What I Read in January
Hi everyone! I know I say something like this every month, but I can’t believe January is already over - it’s true that the older you get, the faster time seems to fly by. This month was a good reading month for me. I was unfortunately sidelined with the flu for two weeks, and while the first week was rough, I got quite a bit of reading done the second week when a bad cough kept me from sleeping through the night. My goal for the year is officially 180, and I’m off to a much better start than anticipated (thank you again, flu). This month’s roundup includes a debut novel, a popcorn thriller, and a polarizing series, so let’s dive in.
what i read in january
confidence: eight steps to knowing your worth by roxie nafousi
3/5 stars
For the last few years, I’ve started January with a new Roxie Nafousi book. I absolutely loved her first book, Manifest, and found that I still learned a lot from her second, Manifest In Action. This impressed me, as I think other authors wouldn’t have been able to add so much information, instead cashing in on their success by regurgitating the same information.
Confidence follows the same format; there are eight main principles and each chapter contains quite a few exercises to help you incorporate the information into your thoughts and actions. In some ways, Confidence goes deeper than her first two books by focusing on a singular concept (self-image) and bridging the gap between manifestation and self-worth, as we create the life we subconsciously believe we deserve. As someone who struggles with people-pleasing at times, I knew I’d learn at least a few mindset shifts from this book.
Ultimately, it wasn’t as strong as her first two books, but I’ll still continue to read whatever she releases next.
Favorite quotes and takeaways:
Cognitive bias vs distortion: “To help illustrate the difference, think of cognitive biases as mental shortcuts that our brain uses to make sense of the world around us and make decisions. They can lead to distorted perceptions of the world. On the other hand, cognitive distortions are specific thinking errors that tend to reinforce negative beliefs, often related to self-esteem or mental health.” (p. 29)
“Instead of using social approval as a tool to navigate a dangerous world, we now use it to validate our existence and measure our value. This shift - from external safety to internal validation - has led many of us to believe that our worth is entirely tied to how others perceive us.” (p. 74)
“Confidence isn't always built in leaps and bounds; often, it's built in the quiet, everyday moments when you choose to take one small step forward. By tackling challenges, no matter how small, you create a domino effect of growth. Every step you take adds to your sense of self-belief, making you braver, stronger and more resilient with each passing day.” (p. 176)
Read it here.
the wife upstairs by freida mcfadden
3.5/5 stars
I spent some time this month putting together a blog post that ranks and reviews all of Freida McFadden’s books, as she’s one of the most popular Kindle Unlimited authors. I had already read most of her catalogue, but this was one of a few that I had missed out on. This is the only book of hers that is not available to read with Kindle Unlimited. I buy a lot of books and want to support authors, but her books are so hit-or-miss I was hesitant, especially with mixed reviews.
That said, The Wife Upstairs is entertaining. I saw reviews saying it copied Verity but I was surprised to find out The Wife Upstairs was published first. Both novels are VERY similar and I’m side-eying Colleen Hoover as a result. If you’ve read Verity, McFadden’s book won’t feel fresh to you, but if you haven’t, definitely check this out.
This book builds slowly, with the twists coming like a one-two punch at the end. The final twist surprised me and I found the last 1/4 to be slightly rushed, almost like literary whiplash. One of McFadden’s more intriguing plots, it’s a shame that Verity is so similar.
Read it here.
the night of many endings by melissa payne
4/5 stars
A nice change of pace from my usual thrillers, this is a quick, cozy book that’s perfect for a winter weekend in, especially if you’re love the magic of libraries. With Breakfast Club influences, I love that the author included different ages and walks of life in the story, as it added depth and nuance. Together, they tackle some heavier topics (addiction, homelessness) but I was surprised that this wasn’t a particularly emotional read. If anything, it’s thought-provoking with a hopeful undertone.
It’s not quite a 5-star, but one of the few books where the imperfect ending makes sense, and I really appreciated that. Some authors would’ve gone for something more neat and tidy, but the way the author wrapped each of the character’s stories is what made me really appreciate this book. No spoilers, but it was more about what wasn’t said for the addict storyline, and that made it much more powerful and impactful.
"Libraries were one of the last places someone could go where they didn't have to buy or believe in anything to come in." (p. 8)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
she used to be nice by alexia lafata
4/5 stars
What a compelling debut novel by Alexia Lafita. This explores the domino effect/ lasting damage that a victim of sexual assault endures. It’s a story I don’t think is told enough, and I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book on instagram.
