Books I Read in January 2025
January started off a little slow due to being sick around the holidays, but I still got into some good books—all romance, and all ones that I’d recommend, depending on your mood!
Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn
I read the first book in this Chance of a Lifetime series a while back and absolutely loved it. We’re talking swoons from start to finish. I’m a fan of Kate Clayborn’s work, so I had high expectations for this one, and it definitely delivered. It’s tropey and fun, and it has one of my favorite tropes, fake dating. I like the complicated history the two characters have (despite never meeting face to face), and that the female main character, Zoe, has a tough exterior but is a good person at heart. This book was a strong start to work toward my reading goals for 2025!
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
I’ve never read Fourth Wing (maybe one day!), but I have enjoyed Yarros’s romance books. She was a military brat growing up, so her romances incorporate the military trope, and I think she does it well! These two characters basically fall in love through letters, but when they meet, the female main character, Ella, is under the assumption that the person she was writing to (call sign Chaos), died in combat. Needless to say, it’s complicated, and the male character, Beckett, has his reasons for keeping his real identity hidden. Their budding IRL romance felt very real and heartfelt, and I could totally see this as a movie. Be warned, the last 15 percent or so is…a lot. There’s a Happy Ever After, but there is also something really devastating that happens near the end too. As such, the HEA felt a little bittersweet for me.
Best of Luck by Kate Clayborn
I couldn’t not finish this series once I got back into it, especially since Book 2 (above) was so great. I also find the profession of a war photographer really intriguing, so I was especially excited for getting to know the MMC, Alex, in this one! I adore that Clayborn can give us heavy and difficult themes, all while providing a satisfying HEA at the end. Overall, I felt like of all three books in this series that this one was the “quietest.” The stakes felt a little lower, but that’s not a bad thing honestly. It was sweet seeing Greer and Alex work together and eventually find love with each other. The best friend’s brother trope was really enjoyable too!
Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren
I had read the second book in this series years ago (What if You & Me) and loved it, but I was never super compelled to go back and read Book 1. The whole influencer and actor thing just really didn’t appeal to me. Well, this very well may have been my best read of the month, and I’m glad I finally got around to it! I adored Hollyn and think she’s such a relatable character, plus I loved seeing how her Tourette Syndrome affected her life and how she coped with it. Jasper is just a darling—top book boyfriend material right here. I loved this book and will probably get into Book 3 very soon!
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (about 80% through)
I was in the mood for a rewatch of Me Before You (did it, loved it), and this led me to want to reread the book. I’m still in the process but loving it even more than before. I’m very aware of the controversy surrounding this book and film, so I always keep that in mind when revisiting this one. Some folks like to distill the message of this book/film down to “It’s better to be dead than disabled,” but I think there’s a lot more nuance here…and let’s be honest, nuance is not what makes headlines. The book does a good job of showing just how much pain Will is in, and also there are a number of characters who question his desires and actions. It’s definitely NOT a romance, but the characters are all flawed and interesting. This is a complex story I love, largely in part to Lou, the main character and primary POV of this book. It’s strange to call this a comfort read, but I do think the varied character motivations and backgrounds make for an intriguing read, which is why I come back to it now and then.