Wow, I haven’t done a monthly wrap-up in a while! Don’t even know how that happened. But January was just such a good reading month that I figure I should. Besides! Who doesn’t love a monthly wrap up?
First of all though, I have to thank all my new followers! I can’t believe I got 100 follows on WordPress alone this month (and then some on Bloglovin’). It’s… something that has never happened to me before. At the start of the year, I think 100 was an adequate number for a whole 3 months or more. I am floored and all warm and fluffy inside. Thank you so much, everyone! I hope you will like reading about books I loved (because I mostly just post what I really thought was worthwhile to read!) and that you will enjoy discussing opinions on reading with me too, cause I love writing discussion posts as well. And I hope you’ll forgive me for not replying comments or visiting back as much as we would all want me to! I struggle with fatigue. Please understand and forgive ❤️ I will try to catch up with you all on social media though!
Anyway, all that said… January was an unbelievable month for reading! And like I’ve seen people say on Twitter, it somehow… took forever? It really felt like it did. I started out the year with some AMAZING reads, and you’ll quickly see that I have an enormous 5 star book pile! I am also almost on top of my NetGalley ratio, so that makes me happy! Now let’s see the books. I really have a lot of recommend-worthy material this month!
~ 5-Star Miracle Books Read ~
I read 13 books in January, and 7 of them were 5 stars, or at least 4.5 stars. THAT’S MORE THAN HALF!!! This is what I was talking about when I said I was having a super great reading month!! Wow… It was amazing. Although I am thinking it’s certainly somewhat to do with my mood too, because I am sort of slumping right now, and some really awesome books aren’t going down as well as these did. But it was also a collection of really amazing books! I don’t know if I will be reviewing Dune, which is plain too genius and I’m too small to review it. It’s something alright. I’ve already reviewed The Enchanted April here and it’s such an uplifting, amazing story. I will also be reviewing To the Edge of the Sky, Heavy Flow and The Forty Rules of Love soon, which were also books I will remember for a long time. Like Water for Chocolate was colorful and amazing, but I also gobbled it up too fast to manage a review – it’s one of those books that leaves you with an experience rather than with words you can write down, but I did give it a short review on one of my Sunday posts here. And Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine may or may not be getting a buddy read review sometime in the future, but for me, it was an emotionally life-changing book!
~ 4-Star Steady Good Books Read ~
These were really great reads too! (And look how good they look together.) Calling Major Tom really kind of deserves 4.5 stars, but I gave it 4 because I had trouble getting into it first. This might not happen to you, and the book is truly very recommended (and might still be ‘Read now’ on NetGalley!) I will be reviewing it in February too. Giving Up the Ghost was an odd, different little memoir that I enjoyed despite all good sense, really. There is a little review of it here.
~ Okay Books Read ~
Agents of APE was a fun scifi adventure, geared for female readers, and I found it fun, although struggled with some bits of it, so that’s how it got on this pile. Here’s a little review. And Interplanetary Robots was a great book for any space nerd – the problem was, I’m only a space fan, and not a space nerd, so there was a lot of stuff that didn’t really appeal to me as much. But there are definitely some very cool facts in there! (Like the one where they’re making a completely clockwork robot to go on Venus because the electronics would melt. Go figure.) You can find a little review here.
~ Totally Meh Books Read ~
A GIF from an old movie with a lady saying ‘Nothing’ to a man
See. I told you it was a good month 😀
~ On The Blog In January ~
Out of all these posts, I feel like the one about Why We Read Books got the least love, for some reason. Would you go and check it out please? Thank you!
~ What I Hauled ~
Wah.. I hauled some great books, but I hauled more than I read. Which makes me feel all the guilt at not sticking to my goals!! And I’m only counting the comics that I got on Humble Bundle as ONE book! (Not even on this list. It wouldn’t fit, man.) Just in case you want to check out the Humble Bundle, though, it IS really awesome this time – here’s the affiliate link.
However! I have to say that I’m super excited about The Vela – which seems to be written by an awesome mixture of writers (Rivers Solomon! Becky Chambers!), and I was so touched when I was actually invited to review this through a message on Goodreads! I would have not even found out about the book otherwise. It’s so cool when something like this happens!
As usual, I’m linking up with Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday post, also with Stacking the Shelves at Tynga’s Reviews and Feed Your Fiction Addiction.
And that’s it for my January! What about you? Share your links with me in the comments!
I’m Evelina and I try to blog about books that matter, with a bit of fun there too! Disability and equality will be topics you see a lot, but there’s also a lot of scifi, fantasy and… GIFs. I’m also the proud founder of #ARCsAnonymous.
Wow you set the bar high for the rest of the year, you had a good start in January. Maybe take a break or read short stories or graphic novels to get you out of your book slump
Haha, I guess so 😀 hmm, short stories are not usually my thing. But I think I’ll be reading some graphic novels 🙂
Wow, Evelina. You had an amazing reading month and I wish the same for you in February too. Sometimes, when we read too much in an instant, that leads to a slump. I hope you get out of it soon 🙂
I am so happy that your NetGalley ratio has been improved so much. But I am sad for myself 😛 You hauled a good number of books. I hope you enjoy these as well 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 actually, I think that I start reading many books when I start feeling like I’m about to go into a slump. Because maybe I get bored of the books and keep trying new ones… But I will try to not start new ones until I finish some of the ones I’m reading now xD purely for the reason that I made a chart and no more books fits on the page anymore 😀 😀 (whatever works, right? 🙂 LOL)
This is a fab post! You’re so lucky you had so many five star reads. I’m definitely checking out Heavy Flow.
