This month I read four books which sounds really impressive (for me) but tbh, two of them were short stories and one of them gave me that point of no return feeling in the middle of the night that resulted in me staying up until 2 in the morning to finish it, so… Make of that what you will.

Here’s a quick recap of each of them:

• The Wonder by Emma Donoghue – Finished 1/22 – My book club discussed this one and found it disappointing  / frustrating on the whole – mostly because the book didn’t really resemble our expectations after reading the blurbs about it online. To be brief, I found it frustrating, emotional, disturbing and thought-provoking all at once. You’ll need an emotional palate cleanse after this one or maybe a hug. 3.5 stars
  
• The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula Le Guin – Finished 1/25 – I read this short story because Le Guin passed away recently and I’d never read any of her works before – this was recommended as a starting point to get a feel for her writing style. A moral dilemma that will definitely make you think. The author’s commentary before and after are nearly as good as the story itself. 4 stars
  
• The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay – Finished 1/29 – Not your typical Austen inspired novel. Yes there is a love story and Austen references abound, but not in the way you think it will. Thoroughly enjoyed – this is the one that kept me up until 2 in the morning. 5 stars
• The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backmn – Finished 1/31 – Another short story! My first time reading Backman, won’t be my last. For a short story, this book packs a big punch. I found the author’s writing style to be delightful – a lot of wit that doesn’t feel forced. Have you read his other books? Which one should I read next?

What was the best book you read this month?