What I Read in January 2024!

In January of 2024 I read 25 books!

Look Out for the Little Guy by Scott Lang

In Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania there is a mention of Scott Lang's book. This is it. It's a great re-hash of the events of the Ant Man movies as well as the events of Infinity War/ Endgame from Scott Lang's perspective. There is also some self-help commentary as well as the comedic tone you would expect from Scott Lang. 10/10 would recommend. Plus, it's a short read!

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow - This is quite a tome and took a while to read. It's the source material Lin Manuel Miranda says inspired Hamilton the musical. I'm a history nerd, so this was right up my alley. If you're new to non-fiction or if you're looking for a quick read, this isn't it. If you want to be submerged in the life of one of our United States Founding Fathers, this is for you. 8/10 only because it was LENGTHY. 

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline - This is a book about a father's choice to protect his kid after a tragic car accident. It's like reading a Lifetime movie. I am not a parents and I never want to be a parent, but this book was a great example of a parent's sacrifices for their child. 7/10

Words on Fire by Jennifer Nielsen - This was a recommendation from my 10-year-old niece. She and I usually have very different preferences when it comes to reading, but she was spot-on with this one. I would 100% recommend to any 9-year-old and up who is interested in the Russian Occupation of Lithuania OR who loves books. Also - a shout out to Jennifer Nielsen - EVERY ONE of her books I've read to date is a 10/10.

How Y'all Doing? by Leslie Jordan - What a masterpiece! I downloaded this one a while ago and finally got around to it this year. I definitely recommend the audiobook as read by the author. Leslie Jordan was such a gift and his personality just lights up the room from the words in this book. 9/10.

Violent Crimes by Phillip Margolin - This one was disappointing for me. After reading Margolin's Sleeping Beauty I was hoping for the same crime mystery rush, but this one fell flat for me. 3/10

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe - Let me preface by saying I am a big Chris Traeger stan and The Outsiders is one of my favorite books/movies of all time. This book was such a delight. I listened to the audiobook as read by Lowe himself and it was like having him tell his personal stories over dinner. I particularly enjoyed hearing the behind the scenes shenanigans of The Outsiders, St Elmo's Fire, and Young Blood. 9/10 would recommend the audiobook for sure.

 In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume - This is one I started and DNF'ed about 6 times before finally sitting down and committing and I am so mad I waited this long! The story of a town where plane crashes are happening out of nowhere is heart wrenching and told in a perfect Judy Blume honest way. 8/10

The Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif - I went into this book fully expecting not to like it and I was proven SO wrong. I really enjoyed the Black Widow movie and this book was in the same vein as her character. I was so enthralled with this storyline that I stayed up until 3am to finish it on a work night. 10/10 would recommend.

The Client by John Grisham - This one has been on my shelf for an eternity and I finally got around to reading it. It's definitely not my usual read but I did enjoy the courtroom drama. There's a reason this book is still circulating 30 years later. 8/10

Night Watch by Iris and Roy Johansen - This one was slow start but I was interested in the premise so I stuck with it. The twist is fire, so I definitely recommend. I found Kendra so likable and I wanted to get inside her head. 9/10

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - This was a re-read for me. I tend to re-read this one about once every 2-3 years and every time I find something else to love. I've even taught this book to 7th graders while their teacher was out on maternity leave. Ponyboy is such an honest character and it's hard not to want to protect Johnny. Sodapop's speech at the end is heartbreaking. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 10, regardless of what stage of life you are in. And if you've read it already, give it a re-read. 10/10 every single time. Buy it for your kids, read it for yourself. Stay gold!

Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down by Anne Valente - TW: school shooting. This book is the aftermath of a school shooting and the grief and search for normalcy that comes after a tragedy. There's a weird supernatural element I won't spoil, but if you can handle the subject matter it's worth the read. 8/10.

White Rose by Kip Wilson - The story of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose resistance group should be told over and over and over. Kip Wilson honors their sacrifices beautifully in this novel. If you don't know about the White Rose, this is a great place to start. I'd recommend 13+ only because there are some scenes of torture that might be a little much for younger readers. 

My Side by Norah McClintock - I will admit I'm Norah McClintock trash. Her books are high-interest quick reads aimed at struggling teen readers, but they are SO GOOD. This is not one of her masterpieces, but it's still a decent 6/10. 

Black Helicopters by Blythe Woolston - Black Helicopters is a wild freaking ride, y'all. Cults, suicide bombing, sexual abuse, kidnapping... this book has it all. I figured it would take me several hours to read and I finished it in a record 75 minutes. I wish there was a pill I could take to forget it and experience for the first time again. 10/10.

Iron King by Julie Kagawa - I didn't like this one. It's a great fantasy, good world-building, likable characters... there's no reason for me to dislike it, but it just didn't hit. That being said, I would recommend for fantasy lovers looking for a new series. 4/10

The Pearl by John Steinbeck - This was another book I didn't expect to like and ended up enjoying quite a bit. I can see why it's included in every "classics you must read" list. 8/10 would recommend.

My Dear Hamilton by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray - I LOVED this book! In fact, I loved it so much I bought a copy. It's beautifully written and tells the story from Eliza Schuyler Hamilton's perspective. This version of Eliza was so relatable and lovable. 10/10

Feeling Sorry for Celia - I'll admit this one was totally forgettable. I am actually looking up the plot as I type it. Written completely in pen-pal letters this book is teen angsty. I lost the plot halfway through. 2/10

Airlock by Tash McAdam - good quick high-interest read! Non-binary representation in a way that felt honest. I enjoyed this one, but I wish the author had spent more time with the in-space plotline. Great read for those who like sci-fi, pirates, or quick reads. 9/10

Outwitting the Gestapo by Lucie Aubrac - Lucie Aubrac's story of participating in the resistance during her pregnancy is a harrowing tale of sacrifice. This is one of those non-fiction books that reads like a novel. I would recommend this one to anyone who is interested in the WWII resistance movement. I listened to the audiobook and felt like I was sitting down for tea with a grandmother to hear about her life story. 10/10

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia - I can see why this one would be a great book for some middle school/ high school students. It's a story of how choosing to be a bystander can result in someone else getting really hurt. However, I found all the characters completely unlikable. They were written as the worst versions of high school girls and lacked humanity. There was no part of them that made me care. 2/10

Grave Message by Mary Jennifer Payne - This is another high-interest/ low-level book for struggling teen readers. Jaylin's best friend Fatima is sending her texts from beyond the grave. I'd recommend this one to struggling teen readers who need an interesting free-choice book, or to anyone looking for a quick high-interest mystery. 7/10

Maze Runner by James Dashner - My brother enjoyed these books when they came out but I hadn't read this one until this year. The first bit of the book gives off Lord of the Flies vibes, the middle gave Tri-Wizard Tournament maze vibes, and the end gave Insurgent. It's a great YA Dystopia read but it didn't interest me enough to rush into finishing the series. 6/10

Let me know if you read any of these and if your opinions are different from mine or if you agree with me!