January Reads + Reviews
I’m a Virgo so I’m too practical for romance and too grounded for fantasy.
I’m an overall harsh critic.
Buckle up.
I’ve been on a mystery/thriller kick since the beginning of December, partly because I run through them (+ wanted to hit my reading goal by the end of 2025 WHICH I DID) but also because I wanted to find a well done mystery/thriller. I find they’re too often contrived or filled with plotholes.
All to say, the books below from January are ALL mystery/thrillers. But after this, my hyperfixation is done. I’m back to contemporary/historical fiction types.
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
3/5
This was good!! A bit hard for me since it dealt with missing children/being separated from your baby. That just made it tough emotionally.
Nonetheless, I still love Jewell’s writing, so much so that I can’t be bothered to pick apart any plot holes or anything that might not make sense (if any). I love that she keeps the surprises coming until the end and how the revealing of clues happens slowly, unraveling through the development of characters and relationships and not sloppily thrown about for the sake of having twists and turns constantly.
I do recommend! But be wary if you have a baby or toddler😭
Her Beautiful Life by Brianna Labuskes
2/5
SPOILERS
Darn this was a miss for me. For the first half of the novel I was just annoyed with the fact that it was such a ripoff (or seems to be) of Hannah Neeleman. Then I was annoyed that Holland was so disconnected and hateful toward content creators, both in the tradwife community and overall, completely dismissing and misunderstanding that the business of being on content creator can sometimes mean selling a life or portraying a life that others dream of.
The twist left me feeling deflated. It was good and I liked the psychology of it, but the fact that it was Flora’s kidnapping that unleashed the “twist” to readers when Holland had so many narrated thoughts objectively about the kidnapping just felt contrived.
The hint that this friendship style is a pattern was nice though. Like, spooooooky. Eeeeeerie. But then her getting away with it? No I didn’t like it bye
The Inmate by Freida McFadden
1/5
SPOILERS
I really wanted to like The Inmate because I’ve read and hated two other of McFadden’s books and wanted to give her a real chance, but it ended up being a frustrating mess and a missed opportunity. The constant time jumps, even within the present timeline, made the book feel rushed and lazily written rather than intentionally structured. The writing is juvenile and obvious, especially the dialogue, which reads like a rough first draft from a high school English class. One line about sex in particular completely strips the female character of agency and autonomy, which was both uncomfortable and disappointing.
Tim is sketchy from the start in an uninteresting way, coming off as manipulative, try-hard, and deeply unlikeable, which killed any emotional investment. Basic logic is ignored, like a ten-year-old who rides the bus home but somehow does not have a key to his own house. Major plot holes are “explained” through long monologues instead of being earned through the story, which feels lazy. The final reveal asks the reader to believe that a high schooler would willingly help his mother murder his girlfriend without anyone noticing obvious evidence, which is completely absurd. I finished the book, but only out of spite.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
2.5/5
SPOILERS
I mostly enjoyed My Husband’s Wife and stayed engaged because I wanted to see how it ended, but the story ultimately collapses under the weight of its own twists. There are so many red herrings and unanswered clues that the mystery becomes exhausting rather than fun. Instead of inviting the reader to play detective, the book withholds any solid footing, making it impossible to form theories along the way.
Carter’s character growth was a standout and easily the strongest part of the novel. Unfortunately, the plot itself relies on too many implausible coincidences and logistical leaps to be convincing. The central plan requires an unrealistic level of foresight and perfect timing, and several timeline inconsistencies (including Eden’s age and work history) don’t add up. The idea that multiple characters could seamlessly replace Eden’s life in such a short window (down to photos, clothing, and identity) stretches credibility.
Some character development, particularly Brody’s, seems designed to make the ending more shocking, but instead makes it feel less believable. The final chapter, while meant to clarify the murderer, comes out of nowhere with no meaningful clues leading up to it, making the twist feel cheap rather than clever.
Overall, the book has strong moments and an intriguing premise, but the overload of twists and lack of narrative payoff undermine what could have been a satisfying thriller.
Boooooo!!!! Sorry
