Quick Lit: January 2018

Quick Lit: January 2018

• Feb 2, 2018

I read 6 books in January, which is on the low end for me. I started the year strong with a few enjoyable books, but things got even better when I binged a 1,865-page trilogy in six days. I was on such a high when I finished that I didn't pick up anything else for the next week! I'll be reviewing the Rose trilogy later this month, so I've just got 3 reviews for you today. If you're looking for more book recommendations, check out the Quick Lit linkup at Modern Mrs. Darcy.

In January, I got all caught up and finally posted my November and December editions of Quick Lit! I'd fallen behind after reading a ton at the end of the year, so I ended up splitting both posts into two parts to cut down on the length. November 2017 (Part 1) has reviews for three series I binged, and November 2017 (Part 2) features eight standalones. Then, I reviewed six standalones in December 2017 (Part 1) and two series in December 2017 (Part 2). Finally, I talked about my 2017 favorites (and losers) in my 2017 End of the Year Book Survey.

NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT BY KRISTAN HIGGINS* | This was such a great book to kick off the year because it dealt with a heroine facing an uncertain future. It had everything I’ve come to love from this author: a strong heroine, witty dialogue, an engaging romance and a setting that felt like a character in its own right (populated, of course, by some very memorable people). While the tone was hopeful, there are still some pretty heavy things depicted in the story. But I loved the overall message that you never know what life will hold but can choose how you’ll respond to it. It focused on Nora’s emotional journey and personal growth – with just enough romance added in to warm my heart. I So Liked It.

RULES OF CIVILITY BY AMOR TOWLES | I received this book for Christmas... in 2011. Yes, that's right. It's been sitting on my bookshelves unread for six years. It's ridiculous, I know! I decided it was finally time to pick this up, and I immediately loved the writing. Towles has a unique voice, and there were numerous passages I wanted to slowly savor while I was reading. It's a character-driven story, which I typically love, but I was just never invested in the heroine or her relationships. It took me almost a week to finish the 335 pages because I never felt compelled to pick it up. I'd still say I So Liked It because the tone, setting and writing style balanced out my other issues. I wish I'd loved it!

IMPOSSIBLE SAINTS BY CLARISSA HARWOOD | My sweet friend Laura is Clarissa's agent, and she was kind enough to send me a copy when I mentioned that it sounded like a fantastic read based on her Goodreads review. As a lover of historical fiction, I was intrigued by the focus on the British suffragette movement because I felt like I knew very little about it (aside from this movie). I'm so impressed by what these women went through in order to secure the right to vote. This heroine is a force to be reckoned with! There's a compelling romance in this book, too, and Laura was spot-on with her reference to Grantchester. This book was a gem, and I So Enjoyed It! 

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

What have you been reading lately?