Between The Pages | January 2025 Reading Wrap-Up

Welcome back to the blog, bookworms! January 2025 has flown by in a whirlwind of pages turned and stories devoured. This month’s reading has been a real emotional rollercoaster, taking me from the depths of heart-wrenching tales to the giddy heights of lighthearted adventures. Whether you’re looking for a good cry, a laugh-out-loud romp, or something in between, I’ve got you covered in this month’s reading wrap-up. So grab a cozy blanket, your favorite beverage, and settle in as I share the books that kept me company (and kept me up way too late!) this January.

Take a Look

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros (via Kindle Unlimited)

** This book really needs to come with a warning or disclaimer saying that it will rip out your heart and then stomp on it. You’ll laugh and be intrigued, but you’ll also cry your eyes out. **

From Amazon:

Beckett,

If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride.

My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.

And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help.

So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family.

Please don’t make her go through it alone.
Ryan

The Recipe for Hope by Fiona Valpy (via Kindle Unlimited)

Evie is fleeing her impending divorce, the heartbreaking loss of her baby, the ghosts of Christmases past in London, and the shiny new life her soon-to-be ex-husband is building. A secluded cottage in the South of France promises the tranquility she desperately craves.

However, the French countryside is far from silent. From the crowing rooster at dawn to the hooting barn owl at night, and especially the presence of her attractive neighbor, Dr. Didier, who works tirelessly in his garage, peace seems elusive.

Yet, amidst the stunning beauty of the Dordogne, the sights and sounds of rural life begin to rekindle Evie’s spirit. Guided by her French grandmother’s treasured recipe book, she rediscovers her passion for cooking. The warmth of the close-knit community embraces her, gently reminding her of life’s true priorities.

She wonders if Dedier is interested in her or if it is purely culinary. And can a Christmas without celebrations—perhaps replaced by an intimate “Not-Christmas” dinner for two—mend her broken heart?

The Last Train from Paris by Juliet Greenwood (via Kindle Unlimited)

Iris’s visits to her mother’s seaside cottage in St Mabon’s Cove, Cornwall, have always been a tranquil escape from city life. But today, as she arrives at her cherished childhood home, a sense of unease settles upon her. Iris, adopted as a child, has long been met with silence whenever she dared to ask about her origins. Her parents, burdened by their own past, have always refused to revisit it.

Now, a single line from her adoption papers haunts her: “BABY GIRL, FRANCE, 1939” – the year war erupted with Nazi Germany. Driven by an insatiable need to know, Iris confronts her mother, only to encounter the familiar wall of pain and resistance that surrounds any mention of the war. This time, however, her mother, overcome with emotion, silently hands her an old tin filled with letters, nestled beside a delicate piece of ivory wool.

Seeking refuge in the attic, Iris prepares herself to finally confront the truth, no matter how painful it may be. As she delves into the layers of history contained within the letters, a growing sense of dread takes hold. The past is calling, and its secrets are far more complex and intertwined than she could ever have imagined.

The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan (via Kindle Unlimited)

Joy Blackwood is baffled. In the middle of a heart attack, her husband reveals a secret he’s been carrying. Her French art dealer husband bequeathed a valuable painting to Robyn Tessier, a woman living in the small Irish coastal town of Ballycove. Determined to confront Robyn, Joy travels to Ireland.

She finds Robyn running a struggling and somewhat disorganized bookshop. Shy and harboring an unrequited crush on her best friend Kian, Robyn clearly needs help turning her business around.

As Joy immerses herself in the daily life and dramas of Ballycove, the mystery surrounding her husband’s painting deepens. When she finally confronts the truth, the revelation ripples through the close-knit family she’s come to cherish.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (via Kindle Unlimited)

“Winter Garden” by Kristin Hannah tells the intertwined stories of two sisters, Meredith and Nina Whitson, and their emotionally distant mother, Anya. The story unfolds across two timelines: the present, where Meredith and Nina are adults grappling with their complicated relationship with their mother, and the past, which reveals Anya’s harrowing experiences as a young woman in Russia during World War II.

In the present, the death of their father brings Meredith and Nina back to their childhood home, where they are forced to confront the emotional walls that have separated them from Anya for years. Anya, a woman of few words and even fewer displays of affection, has always been an enigma to her daughters. They know little about her past, and she seems unwilling to share it.

As Meredith and Nina try to understand their mother, they uncover secrets about her life in war-torn Russia. These revelations paint a starkly different picture of Anya, revealing the unimaginable hardships she endured and the profound sacrifices she made. Through Anya’s story, the sisters begin to understand the source of her emotional detachment and the deep pain she has carried for decades.

“Winter Garden” explores themes of family, forgiveness, love, loss, and the enduring power of the human spirit. It’s a story about the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, the secrets families keep, and the healing that can come from understanding the past. Anya’s journey, from a young woman caught in the horrors of war to a mother struggling to connect with her children, is at the heart of the novel. It’s a moving and emotional story about the resilience of the human heart and the possibility of finding redemption even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

The Littlest Library: A Novel by Poppy Alexander (via Kindle Unlimited)

A quaint red phone box brimming with books offers Jess Metcalf a chance to rewrite her life. Perfectly happy with her predictable routine, Jess’s world is upended by the loss of her grandmother and her library job.

Seeking a fresh start, she packs up her grandmother’s beloved books and relocates to a small cottage in the English countryside. There, she discovers an unexpected bonus: a vintage red phone box. Inspired by her love of libraries and a desire to connect with her new community, Jess transforms the phone box into England’s tiniest library, using her grandmother’s cherished collection.

The books soon work their magic, fostering connections among the villagers and even coaxing out her handsome, albeit grumpy, neighbor. As Jess witnesses the power of her little library, she begins to wonder if it’s time to embrace this new chapter, let go of the past, and truly make this village her home. But can she summon the courage to take the leap of faith?

The Candid Life of Meena Dave Kindle Edition by Namrata Patel (via Kindle Unlimited)

Meena Dave, a nomadic photojournalist, lives a solitary life, observing the world safely through her camera lens. Without family, a permanent address, or lasting ties, she prefers her independence. Her carefully constructed world is shaken when she unexpectedly inherits a Victorian brownstone apartment in Boston’s historic Back Bay.

Despite her initial inclination to sell and move on, a journalist’s curiosity takes hold. Meena decides to investigate the story behind her inheritance, a mystery woven with hidden clues, a group of well-meaning Indian aunties, and an intriguing neighbor. This unexpected turn of events opens Meena’s eyes to the possibility of community, culture, and friendships she never imagined.

It also offers a window into a past she never anticipated. As the puzzle pieces fall into place, Meena must confront the core of her identity, reconciling the person she thought she was with the person she is meant to be.

And that brings us to the end of my January reading journey! From heartwarming tales of community to emotionally resonant stories of love and loss, this month’s books have truly run the gamut of emotions. I hope you found something that piqued your interest and maybe even added a few titles to your own ever-growing TBR pile. See you next month!

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