January Wrap Up & February TBR (2024)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

I know I haven't been prioritising blog posts (or reading, come to that), but honestly, moving out is taking priority, and I'm really not sorry. 

So, I'm quenching my wrap up and TBR into one- because there really isn't much on the wrap up side. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

~January Wrap Up~

Read a total of two books. So that went well. 

Rest assured, I have now finished The Poppy War. 

Yesterday. So that'll be on my February Wrap Up at least. 

1. Clementine: Book Two (Clementine #2), by Tillie Walden 

This novel changed my opinion of this series for me. After the first volume, I was liking it, but not completely in love with the continuation of the legendary game series. But volume 2 brought intense moments, emotional moments, moments of clarity. I loved it, and I cannot wait for the third and final graphic novel to be released so I can read all three novels again. 

2. The Deal of A Lifetime, by Fredrik Backman 

I read this in the space of a morning- I nearly wept upon finishing this. It's a 65 page story about a man that receives terrible news. He can change fate, but it would mean being fogotten by all who knows him- even his son, who thinks he's been a disappointment to his dad. 

Devastatingly heartbreaking, wonderfully written, I loved this short story with all my heart- even though it took me an hour to read. 

~February TBR~

1. Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World, by Lauren Fleshman 

I'm so invested in this. Started this morning, reckon I'll be finished on tuesday, the amount I've been listening to the audiobook. 

For those that don't know, Lauren Fleshman is an running athlete turned coach, that has written this part memoir, part menifesto novel about her love of running growing up, the pressures she was put under, injuries in unhealthy environments, everything to do with body dismorphia and eating disorders. Just everything to do with track and field, growing up as a woman in that industry. 

I really do love this book already. 

2. Icebreaker (Maple Hills #1), by Hannah Grace

Sportish romance! 

There's more detail on last month's TBR about this book, but long summary short, Icebreaker is a hate to love romance about an olympic hopeful ice skater and an ice hockey player that are forced to share a rink after a double booking. I was drawn in by this because there are so few ice-skating books, much less with potential olympic try-outs, so of course I had to have it. 

3. The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War #2), by R.F. Kuang

I'm adding this to the list because I genuinely want to get to this sometime in February (and I really hope it doesn't take me a month to read it, despite it being a bit larger). As much as it might seem unlikely, I really did enjoy The Poppy War, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I've seen nothing but five stars reviews for this book, so I can't wait to join the masses and experience the 2nd book in this trilogy, for what it is: a well-written, dramatic, epic fantasy book that has the world crying tears of vengence. 

4. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, by Matthew Perry 

I'm putting this on the list because... well, I'm putting it on the list. 

It'll be handy to have another audiobook on the plan to get to this month, in case I want to read when organising the hole that is my house this month, and it's this one that I was most drawn to on audible. This might change, dependant on if I get my spare room into a more organised area, and I find I have the free time to pick up a paperback. But right now, it's Matthew Perry's voice I want to hear from an audiobook. 

Okay! That's my January Wrap Up & February TBR! I hope you enjoyed it and, as always, feel free to comment what you read in January, or want to pick up in February! 

I will try and get a post or two to you guys this month, but since my broadband isn't installed until mid February- don't hold your breath. 

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx