My reading goal for 2019 was 50 books. I got to 42, which isn’t too bad, and part of that was because I decided I wasn’t going to force myself to finish books that I wasn’t enjoying. There were a few duds, but overall it was a great year of reading! These are my ten most recent reads, and they include new books from some of my favorite authors and an autobiography. What have you read recently?
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes: Alice marries Bennett and leaves everything behind in England to follow him to America where she believes she’ll find a better life. Unfortunately, small-town life isn’t exactly what she had in mind, but when a small group of women decide to start a traveling library, Alice finds her tribe. Despite serious resistance from their community (aka the men), they are determined to bring knowledge to the people who need it most. This book was so inspiring, especially when you find out it’s based on a true story! Rating 4.5/5
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai: Yale Tishman lives in Chicago in the 1980s. He has a promising new job, a loving partner, and a great group of friends. But, as the AIDS epidemic continues to grow, Yale’s circle gets smaller. The story follows Yale and his friend Fiona over the course of 30 years, and explores the many ways their lives were impacted by this devastating disease. Rating 4/5
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson: Amy has a fairly ordinary life, and she’s totally okay with it. She had way too much excitement in her past! But of course, the past doesn’t always stay there, and Amy is forced to confront hers when a diabolical neighbor moves in down the street. I would call this a “light thriller.” There was definitely some mystery and suspense, but it was a little predictable. Rating: 3.5/5
Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner: Dr. Toby Fleishman’s marriage falls apart, and he discovers that other women actually want him. He finds a whole new world in hook-up apps, and becomes a person who has casual sex with strangers. But, at the same time as he’s experiencing this sexual reawakening, Toby has to be a parent to his two kids, and make up for the lack of parenting his not yet ex is providing. This book is graphic and raw, and to be honest, it messed with my head a little. Rating 3/5
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren: If you’ve read any of my other book posts, you probably know that this bestie writing duo is one of my favorites. They have a knack for carefully-crafted stories with clever dialogue. This one takes place in London, where 18-year old Tate is taking a special trip with her grandma. They meet Luther and his grandson Sam, and the foursome hit it off. Everything’s going perfectly, until Sam does something unforgivable. Even though Tate hopes she never sees him again, their paths do cross and the truth comes out. Yes, certain moments were a little predictable, but I couldn’t resist this story about complicated love and family. Rating: 5/5
The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson: Leia is a quirky graphic novel artist working towards her next big break. But, a drunken encounter with a costumed stranger at a comic book conference changes her life’s course…and before she can even wrap her mind around it, she has to put her life on pause to go help her grandmother whose health is declining. It’s a whirlwind, but very cleverly written and enjoyable. Rating: 4/5
The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry: Natalie is enjoying her last summer in her small town before she goes to college, but all of a sudden, the strange visions she saw as a child return in a stronger form. She’s forced to wrestle with this strange connection to the past and the unique love story it creates. It was a little fascinating and a bit fantastical, but I enjoyed it. Rating: 3.5/5
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness: This is the story of Queer Eye hair guru JVN. While he may seem confident and fabulous on-screen, he has been through A LOT and there is much more to him than meets the eye. I love the show, so I was excited when I won this book from TheSkimm. Is it the most well written? No. But, will it give you serious perspective and remind you that you never know what someone has been through? Definitely. Rating: 5/5
Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Little White Lies, so I was excited when this one came out in November. The books focus on a group of wealthy teenagers, including the ‘didn’t know she came from money until recently’ main character, Sawyer. These kids don’t want for anything, but their family lives are a mess, and they always manage to get mixed up in some sort of trouble. These books aren’t the deepest, but they’re written and smart. I was actually reading something else that was too much for me, and I chose to start this instead. It was the perfect escape! Rating: 4/5
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead: Elwood is a black teenager growing up in segregated Tallahassee. He was abandoned by his parents as a child, but his grandmother has raised him to be a studious, well-behaved young man. Unfortunately, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time lands him at Reform school, and the experience stays with him for the rest of his life. It was really fascinating (and sad) to read about reform schools and what life was like there (the author did a lot of research to paint an accurate picture). I liked the book overall, but thought the portions that took place in the present felt a little disjointed at times and more could have been done with that part of the story. Rating: 4/5
