January Reading Round-Up

Happy 2026! I hope that you spent your January curled up with a good book. Here's what I read in January.

Pachinko, Min Jin Lee | Historical Fiction, 5/5

While this book is a tome, it was nearly impossible to put down. I loved this sweeping family saga and found myself researching the history of Korea and Japan—something I knew very little about before reading this book. Highly recommend, lives up to all the hype!

Half His Age, Jennette McCurdy | Fiction, 2.5/5

I’m not fully sure what I expected, but this was a really difficult read for me. The writing is excellent and intentionally provocative. Overall, the content of this book wasn’t for me. If you liked QUEENIE or LUSTER, I think you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to libro.fm for my ALC.

The Future Saints, Ashley Winstead | Fiction, 3/5

I was really intrigued by the plot of this book, but the middle section lost my attention. The characters didn’t have enough depth for me to root for them in the midst of their terrible choices.

Supersaurio, Meryem El Mehdati | Fiction, 3.5/5

I love reading works in translation and had never read a book based in the Canary Islands before. I really enjoyed the first half of this book but the second part drug a little for me. This novel is extremely character driven. If you liked I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL, I think you would enjoy this book.

Thank you to libro.fm for my copy!

Anatomy of an Alibi, Ashley Elston | Thriller, 4/5

It had been a long time since I read a thriller I couldn’t put down. I really enjoyed this book and it had me guessing until the end!

The Midnight Show, Lee Kelly and Jennifer Marie Thorne | Fiction, 5/5

I am a huge SNL fan and when this book was described as DAISY JONES for comedy, I couldn’t pick it up fast enough. This book was nearly impossible to put down. And while there was a mystery element, what kept bringing me back was the interpersonal relationships. I loved the way this story was told, it added to the suspense and helped me understand the characters in a new way.

I won this book in a Goodreads give away, and I was so happy to read and review the ARC!

Harsh Times, Mario Vargas Llos | Historical Fiction, 4/5

I found this fictional recounting extremely informative and fascinating. It will be impossible for me to eat a banana without thinking about the extreme power of United Fruit and the CIA’s overreach into Guatemala. (This was also my second work in translation this month!)