What I Read in January 2020

January is always my favorite book month. The start of the new year gives me a reason to set reading goals and there are always new releases to look forward to. After the holiday season it feels especially nice to wind down and get cozy with a blanket, a cup of coffee and my black cat named Zez.
Here is a linked list of what I read and quick reviews for each:

• You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
  4/5 Stars: Very grateful to have received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. (Release is March 3, 2020) As as a fan of these two authors' previous books, this one did not disappoint. One of my favorite book settings is modern day New York City plus being a thriller, it was a win-win for me.
• Long Bright River by Liz Moore
  5/5 Stars: A heartfelt, page turner. I did not want this book to end. What I loved most was reading about the bond of two very different sisters. Can't recommend this book enough.​
• The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
  3.5/5 Stars: One of my BOTM picks for January. I can't say I did not enjoy this one but I am personally not a huge fan of ghost stories. I prefer thrillers and suspense that are more on the realistic side. However, this was an easy, spooky read that I finished in two sittings.
• ​Topics of Conversations by Miranda Popkey
  1/5 Stars: My second BOTM pick for January. I chose this book because the plot seemed different than what I would normally pick and also because it was highly buzzed about. Unfortunately, this was not a book for me. I could not connect to the unnamed narrator's life at all. A lot of people seemed to love it and call it "beautiful", maybe I am just not as artsy or deep to appreciate something like this.
• Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
  3/5 Stars: Another book that was highly reviewed and buzzed about but I really did not like it.  I was able to flow through it and the writing was fun, but I just did not find this story line all too realistic. While I loved the important social topics that were discussed, I feel like it could have been better laid out.
• Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison
  4/5 Stars: Picked this up this because it was the Bad on Paper Podcast January Book Club pick.  This book had all the elements I love, snotty, rich, high school girls (that I would probably beat up in real life for bullying/hazing), a haunted boarding school, murder and scandal. Thrillers are always my go-to and J.T. Ellison hasn't failed me yet.