Madeline Martin's Blog - Posts Tagged "books-read"
January Books Read Wrap-Up
Did you join the 2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge this year?
I joined and I'm so excited! I kept my goal low to keep myself from feeling too much pressure, but I read some AMAZING books in January and am so excited to share a brief wrap up with you here:
- ARC of Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight - perfect for anyone who has ever silently (or not so silently) corrected anyone's grammar
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - a heartbreaking and beautiful story set in the Dust Bowl of the Great Plains during the Great Depression.
- The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery - life changes in the most unexpected ways when Valancy is diagnosed with a heart condition - utterly charming!
- Sandwich by Catherine Newman - the ultimate mom book, this one is both raw reality and like being wrapped in a nostalgic hug
- Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins - a twisty thriller about an island with a dangerous past and characters with dark secrets.
- The Arctic Fury by Greer McAllister - a novel of brave women who venture into the arctic and whose leader is on trial for murder.
- A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - a compelling novel about a mail order bride who intends to kill her soon to be husband.
- ARC of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kirstin Harmel - a tale of a diamond bracelet with a heartbreaking history and a mystery that needs to be solved. Colette is such a quirky, plucky character and I love her!
- The Safe Place by Anna Downes - when a woman takes a job as a nanny and house cleaner, she never expects so many secrets...and they just might kill her.
What were some of your favorite books read last month?
I joined and I'm so excited! I kept my goal low to keep myself from feeling too much pressure, but I read some AMAZING books in January and am so excited to share a brief wrap up with you here:
- ARC of Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight - perfect for anyone who has ever silently (or not so silently) corrected anyone's grammar
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - a heartbreaking and beautiful story set in the Dust Bowl of the Great Plains during the Great Depression.
- The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery - life changes in the most unexpected ways when Valancy is diagnosed with a heart condition - utterly charming!
- Sandwich by Catherine Newman - the ultimate mom book, this one is both raw reality and like being wrapped in a nostalgic hug
- Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins - a twisty thriller about an island with a dangerous past and characters with dark secrets.
- The Arctic Fury by Greer McAllister - a novel of brave women who venture into the arctic and whose leader is on trial for murder.
- A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - a compelling novel about a mail order bride who intends to kill her soon to be husband.
- ARC of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kirstin Harmel - a tale of a diamond bracelet with a heartbreaking history and a mystery that needs to be solved. Colette is such a quirky, plucky character and I love her!
- The Safe Place by Anna Downes - when a woman takes a job as a nanny and house cleaner, she never expects so many secrets...and they just might kill her.
What were some of your favorite books read last month?
March Reading Wrap-Up
March was a great month for books, especially audiobooks with all the driving I did! Here’s a little about each book:
-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – I listened to this classic, masterfully narrated by Elijah Wood, to have more context for James
-James by Percival Everett – The story of Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one that needed telling and was written to perfection
-Madwoman by Chelsea Baker – A woman’s picture perfect life unravels when the mother she thought was dead reemerges in her life
-The Garden by Nick Newman – An interesting dystopian about two elderly sisters whose lives are upended when a stranger shows up in their garden.
-ARC of The Lost Baker of Vienna by Sharon Kurzman - a beautifully written and moving dual timeline set in the aftermath of WWII, inspired by the author’s family.
-The Dream Hotel by Leila Lalami – a terrifying look at what can happen if dreams are monitored and taken seriously and bureaucracy detains people for longer than needed.
-Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix – a wild ride of a book about pregnant young women whose cruel caretakers are in for some trouble when the girls find a book on witchcraft.
-Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt – A nonfiction that peels back the layers of Savannah’s residents in a way that is both fascinating and juicy - Lady Chablis was the true star of this book
-On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen – The seven deadly sins in how they apply to women in history and in a contemporary setting
-Funny Story by Emily Henry – A fun, adorable romance about roommates who live together when their fiances leave them for each other.
-Starling House by Alex E. Harrow - a dark fairy tale for grown-ups with a gothic edge.
-The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo – a lushly written story in medieval Italy where a scullery maid possesses magical abilities that open to door to innumerable dangers…
What were some of your favorite March reads?
