All of the (excellent) books I've read so far this year!
Thrillers, family drama, well-written fun, personal growth - it's a good list 🎉
You know how I’m coping lately? Reading!
Listen, there is nothing wrong with stepping outside reality for a little while and losing yourself in something fun, or inspiring, or thought-provoking.
The world is Crazy Pants right now and we need to have rituals in place to maintain our sanity and optimism. For me, it’s taking 20 minutes (or more) a day to sit and read a book. It feels like a little gift (and reset).
And, I’ve read some GOOD ONES this year! There’s not a true dud in the bunch (even the ones I don’t give a great review are still 👌). So, let’s get reading!
(Also, tell us in the comments what you’re reading because we all need ideas!)
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
I realize calling this the “Best Book I’ve Ever Read” is dangerous and possibly hyperbolic. I’ve spent the past few days thinking though, and can only come up with two other books* that made me feel the same way - deeply unsettled by what we’re capable of doing to each other, yet strangely hopeful for how our humanity lives on despite it.
It’s the kind of book that is a hard read, but has enough love and hope to keep you going with a touch of suspense and such a masterful weaving of characters you’ll want to map it all out at the end.
*The other books are Station Eleven, which I think about at least once a month, and Fugitive Pieces, which I read probably twenty years ago and still remember half the scenes. Oh shoot, and I just remembered Tom Lake. Let’s say Top 5?
Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Oh man, this was one of the first books I read in the New Year when I was spiraling hard and I can honestly say it changed the way I’ve been looking at the world.
The general premise is that it’s impossible for creativity and anxiety to co-exist so during stressful times the best thing we can do is lean into our creativity. Martha uses her trademark humor and empathy to share real stories from her life and her clients, plus she has a bunch of exercises if you’re into that thing (I am and they helped a ton).
Just to show you how powerful books can be, I read this and within a week had a group of women over to my house to figure out what we could do to help our community. We’re launching a big project I’ll tell you all about this month! READING FOR THE WIN!
Let Them by Mel Robbins (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
At this point, I feel like we’ve all at least heard the premise of Mel’s book? Instead of trying to control everyone in your life, let them be and worry about yourself.
It’s a timely reminder and, honestly, was exactly what I needed to hear when I read it (Kara - the world isn’t yours to save!), but I found myself skimming parts because it felt like more of the same.
I do recommend it because we can all work on it, but I think a quick go from the library is enough!
Don’t Say Um by Michael Chad Hoeppner (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
I wrote a whole, big ole Substack singing the praises of this book by one of my besties, but go read it!
It has a bunch of hands-on exercises to get you speaking clearly and with intention, which is incredibly helpful if you give talks, run workshops, talk to people in person, sell, or really communicate in any way with other people!
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Jojo Moyes has become my new Marian Keyes / Liane Moriarty where I buy her book the day it comes out with the plan to read it in a couple of sittings.
And this one didn’t disappoint! It’s especially poignant for those of us in middle age. Lila has a lot going on - her husband left her for a mom from school, her step dad moves in, and then her birth dad shows up, all while she’s trying to raise her kids and write a book.
It’s a very confusing time! And I feel like Jojo captures that feeling in middle age where it feels like we should have a lot more figured out than we do… Excellent read and highly recommend!
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
This is one of those books where when I was reading it I was VERY into it, but, in memory, it’s kinda eh.
Cate is a super-successful author of a series of best-selling books, who has a big ole secret, mainly she’s not who she says she is. It’s twisty and fun and nails how important your young friendship are to developing who you become.
I think it’s good? Give it a try? Skip it? You do you, boo!
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
THIS BOOK IS SO FUN!
It’s light, full of plot twists, and just a really good time. It reminds me of one of those 40s screwball comedies where the high jinks keep coming and you just go along for the ride.
Lauren has an attic that provides an infinite supply of husbands, even though she’s never been married. As the husbands keep coming, she has to figure out how to deal with them and decide if any of them are worth keeping.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Omg, I devoured this one in a day! It’s such a blast and gives you an inside look into the ultra-competitive world of ice dancing (who knew?!??!).
