In 2020 I read and listened to a whopping 50 books. That’s more than I read in 2018 and 2019 combined.
This year, I’m hoping to tackle a solid 40, though my stretch goal (ugh, who am I?) is 50. I’m off to a good start with five books in January.
The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan • ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sometimes you just need a halfway decent domestic thriller to listen to while you walk around the neighborhood or do some crossword puzzles.
The Nanny, a story about a woman who suddenly reconnects with her former nanny in adulthood, is exactly that. It was intriguing and fun to listen to. Maybe it deserved four stars? Let’s go with 3.5.
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hands down, When No One Is Watching was my favorite read of the month.
Initially, I put off reading this book because I thought I knew what the plot was and had been disappointed by books like that in the past (ahem Lock Every Door by Riley Sager). But whatever you think the plot will be, it’s not that.
I won’t give a speck of it away because it’s such a good read.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read The Broken Girls by this author a few years back and loved it. I’d definitely consider The Sun Down Motel to be in the same vein as that novel. This is a solid modern ghost story.
I recommend it for an afternoon in (and aren’t all afternoons in these days?).
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters • ⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of my first listens of the pandemic era was The Little Strangers, another novel by Sarah Waters. Now, almost a year on, it seemed right to read one more of her books.
This novel, about a common thief trained to act as a lady’s maid, definitely kept me listening. And there were lots of little twists in here that I enjoyed. Overall, though, it wasn’t my favorite read of the month. Maybe if I read it at another time, I’d give it four stars.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This new release is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre. I’ll admit that I’ve never read the book, but I have seen the movie and I loved the concept. So, of course, I had to grab this 2021 version.
It did not disappoint. It was a nice domestic thriller that had me reading whenever I had a spare moment.
As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!
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