Ceri Louise Reads

Restarting my online book content a third of the way through the year means I have some catching up to do, so over the next few weeks I will be filling you in on how my reading has been going month by month so far this year, my TBR challenge lists for the year, and my quarterly stats. I also have a backlog of reviews to share with you so I should be okay for content in the short term!

I’ll be playing around with the format of these posts so what I include may change as I’m figuring that out.

Without further ado, here is the lowdown on what I read in January!

The Stats

total books finished = 10

TBR:

physical TBR = 877 digital TBR = 170 total TBR = 1047 (up by 3 from last month)

average time to read = 75 days average time on TBR = 433 days

Challenges:

gift books = 2 subscription books = 1 review books = 0 oldest on TBR = 0 Read Around the World = 2 series completed = 1

backlist = 60%

netgalley ratio = 27% (down 1% from last month)

Budget:

amount earned = £20.00 amount spent = £2.40 balance = £17.60

The Books (links to content warnings)

1. Kindred by Octavia E Butler

This was the last book I started in 2022 and so the first I finished in 2023. It was one of those books that I’d been meaning to get to for ages and it didn’t disappoint! Written and set in the 1970s, the story follows Dana, a black woman, who finds herself repeatedly drawn back in time to the antebellum south of America, whenever a young white man, Rufus, is in danger. Dana has to learn to survive in the time of slavery, and figure out why she is connected to Rufus and how she can get herself back to her own time as she faces increasing dangers. 

This book was outstanding, and I fully understand why people rave about it! I was gripped throughout and enjoyed seeing how Dana’s relationship with the other characters developed through the book. It was tense, it was emotional, and it was a little bit heartbreaking in places. I know that this has recently been adapted into a serial and I’m looking forward to seeing what they have done with it. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5⭐️

2) The Burglar’s Christmas by Willa Cather

I meant to read this short story before Christmas but instead sneaked it in at the end of my Christmas holidays. It came as a bonus booklet in a Ninja Book Box Advent Calendar a few years ago and was a quick read. It follows a young man, down on his luck, who breaks into a rich house to steal some Christmas dinner, and finds his fortunes changing. It was a sweet story and worth a read, but not one I’d go back to.

Rating: 3⭐️ TBR challenge: subscription box book

3) Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

The second book in the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy, this book picks up Pippa’s story a short time after the end of the first book, as she finishes recording a podcast based on that investigation of a cold case in her hometown. Soon there’s a new mystery for Pippa to solve, and the stakes are higher.

I really enjoyed this second volume in the series and was caught up once again in Pippa’s story as she dealt with a new investigation and all the emotions and dilemmas that went with it. I’m excited to get to the third book, which I have heard some really mixed things about!

Rating: 4⭐️ TBR challenge: continuing series

4) The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy

This is the classic tale of the mysterious adventurer and his faithful followers trying to rescue French aristocrats from the violence of the revolution. It was a fun adventure, told from the perspective of a strong female lead with divided loyalties, and I very much enjoyed it. I think the impact would have been greater had I not known the identity of the eponymous hero, so if you haven’t read it and have avoided that spoiler you will enjoy the mystery element as well as the hijinks.

Rating: 3.5⭐️ TBR challenge: read around the world (Hungary)

5) A Very Distant Shore by Jenny Colgan

A prequel novella to Jenny Colgan’s Mure series, this introduces some of the characters who appear later in the series. I’m hoping to continue this series soon – I discovered Jenny Colgan last year and she quickly became a favourite author, so I always pick up her books when I see them in charity shops. Unfortunately this sometimes means I buy book four in a series without realising it, as I did with this series. Thankfully it is quite easy to get her books from the library so I will be picking up the first novel soon(ish). This novella suffered for being short, as a taster of the series it was fine, but I wanted more!

Rating: 3⭐️

6) Cada Dia Con Jesus by Aaron Tabor

My dad gave me this collection of daily Bible reflections in Spanish when he had finished with it – we are both learning the language, although he is much more intentional about it than I am! From reading this I discovered that my reading comprehension in Spanish is actually not that bad! Dad’s notes in the margins helped too… I have a couple of Spanish short story collections to pick up, but I will go back and reread this at some point as I continue to practice!

Rating: 4⭐️ TBR challenge: gift book

7) Faithful by the Faithful Collective

12 Christian women working in creative industries came together to produce this book and an accompanying album of songs and reflections on the lives of biblical women, with personal stories and reflections. I was given this beautiful book by my parents for my birthday a few years ago and I found it really encouraging. I love the soundtrack too! I’m sure I will return to this book every few years for further insights.

Rating: 4⭐️ TBR challenge: gift book

8) We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal

This is the concluding volume of the Sands of Ariwaya duology, a desert fantasy following Zafira, the mysterious Huntress who has kept her people fed, defying cultural expectations; and Nasir, the troubled assassin Prince. In the first book, We Hunt the Flame, they are both searching for a legendary artefact that could restore magic to their land and improve the lives of the people. While the first book took me a while to get into, this one was a rush from the start as it picks up where the first one leaves off, building on the intensity and character relationships. I really loved this!

Rating: 4.5⭐️ TBR challenge: completed series

9) Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

In a war torn city, Nadia and Saeed meet and fall in love. As the danger around them increases, they hear of gates appearing across the city that can take people to distant countries. This was a beautiful story exploring the many reasons why people seek a new life for themselves and what they can gain and lose in the process. It doesn’t shy away from difficult questions around the concept of immigration, and dreams of a better world where people are accepted and celebrated for what they bring, rather than rejected for their differences.

Rating: 4⭐️ TBR challenge: Read Around the World (Pakistan)

10) Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

This was a book club pick, and one I probably wouldn’t have chosen to read otherwise. Once again my book club friends served me well as I ended up loving this cosy fantasy. Viv is fed up of life as a bounty hunter, so using the treasure from her final score she settles in the town of Thune to set up their first ever coffee shop. Defying stereotypes and bitter ex-colleagues, and supported by an adorable found family, Viv learns to reimagine what her life could look like. This book has been quite hyped and I understand why. It is low stakes fantasy, which won’t be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, give this a try even if fantasy isn’t usually your thing!

Rating: 5⭐️