Complex, emotional, and character driven, I loved the themes of friendship and self-discovery. A strong coming-of-age novel that addresses complex trauma, this book is hard to read, but harder to put down, and would generate important conversation for book club (but check the TWs first).
I didn’t love the pacing of this book; it was slow, but then the ending felt rushed. It’s one of the few books that should have included an epilogue, but I also understand why the author ended the story where she did.
Read it here.
half his age by jennette mccurdy
4/5 stars
One of this year’s most anticipated releases, Half His Age is Jennette McCurdy’s foray into fiction after her best-selling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, became an international success. I loved her memoir, so I admittedly was biased going into Half His Age.
Half His Age was reminiscent of an indie movie; it’s provocative, cinematic, and eerie. Deliberately written, you get a very insulated zoom into an inappropriate student-teacher relationship, and the characterization is strong. Different age groups will get something unique from this, and it’s the type of book that will change in meaning as you grow and evolve.
I will say, this reads like pushing on a bruise to explore the pain further. McCurdy examines familial relationships in her first book, and while this is fiction, the focus is on romantic relationships in a very “in your face” type of way. The test for readers, it seems, is to move past the graphic nature and ponder the contributing factors that facilitated the relationship in the first place. I don’t think I would’ve liked this as much if another author had written it; knowing a little bit about McCurdy gives you a little more insight that helps the book land the way she wants it to.
Half His Age encapsulates the complexities of being a teenage girl in a raw, genuine way. Her voice is sharp, and the themes of desire, loneliness, and power are nuanced and layered. There’s more to this book than meets the eye, and I can’t wait to to see what McCurdy writes about next.
Read it here.
the girls in the cabin by caleb stephens
4.5/5 stars
If you want a dark thriller, The Girls in the Cabin is it. I naively went into this thinking it might be cheesy, but it was quite heavy and intense. The last 20% was hard for me to get through; I felt so uneasy and what happens to one of the characters made me squirm.
This is one of the rare survivalist thrillers where the characters aren’t dumb, and the multi-POV was well-done and made sense for this story.
It’s brutal, clever, and a gut-punch of a read. Make sure you check the TWs first. While I won’t re-read it, I hope this gets lots of success.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
dear debbie by freida mcfadden
3.5/5 stars
McFadden’s newest release, my best recommendation is to go into this with an open mind, or knowing that this isn’t very dark or deep. It’s over-the-top, unhinged, and a true popcorn thriller. If you like dark thrillers, this won’t land for you, but if you like a little drama a la A Simple Favor, you’ll love it.
True to McFadden’s writing style, Dear Debbie is fast-paced yet a slow build, with the twists coming quickly at the end. She did a great job developing the relationship between the main character, Debbie, and her daughters; it was believable and authentic, and kept this novel from being too cheesy. Overall, it’s an easy read that will entertain you for a weekend, but you won’t necessarily think about it later on. It’ll sustain a quick coffee chat with a friend, but is too one-note for book club.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
rainey paxton series by paige dearth
3.5/5 stars (Book 1 and 4 = 3.5, Book 2 = 3, Book 3 = 4)
What a series. I’d been looking for something on Kindle Unlimited that covered addiction, and stumbled upon this series. The book covers are a little cheesy, but this series completely engrossed me and I finished it in less than a week.
As a whole, the series is harrowing, dark, and provides a crash course into the world of addiction and the trauma that both causes it and results from it. It’s emotional and really explores the shadow side of humanity, so check the TWs first; I don’t say that lightly. At times (particularly in the second book), it’s almost overly graphic, and what makes it harder to read is knowing that it’s reality for some people.
There are typos in each of the four books, but not to the point that you can’t enjoy the book.
A Little Pinprick (book 1) is the most harrowing. It’s oversimplified in some areas (dialogue, lack of intervention), but the message still lands. This book almost reads like trauma bingo, but is sadly life for many who are affected by addiction.
A Little High (book 2) picks up right where the first book ended. Lots of time jumps make you unsure of time passing, so if you are a stickler for continuity, it might drive you nuts. No spoilers, but at this point, I recognized that the author relied on a certain “thing” with characters to drive the plot forward, and it annoyed me as a reader. I get that it’s not unrealistic, but it just felt lazy and made me question the potential of the quality of the story had the author went a different route.
