Hi everyone!
It’s hard to believe it’s already February—though, at the same time, January felt incredibly long. That being said, my first month of 2025 was amazing in terms of reading. Most of the books I read were fantastic, with just one that felt average.
Let’s dive in!
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love Freida, and The Housemaid’s Secret did not disappoint! It’s a quick read that kept me on my toes the entire time. Some negative reviews mention that it’s not as strong as the first book in the series, and while sequels rarely are, I might not have noticed as much since it’s been a while since I read The Housemaid. Either way, this is a great read with an exciting twist!
I’m not sure why it took me so long to read Atomic Habits, but I figured January was the perfect time to finally pick it up. Since the book has been popular for years, many of the strategies and advice were already familiar to me. Still, I found it incredibly valuable. It’s definitely one I’ll revisit whenever I want to build new habits or need a boost of motivation to stick with my current ones.
All The Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker
All the Colors of the Dark was all over my Instagram feed, so I had to see what the hype was about. It’s not the typical thriller I gravitate toward, but I ended up loving it. The page count initially intimidated me, but the short chapters and ample white space made it feel much quicker to read than its 600 pages suggest. I also enjoyed the alternating perspectives, with each snippet seamlessly shifting between points of view.
The Girls In The Garden by Lisa Jewell
I’ve enjoyed a few books by Lisa Jewell, but The Girls in the Garden fell flat for me compared to the others. It wasn’t a bad book by any means—I can see why many people would love it—but it just didn’t wow me, especially the ending. While I think some readers will appreciate how it wrapped up, it felt a bit unresolved to me.
Her Last Summer by Emily Freud
This book was such a fun read! Even though it’s fiction, it offers an interesting glimpse into the documentary filmmaking process, and I’m sure some aspects are quite realistic. As many reviews mention, it’s a slow burn that steadily builds up to a wild ending—making it impossible to put down!
Imaginary Strangers by Minka Kent
Imaginary Strangers is my top pick of the year so far! This book was absolutely incredible and will be my go-to recommendation for the foreseeable future. The plot was so engaging—it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, wondering what the heck was going on. And that ending? A total jaw-dropper! The best part is that it leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger, and the second book in the series comes out this summer!
As always, I would love to hear what you’re reading or what’s on your upcoming TBR list.
Please let me know if you read any of these picks, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Stay hungry my friends!
I love seeing your reads for the month! I can’t wait to read more of your recs!
Also- I have read all the Housemaid books so far and I loved them! Though, I read them pretty close together & I would agree that the first one was a lot more intense than the second two. Still a great series overall in my opinion! I like the story line, and got really attached to the main characters.