January Reading Recap 

Sistah Girls, I’ve been in a minor book slump (womp) which is mostly due to me not always being so willing to try and read new authors.

I kind of stick to what I know unless something new comes highly recommended to me. Well, for 2021 the plan is to expand my palette monthly with authors I’ve not read. In January I read three new to me authors.

The following is my monthly recap, this includes three new releases of books that dropped in January, some AA Romance, and some Urban Drama.


need you by meFirst up, 4 STARS for the newly released AA Romance Need You by Me by Endiya Carter

Family friction, tight kept secrets, complete lies, and a sexy roommate rule in Need You by Me.

How does the saying go? Girls just wanna have fun. No no, it’s girl’s just wanna have funds. Right? Well, whatever the case, Jaymi Wynford can’t have both.

Her father, Pastor Wynford won’t allow it. He controls the one (her funds) while constantly dictating the other (her fun). Unfortunately for him, Pastor Wynford’s controlling ways push Jaymi right into the arms of Marshall Drexler.

My Thoughts:
This is actually my second time reading this author and I know it won’t be my last. I can tell Carter likes to have fun when writing her stories even when dealing with heavy storylines. Overall, I was fully entertained by her characters and their story! This was my FAVE READ of the month!

promise to keep it trill3 STARS for Urban Lit read Promise to Keep it Trill by B. Love

One wrong move in these streets can cost you your freedom or worse your life. Three best friends have a confrontation with someone that changes their lives. Makayla, Jason, and Kannon are best friends.

When the leader of the pack, Jason takes a charge and is sentenced to prison both Makayla and Kannon are left to pick up the pieces. Over the years the friendship that they share becomes more romantic and then comes the BOOM.

My Thoughts:
This is my first time reading B. Love. I can’t front, the storyline kept my attention and I mostly enjoyed the book.

I just needed more, in the beginning, to pull from. I definitely would have liked to see the bond between the three played out in the pages as opposed to being just told how they are close with minor flashbacks here or there.

It’s important to me for authors to build relationships within a story and I didn’t feel that 100% in this book concerning Makayla, Jason, and Kannon. For example, the connection with Makayla and Jason was pretty much told to me. The entire tri best friendship was more so told not shown. I didn’t read and see it grow play by play in the pages.

On the flip side, it could be very possible that the author wanted it that way. Sadly that style of writing doesn’t always work for me. Will, I read this author again? YES!

Hoods Story4 STARS for Urban Drama Hood’s Story by Natavia.
Hood’s Story features Abel and Story, neighbors and childhood best friends that become lovers.

Of course, nothing comes easy for these two. When the book starts both Abel and Story are in a relationship with other people.

Life’s curveballs seemingly has them being pulled in different directions even though it’s clear they want one another. Just when you think they can finally be together Abel’s lifestyle proves it to be very challenging.

My Thoughts:
It’s been a while since I’ve read Natavia. Hood’s Story grabbed my attention with the whole twin aspect, Cain and Abel, and their major differences. I liked it from start to finish!

This book was filled with colorful entertaining characters, some will make you laugh while others will have you shaking your head at their stupidity. If you’re looking for a fun, drama-filled, urban lit read then Hood’s Story is for you! 


Give Me YouNext up, 3 STARS for AA Romance Give Me You by A.C. Taylor

Give Me You is for all the best friends to lovers romance readers. Getting pregnant by your best friend shouldn’t be so complicated. Buuuut, I suspect it can be pretty challenging when that best friend is a man-whore that you’re possibly falling in love with.

My Thoughts:
Once again, this is a read where I wish the author would have given us a little more. I’m not sure if any of these characters appear in other books. If so, excuse some of what I say, this is my first time reading A.C. Taylor.

Personally, I needed more from and between Kaine and Nikki. I wanted more scenes that displayed their friendship prior to when they took it to friends with benefits.

I’m only told of how it is, it’s not played out on the pages until after the major discovery in the very beginning. Because of this, I don’t grow with them as characters. I only get the aftermath of them pretty much trying to figure out what they’re going to do.

I need a build-up and I didn’t get that in this book. If I’m extremely honest the secondary storyline playing out with some of the other characters had my undivided attention IT WAS JUICY and I will leave it at that. Will I read more books by this author? Yes, I most likely will.

If you’ve read any of the books featured I would love to hear your thoughts!

For The Curious: Now I don’t know how others base their ratings but the following is how I base mine and why. The writing style of an author holds major weight for me.

Even though I have a few preferences I’ve decided to go by a template with regards to how I judge a book to avoid being biased. How appealing are its characters, how well do they develop, plot developments, how descriptive is the writing or lack thereof.

Then I follow it by looking at the author’s ability to properly foreshadow future events, resolutions to major and minor events, and how well the author carries multiple themes and/or plotlines through the book.

Basically, the story’s overall structure which should be important to any writer. Because of all of this, I am extremely stingy with giving out Stars.

-Lex 

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