January Reading Recap: 3 Books in a Week (and a Skiing Holiday!)

January turned out to be a busier month than I anticipated, with a family skiing holiday taking up a good chunk of my time. Normally, that means less reading, but this time, it was the complete opposite! In fact, I ended up finishing 3 books in just one week.

In today’s post, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on what I read this month. Whether it’s a new favourite or a let-down, I’ll be diving into what made these books stand out (or not). If you've read any of them, I'd love to hear your thoughts too—what did you love or dislike? If you haven’t read them, are these books now on your radar? Or did others' opinions of them sway you in a different direction? Let’s get into it!

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Rating - 2.5 🌟 

“If you stumble about believability, what are you living for? Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?”

I really struggled with this one. I had started it last year and made it halfway through, but it just felt so slow and boring that it put me in a serious reading slump. Despite loving the film adaptation, I decided to give the book another shot this month, thinking I could push through. In hindsight, I probably should have DNF’d it.

What made it hard to read wasn’t necessarily the story itself—it was the writing style. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was, but the narrative just didn’t flow for me. That said, there were a few chapters I thought were absolutely stunning, especially when Pi discovers the cannibal island. Another standout moment was when he wrestled with the moral dilemma of whether to leave Richard Parker to die or continue his search for help, knowing that survival could mean abandoning the tiger, or risking taking him with him.

The story follows Pi, a young boy from India whose family owns a zoo. While traveling to Canada with their animals on board a ship, the vessel sinks—no one knows why. Pi is the sole survivor, along with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, an orangutan named Orange Juice, a zebra, and a hyena, all of whom are left stranded on a lifeboat. The narrative centres on the 277 days Pi spends drifting at sea, fighting for survival. Along the way, Pi’s journey becomes one of deep introspection—he grapples with his beliefs, spirituality, and the struggle to live with Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger.

In the end, Pi offers two versions of his story to the investigators: one involving the animals, and one involving humans. Richard Parker represents Pi himself, the hyena symbolizes the ship’s cook (making him a cannibal), the zebra is a sailor, and Orange Juice is Pi’s mother. The conclusion forces you to question everything you’ve read—was the animal story a survival mechanism or a coping method to deal with his trauma, or did he really share a lifeboat with a tiger? 

Would I recommend it? No, I wouldn’t, but perhaps the audiobook would be better, having it read to you might make it a little less hard work.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Rating - 5 🌟 

"I initially wanted to hire a maid in hopes that she would become my replacement - that is Andrew fell in love with another woman, he would finally let me go. But that’s not why I hired Millie. That’s not why I gave her a copy of the key to the room. And that’s not why I left a bottle of pepper spray in the blue bucket in the closet. I hired her to kill him. She just doesn't know it.”

This book had me up to the early hours because I simply couldn't sleep without knowing what happened! The plot twists are just amazing, so unpredictable and impeccably thought out. Beautifully written making it the perfect book to relax too. With such complex and layered characters, it makes it so realistic and a true representation of people with a history or a dark past, so you end up getting a new juicy bit of info about the characters on every page.

The amount of hurt and trauma Nina had gone through not just because of Andrew, but even before that, really brings home just how well things can look from the outside … how perfect, but it very rarely is …

The ending is absolute PERFECTION, It had my jaw on the floor, and I was shocked, an absolute mick-drop moment. But it was so fitting for the characters I think if it was anything else it wouldn't have given you that sense of justice and that you know it was wrong that they did … but so right in all other ways. 

So if this sounds like your sort of book ... be prepared! You will not be able to sleep until you find out what happens!

Book Summary - Millie Calloway needs a job. Ideally a live-in job, so she doesn’t need to live in her car. Every job interview seems to go well … until they do a background check. So when Nina offers her a job in a rich suburban family, she jumps at the chance. Everything is going well … at first … Day 1 the house is filthy. Everything is everywhere. But things don’t get any better, Nina continues to treat Millie horribly, but as that is going on the attraction between Millie and Andrew (the devilishly handsome husband). But Millie soon finds out why there is a lock on the OUTSIDE of the attic bedroom, why there’s a blue bucket in the closet, but is it too late? 

Good thing Andrew doesn't know what she is capable of. So will Millie do it .. will she protect herself and Nina?

The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden

Rating - 5 🌟 

"Beauty is less easily perceived when it’s in an unassuming setting.”

There is only one word for this book … and that is ADDICTIVE, through and through! 

I will admit I was a bit sceptical at first as the sequels are rarely as good as the first book but boy was I wrong! I finished this in 2 sittings which is quite rare for me ... but I just couldn't put it down. 

There isn't much I can say without giving spoilers so …

There was more going on than in the previous book, but it didn't take anything away from the main theme of the book, which like The Housemaid is domestic violence. I loved that it tied up lots of unanswered questions from the previous book, really it just flowed right into this sequel (I was very happy I read them back to back!) 

The plot twists are just unbelievable in the fact that you have no idea who has done what and who is who until the last 10 pages really. It is just beautifully written as always with Freida McFadden ... I really just couldn't fault it. I am so looking forward to reading the next books as well as ALL of Freida McFadden's books!

