January Wrap Up

Read:
Changeling by Matt Wesolowski
The Nowhere Child by Christian White
Somebody I Used to Know by David Bell (audiobook)
The Legacy by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Stirring the Sheets by Chad Ludzke
Blackout by Ragnar Jonasson
Nemesis by Jo Nesbo
Out Behind the Barn by John Boden & Chad Ludzke
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (audiobook)
Creatures of Want & Ruin by Molly Tanzer
The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Stats:
12 books (2 audiobooks)
3,914 pages
Top 3 Reads: Changeling, The Legacy, & Out Behind the Barn

Was it just me or did January feel epically long? I’m so proud of the stack of books I was able to tackle this month! Twelve books is amazing for me and the fact that only two we audiobooks is very impressive. Also, considering my month started off pretty slowly, I’m still in shock I was able to accomplish so much!

This year’s reading kicked off with a great list of books! First up was CHANGELING by Matt Wesolowski, which is the third installment of his Six Stories series and officially my favorite! I absolutely adore everything about this series and Wesolowski truly delivers with a phenomenal ending.

Next was THE NOWHERE CHILD by Christian White, which was released prior to this month outside of the US and won Australia’s Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. This book 100% deserves the recognition it has gotten, as well as a slot on your TBR!

I also started the month by listening to David Bell’s SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW. This book was originally released back in 2015 and I was sent my copy to celebrate it’s release into mass market paperback format. I stumbled upon this as an audiobook and figured I would give it a go. I really enjoyed the narrator, but this wasn’t my favorite Bell book.

January had a focus on Nordic Noir with the continuance of my Ragnar Jonasson and Jo Nesbo series reads, as well as marking my journey in Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s work. First up was THE LEGACY, which is the first book in Sigurdardottir’s Children’s House series. I was so impressed with this book! Her writing is dark, engaging, and thoroughly addictive. I’ll be carrying on with book two, THE RECKONING, next month!

BLACKOUT is the third installment of Jonasson’s Dark Iceland series and marks my current favorite of my read through. The atmospheric style of Jonasson’s writing truly shines in this book and the mystery is one that keeps you on your toes.

This month also found me continuing Nesbo’s Harry Hole series with book four, NEMESIS. I really enjoyed the tangled cases within this book and the way everything played out in the end was nothing short of pulse-pounding!

January’s Night Worms package had some amazing titles included! I launched my read through with STIRRING THE SHEETS, a novella by Chad Lutzke. This tiny book holds a story about grief that is brilliant! It’s not a traditional horror story, but one that lingers with you once you finish and makes you question what you would have done in a similar situation.

OUT BEHIND THE BARN is another novella written by Chad Lutzke, along with John Boden. The story was absolutely fascinating and a book that packs a punch! The ending left me with my jaw on the floor and my heart battling between breaking and being full from how much I loved this one.

The final book from my subscription box was CREATURES OF WANT & RUIN, which is based in the Prohibition era and focuses around two badass ladies. Molly Tanzer’s writing was fantastic and the story kept me hooked until the very end.

The launch of my second year of my Stephen King journey begun with PET SEMATARY, which left a lot of people in my read-along group underwhelmed. I personally enjoyed this read and while I would have liked a bit more action, I didn’t mind the wait to get to the epic finale.

One book that the wait didn’t pay off for me this month was NINE PERFECT STRANGERS. I adore Liane Moriarty’s older works, but I just never found my groove or interest with her latest novel. I do recommend giving it a shot if you’re interested and suggest selecting the audiobook over print.

Ending the month was January’s Criminally Good Book Club pick, THE AU PAIR by Emma Rous. I had my eye on this book last year and leaped at the opportunity to read it. I wanted this one so much that I actually place my first pre-order! I was not disappointed! You would never believe that this is Rous’ debut book. The alternating narratives and Gothic setting make you never want to put it down.

I’d love to know what you read this month! Have you read any of these titles? Let’s chat!

Here’s to February reads! Happy reading!

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Interested in snagging a copy of any of these books? Check them out here!:

Changeling: Amazon| Book Depository

The Nowhere Child: Amazon| Book Depository

Somebody I Used to Know: Amazon| Book Depository

The Legacy: Amazon| Book Depository

Pet Sematary: Amazon| Book Depository

Stirring the Sheets: Amazon

Blackout: Amazon| Book Depository

Nemesis: Amazon| Book Depository

Out Behind the Barn: Amazon

Nine Perfect Strangers: Amazon| Book Depository

Creatures of Want & Ruin: Amazon| Book Depository

The Au Pair: Amazon| Book Depository

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Disclosure: What Jess Reads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This in no way influences my opinion of the above book.

Disclosure: Thank you to Orenda Books, Minotaur Books, Get Red PR, and Berkley Books for sending me  free copies in exchange for an honest review.