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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Books, Shay ·

January Book Review


It’s my January Book Review!
And I am so.so.so.so.so. excited!
Every month, when I do my review, I get excited because I LOVE SHARING BOOKS WITH YOU!  You guys have become like a little book club to me, and I’m always so happy to tell you what I’ve been reading and get new suggestions from you.
So, if you’re new to this…each month, I read a random assortment of books (many of them recommendations from your comments right here!) and share a few thoughts about the book (not too many details because I would never want to spoil anything for you).  I love reading and I love sharing books with you guys.
If you missed my 2015 book review (where I recapped all of the books I read last year), you can see them all right here.
If you want to follow me/be friends with me on Goodreads, click here.
And you can keep track all year long by clicking 2016 Books at the top of my blog.  I will keep a running list of books right there for you.
Okay, time for my January books and oh man, I read three really good, couldn’t put down, told my kids to stop bothering me, didn’t want to do anything but read books this month and then one that was eh.
Wow!  I started January off strong!  Last year, I named Sally Hepworth’s novel The Secrets of Midwives the novel that surprised me the most for the year.  I had zero expectations and fell in love immediately (and perhaps woke up one morning at 4:00 AM just to read).  Well, I kicked off 2016 by reading her latest novel The Things We Keep and was sucked in right away.  Hepworth’s writing is incredible, her characters are so likable, the plot is rich…it was such a good book.  If you like a good love story, a story about endurance, if you are a caregiver to someone, if you need a little hope…if you just want to read a really good novel, then pick this one up.  The two main characters are in their 30s and suffer from dementia…it’s an unexpected little tale.
Okay, I know some of you will be disagreeing with me about this book…but I saw on Amazon that Everything I Never Told You by Celest Ng was one of Amazon’s top books for 2015, so I bought it.  One night after the kids went to sleep, Andrew went to see a late movie (a guy movie that I wasn’t interested in), so I stayed up and read this book cover to cover and just felt blah after.
It was an easy read that kept me entertained…but the overall feeling I had when it was over was eh.  I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it, I didn’t really have any strong feelings about it.  All I knew is that I needed a little happy back in my life, so I watched an episode of The King of Queens to recover from my book experience ;).  I mean…obviously, a lot of people loved it (or else it wouldn’t have done so well on Amazon)…but I was just kind of like neutral after it was over.  The writing is great, the characters are strong but the plot was a little too dark for me.
Since, apparently my life’s mission is to read every Elin Hilderbrand novel…I thought I should include one in January too ;).  This month, I read The Beach Club which I believe is her first novel (last month, I read The Rumor, which is her latest novel).  Altogether, this is my 9th Hilderbrand book to read in less than 12 months, so I’m on a roll!  I really enjoyed The Beach Club!  This book was similar to her other books (they’re all set on Nantucket), but it had a few more plot twists and really kept me on my toes until the end. I find Hilderbrand’s books all easy to read vacation books.  If you’re heading on a trip, to the beach, on a long plane ride…grab this one.  You’ll instantly be sucked in and probably finish it that day.  This one was hard to put down.
Speaking of hard to put down…I completely put my life on hold when I read this book…
Oh Nicholas Sparks…how do you do it?  You completely suck me in, make me fall in love, make me cry and pull straight at my heartstrings.  Nicholas Sparks, I love you.  
I haven’t read a Sparks book in years. I used to read them as soon as they came out but for some reason…I kind of just stopped.  Well, my mom handed me The Choice on a Wednesday and then on Friday, she called and asked me if I had read it yet.  I said no, and she said, “Call me right after you read it.”.  Well…that made me curious.  I started this book the following Wednesday and could.not.stop.reading.  Like, I rearranged my life around this book.  I finished the book on Thursday afternoon and immediately called my mama…we needed to talk.  
This book will hit theaters as a movie in February and you better believe I’ll be there to see it.  Loved this book.  If you love Nicholas Sparks…you will love this one.  Read the book before you see the movie, I’m telling you…Sparks fans…this one is a great one!
So, that was January.  Typically, I don’t read four novels…but that’s the way the cookie crumbled.  What did you guys read this month?  What should I read in February?  Comment and let me know!

