Happy Wednesday, book friends! Many of us were back to work on Tuesday after the holidays, and for me that means my reading has slowed up a bit as I shift gears. I’ve spent a lot of time setting up planners and journals, and a bit of time getting back into Skyrim because something about winter just says Winterhold, doesn’t it? (Just me?)

I finished up 2022 with a couple of great reads (we’ll get to that). Then I had a bit of trouble deciding on what to read to start the year, but in the end I went with the next ARC in the stack, because why not? Let’s get to this week’s reading update. 

(Full disclosure: This post uses Bookshop.org affiliate links. Books marked with an asterisk were received as complimentary review copies). 

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Recent Reads

During my husband and I’s little mountain getaway, I started and finished Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting. I think if I’d read it early enough to include it on my list of best books for the year, I would have put it on there. Such a delightful story about people building connections all because they share the same train commute. I never realize how much I love a good multiple POV, chance friendship/found family narrative until I wind up reading one. There was just the right hint of seriousness in an otherwise fun and cheerful story, which is my sweet spot for reading. 

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Current Reads

The first new book of 2023 for me is The Man I Never Met*. I’m about 60 pages into it and am enjoying it so far. I do feel a bit like I’m waiting for the shoe to drop on the twist that’s promised from the synopsis, so I’m curious to see where we go from here. 

I should also mention I am still making my way through American Detox* and What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat. I’m struggling a bit with the latter because, so far, much of what’s covered is also discussed on Gordon’s podcast, Maintenance Phase. It feels a bit repetitive to me as a result, and I confess I’m struggling with the narrator given that I’m so familiar with Gordon’s actual voice. But, I’m only four chapters in and already at 49%, so I’m hoping the latter half will dig in a bit deeper.

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Up Next & On to You

I’m feeling called to read some things outside my typical wheelhouse lately, which I think always happens in January. I will probably scan my shelves for something with a bit more teeth for my next few years, but then again, who can say what mood I’ll be in when it’s time to pick my next read? 

I’m trying to go a bit more by what sounds good (from my TBR) rather than what I think I should read next, given that I had such a slow start to my reading year last year. We’ll see how it goes. 

What about you, book friends? What book (or books) are you reading to start out your year? 

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