Everything I Read in January 2026
1. The Butcher
Good but not great. Also, there is a warning in the beginning of the book for VERY bigoted language by the main character. Thankfully it wasn’t too egregious but it’s worth noting. Edward Shank is the retired chief of police with his most notable achievement being his identifying and ultimate killing of the area’s infamous serial killer “The Butcher”. Decades later, it seems like there is a copycat killer emerging and young women begin to go missing again. Could it be that they go the wrong guy? Edward’s grandson stumbles upon the answer unknowingly and must decide if he should keep this information to himself or risk destroying the only family he has left. The reader discovers who the killer is very early on in the book so most of the story is the race for everyone to finally put the clues together. The story is entertaining but definitely not a favorite from this month. Rating: 8
2. By Any Other Name
I LOVE Jodi Picoult books but this one was a big flop unfortunately. It was soooooo slow and took me forever to get through. The story oscillates between the past and present nicely but I had a hard time keeping focused on how drawn out each chapter became. Melina is a playwright living in NYC trying to work odd jobs in order to support her dream of one day selling a play. Her most recent work is inspired by one of her ancestors, Emilia who many was the true author of various Shakespeare plays. The author does a great job of intertwining the two timelines but ultimately it was not a story that really got me invested. Rating: 7
3. Not Quite Dead Yet
An easy to get through mystery but the premise of the book is sorta ridiculous. If you can get back that, the story is entertaining. Since I listen to all my books on audio, I rarely am bothered by a narrator but the narrator of this book was by far the worst I’ve ever heard. If you plan to get this book, read it instead of listening! Jet is the daughter of a wealthy Vermont family with ties to the entire community in which they live. Jet is somewhat of a black sheep and is back home to try and rebuild her life after some recent stumbles and failures. After the annual Halloween fair in town, Jet returns back to her parents’ home where she is attacked and left for dead. When Jet wakes up in the hospital, she learns how serious her injuries are and must make some devastating decisions. Going against her family’s wishes, Jet decides to spend her remaining days trying to solve her own murder. There are lots of twists and turns but the overall idea of the book is somewhat unrealistic in a way that brings down the value of the story. Rating: 7
4. Wild Dark Shore
I am beginning to think that any of the books from Reese Witherspoon’s book club are not for me. I have read a few recently and disliked every single one – this book included. It dragged on so slowly as a story but the dynamics of the characters seemed to move too quickly. Dominic and his children live on a remote island near Antarctica which is home to the world’s largest seed bank. No one ever visits because it’s so far from civilization so the family is shocked when a woman washes up on the island’s shore. The family helps nurse the woman back to health while trying to understand what she was doing so close to the island. Both the woman and Dominic’s family have secrets that they are keeping from everyone. So time will tell if these secrets can be safely revealed. If I’m being honest, the secrets are pretty anticlimactic so it didn’t add much to the story. Rating: 6
5. The Carpool Detectives
The most enthralling part of this book is that it’s a TRUE STORY! Four moms decide to investigate a 15 year old cold case and solve it! It’s a really interesting read because it shows their processes and how in depth their research went. Even though I knew that they did in fact solve the case, I truly kept doubting my understanding of the book because they hit so many dead ends throughout their research. The intuitive power of women is on full display in this book and it’s incredibly awe-inspiring to see. Rating: 8.5
6. Next of Kin
This book has some INSANE twists that had my jaw on the floor all the way until the very end of the book. Leila and her sister, Yasmin, had a difficult childhood that left them orphaned before they were 18. This greatly impacted the trajectory of their lives but both managed to find a way out and live successful lives. Yasmin has a 3 year old son named Max who Leila helps with from time to time. On one summer morning, Leila receives a call from Yasmin’s husband, Andrew, asking if she can take Max to school on her way to work. Leila happily agrees but what transpires next will forever change their lives. A trial ensues and family bonds are tested to the limit. Just when you think you have this story figured out, you realize you don’t and a twist comes. Rating: 8.5
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Many people like to abstain from drinking throughout the month of January after a long few months of festive occasions and tons of parties. If you are someone who is doing a Dry January and would like some options as an alternative to drinking, I have a ton in today’s post. I don’t drink and haven’t for the past 10+ years. I never enjoyed alcohol and HATE feeling drunk. I’ve also never smoked marijuana or tried any recreational drug in my entire life. That tells you a little bit about how much I hate the feeling of being in an altered state. However, a few years ago I began to see a ton of CBD + THC products being recommended by people I follow on social media and even some of my close friends.
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