What I Read in January 2025
The month that usually feels like it drags on forever somehow flew by for me this year. Maybe it’s because I spent a good chunk of it sick (seriously, that flu going around is NO JOKE) and then played catch-up the rest of the time. But despite the chaos (in my life and that of the US currently 👀), I managed to finish three incredible books.
This year, I set a personal goal to read at least one book a month from the Top 100 Books of the 21st Century, and this month’s pick was The Goldfinch. I bought it back when it first came out in 2015 but, for some reason, never got around to it—until now. And wow, was it worth the wait.
Read on to see what else made it onto my January list! 📚✨
For more recommendations, don’t forget to check out my Bookshelf page!
** Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org where your purchases support local bookstores. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase on any of the links below. **
The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr
You know I love historical fiction! The Goddess of Warsaw takes place during WWII in Warsaw, Poland and is based on events that have been documented in their history. Lena Browning is one of hollywood’s most famous actor. But she has a dark past that no one knows. Before coming to America and forging a career in movies, Bina Blonski was an educated, affluent young Jewish girl who had her life turned upside down with the invasion of the Nazis. She watched as her parents were shipped off to a concentration camp while she was imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto - a slum of a neighborhood for Jews. Bina cannot sit by and watch the atrocities that are happening to her people. With her aryan looks, she quickly realizes she can blend in with the Nazis and becomes a spy for the resistance. She barely survives the war, but at a great cost. She starts her new life in America only to have her past resurface again at the height of her career. Those who got away with their crimes in Poland are now in America trying to do the same thing. Her thirst for revenge fuels her to her final act of justice. The book had me hooked from the start. It’s full of twists and turns that keep you on your toes. Highly recommend!
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
This book has been on everyone’s list and for good reason. I could not put it down. It was one of those books I stayed up until 2am to finish it. Set in 1975 at a camp in the Adirondacks, a camper (who’s family owns and lives at the camp) goes missing. As the search for her begins, we learn about the unsolved disappearance of her brother fourteen years ago at the same camp. The suspense and secrets keep you engaged until the very end. Definitely read this when you have time to dedicate to it because you will not want to put it down.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
This is a book on the NYT 100 books of the 21st Century (so far!). I had purchased is when it came out and for some reason never read it, not sure why? I loved it. We follow the life of Theo Decker, a thirteen year old who survives an accident that kills his mother. With no family to take him in, he seeks refuge with a wealthy friend and his family. Just as he’s finding his footing with their family, his estranged father shows back up and whisks him off to Las Vegas. But Theo has a secret he’s told no one - from the day of the explosion in the museum, he has been in possession of one of the world’s most famous paintings - The Goldfinch. His move to Vegas sets him down a path of addiction and bad decisions, ultimately charting the course of his life into the world of art and antiquities. The book is told by Theo and we experience his life from 13 to 33 and see how a small painting impacted his life in ways he never expected. Tragedy and triumph are intertwined in Theo’s story. Just when we think he’s pulling his life together, it falls apart, only to be put back together again. The impact of the loss of his mother in such a tragic way shapes his life and how he sees the world. A captivating read that pulls you in and has you rooting for Theo from the beginning.
