And just like that it’s time for my January 2025 book blog wrap-up! January felt like a really long month, am I right? I started off feeling like I wouldn’t be able to read much besides my SFINCS allocations. But thankfully I ended up reading a lot more than I anticipated. I love it when that works out. In case you missed anything on my blog this month, this January 2025 book blog wrap-up will catch you up!
Book Reviews
I posted six book reviews in January. From earliest to latest they are:
- Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
- To Catch A Witch by E.L. Montague
- Invisible Labor by Rachel Somerstein
- Eagles Fall by L.R. Schulz
- Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows
- Shadow Queen by Nicola Tyche
Blog Statistics
Every month I share some statistics from Google Analytics because I think it helps put expectations into perspective for other micro-bloggers like me who are out there. These statistics are from Google Analytics 4.
My top five posts for total page views are (as of the evening of January 29):
- Arthurian Retellings Reading List: 530 views
- Book Review: Assistant to the Villain by Heather Maehrer: 530 views
- Book Review: Gild by Raven Kennedy: 449 views
- ARC Review: Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig: 358 views
- Book Review: Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer Armentrout: 298 views
This has been a better month with respect to number of views. By the time January ends I’ll probably be up 1,000 views relative to December 2024. That would put me back in line with September 2024 viewership; the last quarter of 2024 had a steady decline in views. So, it looks like things are bouncing back, finally, 3-4 months after Google’s algorithm shakeup.
I also gained 10 new viewers in January, which was a nice surprise!
#BeattheBacklog
I finished five books that I had on my TBR prior to 2025. Those books are SONG OF SILVER, FLAME LIKE NIGHT by Amelie Wen Zhao, A FEATHER SO BLACK by Lyra Selene, NOT IN LOVE by Ali Hazelwood, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE by Barack Obama, and THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas.
Other Bookish Items
I finished 14 books in January:
- SONG OF SILVER, FLAME LIKE NIGHT by Amelie Wen Zhao (audiobook)
- TO CATCH A WITCH by E.L. Montague (SFINCS)
- WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE by Kenan Thompson (audiobook)
- A FEATHER SO BLACK by Lyra Selene
- NOT IN LOVE by Ali Hazelwood
- EAGLES FALL by L.R. Schulz (SFINCS)
- HOW Y’ALL DOING? by Leslie Jordan (audiobook)
- WHAT THE CHICKADEE KNOWS by Margaret Noodin
- FROM THE DEPTHS by B.S.H. Garcia (SFINCS)
- GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES by Jillian Meadows (ARC)
- THE AUDACITY OF HOPE by Barack Obama (audiobook)
- GOTHEL AND THE MAIDEN PRINCE by W.R. Gingell (SFINCS)
- THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas
- UNDER ONE ROOF by Ali Hazelwood (audiobook)
I had one DNF this month: THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS by Pip Williams. It’s ok…I bought it at a library sale for probably $3, so I didn’t lose out on much. It just means one more book I can donate. Slowly but surely I’ll whittle down my collection (so say we all!).
So far I’m doing well on not buying extra books outside of my monthly book subscriptions. I made an exception for one book (see below). Stay tuned to see if I keep it up throughout the year!
I published a few 2024 review-type posts including Book Blog In Review 2024, Favorite Books Published in 2024, and Favorite Backlist Reads of 2024. I also made some Bookish Goals in 2025.
Non-Bookish Items
We’re tackling painting in our fireplace/reading room. Three of the four walls are done. The only reason the fourth wall is incomplete is because that’s where my two bookshelves are. I unloaded all the books so we can move the shelves away and paint that last wall. But of course it’s not super simple–there is (probable?) settling in one corner, so my husband has been re-taping and mudding the corner, floor to ceiling.
I had my wisdom teeth extraction in early January. It all went well. Surprisingly, I had basically no swelling and the pain was very manageable. The pain increased a few days afterward, but started tapering down about a week after the procedure. I’m glad that I can eat more than pureed soup now (even though I love pureed soup). Even though I plan to buy less books this year, I treated myself to THE ORNITHOLOGIST’S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE by India Holton after my post-op appointment.
I’m having a procedure done today with a recovery time that I will be longer than others I’ve endured lately. That means I probably won’t be around much for a little bit, including responding to any comments or hopping around to others’ blogs. Any content you see pop up in the first half of February are scheduled posts I wrote a little while ago. So I apologize in advance for not being super present in the immediate week or so.
And that’s it for my January 2025 Book Blog Wrap-Up! What did you all read this month?
I’m glad your wisdom teeth surgery went well, and good luck with your other procedure. January was a long month, right? I’m glad to move on😁
Thank you! Yes, January was a long month, but it felt like it went quickly with all of my personal appointments. February is turning out pretty well, though. 🙂
Glad the wisdom teeth removal was smooth! Looks like a pretty good reading month, as well. Hope the next procedure goes well!
Thank you!
I’m glad the wisdom teeth went well and hope the next procedure goes okay too 🥰 I definitely don’t blame you for treating yourself to a book after that appointment and really hope you enjoy the book.
You read a fantastic amount in January too, well done. I spent way too much time blogging and barely read as a result 🙈 I finally started again now though and am determined to do much better in February.
It looks like you got to some great books. That Amelie Wen Zhao duology is on my must read TBR for the year. How did you find A Feather So Black?
I hope the procedure goes well and that you manage to have a lovely February.
I’m shocked I read so much. Audiobooks help a lot! I can listen to them when I’m doing mundane house chores.
I actually really liked A FEATHER SO BLACK. So I plan to order the next book whenever Fairyloot hopefully announces it. I liked the Amelie Wen Zhao book, but didn’t love it…I think I’m just a little burnt out on celestial kingdom stuff.
I’ve heard that from so many people recently. I’m really going to have to try and get into the format this year.
I’m really glad you enjoyed it so much 🥰 I didn’t realise they did am edition of the first one but I’m sure it was stunning. Ah that’s a shame to hear. So far I’ve only not been a fan of one book featuring those kind of tales but that was because the Celestial vibe didn’t seem to be there for me 🤔
Audiobooks could be a good way for you to get into nonfiction! 😉 I admit my attention wavers with audiobooks. More often than not it’s easier for me to listen to a nonfiction book because I’m already aware of the world (because it’s our world!) whereas with fantasy fiction there’s worldbuilding and I just retain that stuff better when I read it with my eyes.
True, it is another way to try them. Ooh that’s a point I hadn’t considered before but it does make a lot of sense. I may have to try that out. I’ll have to see what non fiction titles my library stocks as audiobooks and see if any catch my eye