What I Read — January 2023
A brand new year and so many books to read! As I was sitting down to write my goals this year, I decided to be a little bit looser with my reading goals. I’m still aiming to read 52 or more for the year (audiobooks included), mainly so I can continue to chop away at my ever growing to-be-read list. Seriously though, please keep sending me your recommendations; I love getting to chat books with so many people!
This month was fairly light on reading because I’ve been spending most of my free time knitting. It seems like I go in spurts for my two favorite hobbies, so I’m letting knitting take the driver’s seat for the time being. I also found myself gravitating toward books with psychology subject matters. It seems the further I get from my college years, the more I’m drawn back to my major, approaching my learning with maybe a bit more curiosity and maturity than had a decade ago.
To get the most reading done, I’ve found that I’m most successful when I have an audiobook and physical book going at the same time. Typically I listen to nonfiction and classic literature since I can focus better and longer auditorily with these two genres. As always, I clarify in my reviews whether I listened to or physically read the book. I also link all of the book covers to Goodreads so you can read more reviews if you’re so inclined.
Here’s everything I enjoyed this January:
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
Nedra Glover Tawwab
Stats: Self Help, 8 hours
Quick summary
Tawwab walks through the importance of setting boundaries, identifying if you have boundary issues, and gives specific scripts to those who struggle with setting boundaries with family, romantic partners, friends, work, and online.
What I thought:
Holy wow did I need this. I’m constantly agreeing to things I don’t want to do because I feel like I can’t say no. Tawwab helped me see plain and clear that doing this robs me of the commitments I make to myself.
Who should read it:
Anyone who has boundary issues, whether it’s not standing up for yourself or building walls to keep others out. Also, her Instagram is incredibly insightful and I highly suggest a follow.
The Maid
Nita Prose
Stats: Mystery, 304 pages
Quick summary
Molly loves to clean and loves her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Living with her grandmother, she often struggles socially and to make sense of others’ true motives and intentions. One day she enters the room of a wealthy guest to find that he has been murdered. When she’s taken to the police station for questioning, her odd behaviors have the authorities questioning her innocence.
What I thought:
I misunderstood someone’s recommendation at a party (they had recommended The Housemaid), but regardless I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially because the main character gave a less typical point of view to the events.
Who should read it:
Lovers of thrillers, mysteries and whodunits.
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD
Stats: Self Help, 6 hours and 51 minutes
Quick summary
Gibson walks through different types of emotionally immature parents and helps adults heal from their past, whether they were aware of the underlying issue or not.
What I thought:
Immediately it feels like the author was going for the jugular with the title as blunt as it is, but I found this book to be incredibly insightful. It was not an easy read, but I think it has the potential to help so many people heal. I think outright child abuse and psychological manipulation is pretty easy to spot, but this book outlines other parenting behaviors that can lead to maladaptive coping skills as adults. This is particularly true for adults who had all of their physical needs met but not necessarily their emotional needs while growing up.
Who should read it:
You know if you were neglected as child — add it. Also add it if you have feelings of not being good enough, guilt, or shame or find yourself dealing with perfectionism and people-pleasing.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Sangu Mandanna
Stats: Fantasy, 336 pages
Quick summary
As a witch, Mika Moon has been alone her whole life and knows how to keep her magic a secret, except for her harmless online profile. One day she receives a message from The Nowhere House asking her to teach young witches how to control their magic. Needing a place to live, Mika agrees and opens her heart to the kids and their caretakers, including the handsome and gruff house librarian, Jamie.
What I thought:
I know I read a lot of witch books, but this one was definitely a departure from the usual. It was cozy and of the meet-cute romantic variety. While having fewer life lessons, this book very much reminded me of The House in the Cerulean Sea.
Who should read it:
Romance readers who want something a little different.
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
T. Kingfisher
Stats: Fantasy, 308 pages
Quick summary
Mona is a wizard who performs magic through baked goods. One day she finds a dead body on the floor of her aunt’s bakery which leads to her being called to save the city from ruin.
What I thought:
This started off quirky and fun, but I lost interest in the protagonist about halfway through the book. I think it’s because it started to feel more and more like a YA read, which are usually not my favorites.
Who should read it:
Anyone looking for a quick, quirky magical tale set in a bakery.
I Never Thought of It That Way
Monica Guzmán
Stats: Nonfiction, 8 hours and 47 minutes
Quick summary
As a journalist, Guzmán is familiar with asking questions and digging down to the root of people’s beliefs so she can understand their views. As the liberal daughter of Trump supporting parents, Guzmán gives first-hand advice on how to have bridging conversations instead of trying to persuade. The goal is to understand someone else’s viewpoint, even if it differs from your own.
What I thought:
I often shy away from political conversations with people who think differently than I do because I find them to be unproductive. This book helped me change my view on the purpose of these conversations to steer away from changing minds to understanding them.
Who should read it:
Twitter warriors (you know who you are).