think others in a similar life phase will feel the same.
This is already one of my most recommended reads of the year.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Royal Spin by Omid Scobie and Robin Fenway
In Royal Spin, American Lauren, formerly a White House comms staffer, lands unexpectedly in London and is offered the job of Buckingham Palace Communications Director. She builds a new life, complete with quirky neighbors, lovable coworkers, and a royal love triangle.
Yes, the plot is incredibly silly. As someone who’s worked in political comms, I was skeptical. But I ended up charmed! The love triangle is fresh and grownup. There’s no villain, just two very different paths for our heroine.
I loved Lauren’s character growth and the supporting cast. I hope we see more of Joy, Una, James, Harriet, and Violet in the upcoming TV adaptation or in a sequel!
A fun must-read for royal watchers.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Found Time by Caroline Goldstein
Found Time is a romance for grown ass people, about grown ass people.
Lili and Reid meet in 1993 at a Jeff Buckley show in New York. They fall for each other over one unforgettable week. But life pulls them apart – she stays at NYU, he returns to California. Thirty years later, both with daughters of their own, they reconnect in New York. Can they make it work this time?
This is one of my favorite 831 Stories romances. I loved the grounded feel of a second-chance romance between two people in their 50s. The pacing worked, and the characters (including their daughters) were great.
It passed my usual romance test (no contrived conflicts!) until about 80%, when it slipped a bit. The ending felt a little abrupt. Still, I really enjoyed it and think readers in their 30s to 50s will too. Also great for anyone who loves NYC as a setting!
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel
For fans of The Bachelor, Fan Favorite, UnReal, and One to Watch, here comes Most Eligible, another piece of loosely veiled Bachelor content.
Georgia, an investigative journalist, goes undercover on a dating show to expose behind-the-scenes misconduct. When she arrives, she discovers the new host is Brett, a former lead she once had a one-night stand with. Cue dilemma.
This book struggles with “telling” instead of “showing.” We’re told the chemistry is strong, but it doesn’t leap off the page. We’re told the producers are shady, but we don’t see much to back that up.
If you’re a devoted fan of The Bachelor world, you might still enjoy this. It just wasn’t for me.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Fated Skates by Victoria Schade
If you’re looking for a romance to read ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Fated Skates fits the theme.
Quinn is a figure skater prepping for her second Olympic Games. Ben, a former gold medal-winning speed skater, is filming a documentary about her comeback. But can they set aside their shared history?
Honestly, this book didn’t offer much. The chemistry felt unearned, the story lacked heart, and very little actually takes place at the Olympics. But if you’re craving Olympic-themed fiction, it’ll do the trick.
Note: This book is available right now on Kindle Unlimited!
Literary fiction
Vigil by George Saunders
I’ve read one book by George Saunders before – Liberation Day, a short story collection. Some stories were unusual and hard to get into, others less so. But I understood what Saunders was doing. With Vigil, I didn’t understand the writing at all. I am not a stupid person, but I was so confused that I genuinely wondered if maybe I am!
The story follows an oil tycoon on his deathbed and Jill, a kind spirit sent to usher him into the afterlife. It’s also about climate change and why it’s bad (which it obviously is), but the message felt a little heavy-handed. Then again, I was so lost reading this that I’m not sure what the message (or even the full plot) was meant to be.
Saunders is clearly a skilled writer using a deliberate style to make a point. I think readers who enjoy a more experimental voice will appreciate what he’s doing here.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
SHORT STORIES
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
I picked up Stories of Your Life and Others because it includes Story of Your Life, which inspired one of my favorite movies, Arrival.
I enjoyed reading Story of Your Life, but it didn’t have the emotional impact the film did. Other stories like Hell Is the Absence of God and Liking What You See: A Documentary had interesting premises but fell flat for me in execution. The rest were either forgettable or felt overly technical (which makes sense – Chiang is a technical writer and professor outside of fiction).
A mixed bag. I think this collection would mostly appeal to serious sci-fi fans.
