January 2023 reads

I started off the new year with a month full of fantastic reads! I truly enjoyed each one of these books and they all brought something different to the table. It's a very light list this month as I was busy starting a new term at uni, but I can say with confidence that they are all a must read!

Everything I read in January 2023...

One little lie, by Lauren Weisberger

Obviously everyone knows Lauren Weisberger as the best selling author of the Devil wears Prada, which I was a big fan of (who isn't?), but this is the first book of hers I have read since then.

This book focuses on family drama surrounding a college admissions scandal and all throughout we see the characters progression as their lives are affected by all the lies and secrets that start to unfold.

We start off by meeting Peyton, a successful morning news anchor, who appears to have everything, a well paid job, married, living in the wealthy area of New York, and a 17 year old daughter, Max, who has just graduated and has a place at Princeton. The only problems Peyton has is fighting the signs of ageing.

However, things start to unravel when her family begins the centre of attention after her husband is accused of bribing his daughter's way into an ivy league school. As damage limitation, Peyton joins Max to go and spend the summer living with her sister, Skye, outside the city. Skye is the complete opposite to her sister, she lives with her husband and their adopted daughter in Paradise, a suburban area full of lululemon wearing helicopter parents. Skye also has secrets she is hiding from her husband and sister which soon come out after the whirlwind of the college scandal starts to effect the whole family.

This was an engaging, quick and interesting read that I would give 3/5 stars.

The Spanish love deception, by Elena Armas

The book that took TikTok by storm and I can easily see why. I was hooked on this story form the very first page and couldn't put it down! It's a classic enemies to lovers story arc that's fast paced, entertaining and witty.

Lina has four weeks to find a date for her sister's wedding back home in Spain.

Her workplace nemesis, Aaron Blackford, volunteers to be her date, but Lina is adamant she can find someone else. When it becomes apparent that she has no other option, she throws herself into making sure that they can both fake being in a relationship without causing any suspicion.

Through all the wedding activities and the more time they spend together, lines start to blur between what's real and what's not and suddenly Lina doesn't feel like she's acting anymore.

This book was honestly so addicting and the chemistry between the two characters was written so well! I'd give this book 5/5 stars.

Pretending by Holly Bourne

Last on my list is a book by one of my favourite authors! I have read all of Holly's books as a young adult and I'm so excited that she has started making the move into adult fiction. I must give out a trigger warning for this book as it deals with themes of sexual assault and depression.

April hates men. After her traumatic experiences with her ex boyfriend and the stories she hears from women at her job at a charity. She believes all men are untrustworthy and is tired of men always having all the power.

She comes up with a plan. She is going to create a persona, Gretel, and become the cool, pixie, dream girl next door that all men want. Pretending is fun and easy and means she won't get hurt again. But what happens when she starts dating Joshua and starts to think that maybe he is the man she can trust. What if she doesn't hate all men and what if this time it could be different?

Like all of Holly's books I couldn't put this one down! Yes the subject is heavy and like all her previous books tackles mental health issues, but she does it so well that people can really relate to the characters and their struggles. I really recommend this book and give it 4/5 stars.