My January book reviews are meant to serve a purpose. Over the past two years I’ve read so. many. books. and I never kept track. I recall moving scenes and characters but couldn’t tell you what books they came from.
At the beginning of January I turned on a feature on my library card that tracks every book I check out. (It was news to me that the library doesn’t do this automatically, but it has to do with patrons’ privacy so it’s an elective option only.) I also thought it would keep me accountable for my goal of reading at least two books per month.
I don’t have a subscription to Audible, although perhaps I should consider it. But I do feel that I absorb more of the story when I’m reading and devoting my full attention to it. I’m a visual learner.
At any rate, my January book reviews cover three books that I completed in January. There is a fourth that I started but didn’t finish until February so you will see that one in next month’s post!
Twisted Twety-Six by Janet Evanovich
First up, Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich. This is her twenty-sixth book in the numbered Plum series that follows our heroine, Stephanie Plum. There are also a few special holiday stories that aren’t numbered, like Plum Lovin’ and Plum Lucky. You can see the full list here.
Stephanie is a bond enforcement agent. She blackmailed her bail bondsman cousin into giving her the job when she was down on her luck and needed the money. Now, several years later, she’s still doing it. Despite the fact that it often leaves her covered in smelly substances, dealing with disgusting (if comical) skips, and often results in her cars being blown up, she’s become a little addicted to it.
Somehow she always ends up in a dicey situation when some mystery or another lands her square in the middle of criminal activity. With the help of her hilarious partner, Lula, her detective boyfriend, Morelli, and one-time mentor, some-times lover, Ranger, she always manages to get by.
This time Stephanie’s newly-widowed Grandma Mazur finds herself in the crosshairs. Her new senior citizen gangster husband kicked the bucket after 45 minutes of marriage. It soon comes to light that he was the “keeper of the keys” among his criminal colleagues. Everyone assumes Grandma Mazur has the legendary keys and quickly prove they’ll stop at nothing to get them. As tempers and distrust escalate, and people start getting killed, the gang seems more and more convinced that Stephanie and her grandma are holding out. Stephanie must prove otherwise before someone else gets hurt.
The Stephanie Plum Series
I picked up One for the Money, the first book in the series, about fifteen years ago. These books are one part mystery, two parts hilarity. The characters are charming, the writing is easy to digest, and the plots are light-hearted. Don’t take anything too seriously in these novels and you’re sure to laugh out loud.
The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz
This is the sixth book in the Millenium series that Stieg Larsson kicked off with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. After Larsson’s death in 2004, significant controversy plagued the rights to his book trilogy. It wasn’t until September 2015 that ghost writer David Lagercrantz continued the series with a fourth installment.
Lagercrantz’s books include the same characters that Larsson’s did, and the stories are delivered with the same tone and cadence. He weaves an incredible web in which each character’s story is intertwined with every other’s. It creates a tale made up of layers upon layers, and just when you thought you were up to speed, more layers are revealed.
It’s dizzying at times and can be difficult to keep up with but always worth it. The Girl Who Lived Twice opens with a mysterious beggar appearing in Stockholm and expands to an international political and criminal coverup ten years in the making. Our journalist, Blomkvist, of course finds himself at the center of it all when the beggar turns up dead with Blomkvist’s phone number in his pocket.
At the same time, Lagercrantz dives deep into the story of Lisbeth Salander and her estranged twin sister, Camilla. Lisbeth and Camilla’s story began in early books and reaches a violent climax in The Girl Who Lived Twice.
Lagercrantz stated in a 2019 interview that this will be his last installment in the Millenium series, which I can respect. In contrast to the light-hearted Evanovich, the Millenium books are incredibly dense and involve a significant amount of research. I agree with the author’s statement that it would be a shame to slip into a routine with it and tarnish the legacy.
Hinch Yourself Happy: All the Best Cleaning Tips to Shine Your Sink and Soothe Your Soul by Sophie Hinchliffe
If you haven’t been introduced to the Instagram sensation Mrs. Hinch, get on it! You can find her @mrshinchhome. Sophie is an authentic, charismatic woman from Essex outside of London. She started a home and interiors account on Instagram to showcase the home she and her husband had saved so hard to purchase. Soon, people flocked to her account by the hundreds of thousands for her inspirational attitude and simple, fun cleaning tips.
Sophie is undeniably lovable. In an influencer culture full of pretentious behavior and an attitude of keeping up with Jones’s, Sophie brings a breath of fresh air. She’ll be the first to tell you that she didn’t use bots or a marketing scheme to grow her account. It’s all for authentic appreciation of her and what she has to offer.
Hinch Yourself Happy is a collection of all her best cleaning tips, yes, but it’s also the tell-all that her biggest Hinchers wanted. Several chapters are autobiographical and talk about her years at school, her early career in London, and how “hinching” ultimately rescued her from feelings of anxiety and depression.
Mrs. Hinch
Sophie is relatable to so many of us. I’ve talked a lot recently about toxic femininity. Many influencers in the genre of homemaking put out prescriptive messages that exclude so many women from enjoying that manifestation of their feminine energy. Sophie breaks that cycle! She happily hinches her home and includes all of us in the process. She opens up about her struggles and shares inspiration. It’s amazing how one woman has created a safe place for so many to come together and share their love of homemaking.
This book is a light read and is a great reference book to keep on the shelf. It’s convenient to have all of Sophie’s most recommended products and techniques in one place. It reads like Sophie is right there talking to you, which I also enjoy. The editors let her voice really shine. So if you enjoy the legendary Mrs. Hinch, you’ll get a kick out of her book!
January Book Reviews
That’ll do it for January book reviews. I like to read a mix of fiction and non-fiction. I’m also trying to do a better job of keeping my nose out of heavy crime novels and thrillers. They are captivating, but they do tend to haunt me. I’m making a conscious effort to protect my energy and my mindset with more positive influences. So if you have any quality fiction recommendations, I’d love to know about them!
Stay tuned to see what’s on deck for February!