Girls Missing (book 3) is heavy. The story takes a turn towards crime and gives more of a thriller vibe than the first two, but at this point, I was so connected to the characters that I wanted to keep reading. I do think adding in a crime element strengthened the plot and added depth. As an analogy, where some TV shows start to regurgitate the plot, book 3 is where the author turned things up a notch and made this literary world a bit bigger instead of repeating patterns.
Girls Found (book 4) continues with that “thing” I mentioned earlier. I like that you get a complete ending, but it felt a little cheap to me after 700+ pages of the criminal plot. Some aspects fizzle out, and there wasn’t as much character development as I hoped for. But Rainey's story fully sucks you in, and that’s part of why I love reading so much, so I really am glad I read this series.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the good mothers by caitlin weaver
3/5 stars
Caitlin Weaver is one of my favorite authors that I’ve discovered over the last few years; I was completely captivated by her debut, Such a Good Family, and her books have been an instant-download for me ever since.
Unfortunately, I didn’t love The Good Mothers as much as I wanted to. Weaver shines when she’s exploring the complicated dynamics of relationships amidst life’s hardships, but this was a little too far-fetched and leaned into cheesy twists to push the plot forward. It made me miss the realistic elements of her past elements, but I think if you’re new to her writing, you’d enjoy it.
I did appreciate the feminist undertones of this book, but wish the plot was more relatable than off-the-rails.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the surrogate mother by freida mcfadden
3/5 stars
In some ways this book is a Lifetime movie waiting to be made, but it’s also twisty and not entirely predictable. If you want a thriller that you don’t take seriously (aka if some give you nightmares), this is a good option.
While it’s a little over the top, it still falls under thriller territory because it’s somewhat stressful. You feel gaslit alongside the main character, yet frustrated by her naiveness at the same time. It’s predictable yet entertaining. I wouldn’t suggest this for a book club, but if you’re in a thriller slump or just want an entertaining book to get away from screen time or doom-scrolling, this fits the bill.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
hanging by a thread by erin deering
3/5 stars
Amidst all of the “2026 is the 2016” social media posts, I decided to pick up this memoir which was written by Triangl swim’s founder, Erin Deering. Triangle is an Australian based swimwear that essentially went viral and became known for their bright, neoprene bikinis as seen on Kendall Jenner and other celebrities. While I never owned one, I was excited to get a behind-the-scenes look at the brand.
I appreciated how Deering focused equally on her personal journey, rather than just sharing the business basics. That being said, it was unfortunate that so much of their work focused on cutting corners, so you don’t get much business advice here.
Deering is honest about her struggles, but the book itself is much more despondent and dreary in tone rather than a gritty path towards success. It made me hopeful for a second book that explores her next chapter, as she mentioned she is much happier and feels more aligned towards the end of the book.
Read it here.
blade by wendy walker
3/5 stars
Blade was my Amazon First Reads pick of the month - it always feels so cool to me that we get to read a new book before it’s official release date, although the reviews for these books tend to be quite stratified. I chose this because it gave me Ice Princess vibes, and I thought it would be a nice January, wintery read.
This book will appeal to figure skating fans and those unfamiliar with the sport; it’s detailed enough that you feel immersed in the world of skating, yet not so detailed that you get lost. The mystery of what happened to one skater made this hard to put down, yet this doesn’t provide whiplash-level twists that send you reeling.
The book is told from one point of view but alternates between past and present, which makes it appealing to young adult readers, too. Released just in time for the Winter Olympics, it wasn’t my favorite read of the month, but I still recommend it.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
brain damage by freida mcfadden
2/5 stars
The last of my McFadden book reviews, I promise (at least until she publishes something new). One of her earlier novels, Brain Damage is slower and more monotonous than her more recent novels. It’s also more predictable and simply written, with just one point of view. You can tell it’s one of her earlier novels because it’s a little more lighthearted in tone, with humor sprinkled throughout to add levity to the suspense.
The plot is pretty thin, yet the characterization doesn’t make up for it. If you’re a major Freida McFadden fan and want to read her entire catalogue, Brain Damage worth it, but if you’re on the hunt for your next 5-star thriller, this isn’t it.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
