Share the books you read in January and if you’d recommend adding them to your collection!
Hello friends! How was the weekend? I hope you had a great time! We were in Phoenix for an awards ceremony and hiked Camelback before heading home.
For today’s post, I wanted to share a recap of the books I read in January. I really wanted to hit the ground running with books, enjoy some fun reads, and I finished five books last month. It was a mix of fiction and non-fiction, and I enjoyed it all.
Here’s a recap of the month:
January book recap
Friends, lovers and the big scary thing
I was hesitant about it because i love The friends and i really love matthew perry. I had heard some say that it made them like him LESS, and I didn’t want that. The good news is that for me, it did the exact opposite and I found myself loving him even more. I think a lot of us grew up watching The friends, and you feel connected to all the characters. Even though I was in 5th or 6th grade when it started, I watched almost every episode, starting with the very first one. My wise 11 or 12 year old self recognized that this was something special.
This book is heartbreaking, as expected, and gave a true look into the struggles addicts face. Addiction took over his life, sabotaging his relationships, affecting work and affecting his mental health. It was also devastating to learn that all he really wanted was a wife and children. He had *everything* but at the same time, he felt like he had nothing. I suggest you listen to the Audible version so you can hear it in his own voice. 8/10
From Amazon:
“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Mati. And I should be dead.”
So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery from a life-threatening health scare. Before frequent hospital visits and rehab stints, there was five-year-old Matthew, who traveled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his divorced parents. Fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada. Twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who landed a coveted starring role in the much-talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so many more.
In an unusual story that only he could tell—and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warm way that only he could tell it—Matthew Perry reveals the broken family that raised him (and also left him to fend for himself), the desire for the recognition that led him to fame and the void inside him that couldn’t be filled even with his biggest dreams coming true. But he also describes the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about its ubiquity The friends, sharing stories about his teammates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware and with his trademark humor, Perry vividly portrays his lifelong battle with addiction and what fueled him despite seemingly having it all.
Friends, lovers and the big scary thing is an unforgettable memoir that’s both intimate and poignant—as well as a hand out to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, heartwarming and wickedly funny, this is what audiobook fans have been waiting for.
The daughter of Paris
Kristin Harmel has become one of my favorite WWII historical fiction writers. He does an incredible job of weaving together various characters, stories and perspectives. While this it wasn’t my *favorite* I loved the ending and how everything fell into place. It was definitely an unexpected ending. 7/10
Here is the summary from Amazon:
Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Although there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that her life is about to change irrevocably.
When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she trusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life – her young daughter, Juliette’s own little girl teammate. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookstore like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and when a bomb falls in their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed with it.
More than a year later, with the war finally over, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookshop reduced to rubble – and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those final, terrible moments? Juliette seemingly disappeared without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one last, fateful moment.
An “extraordinary and compelling novel” (Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author) that you won’t soon forget, The daughter of Paris it’s also a sweeping celebration of resilience, motherhood and love.
Allergies: Disease in Disguise: Curing Your Allergy Condition Permanently and Naturally
I have been extremely focused on allergies for the past 9 months, especially since I realized my eye problems were a combination of autoimmune inflammation and allergies, from the environment and food. Once I got my allergies under control, my eyes stopped flaring (knock on ALL wood…). As I read, I realized that I was using some of the strategies This bookand he explained it in a way that made so much sense.
Allergic reactions don’t always depend on a single allergen, but are the result of histamine load – the compounding effects of what you do. So I’m fine with a little fermented food, but if I have a lot of fermented food, plus more high-histamine food, and I’m stressed, and I’m petting a furry dog, and it’s blowing pollen outside, I’m going to flare up . I’m trying to pay more attention to my histamine load and have eliminated my food sensitivities, which has made a huge difference.
Another thing that resonated with me: antihistamines don’t solve the problem. When we have the histamine response, a flare is the sign that there is fire in the body. The antihistamine just takes the smoke alarm off. it doesn’t put out the fire.
While I don’t agree with everything in the book (it recommends a high-carb, low-protein, mostly raw diet), I learned a lot and would highly recommend it if you’re a fellow allergy sufferer. 9/10
From Amazon:
Allergy is generally misunderstood. If left untreated it can lead to severe degenerative disease. Asthma, migraines, arthritis, ulcers and obesity have been linked to the allergy. Fatigue, irritability, body aches, digestive problems and other vague ailments are typical of allergy. Dr. Bateson-Koch provides insight into why allergy is becoming more common, how it relates to environmental factors, food additives, nutrition, digestion, body chemistry, addiction, yeast, molds, parasites, and childhood illnesses—and why enzymes are the key for pharmaceutical. By following her program, you won’t have to give up your pet, get allergy shots, switch foods, keep food journals, or cook allergy-free recipes for the rest of your life. Not only will you recover and enjoy an allergy-free life, you’ll gain an invaluable understanding of health and wellness.
Don’t make it weird
I have been following Colleen for years and was so excited about her book. Her content always cracks me up and inspires me, so I pre-ordered it ASAP. Be sure to check out the Audible version so you can hear it in her voice. I highly recommend it if you work in the online space in any capacity, especially if you struggle to create content and put yourself out there. 9/10
From Amazon:
Have you ever been obsessed with someone’s lame dance video on Instagram? Probably not, if you’re honest. Tricks just don’t work, but the pressure of being online can make people do strange things.
Ultimately, you have to call bullsh*t. The good news is that when you cut out the excuses and lose the self-sabotaging performances, you can learn to be a real person online.
In Don’t make it weird, Colleen teaches you how to bring your whole personality—the messy, awkward, and mundane—to your online presence to create true connection and community. And, of course, to sell to people without making it weird.
Whatever you want to do, you can. Just Don’t make it weird.
The room on Rue Amélie
This was another Kristin Harmel novel and is definitely in her top five books. It was heartbreaking, hopeful and beautifully written. I definitely cried at a beautiful and satisfying ending. I highly recommend it if you like historical fiction. 9/10
From Amazon:
When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband, Marcel, she imagines strolling arm-in-arm along grand boulevards bathed in golden afternoon light. But war looms on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage also begins to fall apart.
Charlotte Dutcher is 11 years old when the Germans roll into the French capital, sinister swastika flags flapping in the breeze. With Jewish restrictions in place and Jews ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin and her life is torn apart forever.
Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing raid during the Blitz days, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and discovers a new reason to keep fighting – and an unexpected way home.
When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte and Thomas must muster the courage to defy the Nazis – and open their own broken hearts – as they struggle to survive. Rich in historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the last minute.
Okay friends: what was the best book you read last month? What’s on your TBR list right now?
xo
Gina
