Reading Lately: January 2025 Book Reviews

Which books are worth the read and which should you skip? Find out what books I’ve been reading lately and whether I recommend them.

January is always my most optimistic reading month. With the start of the new year, I feel invigorated to read as many books as possible. I need to finally finish the ones I own but haven’t read. I have to try the 2024 releases that made the best of lists that I haven’t read yet. And, of course, I want to snatch up as many new releases as I can.

Everything just feels so easy in January. Every book I read marks off a prompt in the 2025 Reading Challenge. I also have fewer responsibilities and crappy weather so cuddling up in bed with a book always feels like the most logical option.

We’ll see how long my reading boom lasts. I’m sure reality will hit me like a ton of bricks soon.

Scroll down to see my reviews, and, as always, be sure to let me know what you’ve been reading lately in the comments!

Written as a fictional “memoir”, The Three Lives of Cate Kay tells the life story of Cate Kay, whose bestselling book trilogy turned into the hit movie franchise of the decade. Cate Kay’s identity has been a closely guarded secret for years even from her literary agent. As a teen, Annie and her best friend dreamed of moving to California to be movie stars. After a tragedy, Annie runs away, living under an assumed name for decades. To regain her life, Annie is finally ready to reclaim her name and make all parts of herself whole once again. 

My first celebrity book club read of the year, and Reese Witherspoon delivered with this riveting character-driven read with a queer love story. Except for the villain, Fagan’s characters were fleshed-out and well-developed and the memoir styling kept the narrative compelling. A thoughtful and endearing read, The Three Lives of Cate Kay highlighted the journey of self-discovery and the harms of always trying to run from your past.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 7 January 2025
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Shari Franke is the oldest child of Ruby Franke, a temperamental mother fickle with her love and affection. After her sixth child, Ruby embraced the influencer lifestyle and created the YouTube channel 8Passengers. Growing up with her childhood mined for content, Shari struggled under a mother wanting to use her more than love her. Just as Shari leaves for college, Ruby falls under the thrall of life coach Jodi Hildebrandt and the two go on to commit heinous acts of child abuse all while Shari pleaded with family services to intercede.

One of the first memoirs by a child of an influencer family, The House of My Mother hits on the legal and moral issues about being raised as content. Shari tells her story well (and narrates the audiobook), giving powerful insights into her childhood and the ramifications of her mother’s actions on her family. The whole situation was horrifying and was too much for someone so young to deal with. To make it worst, you have to watch as Shari, finally seeking therapy and desperately trying to save her siblings, gets punished by her church because an older church leader groomed and abused her. I understand why she wrote her memoir now and I would be fascinated to see how her feelings and insights about how religion was used against her and her siblings evolve as she gets older.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 7 January 2025
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Katarina Shaw always knew she was destined to be an Olympic ice skater even if she didn’t have the support or pedigree it usually requires. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid in foster care, Katarina finds the perfect partner to make her dreams – and desires – come true. Ten years after a shocking event ends their Olympic careers and relationship, an unauthorized documentary forces Katarina to break her silence about what happened in this sports romance inspired by Wuthering Heights.

I devoured The Favorites in one sitting but I have to admit, it did remind me why I hate Wuthering Heights so much; I absolutely despise the brooding Heathcliff energy. Yet, Fargo captivates with a story of Kat’s Olympic pursuits full of gripping ups and downs that make for an epic tale. I loved how the documentary excerpts really helped keep the anticipation going, dropping tantalizing hints at what might lay ahead and giving you a better feel for the side characters. More contemporary fiction than sports romance, The Favorites sends you on a dramatic roller coast ride of the obsessive passion to win Olympic gold.

My Rating:

Publication Date: 14 January 2025
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From the author of Still Alice, neuroscientist Lisa Genova paints a story about a young woman with bipolar disorder trying to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. Maddy has always felt like she doesn’t quite belong in her perfect Connecticut family. While a freshman at NYU, a stressed-out Maddy begins swinging from deep depression to wild mania and is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now Maddy must come to terms with her diagnosis and the complex effects it causes on her relationships. 

Lisa Genova paints an intimate look at bipolar disorder and the effects on a young woman’s relationships. I found myself getting more and more uncomfortable as the book went on, watching Maddy’s mania phases spiral her out of control and then careen her into a deep depression. However, by its very nature, bipolar disorder would be an uncomfortable diagnosis requiring a difficult journey to find the correct balance. Genova humanized bipolar disorder in a way that hit me to the core and will stay with me for a while.