One last thing, every single month, I have people tell me to read this…

…Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  I just wanted to go on record and say that I have read that book (years ago) and it is amazing.  If you need one more suggestion for the month, then this is it!  Rarely do you read a book 10 or 15 years ago and still remember it so well.  This one will stick with you!
On Meal Planning Monday today…
…yeah.  You need to hop on over there and check it out!  Five simple suppers to make your week a breeze.
The winner of my Stella & Dot Giveaway from Friday is…
SHARI I.
Congratulations Shari!  I emailed you this morning.  You have 48 hours to email me back and claim your prize!  Don’t forget, I always have a Stella & Dot Trunk Show up and running.  You can click here to see it.
Don’t forget to link up with us for What’s Up Wednesday this week!  Our bonus question for the month is… What is your favorite Valentine’s Day Treat?
Happy Monday!
Come back tomorrow because Meagan is answering your foster/foster to adopt questions!
xo

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Comments

  2. Jen says

    I looooved secrets of midwives so I cannot wait to read another by Sally! Thank you once again for the great recommendations! 🙂

  3. never says

    My sister in law wrote a young adult trilogy that you might like. The first one is called Autumnin the City of Angels. Jen

  4. Stephanie Oldfield says

    Perfect timing….as I'm getting ready to pack on vacation! And you were my inspiration on Saturday night- made bar #70 and watched Love Actually! How have I never watched that movie? So good!

  5. kelly says

    These recommendations look excellent. Thank you for giving us the "straight skinny" on Everything I Never Told You. Some people love a good, dark novel but I like to know ahead of time what kind of book I'm getting into.

  6. Leslie says

    Orphan Train! Seriously, it's a great book. I really hope it'll be on your February list, because I really want to know what you think about it!

  7. K says

    The Lake House by Kate Morton is excellent. I also read Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter – it was very good but not for the faint of heart.

  8. Blake Callahan says

    Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green. I started it Friday night and finished it last night! So so good :).

  9. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    I read part of a People article while in the grocery store line. It was good. That's all I got.

  10. Heather Bramlett says

    Oh how I loved The Choice! My best friend and I have a long standing movie date night every time one of his books hit theaters! We can't wait for February!
    PS- a certain meal planning book should arrive at my house TODAY!! I am so excited!!

  12. Jess Deisher says

    Let me begin by saying how much I'm LOVING The Choice! I'm still at home because of snow so I think I'll grab my tissues and finish it this morning.

    Redwhiteandsass.blogspot.com

  13. Katie Surly says

    I felt the EXACT same about "everything I never told you". It has so much hype as this "coming of age" novel and I just wasn't feeling it. It doesn't leave you with any closure and it just didn't give me good emotions. Weird to describe like you said. Have you read Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rawandan Holocaust ? It's a life changing memoir if you haven't read it!

  14. Haley Southey says

    Redeeming Love is SO so so so so so so good. I could not put it down. This month I have read Restless by Jennie Allen (SO good) and I just started Simply Tuesday.

  16. Beth says

    I read both of Rachel Hollis's books while snowed in this weekend. I heard her on Jamie Ivey's podcast, The Happy Hour and was intrigued to read her books. She was a party planner in LA and wrote a fictional book about it. Her third book comes out this week, and they tell the story of three unlikely friends. Easy reads with good morals thrown in! Party Girl and Sweet Girl are the first two I read. Sweet Girl is about a bakery!

  18. Aubrey says

    I have never read a Nicholas Sparks or Erin Hilderbrand book. Can we still be friends??

    This January I re-read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; finished the All Souls (vampire/witch) trilogy; read First Frost (sequel to Garden Spells – recommend GS but FF not so much); devoured Fates and Furies; and read a book about math. You're dying to read that last one, right?? 😉

    • Natasha says

      I didn't really love the first book of the All Souls trilogy but I LOVED the second one, re-read the first and enjoyed it more, and then sped through the third one. It really is a GREAT series.

  19. Elizabeth says

    How do you read that many books, write two cookbooks, your blog, and take care of your kids all day long? The choice was filmed in my town as well as a few other of Sparks' movies

  20. Allie says

    You have GOT to read Mary Kay Andrews. She's amazing and her stories are so fun. You really can't miss but I would start with Savannah Blues and Savannah Breeze. You will be so happy you did. Your monthly book reviews are my fave! I'm reading the Royal We right now, I haven't gotten into it quite yet but the books you post are almost always ones I've read or end up loving too so I'm sticking to it!

