The Siberian American: Seven Books I Read in January

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Seven Books I Read in January

Hey, friends! It feels strange to open up my blog after being gone for almost a month. It's the longest time I've been away since I first started writing, and honestly, I really needed to do it. If you read my Instagram post, you know Anthony has barely slept over the last month, and I just had to give myself grace and step away for some time. I truly missed this space, and it's so hard for me not to write, but I really had to give myself grace (someday I hope to write a post about giving myself grace as a new mother). One thing I did manage to do during those sleepless nights is read. It also helped that I had Erin's Book Challenge as a motivator. I managed to read seven books since my last post, and several of them were winners!


Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake
(ARC from the publisher)
Rebecca Drake's Only Ever You was one of the best books I read in 2016. I can't say quite the same for Just Between Us, but it's still a really good read. This book asks how well do you really know your closest friends...and how far would you go to help them? Alison, Julie, Heather, and Sarah each tell their side of the story as the details unfold. This novel is incredibly well written, and my only critic is the beginning dragged a bit, and it took me a while to get into the story. Once I did, I was so hooked and couldn't wait to see how everything turned out. There were some interesting twists and turns, and the ending was surprising. This thriller is definitely worth a read.


White Houses: A Novel by Amy Bloom
(c/o NetGalley)
I wanted more from this book. It's a historical fiction of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, her "First Friend." Although this is written as an intimate account of "Hick's" childhood and time in the White House, I began to lose interest in it fairly quickly. Some parts of the story were fascinating, but others just fell flat.


Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna
(c/o NetGalley)
I always say the mark of a good thriller is when I can't tell you much in the review, and this book fits the bill. It's about two girls who go missing and two private investigators work together to figure out who kidnapped them. The pace was great, and I really liked both of the main characters. The big reveal was well done, too.


Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
(c/o NetGalley)
Jamie Ford really has a way with words. I honestly don't think I would have found this story so interesting if written by someone else. It follows the life of a young boy named Ernest who was offered as a prize in the 1909 Seattle World Fair (based on a true story) and is "won" by a woman who owns a brothel. The story is tender, heartbreaking, and beautiful.


Abby's Journey by Steena Holmes
(c/o NetGalley)
This was the sequel to Saving Abby, and I honestly thought this book was a little unnecessary. Once I finished Saving Abby, I never felt like I needed to know more. That said, though the beginning of this sequel fell a little flat for me, the ending was touching.


Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys
(c/o NetGalley)
As far as historical fiction novels go, this one is unique. It follows a young woman named Lily as she embarks on a ship to Australia to become a domestic on the brink of World War II. This book is very character driven, as Lily meets people she wouldn't normally socialize with in her daily life, all who are harboring secrets. I really enjoyed this read.


We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman
(c/o NetGalley)
I'm surprised this book isn't more popular. There were a few parts that I wish were more emotional, but overall, it was really moving. Centered around a hospice and a woman named Stella who writes final letters for those about to pass away (though there are two more major characters-Hope and Hugh), it is surprisingly hopeful.

Favorite reads in January: Just Between Us, Two Girls Down, and Dangerous Crossing.

Linking up with Steph & Jana.

I love book suggestions. What have you read lately?
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24 comments:

  1. Oh so sorry to hear that Anthony isn't sleeping well. I hope he is doing a bit better with it now - that is NEVER easy on the mother!! Glad you were able to make use of that time to get some reading in though. We are all made of stars sounds good and I think Two Girls Down is on my holds list at the library.

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  2. Ive heard good things about Two Girls Down!

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  3. I hope that Anthony starts sleeping again for you! I know how hard that is!!! I am adding Just Between Us, Two Girls Down and We Are All Made of Stars to my TBR! They all sound like books I would enjoy.

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  4. Oh gosh, little ones not sleeping is just awful!! That's great you were able to get some reading in though. I'm curious about Two Girls Down. I do love a good mystery.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It's been really hard, but it has given me time to read in the middle of the night! Haha. Two Girls Down is really good!

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  5. oh i am sorry Anthony hasn't been sleeping girl. that has to be so hard. i hope he does better soon and you get a break as well.
    the cover of the last one is gorgeous but it sounds heartbreaking. glad you liked Two Girls Down, it was my book of the month pick last month i think.

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  6. Sleepless nights are the worst and I hope that Anthony is doing better! I feel like I just haven’t had the time to blog lately either because my hands are so full with the girls and then going back to work but I’m hoping to get into more of a schedule soon! Two Girls Gone sounds so good! I love thrillers too and it’s so true that if you can’t say much about it that’s probably a sign that it’s w good thriller!

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  7. Oh gosh - that last one sounds like it would be a heart tugger!

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  8. White Houses sounds very interesting! maybe i'll look into it.

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    1. It was definitely interesting to learn more about that friendship!

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  9. Oh no, I got White Houses from Netgalley too and thought it sounded so interesting; such a bummer that it fell flat for you. I love stories based on true stories, so I'll definitely be adding that Jamie Ford one to my TBR. I saw Dangerous Crossing, but thought from the cover that she was a wealthy woman and the people she "normally wouldn't interact with" were below her social station which I wasn't really interested in. Further proof that I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover!

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  10. Props to you for reading 7 books with a sleepless infant!

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  11. I need to keep Just Between Us in mind for when I want a thriller :)

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  12. Good for you for giving yourself the time to take a break and focus on your baby. I am sorry, though, that he's not sleeping! Two Girls Down sounds right up my alley, adding it to my TBR.

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    1. Thanks, Tanya! It's just been necessary. Two Girls Down is super good!

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  13. Two Girls Down is on my TBR!

    I hope you get some sleep soon :)

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  14. I'd say completing seven books with a sleepless infant is a feat in and of itself! I'm glad you were able to take some time for yourself, and hopefully you get some sleep soon.

    I'm adding Just Between Us and Two Girls Down. I have Only Ever You on my list already ... I think I need to get to that one soon!

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  15. Dangerous Crossing sounds great! I've really gotten into historical fiction lately, and this one sounds right up my alley!

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  16. So sorry to hear about the lack of sleep this past month. Giving yourself grace as a mother is so important! I look forward to reading your post on that. :) But on the happy side, I'm glad to hear that you have been reading so many good things lately! My reading lately has been board books and Jen Hatmaker. ;)

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  17. Loved Two Girls Down so much. I was pleasantly surprised at how much.

    I considered reading the White House book but 1. I don't love those types of books and 2. I have heard a lot of falling flat reviews. If I loved those books, I'd read it to see for myself, but since I don't, I won't.

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  18. Seven books with a newborn. You amaze me, Olya!
    I'm interested in White Houses- I don't usually mind slow historical fictions, lol. Just Between Us sounds pretty good, too!
    Dangerous Crossing sounds really really good, too. Love and Other Consolation Prizes has been on my Kindle for a while- I need to read it. So many great historical fiction recommendations from you! Love it!

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  19. I'm so sorry to hear that Anthony isn't sleeping well. :( Hang in there, I hope that it gets easier as time goes! I'm in awe that you were able to read so much though during that time! I am looking into a few of the historical fiction. I am getting a lot more into the genre, which I always loved, but seriously just have a hard time picking up sometimes! XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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  20. Great article, however it would be better if in future you can share more about this subject. Continue posting.

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