January Round Up! Here’s a list of the top 5 books I read this month! This isn’t in any order because I can’t rate the different genres 🙂
FURIA by Yamile Saied Méndez
A rising soccer player in Argentina named Camila puts everything on the line to follow her dreams. In this book you follow her home life where she lives in the shadows of her older brother, the “super star” child. You fall in love with Diego, an international fútbol player, that can’t keep away from Camila.
On the soccer field she’s known as La Furia but at home she has to hide her passion for soccer from her family.
Will she be able to bring her two lives together and make her dreams come true?
FIVE STARS. I binge read this book. There was so much female empowerment. I really loved the way that the author makes you feel like you’re really living her life. She does an amazing job at putting you in Camila’s cleats. There was just enough sports, romance, family life and facts about Argentina to keep everything moving and not overwhelming. I absolutely loved this book.
JUST MERCY by Bryan Stevenson
A lawyer in Alabama dedicates his career to defending people who are on death row.
The book is composed of one big story (the case of Walter McMillian) but weaved beautifully in between this story are multiple short stories of many other wrongly convicted men and women.
There are tons of jaw-dropping facts and enough story telling that keeps the book rolling and the reader looped in.
FIVE STARS. I truly believe that every single person should read this book. Definitely way out of my comfort zone and not a book that I would typically pick up but there were so many stories that it kept my attention the whole time. Although the book is meant to be factual it didn’t feel like he was just spitting facts at me. I think Bryan Stevenson does AMAZING work and reading about it truly inspired me and opened my eyes to all the injustice happening in our criminal system.
THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley
6 people’s perspectives. 6 pasts’ that haunt them. Two highly public figures spend the weekend on a small Ireland in Ireland to hide their wedding from the paparazzi. They invite all their family and friends’ to join them for the ceremony. From the outside it’s a perfect night. But deep within each person is a story that’s anything but perfect.
What could a bride, the groom, a plus one, the best man, the wedding planner and a bridesmaid all have in common?
The truth doesn’t come out until a body is found.
FIVE STARS. The book is very detail oriented in the beginning which made it pretty slow but you understand in the end why all the time was taken and how each detail is important. This book was VERY chilling and VERY unexpected. I loved that each chapter is a continuation of what’s going on but from a different person’s perspective. 100000000% did not see the ending coming and is the very definition of a thriller.
UNTAMED by Glennon Doyle
Glennon Doyle’s “most revealing and powerful” memoir yet. This memoir explores the peace that can be found when you stop striving to meet expectations that are pre-set for you and start trusting the voice within.
She talks about being LGBTQ, divorcing, marriage, motherhood, expectations of a young woman and a young man in today’s society, doing hard things and so so so much more.
Each chapter is a short story that compiles into a big picture.
SIX STARS. Yes I gave it six out of five stars. I already bought this book hard copy and sent a copy to my sister to read. It’s the perfect book to pick up and read a chapter here and there. Glennon talks about a lot that I cannot personally apply to my life but she makes it very relatable. I mostly listened to this book on audible – Glennon is an inspirational speaker as well and she was the one who read the memoir. I loved learning about her life through her voice. This book is by far my favorite memoir I’ve ever read. There were so many times I was baffled by her perspective and she really changed the way I thought about so much.
THE STOPOVER by TL Swan
Emily gets upgraded to a first class seat where she’s seated next to Jameson. Champagne, food and a sexy man – it all seemed like a dream until they were rerouted to Boston for a stopover. One thing led to another and let’s just say it was a night that Emily would never forget.
A full year passes and Emily never heard from Jameson. Life got in the way and Emily took on more responsibilities.
It was all status quo until Emily lands her her dream job where the CEO is none other than Jameson. Suddenly it seems that neither of them actually forgot their stopover in Boston.
FIVE STARS. I absolutely loved this book and fell in love with Emily and Jameson’s characters. The book moved so quickly and was such an easy read. Sauce level is SPICY (if you know what I mean) lol. I really loved all the character development that Emily goes through. Overall great book if you just wanna read something quickly.
GIVEAWAY – My very first. I thought it’d be super fun to do a giveaway on my instagram. I’ll randomly choose one name and if you follow the rules I’ll send you you’re pick of a book from this post for free and to keep!
Rules are simple and as follows:
- Post an instagram story of you reading – it can be any book!
- Tell me what you’re reading and what you like about it so far! Just prove to me you’re reading and give me reading inspiration lol
- Tag me in the story that you post – @savvy.mae
You must be following my IG account and that’s it!! The giveaway will end Friday, Feb 12th at 6 pm est! Happy reading 🙂
hey savvy mae 