    • Chelsea says

      I so agree. Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorites. I love the southern fiction! And since you mentioned it, The Royal We is one of my favorite reads from last year.

    • Mrs. H says

      I've been reading Mary Kay Andrews books recently! LOVE! Totally agree you won't be disappointed!

  21. lynne wad says

    Do cookbooks count?!? I just LOVE both of yours! I made the pumpkin spice latte cake and it was a big hit! Perfect on a cold, snowy morning with coffee!

  22. ClintandGina says

    You have made me an Erin Hildebrand fan!! I love her books. Also, anything Emily Giffin is good, but it seems like it has been a while since she published. I'm also reading "You're going to be okay" by Holley Gerth. It is so so good!! There is this cookbook by Mix & Match mama that I'm dying to get my hands on!!

  25. Morgan Kirk says

    I felt the SAME way about everything I never told you- it did not leave me feeling anything but blah at the end. I also read All the Bright Places before that one (which in my mind was beautifully written and so good) so it really made Everything I Never told you just blah. I am so excited to read the next Sally Hepworth book- it's in my wish list right now!! I'm reading Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand right now too- so good!

  26. Paula says

    I can't wait to read The Choice! Oh Nicholas Sparks…..sigh…

    Question, are you all actual book reader or an e-reader?

  27. Dawn McCormick says

    Have you ever read anything by Anna Quindlen? She's slightly more "literary" but still approachable. Every Last One was the first book of hers that I read. Such a good book that stays with you long after you've read it. I might've sent my kids outside to play so I could read in peace because I couldn't put it down.

  28. Lauren Darrell says

    I LOVE your book reviews! I have read so many of the books you have recommended, my favorites being all of Liane Moriarty's books so far. I had never heard of her before your book reviews and now she is one of my favorite authors! Keep these book reviews coming!!

  29. Megan says

    Last week, I first saw the preview for The Choice, I thought man I have read that book. I, like you, used to read Sparks books Immediately but haven't in years. I just remembered the choice. I don't always remember his since the plots are so similar. I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to watch the movie!

  30. Maria Sulava says

    I blame you for making me an ultimate elin hilderbrand addict! Can't put these books down! Currently reading A Summer Affair.. Not my fave but still can't stop!

  33. Katie Ponton says

    I read both winter street and winter stroll this month and read Debbie Macomber Coming home so good! Im getting ready to start Rachel Holli's seriest tonight 🙂

  34. Erica @ Whimsical September says

    Redeeming Love! I also read it 10+ years ago and still remember the plot almost entirely! Makes me want to go read it all over again!

  35. happymomof4 says

    You've got me hooked on Elin Hinderbrand books!! LOVE them!! Just finished Beautiful Day and started Castaways.
    Plan on adding a couple of books from your January read to my list including the Elin Hinderbrand of course!!! Thankfully I can get most of them at my local library!

  36. Emma Thorpe says

    Love love LOVE The Choice!! Nicholas Sparks is my go-to author when I'm needing a good book but don't wanna dig too deep!

  37. Brooke McBride says

    Not sure if you have already read this one, but daring greatly by Brene Brown is a must!

  38. Jennifer says

    If you haven't read Thorn in my Heart series and Here Burns my Candle series by Liz Curtis Higgs, you should. The first is based on the Biblical story of Isaac and Rebecca and the second is based on the Biblical story of Ruth, but they are both changed to the 1700's in Scotland. Hands down, my very favorite series ever!

  40. Reilly Walker says

    I read Bridge to Haven this month, Francine River's newest novel. Oh boy, it was amazing!!! It was heart-breaking and wonderful all at the same time! It was a perfect picture of God's grace and forgiveness! I highly recommend it!

    • Natasha says

      This is such a good book. I couldn't really get into Redeeming Love but I LOVED Bridge to Haven.

  43. Chelsea says

    These monthly reading posts are some of my favorites. It inspired me to do the same! This month, I was on my honeymoon and spent a TON of time reading on the plane, at the pool, and generally pretty much time whenever I could. I saved all of the books I was most looking forward to reading, so this month was one of my favorites in reading.

  44. Jodi Guntle says

    I've read all of Elin Hildenbrand's books and the only one that I did not love was "The Love Season." Just wasn't the same as her others. In the last 48 hours I read 2 novels…I'm a book nerd.

