And just like that, the first quarter of 2024 is over! I had less favourites this quarter than I usually share in these posts, but some of that is due to the fact that I read some big chonky books (so less books overall) and also the fact that the books I loved with my whole heart I ADORED, and I think that overshadowed some books that may have been higher up the favourites list if it wasn’t for the fact that I read them amongst the Boys of Tommen.
Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh. My first book of the year, and what a stellar way to start the year! My husband got me this book for Christmas as I was curious about the series after seeing it was heartbreaking. When I found out that the first printing of the series had ombre spines, it propelled me to pick it up over the holidays because I knew if I loved it, I would need to order the rest of the series to match. By the time I was halfway through the book, I’d already ordered Keeping 13.
Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh. This book BROKE MY HEART in the best possible way, but also put it back together again. After finishing this book, I sat and hugged it for a while, and then spent the next month listening to Spotify playlists for VIBES while I waited for the release of the next book.
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas. Was this my favourite of Sarah’s books? Maybe not. Did I still love every moment of it? Absolutely. Going to the store to buy a copy on release day was so much fun, but then I had two trips while I was reading it, and I think the length of time I spent with the book, as well as just being so tired from travelling and trying to digest fantasy while tired, was what impacted my reading experience. I’m always still happy to be back in the world, with the characters I love, and will fully still read anything that SJM graces us with.
For the Fans by Nyla K. When my two besties said “Pick a book and we’ll read it together and then go out for dinner to talk about it” as a birthday gift, I picked three new to me authors and we picked this one. For a 500+ page book, it was a quick, easy read, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! It was VERY spicy, but also really heartwarming as the main characters tackled with some growth and trauma.
Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh. I didn’t quite love this one as much as the first two, but I still loved it a lot. It goes backwards in the timeline and takes place before the first two books, so it loses the element of wondering what’s going to happen next, but I still loved seeing Joey and Aoife’s relationship grow, and I’m no less excited to dive into Redeeming 6.
Consider Me by Becka Mack. I’ve been hesitant to pick up another hockey romance after loving Mile High last year, but this was the other book my hubby got for me for Christmas and it’s another author that I wanted to read this year, so I dove in and found myself loving it! It has a great ‘found family’ within the team and friend group, and I’m finding that this trope in a romance novel is my absolute favourite — it’s not just about the couple, but the people that they have in their lives with them. I would have given this a full five stars, but I had to remove half a star when the character was sitting by English Bay and looking at the glittering ice on the surface – THE OCEAN DOES NOT FREEZE.
Where’s Molly by H.D. Carlton. I had such a fun time with the Cat & Mouse duology last summer and after I saw the author’s post about the delay on Sibby’s book, it had me craving more of her writing, so I downloaded this one on a whim. I knew Lauren had loved it, and I absolutely DEVOURED this book in a single day! Definitely check your trigger warnings on this series, and you have to read the Cat & Mouse duology first, since they’re connected.
Honorable Mentions
Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez. This is part of a five (or six?) part series of novellas, but I was only interested in a couple of them since I saw reviews that they were the best of the series. I flew through this in one sitting, and I just love Abby’s writing so much — it was perfect to hold me over until the release of her new book this spring.
The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren. I was surprised that I loved this one just a tiny bit more than Abby’s, and again flew through half of it in the car on the way to Sun Peaks, and the other half later that evening before bed. I love it when stories use emails or texts to tell the story, and this one was such a unique premise of sending an email to the wrong person initially, and then the friendship that blossomed.
Are any of these books your favourites too? If not, hopefully I’ve convinced you to pick them up!
Writer Grrl Reads 