Read With Keri: Books I Read in January

My first book recap for 2022 — who’s excited!?

I’m taking a step back on my yearly reading goal this year. In 2021, I set an ambitious goal (at least for me) to read 75 books, and I did it! But when thinking about a reading goal for 2022, I was hesitant to set it for 75 or above. Last year, I found myself at times scrambling to find “shorter” books so I wouldn’t fall behind on my reading goal, and it took the joy out of reading for fun some days.

This year I’m focusing less on the number and more on the actual books on my To Be Read (TBR) list. Sounds obvious, but I can fall into the trap of reading books just because they’re short! Thick books shouldn’t deter me from taking the time to read them. I think I can comfortably read 50 books this year without sacrificing quality, but we’ll see how many I end up reading!

Here are the 6 books I read in January (and there were some good ones!)

Sunflower Sisters — Martha Hall Kelly (4.75/5 stars)

I kicked off 2022 reading with this book. I’ve put off reading it for almost a year because it is longgg and I knew it would take me a WHILE to finish it. Once I got into it, though, I couldn’t put it down. I read it in a week! Written by the same author as my favorite book Lilac Girls, Sunflower Sisters is set in the Civil War and follows several characters’ storylines. Each chapter ended in a “cliff hanger” and made me want to keep reading. Highly recommend.

The Lost and Found Bookshop — Susan Wiggs (2.5/5 stars)

I had heard good things about this book, but honestly, it didn’t really live up to the hype for me. It’s about a woman who takes over her mother’s bookshop and discovers secrets about her family through her experiences there. If you like Hallmark-esque love stories with predictable storylines, you would like this.

The Maidens — Alex Michaelides (5/5 stars)

Alex Michaelides does it again!! Author of The Silent Patient, Alex published The Maidens as his second novel and it is amazing. I’m not usually a thriller girl, but I couldn’t put this one down. The chapters are short so it’s easy to say, “Just one more chapter.” If you choose any books to read from this list, choose this one!

The Midnight Library — Matt Haig (4.5/5 stars)

I was not expecting to love this one as much as I did. I’d heard mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed the concept of this. It’s about a woman who is wondering what her life purpose is and accidentally stumbles on the midnight library, which helps her in an unexpected way. If you’re on the fence, I think it’s worth reading.

Outlawed — Anna North (3/5 stars)

Usually I love a Reese’s Book Club pick but this did not live up to the hype. It felt unfinished and kind of…bland. The plot is intriguing, but the execution was subpar. Not for me. Here’s a quick plot summary: “Set in America in the 1890s, the plot follows the unusual story of 17-year-old Ada from the time she is married to the time she settles down as a midwife. In the form of a memoir, Ada recounts how she became an outlaw and the many dangerous adventures she experienced in that role.” - Bookrags.com

Finding Chika — Mitch Albom (3.5/5 stars)

I’ve read a few of Mitch Albom’s other books so decided to listen to this one when I saw it was available in Libby. Mitch details the life, death, and lessons he learned from a young orphan named Chika who died from a brain tumor a few years ago. It’s emotional, heartwarming, and the audiobook includes audio clips of Chika throughout the book. It hits you right in the feels.