  45. Brady Wilhelm says

    Anything Francine Rivers writes is SO good. I would recommend "And The Shofar Blew" and "The Atonement Child." Both fairly easy reads but excellent books! She also has a series called The Mark of the Lion and oh my gosh–at first, it was a little hard to get into, but after the first half of the first book, i was ALL over it and finished the series in a few weeks. Pretty heavy content, but SO good!

  46. Charbelle4 says

    Redeeming Love is amazing!!!! I read it and then I read A Lineage of Grace and then Sons of Encouragement. They take you through the stories of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary and Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas. All told as seen through the eyes of the writer and I really loved her take on the stories!

  47. ProudAuntKaren says

    Speaking of books, I just ordered your two books from amazon.com!!! They are on their way… Okay, so any plans of doing a book signing?? I am not in the DFW area, so it might be tricky to actually make it work, but that would be awesome to say hi in person to a favorite blogger and get a signature on my new cookbooks!! Just a thought! (Sorry if this has been asked/answered already, but haven't seen it!)
    Karen

  48. Port Family says

    Redeeming love is on my bedside table — need to start and nuts I am like you and stopped reading Nicholas Sparks but had read all of his…now to choose one for our upcoming trip! Redeeming love will be my car line read! The Royal We was one of my favs of 2015 as well!!!

  49. Jen @ South in the City says

    I love simple chick lit and I have recently become obsessed with books by Jill Mansell. Nadia Knows Best and Dony Want to Miss a Thing are super fun, easy, love stories!! The Choice is now definitely on my list!

  51. Lindsay at Lindsay'sSweetWorld says

    Oh girl, Nicholas Sparks will always have my heart. If you haven't read The Longest Ride then you must read it IMMEDIATELY. It's by far his best one yet. I read it a couple of years ago and literally didn't put it down for two whole days until I was done with it. SO. GOOD.

  52. Janelle Guaraldi says

    You should read some of Cecelia Ahern's novels. I haven't read one I haven't loved.

  53. Hanna says

    I've been reading The Finishing School by Valerie Woerner. It's GREAT! It's a Christian book with really easy to read and straight forward advice for everyday life. I think it would be impactful for people at all stages of life. It also has action items at the end of each chapter to help put the chapters "in to action"

  54. Loni "The Healthie Foodie" says

    I surprised you liked The Choice. I read it 4 years ago and really didn't enjoy it. I found it repetitive. I used love Nicholas Sparks but his past few novels have been boring for me. I will say though I want to thank you turning me on Elin's books! Before September 2015 I hadn't read any of hers. Not it's January and I have read 8! I am in the middle on another and have another waiting for me on my shelf when I finish!

    Can I make some suggestions for your Feb book list:
    The Glass Castle (Please Shay read this one! I loved it! My family and friends loved it! And I need to know what you think of it).

    The Good Girl

    Under Your Skin

  55. Jemima Elliott says

    These look really interesting! I've read 2 books this month: Every Day by David Levithan and The Empire Striketh Back, which is Star Wars retold in a Shakespearean script. It was amazing and hilarious and I absolutely loved it! I really recommend both books!

    Jemima x
    anotherrantingreader.blogspot.co.uk

  56. Bethany says

    The choice is my all time favorite sparks book!! I'm so excited for the movie. I read it when it came out years ago, i might pick it up again and read before i go see the film. Also – thanks for getting me into Elin Hilderbrand, such great, easy reads!

  58. Sally Hepworth says

    Ah! So excited to be on this list. And I'm loving all the recommendations in the comments. Might be time for some Nicholas Sparks around here. Thanks Shay!

  60. Jeanie says

    I'm reading The Girls of August by Ann Rivers Siddons. I'm not far into it yet, but it's very good. I enjoy all of her books.

  61. Amy says

    I look forward to your book post all month long!!! They are my favorite! You give great suggestions! Thanks, Shay.

  63. dresselfamily.blogspot.com says

    I love these posts.. I order a lot of your suggestions. Here's what I've read recently
    This is happy by Camilla gibb
    For the love. . Loved it !
    The magic of tidying up.. interesting
    The lake house by Kate Morton..loved it
    I feel like this is our little book club.. it's great !