My Rating:

Publication Date: 14 January 2025
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Rebecca Yarros took the book world by storm with her dragon romantasy book, Fourth Wing. In the third book of the Empyrean series, Violet Sorrengail must venture beyond the failing Aretian wards to recruit allies. Violet needs an army and magic to keep her homeland, Xaden, and the dragons safe. But that means keeping a secret that could risk destroying everything.

One of the most anticipated books of the year, Onyx Storm didn’t fully live up to its hype for me. Yarros kept the same tone as the previous books with steamy sex scenes and a constant stream of action sequences. Unfortunately the storyline – particularly the island encounters –  was underwhelming and didn’t quite capture the magic of the first two books. While unlikely to be anyone’s favorite, fans of the series will still enjoy Onyx Storm and I suspect it will serve as a bridge into the second half of the book series.

My Rating:

Publication Date: 21 January 2025
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Theo fell in love with Connor in a whirlwind romance six months ago. Despite anonymous texts telling her to stay away from Connor, Theo knows it’s her chance to win over his wealthy family when she visits Idlewood, the family’s remote winter retreat. But at the family cabin, Theo finds a photo of herself as a child and begins to recall long-repressed memories that someone in Connor’s family will do anything to keep buried.

Kate Alice Marshall draws you in with a story of a rich family where everyone has a secret to hide. The icy isolation of Idlewood provides a smothering atmosphere that amps up the tension as twists are slowly revealed. While the slow burn tension was captivating to read and the audio narration was spot-on, the conclusion didn’t wrap up satisfactorily.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 4 February 2025
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In 1992, Sarah Lingate fell from the cliffs outside the family’s annual vacation home in Capri. Her entire lie, Helen Lingate has been plagued by rumors that her father killed her mother. When the family returns to Capri on the thirtieth anniversary, Helen decides to blackmail her controlling paranoid family with the help of Lorna, her uncle’s assistant. But when Lorna disappears with the ransom money, Helen doesn’t know who she can trust.

Considering how much I hated Katy Hays’ debut The Cloisters, I’m surprised I picked this one up but I’m glad I did. The sunny Capri setting belied the darker side of the family, whose overcontrolling ways leave you certain that someone is guilty. With plenty of red herrings, twists, and family drama, Saltwater was an entertaining read, although its mystery was extremely convoluted.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 25 March 2025
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After attacking her ex while sleepwalking, Lucy flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales. But Jess is missing and Jess’s paintings reflect the strange dreams Lucy has been having. Lucy dreams of two exiled Irish sisters sailing from England to Australia. Diving into her sister’s past, Lucy begins to worry about Jess and to wonder about her family’s past.

Having loved Weyward, I was highly anticipating Emilia Hart’s newest book only for it to fall flat for me. Again writing about the injustices women have endured, The Sirens tries to praise the tenacity of women but fails to hook you with its characters. The weak connections between the characters and the constantly shifting timeline didn’t feel compelling and I lacked the drive to keep reading. Instead of empowering, the magical realism just felt odd and I struggled to get through this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 1 April 2025
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In a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Percival Everett rewrites the story from Jim’s perspective. When he finds out he will be sold away from his family, James hides out on Jackson Island. There he meets Huckleberry Finn who has faked his death to avoid his violent father. Together, James and Huck take a raft down the Mississippi River where their adventures are shown in a new light.

Everett’s retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn gives a fascinating but darker look at the story from Jim’s perspective. As a character, James provides a look into an extremely intelligent and insightful man forced to play to white people’s expectations of him. I am extremely grateful I picked up the audiobook because the narrator does an amazing job as James code switches between his personal and his slave diction. The first half of the book stays true to Twain’s version but diverges once James and Huck separate, which didn’t bother me. However, the ending abruptly veered from the rest of the story in tone and pacing; else I likely would have given James five stars.

My Rating:

Publication Date: 19 March 2024
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In 1945 in Malaya, Cecily Alcantara’s family is trying to survive until the end of World War II. Cecily’s son has disappeared, her youngest daughter must stay hidden so she isn’t forced to work in the comfort houses, and her oldest daughter hates serving drunken Japanese soldiers in the teahouse. Cecily knows it’s all her fault; for a decade ago, Cecily was drawn into a campaign to keep “Asia for Asians.” Tired of being a housewife, Cecily became a spy who unwittingly ushered in the Japanese invasion. Now Cecily must face what she has done in order to save her family.