-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – I listened to this classic, masterfully narrated by Elijah Wood, to have more context for James
-James by Percival Everett – The story of Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one that needed telling and was written to perfection
-Madwoman by Chelsea Baker – A woman’s picture perfect life unravels when the mother she thought was dead reemerges in her life
-The Garden by Nick Newman – An interesting dystopian about two elderly sisters whose lives are upended when a stranger shows up in their garden.
-ARC of The Lost Baker of Vienna by Sharon Kurzman - a beautifully written and moving dual timeline set in the aftermath of WWII, inspired by the author’s family.
-The Dream Hotel by Leila Lalami – a terrifying look at what can happen if dreams are monitored and taken seriously and bureaucracy detains people for longer than needed.
-Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix – a wild ride of a book about pregnant young women whose cruel caretakers are in for some trouble when the girls find a book on witchcraft.
-Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt – A nonfiction that peels back the layers of Savannah’s residents in a way that is both fascinating and juicy - Lady Chablis was the true star of this book
-On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen – The seven deadly sins in how they apply to women in history and in a contemporary setting
-Funny Story by Emily Henry – A fun, adorable romance about roommates who live together when their fiances leave them for each other.
-Starling House by Alex E. Harrow - a dark fairy tale for grown-ups with a gothic edge.
-The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo – a lushly written story in medieval Italy where a scullery maid possesses magical abilities that open to door to innumerable dangers…
What were some of your favorite March reads?
April Reading Wrap-Up
Another great reading month! Here's a little about each of the titles I read:
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler– OMG – this an amazing dystopian with a gripping plot and sky-high stakes.
Gothictown by Emily Carpenter – A Southern gothic where big, beautiful houses are being sold for only $100…but then new residents start finding things getting weird and a little creepy…
The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper – A fabulous dual timeline historical fiction where a hidden dollhouse beings to unearth some unexpected and fascinating secrets.
The Sirens by Emilia Hart – A beautifully written dual-timeline about two sets of sisters who are drawn toward the sea with a hint of magical realism.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall – A woman’s life is complicated by the return of a former love.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy – A science center on a remote island that is slowly being destroyed and evacuated – it’s such a creepy setting paired with a woman who has washed up on shore in search of her husband she fears may have been murdered…
She Came to Slay by Erica Armstrong Dunbar – This was a short read about the incredible life of Harriet -Tubman and the many battles she was up against in her life.
A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl by Nanda Reddy Author – This was such a powerful, incredible read about a woman whose life is at risk by her past, which includes a raw, unflinching look at the life of a young girl trapped in indentured servitude.
The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner – Sea witches in the past, a nautical archeologist in search of treasure in the present, and an atmospheric read that will have you booking a flight to Positano.
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins – The ultimate girl power thriller (is that a thing? It needs to be if not!) about art from pain in a fascinating dual-timeline that features influencers, rock stars, and some serious betrayal.
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler– OMG – this an amazing dystopian with a gripping plot and sky-high stakes.
Gothictown by Emily Carpenter – A Southern gothic where big, beautiful houses are being sold for only $100…but then new residents start finding things getting weird and a little creepy…
The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper – A fabulous dual timeline historical fiction where a hidden dollhouse beings to unearth some unexpected and fascinating secrets.
The Sirens by Emilia Hart – A beautifully written dual-timeline about two sets of sisters who are drawn toward the sea with a hint of magical realism.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall – A woman’s life is complicated by the return of a former love.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy – A science center on a remote island that is slowly being destroyed and evacuated – it’s such a creepy setting paired with a woman who has washed up on shore in search of her husband she fears may have been murdered…
She Came to Slay by Erica Armstrong Dunbar – This was a short read about the incredible life of Harriet -Tubman and the many battles she was up against in her life.
A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl by Nanda Reddy Author – This was such a powerful, incredible read about a woman whose life is at risk by her past, which includes a raw, unflinching look at the life of a young girl trapped in indentured servitude.
The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner – Sea witches in the past, a nautical archeologist in search of treasure in the present, and an atmospheric read that will have you booking a flight to Positano.
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins – The ultimate girl power thriller (is that a thing? It needs to be if not!) about art from pain in a fascinating dual-timeline that features influencers, rock stars, and some serious betrayal.
