Reading has always been one of my most favorite things to do. When I was little, my reward for a good report card was $5 (that was considered hitting the jackpot back in elementary school!) and getting to pick any book I wanted at the bookstore! (The BEST!) I would stay up ALL night reading just to read a few more chapters or finish the book outright.
My love for reading has never faded as I’ve gotten older. I almost always have a book in my purse in case I have a free moment in my day rather than scroll through my phone. A great book, especially one that has an unexpected twist, is exciting. I get a lot of recommendations from girls in my book club and Goodreads, but finding a book you truly enjoy can be hard, so I wanted to share a few of my favorites:
All the Light We Cannot See: Be prepared to stay up for a few nights (it is a longer book) reading due to the story’s suspense and feeling all the emotions from the main characters. This historical fiction is focused on a blind girl in Paris and an orphan boy in Germany at the beginning of WWII. Their experiences are so different, yet the way they become intertwined is fascinating. I don’t want to give anything away — this is a wonderful book!
American Wife: I cannot rave about this book enough! This historical fiction is based on Laura Bush’s life, and follows her single life all the way through her husband’s political career. The story touches on everything from romance to personal struggles. You will love Laura Bush even more than you already do after reading this!
The Nightingale: I borrowed my friend’s copy of this book on a Saturday morning and finished it on a Sunday afternoon. It was so good that I cancelled all my weekend plans to keep reading it! This historical fiction book captures the heroism of women during WWII. It specifically follows two sisters in France and their individual interpretations of bravery. It is an emotional story that will have you sympathizing, cheering and hoping along with all the characters. The ending is very unexpected!
Unbroken: Had it not been for my book club selecting this nonfiction WWII read, I never would have picked this up. However, I am SO glad they did because it is one of my most favorite books. There are several uncomfortable moments, as a majority of the story takes place in a Japanese POW camp, but it is so inspiring. The writing is honest, and I learned a lot.
Reconstructing Amelia: This fiction book was a book club pick, and it ended up being really good! It was a modern mystery that lifts a curtain on life for working parents in New York and the private lives their kids lead at school. There are so many unexpected twists that keep you on your toes the entire time.
Currently Reading:
This weekend I finished in a dark, dark wood and LOVED it! It is a murder mystery that is a little slow at the beginning, but had me hooked once it picked up. I kept trying to guess who the true villain was until I was certain I had it figured out.
For Christmas, Mr. S’ sweet sister and her husband gave me a membership to Book of the Month Club. It is one of the coolest subscription boxes that I’ve seen — on the first of the month, you get to select from about five different books, and then they send your pick in a fun box along with a bookmark. It is a great way to learn about new releases, and expose yourself to different authors and genres. I picked Still Me for my February box, and can’t wait to start reading it!
I hope this book round-up has helped inspire your inner bookworm! What are some of your favorite books?
