The Books I Read In January 2023

Oh, it feels good to be writing again!

Happy New Year! I hope you've all had a wonderful start to 2023.

I decided to properly dust off my blog and give it a little makeover so I'm excited to introduce The Alexa Edit, (formerly Lex in the City)! The bulk of the content I'll be sharing will be in the form of monthly reading wrap-ups where I'll be collecting the reviews of each book I read that month and publishing them all in one place. Throughout the month, I will be posting each book review to my Instagram and Goodreads (and sometimes my TikTok) so you are welcome to follow along there.

Here it is, my first monthly wrap-up of the year:

The Simple Wild - K.A. Tucker

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

I was not expecting to love this as much as I did or get so emotional. Tucker’s writing was gripping and the Toronto connection was fun to read.

I’m also completely in love with Jonah. He’s officially made a spot in my top-five book boyfriends.

What a great read to start off the year. If you haven’t read this, what are you waiting for?

Wild at Heart - K.A. Tucker

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

I absolutely adored this. Often times I’m hesitant about sequels as authors tend to create nonsensical issues for the hero and heroine but I can wholeheartedly say this sequel was pure perfection.

The book picks up a few months after the first, following the new life that Calla and Jonah have decided they’re going to create together. While total opposites on paper, they continued to come together throughout the book facing the many challenges they were presented with, growing and learning from one another.

Calla’s character growth from the first book and throughout the second was admirable. She found a new piece of herself and a love for Alaska including all the messy and scary things that came with it. Jonah was an absolute treat. I loved him in the first and I love him even more in the second. His love for her was simply beautiful. He remains top of my favourite fictional boyfriends of all time.

I genuinely enjoyed the new character additions (which is something I’m also not typically a fan of in sequels). Muriel and Roy (especially) added layers to Calla’s growth and Marie added a thorn to her side. I know Tucker is/was setting Marie up for her own story so I look forward to reading her happily ever after.

Tucker did not lose The Simple Wild magic when writing this book. I read both books on my Kindle and I already have plans to purchase the physical copies to reread in years to come. It’s shaping up to be one of my favourite contemporary romance series.

Forever Wild - K.A. Tucker

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

The more I read about these characters, the more I love them. Calla and Jonah are officially one of my all-time favourite fictional couples, ever.

I typically lose interest once there’s the conventional “happily ever after” but Tucker continued to capture my attention with her impeccable writing and plot.

While there’s one more book remaining in the series, Calla and Jonah are not the main focus and I’m so sad about it. I simply adored them.

I look forward to rereading this series, again and again.

Running Wild - K.A. Tucker

⭑⭑⭑⭑.5

I’m so happy Tucker wrote Marie’s story. I felt for her in the previous books as it was so clear she was in love with someone who was in love with someone else. I really wanted to see her to get a happy ending.

While overall, I loved the story and appreciated the change in focus from bush flying to mushing, there was such a heavy focus on the sport that didn’t completely keep my attention. It was also a verryy slow burn. I remember looking at the page count a few times thinking “this has been their only interaction and I’m 175 pages in?”.

I saw a bit of myself in Marie which is always a little interesting seeing myself in a book I’m reading. I’m just happy she finally got her happily ever after.

And that’s it, I finished The Simple Wild series. I absolutely adored it and will be rereading it in years to come. I’m now off to purchase the physical copies to add to my library!

Happy Place - Emily Henry

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

I realize that this is a very bold statement however, I like to be bold. I can confidently say that Happy Place is my favourite Emily Henry book. It has also made it to my top-five favourite contemporary romances/fiction of all time. This is also solidifying that second-chance romance is my favourite trope.

To say I loved this book is an understatement but I will do my best to (briefly) summarize my thoughts as best as possible and without spoilers. This book was so much more than just a love story between two people but a love story between a group of six friends that are struggling to endure the test of time. Harriet and Wyn's love story is beautifully told in chapters that alternate timelines that allow you to fall in love as they do. It also shows the strong bond that the friend group shares over the course of eight (+) years and the many factors that contribute to the importance of their annual trip to Maine.

From start to finish, I was gripped and my heart was in Henry's hands. I'm at a loss for words for how much I loved it. I absolutely adored each character and what they added to the plot. I physically laughed out loud at their banter at many points throughout.

Again, I found myself relating to a character. Our heroine, Harriet, a non-confrontational people-pleaser struggles to confront and decide her own future, putting her happiness in jeopardy. Please note that I absolutely sobbed the last 15% of the book. :)

I have to leave with a quote that made me gasp and feel all the feelings: “In every universe, it’s you for me. Even if it’s not me for you.” - Wyn Connor

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced copy. And of course, Emily Henry - I don't know what magic you're putting in these books but please never stop.

Yours Truly - Abby Jimenez

⭑⭑⭑.5

While this was an adorable read overall, the miscommunication and lack of general awareness of the signs that the two were so hopelessly in love with one another grew more and more tedious the longer I read. However, I loved how hard Jacob fell for Briana. There were multiple moments throughout the book when I found myself gushing over their banter and relationship.

Please note that at the start of the book, Abby included a trigger warning about certain topics discussed which could cause readers distress and I applaud her for this. I strongly believe all books that deal with sensitive topics should come with a warning so readers are not blindsided mid-novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Find Yours Truly on shelves April 11, 2023.

Spare - Prince Harry

⭑⭑⭑⭑

A heartbreakingly honest recounting of major life events that shaped him into the man he is, Harry bares all in this poetic memoir. Upon reading the first chapters, my heart ached for Harry, a man who so desperately yearns for an extended family, all of which were ripped from him at the hands of the British press.

Say what you will about the monarchy (this is coming from someone who loves England and its rich history) I strongly disagree with many aspects of its current-day practice (and past) and notably, the institution itself is cruel and isolating. I don't for a second question why Harry uprooted Meghan and their family to California. I have always been Team Harry and Meghan and this solidifies my stance.

I have to give Harry a mention about just how beautifully written this book is. The description of moments that weighed heavily or conversations of importance were so eloquently put. The ways in which Harry beautifully described his love and admiration for his late mother made me emotional. I especially enjoyed elements that shed light on the dynamic of his and William's relationship and just how cold and jealous his older brother is.

I will say that throughout the second part (the book is made up of three parts), I lost a bit of interest as he went into heavy detail about his days in the army. While I understand this played a figurative role in who Harry is, I'm not personally interested in wartime stories.

Overall, I really enjoyed his memoir. I especially enjoyed listening to the audiobook that Harry narrates. I don't know if I would've been as gripped otherwise (I'm not much of a non-fiction reader). I do hope that the writing process was cathartic for Harry and he's truly able to live lighter knowing his truth is out there.

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And that's January done! It was a BIG reading month for me. I don't think I've ever read seven books in a month and with a goal of fifty-two books for the year, I'm well on my way.

xx