Mini Book Reviews – January 2026: What To Read & What To Skip

Welcome to my regular round up of mini book reviews of what I’ve read this past month! It’s the first recap of the year and I’ve got plenty to share with you today! Believe it or not, this year has been off to a wild start with both 5 star reads and 2 star ones. 

In my list of mini book reviews, I include everything I’ve read recently that I finished.  I like to share both my five star reads and any misses to help you get a better idea of what you should read or might want to skip.

As always, I love to hear if you agree or disagree with my ratings! Let me know in the comments what you thought of my January 2026 mini book reviews.

 

The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin

 

 

A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber

Another sweet story from Heather Webber! I adore her novels that always have a small dose of magical realism. A Certain Kind Of Starlight is now available in paperback and you’re going to want to add this to your TBR if you love second chances, bakeries, a dash of love and the importance of family.

Tessa and Addie are half sisters who are both drawn back to their hometown when they discover their beloved aunt gets a diagnosis they can’t ignore. Their history is fraught with secrets and anger, but the shared love for their aunt and her beloved baked treats slowly thaws the ice between them.

They’re also forced back into the orbit of the two men who broke their hearts in different ways as kids. Can this second chance be exactly what they needed both with family ties and unexpected love?  | 4 Stars | Buy On Amazon 

 

 

 

 

Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

I’m pretty disappointed that Book of the Month chose this as one of their January options because it is an extremely mediocre romance. I had high hopes when I found out it was about a journalist going undercover as a contestant on a Bachelor-type show to write an expose. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations.

The reality show portion of the novel was very cliche and a bit over the top, right down to the vapid bachelor, signature girl villain, and “super tight” female relationships formed by the end. The main love story occurs between the main character and the host of the show, but the chemistry was lacking and it was frankly unbelievable. You can go ahead and skip this one!  3 Stars | Buy From Amazon 

 

 

 

As always, I recommend using Libro.fm if you’re an audiobook listener!! Libro.fm directly supports indie bookstores, but costs the same as Amazon’s Audible! You can get TWO audiobooks for only $15 with my link and code CHOOSEINDIE.

 

 

That’s A Great Question, I’d Love To Tell You by Elyse Meyers

 

 

 

 

eBooks:

 

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

A reimagined Snow White is the basis for this enchanting new fantasy book. Our main character Anja is an expert in poisons and antidotes. She regularly doses herself with toxins to discover cures for those who society has forgotten. Her life is interrupted when the king arrives, seeking help for his ailing daughter, Princess Snow. Accompanied by a stoic guard and a narcissistic cat, Anja brings her scientific curiosity to royal halls. As she investigates Snow’s mysterious illness, she stumbles upon a hidden world within a magic mirror—an eerie, uncanny domain that may hold the key to the princess’s condition… or threaten to destroy them all.

I love a play on a classic fairy tale and this was an excellent darker version! This edition with the green sprayed edges and foil is also simply gorgeous! 4 Stars | Buy Deluxe Edition From Amazon 

 

 

And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens

I’ve been a longtime fan of Sophie Cousens but this was definitely the most “out there” book of hers so far! She imagines what will happen if AI and technology continue to improve to the point where we can create robots that look, speak and interact like real humans.

The concept is fascinating, but the story was pretty predictable and fell a little flat. Chloe gets an invite to her college reunion and is less than thrilled about the state of her life. When a friend recommends a unique dating service, she might have found the confidence boost she needs. The only catch is her new “boyfriend” is an AI robot. Rob, is literal perfection, but throughout the weekend there are a few snags in her plan…

As she reconnects with former friends and starts to see a few love interests in a new light, Chloe must confront the messiness and imperfection of a potential relationship versus the picture perfect option Rob offers.  | 3.5 Stars | Buy On Amazon