Book Summary - After a long struggle to find an employer after the Winchesters, especially one that doesn’t ask too many questions, the Garrick's appear. Albeit a bit strange but seemingly harmless enough, but is it actually too good to be true. When Millie starts to find blood on Mrs. Garrick's clothes, one day she simply can’t ignore her closed bedroom door, so she knocks and what see she’s changes everything. It turns out the Garrick's have done wrong, especially Douglas … they have done wrong and they need to pay but how far is Millie willing to go .. that is the question.

All These Bodies

Rating - 2 🌟 

"She said from the moment she met him she could tell that all he wanted was to find a way to strap her into Nebraska’s electric chair. But the joke was on him. Because she requested hanging.”

Didn't like it at all. I felt like it was just made up as it went along, and just not a fan. Not a book I would recommend. Ok for just a simple read. Good for an airplane read, but just nowhere near as good as any other books I have read this month.

How to Make Friends With The Dark by Kathleen Glasgow

Rating - 3 🌟 

"True friends are those rare people who come to find you in the dark places and lead you back to the light.”

One of those books I regret reading, and I should have just DNF’d it. But carried on thinking it was going to get better, but just a bit boring. I think though, it was done this way, where there are not necessarily many events going on, but it helps to bring home the deep effect and the destruction it leaves when losing a loved one to death.

I could see why other people might like it but it was just not my thing.

Book Summary - Telling the story of 16-year-old Tiger, who is forced to confront overwhelming darkness and grief after her mother suddenly dies. It’s always been Tiger and her mother against the world, now it’s just Tiger and she’s got to figure out how to survive. Here’s how you learn to make friends with the dark.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating - 5 🌟 

"When you love someone, it seeps out of everything you do, it bleeds into everything you say, it becomes ever-present, that eventually it becomes ordinary to hear, no matter how extraordinary it is to feel.”

Just GORGEOUS, one of the most heartfelt and effortlessly stunning books I have read. 

With such beautiful characters and such a realistic, true take on love, loss and grief … making it raw and true made the characters vulnerable, and made it so the readers could connect with them. Helping them think and feel what they were, making them understand grief, love and loss and what it means to move on after the death of a loved one. It can help you sympathise with people in the real world, those who have gone through loss and helps you understand what they might be thinking (obviously not many people’s husbands can survive on an island for 4 years, but you never know!)

I have no other words than, gorgeous, it will forever be a book I think about and recommend.

Book Summary - Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life together, far away from what their parents wanted for them, from their childhood hometown. They travel the world, living life to the fullest, seizing every opportunity for adventure.

But on their 1st wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific, when it goes missing, and just like that Jesse is gone forever. 

Emma is torn apart and in an effort to put her life back together, she moves back to her hometown. Now, years later, she is engaged and happy, she fell in love. But one phone call has changed everything, Jesse is alive, and just like that Emma has a husband AND a fiancé. 

Who's is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly? She needs to figure it out.

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

Rating - 5 🌟 

"I wonder what it’s like to cut into a person with a scalpel. To feel their skin separate under my hand. To see their insides. I can’t wait to find out.”

I thought I had guessed the ending 100 pages in … but how wrong could I have been?

As a big fan of reading from the villain perspective (which Freida does just amazingly) this has become a firm favourite of mine, I think even in the worst situations (and this really couldn't be any worse) it is important to understand and sympathise with the villain, which is an opinion Freida obviously agrees with. 

It is equally disturbing and addictive, definitely, a book you will remember! The characters are so layered and complicated and so intricately thought and planned out. It makes you question everything you thought you knew about the characters, and what you have been made to believe. 

It is like no other book I have ever read, or ever will I think. I just couldn't fault it. 

Book Summary - Sydney, like most women in New York, has terrible luck with dating, she’s seen it all! But finally, she hits the jackpot, her new boyfriend is perfect, he’s charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at the local hospital. But after the murder of a young woman the latest in a string of deaths across the coast-confounds police. 

The suspect? A man who dates the victims before killing them. Sydney should feel safe, after all she has got a perfect boyfriend. But she can’t shake her suspicions. But someone is watching her and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be next …

The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden

Rating - 3 🌟 

"All I ever wanted is to spend the rest of my life with you. We are just making it in writing now.”

It was ok, especially for a novella. I would say just read it as a little extra in between book 2 and 3. I was a good little read for an hour. A lot going on, Freida’s normal thriller, lots of twists and mysteries, packed into a short story.

Book Summary - Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I’m engaged to the man of my dreams, Enzo. In a few hours we will be declared husband and wife, but there is only one problem. Someone is out there who doesn’t want me to live long enough to get married. 

Our mission

Here at Sage & Silhouettes, I have made it my mission to bring reading to people's attention, but not just for enjoyment, but for people to see the benefits of it on your mental well-being, as a form of self-care. 

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So a big thank you from me, thank you for taking the time out to read my blog, to support me and for being one more person to help me build my little dream up. 

Love, Serita xx