January 2025 Reads: What I Loved and Abandoned
January 2025 Reads: What I Loved, and Abandoned
Ey up, Bookworms! We’ve made it through January, just about. It’s been a month of dark mornings, broken resolutions, and aggressively googling “When does it start getting lighter?” BUT do you know what got me through? My TBR! I told you that 2025 was to be the year of the bookworm, and the year of the bookworm it is! Let’s get into it.
WHAT I READ
Icebreaker by Hanna Grace – 4/5
Romance, Sports, Spice.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity
A spicy, trope-tastic ice-hockey romance featuring a heroine who refuses to wear a coat despite being surrounded by ice (relatable, as I too enjoy making poor life choices). The chemistry is sizzling, and it’s got all the classic romance beats, but did it need to be this long? No. Did I enjoy it anyway? Absolutely. A solid four stars—one deducted for the sheer amount of miscommunication that could have been avoided with one text message.
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller – 4/5
Fantasy, Romance, Villain Era
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Tropes: Villain Romance, Marriage of Convenience
A dark, morally grey fantasy romance with a main character who said, “What if I just murdered my way to the top?” and honestly? Respect. It’s fun, it’s full of scheming, and it’s not remotely deep, but that’s exactly what I wanted. If you enjoy villains getting their happily-ever-afters, you’ll love it.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – 3/5
Non-Fiction, Creativity, Vibes Over Practicality
Genre: Nonfiction (Creativity & Self-Help)
Tropes: Inspirational Wisdom, Personal Reflection
I wanted to love this one, I really did. It’s all about embracing creativity and letting go of fear, which is very much my thing, but it felt a bit… airy-fairy? Like, I appreciate the wisdom, but I also need someone to tell me exactly how to summon my creative muse because mine keeps leaving me on read. It’s a good book, just not quite my cup of tea. (or coffee)
WHAT I LOVED
Fix the System, Not the Women by Laura Bates – 5/5
Non-Fiction, Feminism, Rage-inducing
Genre: Nonfiction (Feminism & Social Justice)
Tropes: Social Critique, Call to Action
This book is a feminist call to arms that will set your soul on fire. If you’ve ever been told to “just work harder” while facing systemic injustice, it’s a must-read. Laura Bates tackles everyday sexism, like being told to “smile more” or the fear of walking home at night, with sharp, unflinching clarity. I felt myself horrified at just how much I related, how much sadness I felt at the statistics of femicide and rape which are ignored on a daily basis.
As one review perfectly put it:
I wish Laura Bates didn’t have to write her books.
I’m extremely glad she does.
Five Stars.
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey – 5/5
Fiction, Dark Humour, Quarter-Life Crisis
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Tropes: Self-Discovery, Post-Breakup Chaos
Bloody LOVED this. It’s sharp, funny, and (painfully) relatable, especially if you’ve ever stared at your life and thought, Right, well, this is a bit of a shambles, isn’t it?
Perfectly encompasses that post-break-up haze where the desire to go full-on feral is overbearingly strong.
The writing is witty and chaotic in the best way, and I found myself laughing one second and feeling personally attacked the next.
Five stars, would read again.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors – 4.5/5
Fiction, Messy Relationships, Devastatingly Beautiful Writing
Genre: Literary Fiction
Tropes: Toxic Relationships, Found Family
This one. THIS ONE. WELL! It’s about love, self-destruction, and all the ways we hurt the people closest to us. The writing is gorgeous, like, highlight-every-other-line gorgeous. (Although I do not highlight my books, but if I did, this would be lit up like a rainbow) It’s got that Sally Rooney (LOVE HER) but more dramatic energy, and I was completely obsessed. If you love messy, complicated characters making terrible decisions, this is for you.
Deducted half a star because Quentin, in particular wasn’t quite as fleshed out as I’d like – his story felt unfinished and then, very suddenly, over.
WHAT I ABANDONED
Into the Forest by Anaïs Barbeau Lavalette – DNF
Literary Fiction, Dreamy and Abstract, Too Much Fog
Genre: Literary Fiction
Tropes: Lyrical Prose, Nature as Metaphor
I wanted to love this, but I just… didn’t. It was poetic and atmospheric, but in that way where I kept having to reread sentences because my brain had just noped out. I appreciate a dreamy, lyrical style, but I also need something to hold onto, and this just felt like wading through fog. Maybe it’s just me, but I gave up at about 10% and moved on with my life. – Life’s too short for books you’re not into!
Bite the Woman that Feeds by Penelope Barsetti – DNF
Fantasy Romance, Cringy and Overdone, Dumb names
Genre: Dark Romantasy
Tropes: Broody Antihero, Enemies to Lovers
I wanted to love this, but it just didn’t deliver. The premise was promising, but the characters lacked depth, the plot had holes galore, and the writing was stuffed with awkward metaphors (fire and smoke for emotions? Really?). The romance was flat, and the sex scenes were so bad they were almost funny. And Kingsnake? The name says it all. I tapped out at 50% – simply couldn’t force myself to care anymore.
What’s Next?
February 2025 is almost upon us with all of its loved up glory and I’ve finally be dived into Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas, which has been on my TBR for AGES. Expectations are sky-high, so I’m hoping for epic fantasy, swoon-worthy romance, and just the right amount of emotional devastation.
I’m also finishing up two audiobooks:
• Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday – because I can’t resist a cosy romance, especially in the winter months.
• Who Wants to Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose – an ARC that’s giving me all the existential sci-fi vibes – I am loving every moment of this one!
So, that’s the plan! Let’s see if February’s reading list is as chaotic as January’s.
What are you reading this month? What’s on your must-read list for February 2025? Let me know!
Until next Thursday at 10am –
Your Chaotic Bookworm,
