Just like it does every year, January feels like it lasts a lifetime but not nearly long enough. I can’t believe we’re already bidding the first month of a new year adieu but here we are, rolling into February! January was a pretty low-key month with work picking up speed very slowly and my social life being non-existent, as per usual, lol.
On a more personal front, I did take a big step this month to finally go to the doctor. Due to past medical trauma, I’ve put off seeing a doctor or doing anything that involves taking care of my health for years. I’m not proud of it, especially considering how much I advocate for others to take care of themselves, but a couple of weeks ago, I scrounged up my courage and finally went. That appointment led to me getting a minor day procedure done this past Tuesday, and I came out of the operating theatre floating on a cloud of anaesthesia but already feeling better for the step that I took. I’m spending the rest of this week half-resting, half WFH and just focusing on recovering before going in to find out more about the results next week.
On the reading front this month, it seemed like I was fully in my sad book era! I read some non-sad books but I read a lot that had me bawling and caught up in my feelings. But I know I am an emotional reader and I do love books that can give me a good cathartic cry, lol. What can I say? 🤷🏻♀️
In total, I read 20 books. I gotta say I’m pretty happy with this start to my reading year, especially since I found four 5-star reads and I’m already certain that my top read of the month is also making it into my top reads of 2024! This honour goes to Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. I loved everything about the book and knew I would fall head over foot for it just a few chapters in. Don’t you love that feeling? 😍
Also, I think from this month on, I’ll share my favourite community reads in a separate post!
*covers are linked to Goodreads andthe text is linked to my review, if available*
*books are arranged by order read—oldest to most recent*
5 pandas
Night Hawk
Sea of Tranquility
Divine Rivals
4.5 pandas
4 pandas
3.5 pandas
There There
The Places I’ve Cried in Public
Forged by Magic KU
3 pandas
less than 3 pandas
I think I’ve had a decent start to my reading challenges and I’m hoping to keep up the momentum!
✔ Project Backlist Reading Challenge: 📚 13 backlist books // 📱 3 backlist ARCs
✔ 2024 Buzzwordathon: January (There/Their/They’re): There There by Tommy Orange
✔ 2024 Year in Aeldia: January (Read Physically): Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
That’s a wrap for January 2024! How was your month of reading and life? I hope you had a strong start to the year but if not, the only way is up, right? Hang in there, friends and take care of yourselves. I hope everyone has a great February!
dinipandareads 
It looks like you had a really great month of reading. I’m glad you found so many books that you enjoyed. 🙂 Also, kudos to you for taking the first steps and making it to the doctor. I hope the recovery from your procedure is quick and without complications. Take care of yourself!
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Glad you were able to make it to the doctors! I hope for a speedy recovery for you. ❤️ You also had a fantastic reading month! I don’t think my January went well lol. My ratings were pretty low across the board.
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I’m glad you finally took the step and went to the doctor. I’m also glad your procedure went well! Plus, you read some good books.
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Such a great reading month! I need to figure out how to make some of those templates. I am just finally learning how to do simple graphics on canva. I’m so behind on the tech front. Divine Rivals was one of my top faves for January, too. I don’t know that I could just pick one, though, because I had so many fantastic 5 star reads. Hope your follow up Dr. appt goes well, and that you have a great reading month!!
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*High Five* As a fellow medical-scaredy cat, I am proud of you. I am also happy to hear your procedure went well. You had a good reading month, and I love the templates for your challenges.
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*HIGH FIVE!* Thanks, Sam! I feel that 🥰 I had fun making one of these challenge templates and it motivates me to want to keep updating it, lol. I hope you have an awesome February!
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I’ve been saving Divine Rivals, but everywhere I turn, someone is praising it and making me want to pick it up. Going to add The Singles Table to the TBR because that sounds delightful. Get plenty of rest and hoping for a speedy recovery for you. Happy February!
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I know it’s so hard to avoid this book because it’s literally *everywhere*! I loved it so much and I hope that when you finally pick it up you do too, Alicia! 😍 Also, YES to the Singles Table cos it was really delightful. I hope you have a wonderful February! 💜
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It looks like you had a fantastic month of reading! And I am so proud of you for taking your health seriously. I hope that the results give you the answers you need and want.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
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Thank you, Pam! I’m pretty proud too 🙂 I hope you have a great February!
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I’m so proud of you for taking that step for yourself Dini. I ended the month with four 5 star reads as well. I shared my wrap up/reviews post on my blog today if you want to check it out.
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Thanks, Misty! I’m proud too—it took long enough! And YAY for a great start to the reading year. I’m happy we both read great books this month 😃 I’ll definitely be checking out your post!
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That’s so great that you were able to work up the courage to go to the doctor. The longer you don’t go sometimes, the harder it is to go. I hope you are giving yourself Dailey pats on the back. 💕
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Thank you! I’m proud of myself for taking the step after so long. Hopefully, this trend of taking better care of myself will continue in 2024 🙂
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[…] Monthly Wrap-Up: January 2024 […]
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I’m glad to hear that you’ve been taking care of your health even though it’s difficult! I hope you have a good recovery ❤️
It’s amazing that you found so many great books already this year 🥰 I love your Year in Aeldia progress tracker!
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I loved reading your wrap up, Dini! And I am SO proud of you for going to the doctor (though I hate that you have had experiences too of not being heard/understood/taken seriously). I’m actually going through similar things of going back tomorrow to try and make some headway on some disability stuff. I hope you get the answers you’re looking for and the recovery you need. 🖤
Yay for reading good books!! I hope you find even more in February!
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I am also someone who avoids the doctor, so kudos to you for taking that step! I’m sending you all the well-wishes. ❤ And congrats on a great reading month!
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It always takes a lot of courage to go to the doctor! I absolutely hate it and try to avoid it. I’m glad you went! I finally had to go in December because I felt like death. Turns out… I was low on iron, vitamin D and had extreme fatigue. Yay, postpartum! haha. I’m so proud of you girlie!! Let me know in the DM’s how things go! You had a great reading month!! 20 books is impressive.. I miss those days! haha. I hope you have a wonderful February and you are recovering quickly. <3<3
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you read a great variety! wonderful wrap-up!!
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