Thank you! 🙂 yes, lucky indeed. I hope you get Heavy Flow – it was such a great book 🙂
Congratulations on all these followers Evelina!!!!! I was already very happy when I reached 500 so I guess nearing the 1000 feels so good! But you totally deserve it with all that you do to help us all.
Thank you! 🙂
So happy to see you loved Dune! It’s one of my favorite books ever, and I keep seeing it be panned by just about everyone else. I am looking forward to the movie coming out that’s going to be directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Yes, it’s such a smart book! I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever read ANYTHING like Dune before.
There was originally a movie in like 1984 – I didn’t know a new one was coming out!
Yes, there was a dreadful 1980s movie, and a mini-series on SyFy in 2000 or so, which they followed up with Children of Dune in about 2003. The upcoming movie will be a two-parter starring Timothee Chalamet as Paul and Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica.
I keep hearing “it’s boring”, or “The chosen one trope is so overdone” and whatnot, but there is so much more going on than just the surface level story!
Well, to be honest, when it was written, “the chosen one” trope was probably less overused xD it’s quite an old book. I don’t know how the movie will go down, but to me, the book is pure genius.
Exactly. No one considers its age when looking at the tropes.
I have a good feeling about the upcoming movie. Denis Villeneuve directed Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, and I thought both of those were fantastic.
Yeah, that’s true!
13 books is amazing, and I’m so glad it’s been a good quality reading month! Eleanor Oliphant was my favorite book I read last year.
OMG yes, Eleanor Oliphant is absolutely amazing 🙂 glad to hear you loved it too!
I also love when the books I read are 4.5 or 5 stars, and that happened a lot in January for me. Enjoy the new month, and thanks for visiting my blog.
Thank you!
What a fantastic reading month! Isn’t The Enchanted April just the most charming read?! It’s the perfect antidote to the January blues. If you haven’t already seen it, I’d highly recommend watching the film adaptation too. Hope you have another great reading month in February!
Indeed! It was amazing 🙂 and yes, the perfect antidote indeed 🙂 I actually didn’t know there WAS a movie before a few bloggers (you included) mentioned that. Thank you 🙂 I am sure I need to see it. Plus, that way I’d get to show it to my boyfriend as well 🙂
Thank you! Have a great February too 🙂
Hooray for 5-star reads. I read 41 books in January and only had one, but I had a bunch of 4.5s, so not bad. It must be great to see your numbers growing. Congratulations on the new followers. I hope Feb is even better than January for you.
Woooooow Sam’s speeds of reading! You are so impressive 🙂 a true book devourer.
Well, a bunch of 4.5s is still really good!
Thank you! I hope Feb is great to you too 🙂
January was a fabulous month of reading for me as well! I found myself totally excited to discover new authors, I plowed through 13 books, and I cleaned up my Goodreads Want-to-Read list, all of which made me ridiculously happy.
I read Doomsday Book…two years ago? It’s outside my usual genre comfort zone, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit!
I’m glad to hear that 🙂 wow, we read the same amount of books! 🙂 that’s so good to hear about your Goodreads list.
Ah, nice to hear 🙂 because I put Doomsday Book on my TBR a while ago and I bought it because it was on my wishlist and on sale. I have no clue what it’s about but I trust my past self for choosing it xD
So glad you had a great reading month! I did too. If you can pick, which was your favorite book this month? Haha, I know that’s a difficult thing to ask
That’s great to hear 🙂 oh wow, I actually can’t pick xD too many good books this month. I have a ‘favorite book’ slot in this month’s spreadsheet, but I absolutely can’t pick. They were all so good 😀
Wow, that is some great reading material! And no “meh” ones. How wonderful! January did seem to take forever. I think I had post holiday blues. LOL
It did seem to take forever indeed! That’s too bad about the post-holiday blues though. I hope February’s better, and it definitely won’t be a long one 🙂
I’m glad January was such a good book month for you! Here’s hoping February is the same!
Thanks 🙂 yes, indeed 🙂
Thanks 🙂
I love your blog. I’ve had a great reading month as well. All of my books were 5 stars. What is happening. It must a January feeling. Great wrap up.
Thank you! Oh wow, that’s so cool that you had a great reading month too 🙂
I too found it to be an amazing month as far as 4.5 – 5 hearts, lots of quality reads. It was also a month where I read MANY books. Let’s hope for February to go as well. Happy reading!
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that! Yeah, let’s hope so 🙂
What a wonderful reading month and a great start to the new year! I love the look of Agents of Ape… Thank you for sharing and I hope that February is as promising a month!
Thank you! 🙂
YAAAYYY!!! You sure had an amazing January! I wish my January was as good as yours.
