What I Read in January

I started the year coming out of my holiday, covid haze and jumped right into new projects and getting really settled into my new job and role.  I was finally feeling better, but still struggling with pretty intense exhaustion and low energy. I was saving the majority of my focus and time for my 9-5, but still managed to read 5 books. And you know what fueled my reading?

Bridgerton.

Yes, I love it. It’s so wonderfully ridiculous and was the perfect medicine for getting through a Christmas and New Year sick and quarantined.

I started watching the show, and immediately paused to start reading the books on Kindle. Spoiler alert, the books are so much better. And that’s saying a lot, because I think the show is pretty good.

Because I have self control, I didn’t read all 8 Bridgerton books back to back, and managed to get in some other great reads. Here’s the wrap up…

Everybody Else is Perfect by Gabrielle Korn
Rating: Unrated (I occasionally do not give memoir ratings.)
What I liked/disliked: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I didn’t read much nonfiction in 2020, so starting the year with a memoir felt right. I really, really enjoyed this books. The authors take on sexism, ageism and the experience of rising in rank at a young age in an industry that does not look kindly on fast growth was painfully relatable. I think any young person who has be granted a seat at the table, only to find they’re the youngest one there, will relate and enjoy Korn’s story. I also appreciated her openness about coming into understanding her sexuality, and the role that white privilege plays in her life and advancement.
Content warnings: Sexual harassment and assault

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Rating: 3/5 stars
What I liked/disliked: THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A 4 OR 5 STAR READ. All caps because I’m UPSET!! This book was great. Different from the show, and still worth reading if you’ve watched. However, and this is a semi spoiler but, quite frankly, I don’t care, the book is depleted by the addition of an unnecessary rape scene. Though it isn’t violent or graphic, it is without a question rape. If a male character did the same actions the female character does, we’d be even louder about calling it out. This scene completely deflated the later half of the book. I was super disappointed by it.
Content warning: Sexual assult

Good Talk by Mira Jacob
Rating: 5/5 stars
What I liked/disliked: This was my first time reading a graphic novel and it was the perfect one to start off with! The book focuses on conversations Jacob has had around race, politics and identity with everyone from her spouse, young son, parents, in-laws and coworkers. As a Black woman, I related to so many of her feelings and the conversations she had to have at even higher frequency after the election of Trump. My favorite parts of the book were the conversations she has with her young son, even though those were also some of the most heartbreaking scenes. The artwork was interesting and kept me engaged, but didn’t distract me from taking in the story. I’ve already been a big memoir fan, but graphic memoir may be a new fave genre!

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Rating: 4/5 stars
What I liked/disliked: I loved the second Bridgerton book even more than the first! Let me say right off the bat, these books are not without issue. Quinn seems committed, based on the first two books, to peppering in problematic elements for the sake of “historical accuracy.” Where I was really upset by this in book 1 (I mentioned that scene), in this book it was more-so just a bit cringe. Still, the book featured one of my favorite troupes, enemies to lovers, and follows the oldest Bridgerton sibling Anthony as he makes his way towards marriage. We get so much more of his personalities and vulnerabilities in this book and even when he was kind of being a jerk, I was rooting for him. Kate was a wonderful character and love match. I can’t wait to see how they portray his relationship to Kate in the show!
Content warnings: Loss of a parent

Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley
Rating: 5/5 stars
What I liked/disliked: I stayed on my graphic memoir roll and picked up this one to round out the month. Fun fact about me, I used to have a deep obsession with birth, pregnancy and parent’s preparing to have a baby. In college I would wake up super early to catch Bringing Home Baby and Making Room for Multiples on TLC. It’s fascinating (and terrifying) to me! I loved how deeply vulnerable and sincere this book was, and teared up when reading about Lucy’s miscarriages and the depression that followed. I’m sure so many women, parents and couples could relate to those scenes. I also appreciated the books inclusion of educational pieces, and calling out that women’s health has been a low priority in medicine since the dawn of time, and has often been weaponized against them.
Content warnings: Miscarriage, depression, infertility

Let me know what you read in January, or if you plan to pick up anything I read last month! And if you have any other graphic novel or graphic memoir recommendations, please leave them in the comments!