A fresh new year of reading goals are underway! I’m so excited for many books coming out this year and eager to make a dent in my every growing TBR book shelf. What started out as a few books has basically grown to take up an entire shelf. So many books, so little time!! So how to get to those books that have been sitting on the to be read shelf a little bit longer than they should. Well, I’m so glad that you asked…a reading challenge of course. While scrolling Instagram in late December I stumbled upon a suggestion to read a book title for every letter of the alphabet. I love a good challenge. That and I would love to clear out some of the books that had been sitting around longer than they should. This challenge will get me to read the books I might have been ignoring for new ones that have be released. Don’t worry, I’m still going to read plenty of new releases, but I’m going to try to read a book that starts with each letter of the alphabet along the way.
For the last two years I’ve struggled with the best way to share thoughts on the books that I have read. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to give more in depth reviews, do a post each month with what I had read, then put it into a longer post for year. So here we are, I’m going to organize my books read alphabetically. I don’t think time is going to allow for more in depth reviews. But we shall see. Click on the letter below to be taken to that letter of the alphabet to see what book(s) I have read. Will you join me in trying to read a book for each letter of the alphabet?? You can also follow me over on Goodreads to see what is on my growing TBR list! Happy Reading!
All the Dangerous Things, Stacy Willingham (January 2- January 7)
A mystery, thriller gem from Stacy Willingham. She kept me on my toes with all of the different sub plots. Everything was woven together beautifully and tied up with a bow a the end. A great read!! Four ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter B
By a Thread, Lucy Score (March 16-March 19)
I dusted off my Kindle recently for a trip. And I took advantage of Kindle Unlimited to get this gem by Lucy Score. She has quickly become a favorite author. While her language is colorful and there are more than a few bedroom scenes in her books, i enjoy how she takes seemingly real people, like Ally and brings them to life. Thrown into the romance and managing life was the fact that Ally’s dad was suffering from dementia. Again, anyone who can make 500 plus pages fly by must be doing something right!! 4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter C
Books that begin with the letter D
Books that begin with the letter E
Evidence of the Affair, Taylor Jenkins Reid (February 27-February 28)
As a huge fan of TJR it was time to read this story, a collection of letters between a wife who learns that her husband is cheating and the husband of the cheating wife. Another Amazing work by Reid, with a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming!! Do yourself a favor and read Evidence of the Affair. 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter F
Finlay Donovan is Killing It, Elle Coimano (February 7-February 12)
This book has been sitting on my TBR shelf for a very long time. It is book one of a three part series. The third book came out in the beginning of february. I love a good series and decided it was time to finally read this mystery. I really struggled with how I felt about this book as i was reading it. Finaly donovan has been getting great reviews, but i found the first half of the book slow and the best way to describe how i felt when i was reading is stressed. i plowed through more to just get it done than because i really cared about the outcome. while tempted to give the other books in the series a try- i’m more inclined to keep working through my tbr first. Three ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter G
Books that begin with the letter H
Books that begin with the letter I
I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy (February 28-March 8)
When I was in NY in January I felt like this book was everywhere! So I picked up a copy at Strand Bookstore. When I finally had a chance to read it, I had to remove the book jacket since the boys kept asking why anyone would be glad their mom died. My response- it’s complicated. Jennette McCurdy masterfully shared about her complicated relationship with her mother and her body. Definitely different from my normal reads, but I found her book insightful and thought provoking. 4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter J
Books that begin with the letter K
Books that begin with the letter L
Love and Other Words, Christina Lauren (February 13-February 15)
I was invested in the characters of Love and Other Words from the first few pages of reading. unlike my last book that made me feel stressed while i was reading, i found myself smiling was i was reading this book! I’m sad the book is over. It was a quick and fun read With an unexpected twist. A Five ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter M
Maame, Jessica George (February 19-February 26)
This was another REad with Jenna pick and as a bonus it was also Book of the month. While fiction, this definitely read more like a memoir. I love stepping out of my normal genres and trying something news. A coming of age story that also explores grief, love and life. Give Maame a try if you are looking for a debut author and a book that will get you thinking!
My Favorite Half-Night Stand, Christina Lauren (February 26-February 27)
Christina Lauren is one of my go to authors when I am looking for a fun, light read that I can finish in one to two days. I stayed up way to late finishing My Favorite Half-Night Stand. I just needed a resolution for Millie and Reid.
Books that begin with the letter N
Books that begin with the letter O
Books that begin with the letter P
Books that begin with the letter Q
Books that begin with the letter R
The Reunion, Kayla Olson (January 22-January 30)
A popular show, think Dawson’s Creek has a reunion fourteen years after the last episode. A light, fun read yet with some emphasis on making hard life choices weher it relates to love and career. While this book started a little slow, the second half really picked up and I couldn’t put it down. A solid 3.5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ rounded to four ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter S
Sam, Allegra Goodman (January 20-January 21)
Sam, was the read with Jenna pick for the month of January. I was intrigued by the plot and since i’m trying to read new authors i was happy for the suggestion. I couldn’t put this book down. Allegra Goodman pulled me into the book and into the lives of the characters. The characters were so real that I was eager to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. A coming of age story for Sam with many twists and turns. I highly recommend Sam! Five ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Books that begin with the letter T
Things We Never Got Over, Lucy Score (February 16-February 18)
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been holding onto this book. Again, the sequel is coming out in a few days so I knew it was time to finally read it. Oh my! How have I not read any of Lucy Score’s books before?? Although this book is nearly 600 pages I finished in just two days. I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up way too late to finish and was not disappointed. I’m sad I need to wait a few days for the next book in the series. Highly recommend this book if you aren’t afraid by some colorful language. a 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ read for me!
Things We Hide from the Light, Lucy Score (March 10-March 16)
I have very quickly become a lucy score fan!! Reading three of her books in just over a month. Not going to like there’s quite a bit of foul language and some graphic sex scenes but I truly love the way she develops her characters. I absolutely love Nash, Knox, Naomi, Lina and the gang of Knockemout, Virginia. Now I must anxiously await the thrird book in the series that comes out in September. Only Lucy Score could make 500 plus pages fly by! 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
rachel hawkins has become one of my must read authors. i pre-ordered The Villa and I couldn’t wait to read it. I must be honest, I was underwhelmed. I had high expectations after reading Reckless Girls and her witchy romance books that she writes under a pen name. While The Villa was good, it felt rushed at the end as though Hawkins was in a hurry for it to be over. I did however enjoy the multiple perspectives and the back and forth from the 70s to the present day. So all in all a Good, not a great read. Three ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Book 2 of the winter series. Winter Stroll offered so many emotions and left me eager for the next book. I’m so happy that I was late to the party so to speak on this series so that I could read them one after the other. SEt in Nantucket, like many of Hilderbrand’s other books I’ve added nantucket to our summer vacation list! I can’t wait to see what will happen next for the Quinn family. Five ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Winter Storms, Elin Hilderbrand (January 8 – January 11)
Book 3 in the Winter Series: In Winter Storms, it’s clear that Hilderbrand is setting us up for a more series final book. While the quinns are trying to hold everything together you know more is about to come. Signs of a good series that you are eager to read the next book. Four ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Winter Solstice, Elin Hilderbrand (January 11- January 14)
Book 4 in the Winter Series: I was bracing myself for the series to come to an end and knew for certain I would shed tears. Hilderbrand did not disappoint with the final book in the winter series. My only disappointment is that the series is over and I will miss the Quinn family! Four ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
What Lies in the Woods, Kate Alice Marshall (January 31-February 6)
I haven’t read a truly unnerving thriller in quite a while. What lies in the Woods was intense to say the very least. Often I have a pretty good sense of the “who did it” as I am reading. I must admit, this one kept me on my toes, never quite sure who was friend and who was foe. Five ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