Vanessa Chan’s debut novel provided a revealing look at Malaya during the Japanese Occupation during World War II. Although the setting and descriptions were interesting and informative, The Storm We Made presents you with a series of horrifying events with little character development to emotionally tie you to the story. To make matters worse, the constant jumping between characters and timelines kept disrupting the flow of the narrative. Despite its weak characters, The Storm We Made‘s historical setting make it still worth a read.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 2 January 2024
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In 1895, Antonio Sonoro and his brother Hugo leave Mexico to rob a train in Houston but the heist goes awry and Hugo is killed. Seeking revenge, Antonio tracks down the two Texas Rangers who feel they are above the law. In 1964, Jaime Sonoro is given a book telling his family’s entire history of evil deeds. When a man suddenly appears in Jaime’s life, Jaime begins to wonder if he is a shadow that has been following his family.

I’m honestly shocked I actually finished The Bullet Swallower. The first hundred pages bored me to tears with endless descriptions of the Texas-Mexico landscape. The story improved somewhat once it settled into more a Western feel and added side characters with some personality. The entire modern timeline felt completely unnecessary, as did the limited use of magical realism. I definitely recommend skipping this one.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 23 January 2024
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Everywhere she goes, Adelaide Henry carries a locked steamer trunk with her because whenever it is opened, people disappear. Fleeing California for Montana after her parents’ death, Adelaide takes up the government’s offer of free land. But Adelaide’s secrets don’t want to stay locked up forever. And the secret she most wants to keep hidden might be the only thing that can keep her alive in the untamed West.

If I enjoyed horror stories with monster themes, I probably would have liked this book. But I don’t. LaValle does an excellent job with his characters and historical setting. I loved the fierce determination that Adelaide and the other lone women brought to the frontier. The setting, the women, the dangers of Montana were beautifully painted. However, the horror elements are just not my cup of tea and really only make me roll my eyes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 28 March 2023
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None of the new book releases have gotten more buzz than Suzanne Collins’ prequel to The Hunger Games series. Collins shocked fans when she revealed the prequel’s main character is none other than notorious President Snow. During the 10th annual Hunger Games, Coriolanus Snow is selected as a mentor to the female candidate from District 12. Desperate to win a victory, Snow must use all his cunning and skill to help his doomed candidate, a girl he is beginning to care about.

I never really saw a need for a Hunger Games prequel but I liked the book more than I expected. Snow’s backstory helped flesh out the early days of Panem and the impetus behind the Hunger Games. Since the movie was a faithful adaptation, I already knew the plot. However, I appreciated that Collins doesn’t even attempt to paint Snow as a good guy, showing how calculating and transactional his behavior is throughout the entire story. The next prequel is Haymitch’s story and I think I might actually read that one, too.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 19 May 2020
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A year before 9/11, three women entering the U.S. Military Academy at West Point form an enduring friendship to see them through the years ahead. Dani, the star athlete determined to break barriers; Hannah, the Army legacy guided by her faith; and Avery, the wild child pushing boundaries. Covering women in the military and the history of West Point as well as the post-9/11 years, Gibson’s debut novel has plenty to set it apart.

I knew I would love this book from the moment I bought it and still wasted years letting it sit on my shelf unread. Gibson paints a powerful story about female friendship in the military, tearing your heart out along the way. I particularly loved reading about their time at West Point and their blooming friendship and wanted that section to be even longer. Yet, it was necessary to see the women struggle on their different paths after school, as their bonds strain but never break.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 2 April 2019
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In a Delaware apartment complex live Spanish-speaking immigrants from all over Central and South America. They may not all be from the same land, but they all share the same dream of starting a new life in America. Among them are Arturo and Alma Rivera who have come seeking medical help for their teenage daughter Maribel after she suffers a traumatic brain injury. Also living at Redwood, Mayor Toro quickly sees beyond Maribel’s injury and falls in love with her sweet personality.

A heartfelt story of the various struggles and desires of immigrants, The Book of Unknown Americans is a great read in today’s political climate. The story itself was good but proceeds at a slower thoughtful pace without lots of drama, mainly focusing on the immigrant experience. I particularly loved the segments where the various apartment residences share how and why they immigrated to the United States.

My Rating:

Publication Date: 3 June 2014
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I always seem to have multiple books going at once. Here’s a peek at what I’m currently reading.

What’s up next for me? Before I let you go, here are a few of the titles I’m hoping to get through this upcoming month.

Be sure to come back next month to see which ones I read.

Which Books Did You Read in January?

What books did you love this month? Which books can you not wait to read? As always, let me know in the comments!

More Book Lists to Enjoy:

• Reading Lately: December 2024
• January 2025 Book Releases
• The Best Books of 2024
• The Best New Thriller Books
• Booklist Queen’s 2025 Reading Challenge

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