Books I Read In January (2023)
A new year means new books! I’m starting this year strong with 4 awesome books I read this month. Add me on Goodreads if you want to see what else I’m reading!
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The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
This book explores generational trauma in a family of Chinese women. We meet Afong Moy, the first Chinese woman to set foot in America; Greta Moy, a developer for a dating app struggling to find her match; Lai King Moy, a young girl quarantined in San Francisco during a plague; Zoe Moy, a student at an English boarding school with no rules; Faye Moy, a nurse in China during the depths of war; and Dorothy Moy, a former poet laureate struggling to balance her mental health with work and family.
Each chapter focuses on a different woman’s journey. Though they are all intertwined, it is Dorothy’s life that we follow at present day. She struggles with depression and when her daughter starts to behave erratically, she worries that the long history of trauma from the women in her family will affect her daughter too. By revisiting their pasts, Dorothy hopes to break the cycle of pain and abandonment for her daughter to have a better life.
This book was definitely depressing at times, but not slow-paced or boring. Usually when a book has so many characters, I find that some have less interesting storylines than others, or that some of them don’t feel fully fleshed out. That wasn’t the case with this one! I found every woman’s story to be interesting and I was entertained throughout. I enjoyed traveling through history through these women’s stories and slowly piecing together how their choices affected one another.
The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh
Similar to The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, this book also explores the relationships between generations of women in an Asian family.
Ever since their ancestor Oanh left her husband to marry for true love, the women in the Duong family have been cursed to bear only daughters. Oanh’s current descendant, Mai Nguyen, is desperate for guidance. After a huge fight with her family years ago, she is estranged from her mother, her younger sisters, and her 3 adult daughters.
Mai goes to her trusted psychic, Auntie Hua, for advice. She tells Mai that there will be a wedding, a funeral, and the birth of a son this year! With limited time, Mai tries to repair the relationships with the women in her family before it’s too late.
This book was so entertaining and made me genuinely laugh throughout! I loved Carolyn Huynh’s depiction of Vietnamese women which made me think of the women in my family. There is a fairly large cast so the story does get messy at times, but the drama is definitely part of the fun. I recommend for a light-hearted but heartwarming read.
A Shoe Story by Jane L. Rosen
A Shoe Story was a really cute book. After dedicating the last year of her life to caring for her dying father, Esme Nash is ready to live life again. She lands a dog-sitting job in NYC, and the dog’s owner grants her access to her insane designer shoe collection. Each chapter is titled after the shoe Esme wears during it.
Esme meets a fun cast of characters during her time in the city, including a charming old man in the dog park with a lifetimes of stories, and Zach, a handsome bartender and law student who acts as Esme’s tour guide to the city. The real reason Esme is there, though, is to revive an old dream. Esme and her college boyfriend were supposed to move to the city after graduating, with Esme pursuing a fancy job at an art gallery. When she finds her ex-boyfriend again through a chance encounter, she has to decide if reconnecting with him, and their dream life, is what she really wants.
I have a soft spot for romances that take place in NYC, and this one definitely fits the bill. I liked the concept of having the perfect shoe to go with any situation, and the endearing side characters who really rounded out the story.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
I am aboard the Emily Henry train and this was the next stop for me after Book Lovers! This book focuses on Alex and Poppy – they’re best friends from college, but they couldn’t be any more different. Alex is a khaki-wearing homebody who still teaches in his small hometown. Poppy is from the same small town, but has always wanted to leave. She travels for a living and has an exciting life in New York City.
For one week every year, the two take an epic vacation — until two years ago, when a trip to Croatia ruined their relationship and led to them not talking since. Poppy misses Alex and decides to try to salvage their relationship by taking a trip together, like old times. But not everything goes to plan…
This was such a fun friends-to-lovers story and Emily Henry really is the queen of witty banter. No one writes flirty dialogue and inside jokes like her! I also recently found out that this book will be adapted into a movie so I am excited for that. I have to read Beach Read next to finish the Emily Henry gauntlet (for now) so look out for that next month!
That wraps up all the books I read in January! See what else I’m up to on Goodreads, and my past monthly reads:
