January Reading Roundup 2024

Some of the books I read and enjoyed this month

When I finish reading a book, I post a quick off-the-cuff review in my Instagram stories and call it a day. Sometimes I do year-end wrap-ups. You possibly read the non-fiction one here. And the fiction one here.

I’m going to try something easier for both us: lil monthly bites. Here’s what I read and liked in January, plus some books I finished reading after I published my big year-end lists.

Chili Crisp: 50+ Recipes to Satisfy Your Spicy, Crunchy, Garlicky Cravings by James Park

• I can’t remember who it was. Alexander Chee maybe. I saw someone post this on Instagram and I immediately checked it out from the library. I love cookbooks that include recipes people think are simple. Hello, crispy fried eggs in chili crisp. I also love easy-ish recipes for Korean food. I liked this book so much I ended up buying it.

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

• I loved this book. I almost didn’t read it because it got so much hype, I was worried I’d be disappointed. Wrong! I loved it. I mean, how could I not? Set in New York, it’s a modern take on When Harry Met Sally. I really enjoyed the author note at the end on Nora Efron. I listened to this and it’s great on audio.

It's Always Been Ours: Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies by Jessica Wilson

• I recovered from disordered eating in a very white, thin, anti-diet space. I remember when Maintenance Phase started, one of my friends tweeted something like, ‘I really hope they include the experience of Black women on this podcast.’ My antenna went up, and stayed up. This book, written in 2020-2021, speaks to that: who gets left out of the anti-diet conversation, and how what often helps white women like me, does not help a lot of Black women and femmes. And because it was written so recently, there’s a chapter on Lizzo, which I was very grateful to read. There’s also a great chapter on Goop. Bonus: Jessica was on Virginia Sole-Smith’s Burnt Toast podcast.

I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel

• Sam Irby gives great book recommendations and she loved this book. I went to buy it from one of our local indies and saw that it was the January pick for their Unlikely Females Book Club. I love books about Instagram and influencer culture and this is very much that. And whew doggies, is this protagonist unlikeable. It reminded me a tiny bit of both Luster and Pizza Girl.

Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter

• I don’t think this book is 100% for me. It is a quick and compelling read though. I’m mostly including it so I can link to my friend Susannah’s interview this week with Lindsay Hunter.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

• I need to stay off TikTok. Why are people so mad at Ali Hazelwood? I mean, if she actually did something, please tell me, but I fear this is just an example of BookTok being mad at someone who’s books sell well. Anyway, I thought this book was great. It’s YA so the spice level is turned down, but as my friend Katie Garaby at Parnassus told me, it’s great that the woman is a) queer and b) more sexually experienced than the guy, which Katie points out is great for young adults to read. I will warn you, it kind of made me want to play chess. Watch this space! I listened to this on audio.

Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

• Wow, what a story! I got lost a bit trying to keep up in the beginning, but about midway through, I got hooked in and stayed in. I saw the author on book tour and after hearing her explain what this is about and how she wrote it during lockdown in 2020, I knew I wanted to read it. If you’re struggling with it, keep going. It gets easier to follow and the ending is worth it.

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl

• Something I am constantly working on is staying soft in the face of whatever terrible reality we are living through. I think Margaret writes for people like me: people who have to decide every day not to turn to stone. People who are working to hold two truths at once: look at the beauty all around, and OMG what a dumpster fire this all is. This is a gorgeous book about birds. It’s also a book about the beauty of nature juxtaposed against the pandemic, loss and grief. Always a teacher, Margaret is showing us how to stay soft; how to not give up. She’s reminding us to look for the beauty.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

• Holy cow, what a book. I met Tayari when she came through town last year and remembered I had her book at home, but hadn’t read it. It’s so good! It’s tense, which I like. A young couple is in their first year of marriage when the man is wrongfully accused of sexual assault and sent to prison. The book is about what that does to the couple, as well as all the collateral damage. Powerful ending. Great book.

Southern Fried Sass: A Queen's Guide to Cooking, Decorating, and Living Just a Little "Extra" by Ginger Minj

• ICYMI: I interviewed Ginger for this book, so I felt like maybe I should read it. It’s great! She’s a natural storyteller. It’s obviously great if you’re a fan of Ginger’s, but it’s also great for just general fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Lots of behind the scenes tidbits in here about the show. This is a great audiobook read by Ginger.

This week I published a piece in the Nashville Scene about some of the book-ish events coming up. A ton of authors are coming to town over the next few months. You can read more here.

Reminder: the links in this post to Libro.fm and Bookshop.org are affiliate links because this Substack is free.