Book Wrap Up and Review | January 2024
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January’s Book Wrap Up!
To wrap up the first month of 2024, I have a great mix of books to read OR listen to. I was all over the board with genres and here is the wrap up!
Rock, Paper, Scissors By Alice Feeney
4 Stars | 10 hours 30 min | Listened
I listened to this one and was obsessed! I don’t know if I would have enjoyed it as much by reading it. But, that it is because of how well the narrators were, in addition to author’s work!
Follow along the couple’s make it or break it weekend, knowing this get a way is what they need in hopes of staying together. However, there is clearly something suspicious going on. I can’t even count the number of times I said “what is going on!?” In a good, can’t figure it out, thriller type of way.
I recommend listening to this book, if you are not big on listening, no worries I still recommend it! This is one of my new favorite thrillers.
Divine Rivals By Rebecca Ross
3 Stars | 357 pages | Read
This is the first book in a two book series, following two young journalists through a war, set forth by their gods. An enemies to lovers story, but rivals is much more fitting for their initial relationship.
What I appreciated most from this story was the creative mix of rivals to lovers, meets creative subtle fantasy, mixed with a WWII era backdrop. And many beautiful quotes that gave you moment to pause and reflect.
I recommend this book to anyone that finds the mix shared above intriguing. It is an easy read and creative story. I am looking forward to the second book, but was ok reading others in between.
It is not our abilities that define us, but our choices.
Divine Rivals
Love is the most powerful force in the universe, capable of transforming even the coldest hearts.
Divine Rivals
Hatchet By Gary Paulsen
My kid self gives it 5 Stars (I loved this book)
208 Pages | Read
A while ago I started collecting my childhood favorites, forgetting that I had it I snagged another one at a local book store.
My daughter has started moving into the “next level” of chapter books, so we have pulled out some of my favorites. I wanted to re-read this before she did, and I am glad I did. Definitely a few things that she would find scary and topics I am not ready to discuss with her (the plane crash, the pilot dying next to him, parental issues, etc.)
While it is a kids book, I thoroughly enjoyed rereading it! And I am looking forward to having both kids read it someday. Find one of your favorite childhood books to read next!
The Four Winds By Kristin Hannah
5 Stars | Listened | 15 hours 20 min
This book hit me hard, I can’t tell you how many times I cried, both happy tears and tears of sadness.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre, but I tend to lean towards WWII era and stories. Shifting to hear a story in the west during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl was eye opening. While I know this story was fiction, it is based off what real people went through and that is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.
The challenge so many faced during that time is hard to image. Their resilience and will of survival is what I enjoy so much about stories like this.
For this story and the life of the main character Elsa, who had many facets that mirrored those so many of us carry with us, was a powerful one. What impacted me the most was the raw and true emotions that we navigate as women, mothers and daughters.
This book is heavy, and I have heard other struggled to get through the heaviness of it all. I feel this is a book you need to read in your life, but do it via the audio book, Julia Whelan, the narrator is amazing!
So that’s the January wrap up! As I shared in the beginning I hit a wide range of genres and topics this month! Maybe you found your next read or listen! Or maybe you are inspired to to re-read a childhood favorite?
Have you read any of these? leave your thoughts below! And of course keep your book recommendations coming. Too many book and not enough hours, but I still love to add more to the list.
PS – If you are a list maker like me, be sure you have your book journal handy! Write down what you read, if you want add a nugget or two about the book, what you liked or didn’t, your rating, etc. It is cool to look back at the book you have read and listened too. Shop Modern Farmhouse Designs Journals HERE
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