Why does January always feel like the longest month of the year? Seriously. I don’t know if it’s the comedown from the holidays or the consistently grey days. Either way, it lends itself to being a good month to hunker down with a book. I’ve been battling sciatica for the past two months and just found out it has progressed to a herniated disk. On the positive I now know what’s causing the pain, but the recovery is long and slow. The constant pain has also made it difficult for me to focus and work as I can’t sit for too long - movement is the only thing that’s helping right now. It’s also given me a chance to test the medical system here in Sweden a bit more. While access to care is really low cost and available to all, there is a wait time and a hesitancy to be aggressive at the start. I’ve been meeting with a physical therapist every few weeks and while I’m seeing some improvement, its frustrating. Back in the states, I would have had an MRI immediately to identify what we are dealing with and then treatment from there (possibly including a cortisone shot to help with the pain). Here, the wait time for an MRI is six months, if not considered urgent, and to have done PT prior to ensure the MRI is really needed. I’m hoping I’m on the upswing now that we know what we’re dealing with and it will heal quickly!

Read on out see what I read this month and let me know if you’ve read any of them and what you thought ** 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. **

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

This was a quick, entertaining read with a few surprises and twists. Ava and Winnie were briefly college roommates at Stanford before Winnie had to quickly leave school after the first semester. 20 years later they reconnect and Winnie is now very successful and stylish, not the quiet, mousy, shy girl Ava remembers. She also learns her secret to success is a huge counterfeit bag operation, that she pulls Ava in to help with. Things are going smoothly until they aren’t and once again Winnie quickly exits leaving Ava to fend for herself. I found it entertaining, but felt more like a beach read as I wasn’t so invested that I couldn’t wait to find out what happens. If you’re looking for a book you don’t need to pay to much attention to while reading, but still entertaining, this will fit the bill.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Magic, Mystery, Secret Societies, need I say more? Oh, and it all takes place at Yale. Galaxy (Alex for short) Stern has landed herself at Yale and no one is really sure why she’s there (including her). She’s an addict and school drop who’s suddenly been given a second chance with a full ride to Yale. You know there’s a catch. Obviously there’s a catch :) The catch is she has to monitor the secret societies of Yale and make sure they aren’t using their “gifts” inappropriately. But then a townie is murdered and it all feels too familiar Alex to let it go. She starts to dig and that’s when things come undone. As she looks for answers, we also learn more about her through memories and learn all is not what it seems. Loved every second of this book and there’s a second one in the series… i’ll be picking that up ASAP.

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I was instantly hooked by this fictional rockumentary about 70’s icon Daisy Jones and the band The Six. Going behind the scenes of the biggest band of the 70’s to uncover what really happened and why they split up at the peak of their fame. The character development is brilliant and you’re instantly rooting for Daisy even though she’s a self destructive addict. You feel for Billy and his fight to stay sober. And then there’s the chemistry and song writing between Billy and Daisy. Not to mention all the other commentary from the rest of the band. It’s like reading a VH1 behind the music episode and everyone is telling it how they remember it. I had to google them after a few pages in just to make sure they weren’t a real band! It’s written that well. Not to mention Taylor includes lyrics to all the songs on their album, even though it’s all fiction. That’s dedication to story. Couldn’t put it down. Also note: this book is coming out as a mini series on Amazon Prime in March and I can’t wait.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Based on a true story, the book opens in Paris, 1939 where we meet Odile. She’s just applied for her dream job as a librarian at the American Library in Paris. Odile is living her dream, has met a boy and made close friends at the library when the Nazis roll into town. She, along with her fellow librarians fight to keep the library alive. Jumping ahead to Montana, 1983 we meet Lily. Lily is a teenager in small town Montana who wants more and is intrigued by her French neighbor Odile who everyone whispers about but don’t know her. The two build a friendship as Lily uncovers Odile’s past and learns more about who she is. I loved this book, it’s imagery, writing, and most of all the story. It’s so vivid you can feel yourself there in Paris during the war and then again in 1980’s Montana. You get angry at each of them for decisions they make and things they don’t see or realize are happening around them.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

This humorous horror book was just what I needed to break up these grey January days. Some have called it Steel Magnolias meets Dracula and I would have to agree. The book is set in the early 90’s in a small southern town where five women start a book club that mostly reads true crime and serial killers. One day a new, handsome neighbor moves in who is smart, well read, has traveled around, and above all is attentive. He ingratiates himself with the ladies, but soon things start to happen that make them wonder who he really is. An entertaining read that also tiptoes through stereotypes, discrimination, and gender roles while keeping you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next.