The first books of 2024 are here and it’s a great drop this month. With five new main picks this month and five more new/recent add-ons, I honestly think there is something for everyone this month. Though it’s light on the romances this month, we have lots of great thriller/mystery and contemporary/literary fiction picks. And while there isn’t technically a historical fiction pick, The Bullet Swallower is a mix of historical fiction, magical realism, and literary fiction. With that said we have only one debut add-on, a few repeat and 3peat authors, and a handful of very early releases.

Interesting facts about space review | The Fury Review

Only if you’re lucky review

If you are still looking for something to read be sure to check out some of my Most Anticipated New Releases lists. If you’re looking for add-ons to put into your boxes, be sure to check out my BOTM add-on recommendations, which I update every couple of months.

Full list of all the BOTM books I read in 2023

January MOST ANTICIPATED

WINTER 2023 MOST ANTICIPATED

BOTM ADD-ON GUIDE

January 2023 Picks

Add-on’s

My Box

I skipped this month ONLY because I have copies of 6 of the 10 choices already. I already have copies of Interesting Facts about Space, The Fury, Mercury, The Bullet Swallower, Northwoods, and Only If You’re Lucky. Of these, I’ve finished 3 so far, and am currently reading The Bullet Swallower and Northwoods. I meant to read Mercury earlier this month but have been putting it off. So far Northwoods is a quick read and I’m enjoying it. The Bullet Swallower was such a slow start. I reread chapter 1 a few times, but now that I’m 70% in I’m flying through it and am interesting to see how everything ties today. This is the only historical fiction pick and while it bounces between 1895 and 1960s, it also has magical realism aspect which I have to know how it ties up the story! So be on the lookout for my review soon.

Interesting Facts About Space was a super interesting read. I wasn’t sure about it at first and almost DNF’ed it buttttt the ending made up for the slowness at the beginning and I ended up enjoying it. If you liked Maame last year, then this is a perfect pick for you.

Intersting Facts About Space Review

Only If You’re Lucky was another great thriller from Stacy Willingham. This one felt more YA in nature since it’s an academic mystery but I thoroughly enjoyed it and was actually surprised by the ending.

Only if You’re Luck review

The Fury, sigh. When will I not get FOMO about books? I liked the Silent Patient but it was never a top 10 read for me. I hated The Maidens and I decided I found some of Michaelides writing to be fairly pretentious. The Fury is more in line with The Maidens and not a single character is likable. If you enjoy unreliable narrators and his past work, then you’ll enjoy this one but it wasn’t really for me.

The Fury Review

Of the remaining options, I already have plans to grab copies of Ruthless Vows and Butcher & Blackbird. Both are part of a series, and I am just staying away from getting series from BOTM at this point, simply because I like my books to match. I almost decided on First Lie Wins but am choosing to get it from the library. Familia sounds fantastic and it’s getting great reviews, but since I don’t have a main pick, I’m skipping add-ons as well this month.

That’s what’s in my box this month! What did you pick this month? Let me know in the comments below or over on my Instagram HERE.