It has romance, intrigue and two main characters that will have you shaking your fist at their choices in the best way. It’s kind of cross between Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Carrie Soto with the romance / serious sport angle and Daisy Jones and the Six where you have a documentary cast offering commentary and then what “really” happened.
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
I’m not sure how there are still premises out there that haven’t been thrillified, but McAllister came up with one!
Camilla is living mom life, starting her kiddo at her first day of preschool while she starts back at work, when she hears about a hostage situation developing where her husband’s the gunman. OOF!
It’s a wild, fun ride that kept me guessing til the end. Highly recommend!
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Paula Hawkins is reliably excellent, which isn’t an easy feat in the increasingly competitive world of thrillers.
And this book was engaging, twisty, had a dramatic ending, everything you want from a thriller, and yet…I didn’t love it.
I think part of the problem was I read it directly after God of the Woods, which was mind-blowingly good and had a similar vibe so, secretly, maybe I was comparing the two? (I did the same thing when I first read All the Light We Can’t See - sob! - and then directly after read The Nightingale - meh.)
So, maybe use it as a palette cleanser after one of the more intense books and just enjoy it for what it is?
The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Am I going off of thrillers? This is another one that I thought was very okay (and I really got a kick out of her The Last Thing He Told Me).
The premise is interesting, but I knew all the answers about halfway through, which meant I was skimming just to see if I was right. Dave is an excellent writer and there was a little bit of "middle-aged crisis” going on that was relatable (I do love people falling apart in middle age, wonder why?!?!?), but it wasn’t deep enough to tell me anything I didn’t know.
Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Wowza. This book is the very definition of epic, family drama.
First, I have to warn you: It’s very long. But, it didn’t feel like it! (I have friends in book club who pick books based on length so skip this puppy, ladies!)
The story follows a young, destitute, Indian boy, who is sold into servitude. He ends up working for a major crime family and from there, what a ride!
It’s a real page turner, but at it’s heart, is a story of what family (especially fathers) really means and how they shape our lives. The ending had me thinking for days after…
The Rules of Fortune by Danielle Prescod (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Another family drama about an overbearing father and how he shapes their family!
What I really liked about this book: It was interesting to see the pressures / expectations on a wealthy family of color and how that played out over the long-term. Also, the ending was excellent.
What I didn’t like: The characters. I just didn’t really feel like I got to know them well enough to be super invested in their lives so by the end I was just reading to finish it.
The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza
This book is fantastic!
I don’t want to tell you much about it, which feels mean, but is for your own good! I went into it not sure what I was getting into it and it was intense, and a surprise and a delight. Read it!
(One caveat: Maybe skip this one if you have a trip planned to Sicily any time soon because… well, read it and you’ll see.)
Here After by Amy Lin (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Oh, this book!
I’m not sure how to even describe it, except for a total heartrending, honest, unflinching experience of grief.
And I know that makes it sound like one you wouldn’t want to read - and it is hard - but it’s such a gift. A beautifully written, honest look into how you go on after the person you love most is gone and what it takes to keep on living.
North Woods by Daniel Mason (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
I am surprised as you are that this didn’t get 5 stars!
Every English major friend I have told me to read this book and it is EXCELLENT, okay? The premise - the story of a house and its inhabitants through a century - is engaging and really got me thinking about history and how we really are simply stewards of our homes.
The writing is the kind that makes you stop and reread paragraphs. The foreshadowing and symbolism make you want to write an English paper to really dig into it.
But, there’s one thing about it, I just couldn’t get over that seemed totally unnecessary and superfluous and stopped me from giving it 5 stars. I’m not going to say anything, because I don’t want to ruin anything (and YOU SHOULD read it!), but definitely DM me if you want to analyze!
What are you reading right now? Want to read any of the books I listed above?
🎉 Comment below and I’ll pick one winner to send one of the above books to!
(Must be in the US. I’ll DM the winner by Tuesday, April 15th for your address.)
xx. Kara!!