What I Read in January
Hi everyone! I can’t believe it’s the end of January already; time seems to move faster and faster as the years go by. I think a lot of that has to do with how online we are these days, and while I haven’t incorporated too many “slow down” goals into 2025, I know my reading habit will help me continue to unplug and spend some of my free time thoughtfully. I surpassed my reading goal of 100 last year and ended up reading 121 books, so this year, I’m hoping to hit 180 - I wanted to pick a number that seemed a little out of reach since I set the bar too low last year and finished my 2024 goal by April. I’m not sure if I’ll make it to 180, but I’m excited to try.
That being said, I don’t want to bore you all with endless reviews each month. I’ll stick to my usual 10, and then at the end, I’ll include a list of the other books I’ve read with just a rating and maybe a short note or two. The more I read, the more I find that I sometimes don’t have much to say about a book I’ve read - not that it’s necessarily a “bad” book, I just feel kind of “eh” after reading it but don’t want to turn someone away from what they might really enjoy. This month was a really good reading month (with a lot of free Kindle Unlimited picks), so let’s jump in.
what i read in january
manifest in action by roxie nafousi
5/5 stars
I read Roxie’s first book on manifestation last January, so it was only fitting that I read her follow-up this January. I find some books on manifestation to be a little cheesy or too head-in-the-clouds, but I really like Roxie’s approach as it’s more sensible than most.
I was pleasantly surprised by how “new” this book felt. While the manifestation steps are the same as they are in her first book, I’d say 95% of the book, journal prompts, and exercises went beyond what she discussed in the original Manifest.
The book itself is beautifully designed and definitely worth getting the hardcover, although the graphics are easy to read if you get the Kindle version instead. I do recommend taking your time working through this book, as the phrase “you get out what you put in” really rings true. The exercises are scattered throughout each chapter, not just at the end, so you’re able to really immerse yourself in the teachings and apply the lessons to your life.
Whether you’ve read her first book or are brand new to manifestation, I highly recommend reading this book above anything else. Roxie describes manifestation in simple steps that even the most logical person would find value in, and I genuinely have noticed improvements in my life since incorporating some of her teachings.
Favorite quotes and takeaways:
The concept “Think, then do” as means of preventing procrastination. As Roxie says, “When I think of something I must do, I do it… I don't keep putting things off because I know how good it will feel to get them done… When we get into the habit of taking action, it becomes second nature. To me it is also a form of self-love, because it is honoring my future self and setting myself up to feel good today and less overwhelmed tomorrow.” (p. 130-131).
“You can only have one thought at a time, which means that we can break the negative thought cycle by simply choosing to engage our focus and attention on something else.” (p. 65)
“To me cultivating self-love really comes down to one thing: becoming aware of the choices we have and the decisions we make in each and every moment… The ultimate practice of self-love is perfectly balancing what you need today with what your future self needs tomorrow.” (p. 83).
“Manifesting is not just about attracting things into our lives, it is about making the best of the life we already have.” (p. 187)
Read it here.
what lies between us by john marrs
3.5/5 stars
This is one of those books that makes you think “What did I just read?” after you finish it, which is always the sign of a captivating read (even if you don’t end up liking it).
I don’t want to give too much away, but the author does a great job of pacing out the twists and reveals. It’s complex and tense; I recommend checking the TWs first, as this is pretty dark and disturbing when you take a second to think about everything.
There are only two main characters, yet the story doesn’t feel limited. You don’t know which character is worse, and it paints a vivid picture of co-dependency and dysfunction.
I think the darkness and length of the story (381 pages) deters this from being a more popular book, but it’s a worthwhile read if you like intense thrillers.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
nobody’s perfect by sally kilpatrick
3.5/5 stars
While I don’t typically gravitate towards this genre, I needed something lighthearted after finishing What Lies Between Us, and this did the trick. It was a really fun read with some heartfelt moments, but overall a lot more surface-level than I expected. Just a heads up, there are lots of drinking references throughout the book, so it might not be for everyone.
The YouTube element didn’t feel as fully fleshed out as other books that I’ve read (like A Simple Favor). If I’m being nit picky, there were quite a few plot holes surround this aspect, which was disappointing since it was such a large part of the story.