  64. Mrs. Thomas says

    I read The Royal We based on your suggestion and LOVED it! Have you read the Selection series? Princess/Bachelor type books and I really enjoyed them, as well. We read so many similar books and I'm loving Charles Martin right now if you've never read him.

    • Natasha says

      Oh, The Selection series was just so good. The Bachelor and post-apocalyptic world in one. Amazing!

  66. LondonLauren says

    I also loved The Orphan Train. It's a fictional story but the orphan train itself was a very real thing, which I found interesting. You read a book all in one evening. How fast do you read?! Wow!

  67. Melody says

    I have such fond memories of Redeeming Love, as I read most of it on airplanes and trains while I was on my 2 week European tour right out of college. Good times and such a good book. I need to read it again, that seems like a lifetime ago.
    I swore off Nicholas Sparks a few years ago after reading one of his books that made me WEEP uncontrollably. Not sweet little tears. Huge sobs. My husband was very worried about me for a couple days because it really affected me! I bet he's got some good ones out, but he hurt me bad before so not sure if I can trust him again! Lol

  68. Victoria says

    After seeing your book reviews, I made a New Years resolution this year to read at least one book a month. After being busy the last few years with my kids, I wanted to get back to my love of reading! Well, I've read 3 books already this month. Luckiest Girl Alive is a good read if you enjoy crime/mysteries. Also read Me Before You & After You which I see you've read already and absolutely loved them! I'm definitely putting The Choice on my list.

  69. Elizabeth mcgrath says

    I love these posts, always looking for new things to read. So, I've been on a mission to read books before their movies come out. This month I've read Luckiest Girl Alive and Me Before You. If you liked Gone Girl and Girl on the Train most say you'll like this too. It was good, but I thought the others were better. But oh my, Me Before You was one of the best books I have ever read! I don't think I've ever been so emotionally invested in characters. It was amazing! Also has a sequel that I'm currently in the middle of, so I'll keep you posted on that next month. 🙂

  70. Unknown says

    I felt the same about "everything you never told me". Not sure what the hype is about. I just read "these is my words" and loved it! Have you read "same kind of different as me"? One of my favorites!

    • Natasha says

      Same Kind Of Different As Me is so good. I read part of it on an airplane and was sobbing my head off 🙂

  71. Sarah B. says

    I just finished reading The Boys in the Boat. It's an amazing true story about hard work, determination, and pure grit! It has lots of interesting history mixed in too. It's not a book I would have normally picked up myself, but I'm so glad a friend recommended it. Loved it!

  72. Susan Pelizzaro says

    I love these posts! Have you read eat pray love? I just read it and it's Definitely one of my all time favorite books!

  73. Melissa Bowes says

    Oh I disagree about Everything I Never told you. Yes, it's definitely not a feel-good book, but the character writing is phenomenal. I thought the two themes of parents using their children to fulfill their own desires and regrets, as well as the white tendency to almost fetishize racial otherness without empathizing with that otherness that people of different races feel, were both beautifully harmonized within the family dynamics. I would recommend this book. It will absolutely make you think about your relationships to your own children (it did for me).

  74. Morgan Eckert says

    I can't wait to add these to my list! I feel like I say this every month but I won't stop until you try her. 🙂 You have got to try Lisa Scottoline! My fav book I've read from her so far is Keep Quiet. Her style is a lot like Liane Moriarty and Elin Hilderbrand. Try it try it try it!!

  75. Jamie {the celebrating momma} says

    Okay seriously…. The Choice was one of my January reads as well {after I read three Karen Kingsbury books in the same month but that is besides the point…} I absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down at all – I read it in a day and a half. I am pumped for the movie but the characters in the movie are not at all what I pictured in the book – funny how that works out. 🙂

  76. The Lovely One says

    Love all things Nicholas Sparks!

    I read 8 books in January (including your brother's book!), but my favorite for the month was The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty. That was my 3rd book of hers, and I've enjoyed them all.

    I've never read anything by Elin Hilderbrand…. I'll have to add a few to my kindle wish list!

  77. Natasha says

    Have you read "All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr? It's such a good book with short chapters. I NEVER buy books but I had to buy this one.

  79. Melody Lietzau says

    If you haven't read The Hardest Peace it's a must. The most underlined book I own. So encouraging.

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