SCi-FI
The Lady Astronaut Series by Mary Robinette Kowal
In The Lady Astronaut Series, an alternate history reimagines the 1950s after a meteorite hits the U.S., accelerating climate change and forcing humans to colonize the Moon. Told from the perspective of female astronauts, it’s Hidden Figures meets The Hunger Games meets For All Mankind. The representation is excellent, and the books naturally explore themes like antisemitism, racism, anxiety, and eating disorders without ever feeling preachy.
Book one, The Calculating Stars, introduces Elma York, a calculator for the International Aerospace Coalition, as she fights to become the first Lady Astronaut. I especially loved the sweet love story between Elma and her husband, Dr. Nathaniel York.
The Fated Sky follows Elma as she joins the first Mars crew and it’s my favorite book in the series.
The Relentless Moon takes place during Elma’s Mars mission, following astronaut Nicole Wargin on the Moon. It adds a mystery plot, which brings a fun tone shift, but it’s long (almost 550 pages) and needlessly complicated at times. Still, I appreciated what the author tried to do, and I found Nicole very likable.
Then came The Martian Contingency. I waited a year after its release to read it because I was worried it wouldn’t live up to the rest. And sadly, my fears were right. The tone and writing didn’t match the earlier books. Characters acted out of step with what we’d come to expect, and the plot felt scattered. Elma’s reaction to the events of the first Mars mission didn’t ring true at all.
I’d recommend stopping after the first three. Only die-hard fans should continue on to the fourth.
Non-Fiction
Memoir
Strangers by Belle Burden
Strangers by Belle Burden, granddaughter of legendary socialite Babe Paley, is her memoir about the sudden dissolution of her 20+ year marriage.
In March of 2020, Belle learns that her husband Henry (a pseudonym) has been having an affair. He says it was brief and meaningless – then leaves her and their three children the next day. He immediately declares he wants no custody and will enforce their prenup. A prenup he urged her to sign against the advice of her lawyers and family. That prenup gives him half of the homes she bought with family money and gives her none of the income he made during their marriage. A few weeks later he comes back to the house to help her tell their children they are separating and asks her to make him a sandwich before he leaves again. And reader …. she does.
These are just a few of the details that make this story so shocking and infuriating. After all, Burden is a Harvard educated lawyer! Despite her confounding decision making, Burden’s writing is straightforward and compelling. She’s a talented writer, although I could have done with a little less talk about the ospreys in her backyard which I think are supposed to be a metaphor for her marriage and healing process. Maybe? And she really overuses the word ‘intact’ to describe still-married families. But those are small complaints.
As a gossipy bitch thrilled to get a front-row seat to this wild saga, I devoured this book on audio in under 24 hours. Because it will likely elicit strong reactions from readers (it sure did from me!), it would make for a great book club pick. I get the feeling Burden has other stories left to tell and if she does, I’ll be there to read them.
Beautiful on the Outside by Adam Rippon
As I geared up for the 2026 Winter Olympics, I listened to several figure skating memoirs. Some I DNF’d (One Jump at a Time by Nathan Chen), some I wish I had (Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold – see below), but Beautiful on the Outside was my favorite.
Rippon does a great job portraying the sacrifices of being a competitive athlete (constant training, huge costs, little pay) without sounding like a complainer. And he’s genuinely funny. A great example of a memoir where I knew almost nothing about the author going in and came out a fan.
Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold
I didn’t know anything about Gracie Gold before reading Outofshapeworthlessloser. But I also didn’t know much about Andre Agassi before reading Open, and that’s one of my all-time favorite memoirs. So I went into this book with an open mind.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it. The writing felt self-indulgent. This isn’t about minimizing what she’s gone through. It’s about the way she tells her story – the style just didn’t work for me.
I wouldn’t recommend it unless you already love Gold and want to know more about her journey.
Self-Improvement
Dear Dolly by Dolly Alderton
I just love Dolly Alderton. I don’t think anyone’s writing better about 21st-century dating, in fiction or nonfiction.
Dear Dolly is a collection of advice columns she wrote for The Sunday Times. The questions span topics like love, friendship, and self-worth, and her answers are wise and very funny. This collection gives much-needed perspective, no matter your age.
Also, it’s excellent on audio, narrated by Alderton herself.
Note: This book is available right now on Kindle Unlimited!
Cheers to a great new year of reading!
Leave a Reply