Unpopular opinion, but I liked that the main character was a little self-centered, immature, and unlikeable at times. It made her more dynamic, and you still rooted for her as she tried to put her life back together.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the comfort crisis: embrace discomfort to reclaim your wild, happy, healthy self by michael easter
5/5 stars
This had been on my reading list for a while, and I’m so glad I finally got around to it. It’s interesting, easy to understand, and reminiscent of a good NatGeo documentary. The author immerses himself in the research, traveling around the world to learn new perspectives, and then applies what he’s learned through his own personal journey. As a reader, you get a solid mix of well-researched principles and anecdotal stories.
The book is less about taking a risk and more about health, and how getting out of our ruts/ routines keeps us more balanced and adaptable. It looks at wellness comprehensively - mind, body, and spirit - and shows how our modern habits are actually hindering us, as well as ways to change before we’re permanently set back.
That being said, I did not anticipate how much hunting would be discussed. The topic makes me a little uncomfortable personally, and I probably wouldn’t have read it if I had known. However, I’m glad I did, and think everyone should read this, too.
Favorite quotes and takeaways:
“We don't have to deal with discomforts like working for our food, moving hard and heavy each day, feeling deep hunger, and being exposed to the elements. But we do have to deal with the side effects of our comfort: long-term physical and mental health problems. We lack physical struggles, like having to work hard for our livelihoods. We have too many ways to numb out, like comfort food, cigarettes, alcohol, pills, smartphones, and TV. We're detached from the things that make us feel happy and alive, like connection, being in the natural world, effort, and perseverance.” (p. 18)
“Silence is more relaxing than most of the "relaxing" products marketers try to sell us.” (p. 131)
“When chair-weakened people bend over to lift something or move into a new position, their body is brittle. It breaks. And this is likely a critical reason why back pain is so common in the most comfortable societies and essentially absent among movement generalists. Populations in Asia and the Middle East who rest and do many activities in the squatting position, for example, see little to no hip and lower-back issues. When our modern pain arises, we don't listen to what it's trying to tell us. Pain was and still is an evolutionary advantage. It's our brain's way of telling us we're doing something potentially dangerous. A warning of harm and threat. A use of discomfort to suggest a change that will improve our health and safety. Yet we mute it with pills, surgery, or rest. Those are easy treatments, but evidence shows they're usually not a solution.” (p. 257)
Read it here.
the perfect plan by caitlin weaver
4/5 stars
After obsessing over her debut novel Such a Good Family last year, I’ve quickly become a fan of Caitlin Weaver and was excited to read her newest release.
True to her style, this book takes you on a wild ride of secrets, friendship, and modern motherhood. It’s messy without feeling overdramatic, and while it’s not technically a thriller, the twists made it hard to put this down.
What I love most about Weaver’s books is that they really make you question what you would do if you were in the characters’ shoes - and the answers change depending on what character you choose. She explores morality in a realistic way that’s never preachy or suggestive, creating a literary canvas from which you can explore your values and hardlines. The answers are rarely (if ever) clear-cut, just like real life.
I thought the surrogacy plot would be a little cheesy, and while it didn’t draw me in as much as her other books have, it was still good. The ending was a little lackluster, but still a true conclusion to the story.
If you’re only going to read one of her books, I’d recommend Such a Good Family over this one, but after enjoying all three of her books, I will continue to read anything Weaver publishes.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
burnout: the secret to unlocking the stress cycle by emily and amelia nagoski
2.5/5 stars
This was an interesting read, to say the least. You can tell the authors were well-intentioned, but the book is a little misleading. What I thought would be a solution-oriented guide to managing and preventing burnout was more of a cultural exploration of female burnout. It acknowledges that women face more stress than men via patriarchal standards… but not much else.
The writing is very trendy, borderline cringy, and some of the analogies/ labels came across as patronizing towards the reader. The attempt for a conversational tone really fell short. And while research is presented (and cited) throughout the book, it was honestly very thin and skewed to support the authors’ point, which weakened the quality of the book overall for me.