Thanks 😀 I hope your February will be 🙂
I’m glad you had a good reading month! Mine wasn’t too bad, I did have one 5 star read so that was something anyway. 🙂
Awesome that you liked Dune. I read that one a few years back and didn’t love it, but i know a lot of people do so I’m definitely in the minority. Can’t wait to see your review! Interplanetary Robots looks super interesting too.
Aw, that’s too bad you didn’t love it. It is a long and slow going story, I guess 🙂 well, I guess we can’t all like the same thing though, right 🙂
I keep telling myself I need to start keeping a list of everyone’s five star books and then prioritize reading. Maybe one of these days. I am glad you had such an amazing January in reading, Evelina. I haven’t read any of the seven you mention, but many are on my TBR pile. Dune’s been there forever. I think it’s the size that keeps putting me off. My husband thinks I will like it though–and he’s usually right. I hope you love all your new books when you get to them. The Ghost Manuscript caught my eye right away with… Read more »
Ooh, that’s actually a really good idea. Like, maybe make a list on Goodreads with “blogger recommendations” or something like that? That would be a cool idea! Thanks 🙂 I know, Dune’s been on my TBR for forever too! I’m glad I finally read it though. It was truly amazing. But yeah, it’s a slow-read book. Not just because it’s long, but also because it makes you think a lot. Heavy Flow is definitely a good book to check out! Especially considering how it might help you teach your daughter about this stuff in the future. Definitely worth a read… Read more »
Congrats on all the new followers, you so deserve them!! ❤️❤️
A good month of reading indeed, wow! Hopefully this month will be as good for you, reading-wise xx (and in general too of course!)
Thank you! 🙂
I’m so glad you had a fantastic reading month! SO deserved eep! I actually read a ton of excellent ones this January too, which makes up for the fact that January lasts approximately 10000 years. But two of my REALLY highly anticipated books did not disappoint at all and that’s just !! the best feeling.
Yes, wasn’t this January like, SO LONG? I actually quite liked it. It kept being January xD although I’m surprised I only read 13 books during this time… Although I guess I read them in batches, so I also finish them in batches…
Oh, that’s great to hear that anticipated reads didn’t disappoint! 🙂
You really had a great reading month. Out of 12 I only had one 5 star read haha. Hopefully the rest of the year will be similair for you.
Thank you! 🙂
Wow, you really did have an amazing reading month! More than half of 13 are 5 stars?!
And congrats on all the new followers! You really deserve them all!
Elinor Oliphant is on my tbr and I’m really excited to read it one day.
I know! I am still in awe of my reads 🙂 such luck.
And thank you!!
Oh, I hope you’ll love Eleanor Oliphant just as much as I do 🙂 it was an amazing book.
I loved Eleanor Oliphant, Dune, Water for Chocolate, and Enchanted April, so now I think I need to go ahead and find your other great reads for January.
That’s great to hear that you loved these too – they were amazing reads! I’ll need to check yours out as well, it seems like we have quite an overlap 🙂
Lovely wrap up, doll! Congrats on gaining another 100 followers on WP! You deserve all of them and so much more! It’s great to see that you enjoyed all your reads this month, and i hope your February is just as wonderful! ❤️ (Also, I love the it’s a wonderful life GIF haha)
Thank you! 🙂 wishing you a great February too 🙂
Wow! Congrats on such an amazing reading month! What is your goodreads goal for the year? I feel like you’re smashing it already with these stats!
Thank you! I have a humble goal this year – 52 books. I’ve noticed that setting a low goal somehow yields both better results and more fun in the process 😀 so yes, I technically don’t even have a goal for this year 😀
Way to go on the reading, Evelina! I’m happy you enjoyed most of the books you read:) Your new additions look really good, too!
I hope you’ve had a great week. Happy reading, my friend!
Thank you! 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that you had such a great January and read lots of amazing books! 🙂 Mine was mainly filled with studying, but now that that’s over I gladly have more time to read and blog to my hearts content again! 😀
Thank you 🙂 ah, I’m glad to hear you’ve got more time for blogging again 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words about Heavy Flow! My little book baby is in good company up there. 🙂
Just wait till you see the full review tonight! Thanks for this book. It’s amazing, I loved it!
Yay for new followers and well deserved too! 7 5-star books is amazingballs! I am excited for you. I love when that happens.
Thank you! I also feel like it’s the first time I’ve had so many 5 star books in one go 😀
Woo! That’s a great start to the year. And more 5 star books than I had in the 2 previous years combined! lol
Wow, really? :0 lucky indeed then!
Congrats on your new followers. It’s always nice to know that people are actually appreciating the work that you put into your blog!
Thank you! 🙂
January was an amazing month for your reading, especially since you chose 4 to 5 star reads for yourself. I tend to stop reading books now that I don’t connect with at the time, because there are just too many ones I want to read out there. January was a tough month for me, but not that it’s lighter longer and my kitchen is within 3 weeks of being completed, I’m a much happier person.
I can relate to more light helping 🙂 and yes, I’m actually also starting to DNF more books – it’s just harder when they’re review copies. But there are indeed too many good books for that 🙂