january reading wrapped
plus, the books i've recommended recently
somehow - even in the early days of this substack - i rarely talked about books here! i’m unsure how i managed to do that because books are such a large part of my life. i’m always sharing what i’m reading on socials and i keep my goodreads up to date! my goal this year? 100 books. feels like an ambitious goal but last year i read 82 books and i think i can beat that this time around! there’s a lot out there about reading goals and how we should be reading for the joy of reading - which i agree with wholeheartedly - but i can’t help the satisfaction i feel when i mark a book read on goodreads!
january reads
january and december always net out to be some of my best reading months. in december with more time off from work and a desire to accomplish my reading goal, i tend to go after it pretty hard. in january, i feel a renewed sense of excitement for the books coming out this year and the start of a new reading goal. this month i’ve completed 10 books and a few really stood out to me:
📖 head cases by john mcmahon | this was a perfect read for me—the kind of book that keeps you hooked from start to finish. a brilliant but socially awkward fbi agent must crack a killer’s puzzle before time runs out and the next victim hits too close to home. the pacing was perfect, the mystery kept me guessing, and the unique patterns and recognition (PAR) unit added an extra layer of curiousity. this was my first McMahon book, but it definitely won’t be my last—i can’t wait to dive into his backlist!
📖 fourth wing by rebecca yarros | i first read this when it came out, but with Onyx Storm on the horizon, i wanted to revisit it. surprisingly, i enjoyed it even more the second time around—i caught so many small details that tie into Iron Flame, making the whole series feel even richer. i don’t typically re-read books (there are too many unread ones waiting!), but this was so worth it. now, onto Iron Flame!
📖 that’s not my name by megan lally | technically, i finished this on December 29th, but i haven’t stopped thinking about it—or recommending it! at under 300 pages, this is a fast, heart-racing thriller that delivers everything i love about the genre. While Head Cases leans more procedural, That’s Not My Name is pure adrenaline—sweaty palms, racing heart, edge-of-your-seat tension. if you love thrillers that immerse you in fear and uncertainty, this is a must-read.
how i read everyday
with all this reading, i’ve also been thinking a lot about how i read. lately, my Kindle (aka Kindle Kardashian) has been an absolute game-changer—whether it’s for late-night reading, traveling, or just having instant access to any book i want. i used to be all about physical books, but i have to admit, there’s something so convenient about an e-reader. as a mood reader, i especially love having an entire library at my fingertips through Kindle Unlimited. with the new year, i know folks are setting goals about reading, so i hope shedding a light into my reading experience inspires you!
february tbr
as we transition into february there are a few books i’m excited to pick up:
📚 the crash by freida mcfadden
📚 pomona afton can so solve a murder by bellamy rose (ARC)
what’s on your list?
amanda