Favorite quotes:
“This is the upside-down world we live in: in most situations in the modern, post-industrial West, the stress itself will kill you faster than the stressor will — unless you do something to complete the stress response cycle. While you're managing the day's stressors, your body is managing the day's stress, and it is absolutely essential to your well-being — the way sleeping and eating are absolutely essential — that you give your body the resources it needs to complete the stress response cycles that have been activated.” (p. 8)
“You need connection in any or all of its varied forms. And it is also true that the lifelong development of autonomy is as innate to human nature as the drive to connect. We need both connection and autonomy. That's not a contradiction. Humans are built to oscillate from connection to autonomy and back again.” (p. 135)
Read it here.
lights and sirens by kevin grange
5/5 stars
This is a fascinating look at the training and education that goes into becoming a paramedic. You can feel the tension and stress as you read; I did not realize how intense and demanding the profession truly is, especially since they don’t always work in a controlled environment like ER/ ICU nurses and doctors do.
The author did an incredible job balancing medical terminology with anecdotes. You can tell the emphasis is on his educational journey and overall accuracy, but the stories included are still engaging. He shares his reflections throughout, but the book doesn’t feel as much about him as it could’ve, if that makes sense.
Through some of the stories, this book also sheds light on key leadership techniques. Paramedicine is a perfect example of how delegation is a sign of leadership, and that sometimes you need to verbalize what you’re doing, rather than just lead by example.
Read it here.
the crash by frieda mcfadden
3/5 stars
If you’ve read any of my other monthly book round-ups, you know I have a love-hate relationship with Frieda McFadden’s books. When they’re good, they’re great, but I do find them to be predictable the more familiar you are with her work. The synopsis of this book didn’t initially grab my attention because I feel like it’s been done so many times before, but I enjoyed her last release so I wanted to give this one a chance.
No spoilers in this review, but I will say this was so dull and predictable. Survivalist thrillers always get to me and creep me out, but this never provoked a sense of uneasiness or suspense. The characters are well-written, but quite one-dimensional.
True to McFadden’s writing style, this is easy to read and you can finish it in a couple of hours. And while the author is known for last-minute twists, the ones in this book were anticlimactic and ended the book on lackluster note.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
into the fall by tamara l. miller
2.5/5 stars
This was technically the first book I read this month as part of Kindle’s First Reads program, but it’s available to everyone on February 1st, so I wanted to include it last. This is a fun domestic thriller about a husband/ father who goes missing on a family camping trip in Canada. The wilderness setting was atmospheric; I really enjoyed it and found it to be perfect for a winter weekend in.
The author uses secrets to build suspense, but the character development lacks as a result. I kept waiting for a big plot twist, but everything felt fairly mundane and while new characters were introduced to move the plot along, they weren’t as impactful as I expected them to be.
The story itself is intriguing and keeps you guessing, but the resolution feels very anticlimactic. I won’t say more at the risk of spoiling anything, but if you read it, I’d love to know what you think.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
This month I also read…
Everything is F*cked: A Story about Hope by Mark Manson - 3/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
A lot more philosophical than his first book (which I loved). I wouldn’t recommend this one if you’re looking for straightforward self-improvement advice.
Some Other Time by Angela Brown - 4/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited beginning February 1st.
Pleasantly surprised by this one. It seems like a divorce story at first, but I found it to be much more about mother-daughter relationships. The only thing I’d criticize is that the timing/ pacing of the time-travel or Freaky Friday aspect was a little off from what I expected.
“Motherhood sometimes feels like a study in guilt. If you leave your child when she's young to pursue something for yourself, you feel the guilt of it early. If you don't and then realize later that your purpose has grown up and moved away, you'll feel it at the end. It's really just a matter of whether you want to front-load or backload the emotions.” (p. 215)
Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre - 3/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
Reminiscent of Gone Girl, this high-intensity game of cat and mouse between two women captured my attention but ultimately was too predictable.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - 3/5 stars,
A tough read for me, this dragged on and was more of a philosophical/ cultural exploration of “using” versus “having” time than any sort of practical guide.
The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White - 4/5 stars
Love a gloomy PNW thriller, and this held my attention from start to finish. Recommended for fans of The Girl on the Train.
The Source: A Transformative Guide to Unlocking Your Mind, Harnessing Neuroplasticity, and Manifesting Success Through the Power of the Law of Attraction by Tara Swart, MD, PHD - 4/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
Another manifestation book, but this one is written from a neuroscience perspective by a psychiatrist. This doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but would be good for those who are skeptical (yet curious) about if manifestation is real or not, as the scientific research included is well-rounded and presented well.
Lastly, I re-read Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, which is one of my favorite memoirs. The storytelling is vivid and engaging, and the life lessons sprinkled throughout are authentic, relatable yet aspirational, and never preachy.
