This month I read 4 books and listened to 1. I'm excited to share them with you! I always say there's nothing as awesome as snuggling under a big blanket with a mug of coffee reading a great book.....but this month, I think reading on the beach in Maui under the 85 degree sun miiiiight be just as good, maybe better! I cannot believe after this I only have two monthly book posts left this year. What a great year of reads! Here we go.....
1. Again But Better by Christine Riccio: I really enjoyed this book! I was on the waitlist for the book for what felt like months, so I decided to scrap that and try the audio version. The narrator was great and it was a light enough read that listening in the car worked well. This is about a shy college student who decides to ditch her pre-med regimented lifestyle and study literature in London. I would probably classify this book as Young Adult, but there was a great love story, fun characters, and an amazing setting. About half way through this book, I was thinking oh please, do not let this go the predictable way I'm thinking and it didn't. This is a sweet fun book about second chances, living your passion, and first loves. This would be a great little book to read this holiday season.
2. Secrets From the Eating Lab by Traci Mann: This book was a true winner in the world of diet/nutrition non-fiction. I mentioned in another post how I've been enjoying listening to the podcast, Balance 365 Life, all about maintaining a balance with health and nutrition to make healthy, sustainable decisions for busy women. The hosts of that podcast reference this book all.the.time. and even have an interview episode with Dr. Mann. I'm so glad I picked this one up. Traci Mann runs an eating lab that studies the psychology of snacking and food choices. Her discoveries basically boil down to the fact that "willpower" is a misguided tool of the diet industry, sustainable lifestyles require mastery of small, easy habits over time, and how most people who are eating a fairly balanced diet will not go to either a crazy unhealthy or crazy regimented place (as many diets lead people to believe). It's all about balance, moderation, and fueling your lifestyle. Body changes, Dr Mann says, are a bonus that will fall into place once healthy habits are practiced and ingrained. Sound advice! This book references the other diet book I read last year, Mindless Eating, which shares similar research.
3. I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi: This book came onto my book pile upon the recommendation of one of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster. This one is about a mom who dies under mysterious circumstances and how she views the life of her teenage daughter and husband in her absence. She tries to send messages from beyond and set up their lives for happiness even though she's not there. I thought that supernatural element might be a bit strange, but it actually worked well. This one has a really sweet ending and I really enjoyed all of the characters. I found out the author is actually local, from Park City, so I'd love to check out some of her other books in the future.
4. Well Met by Jen DeLuca: This book was my Book of the Month club selection over the summer and I just got around to reading it on our trip. This book was read entirely in Hawaii and was the perfect vacation read! This one is about a young woman who returns to her small hometown (sounds like the start to every Hallmark movie, right) and gets roped into volunteering for the Renaissance fair. It's cheesy. It's predictable. It's cute. It's rated R for the bedroom scenes. It's got a happy ending. This was good, but not great or memorable by any means. It was the perfect beach read, with a sweet ending, a light plot, and engaging characters.
5. What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand: This is the second book in a 3 part series about a family on St. John's. The main character, Irene, discovers her late husband had a secret life on the island and she moves there along with her adult children. It's classic Hilderbrand--beach setting, large cast of characters, romance, friendship, etc. This book was good but I read the first book in the series last year so I spent the first 20 pages or so confused and needing a refresher. I'd recommend reading the first book, Winter in Paradise, and then reading this one right after. The third book is due out in the fall of next year.
That's a wrap on a great month of reading!
And now here are all the books I've read in 2019....with stars by my faves!1. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen2. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick3. The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank4. *Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty5. Happy Teachers Change The World by Thich Nhat Hanh and Katherine Weare6. The Day I Went Missing by Jennifer Miller7. *Glow Kids by Kardaras Nicholas8. Final Girls by Riley Sager9. *Becoming by Michelle Obama10. As Long As We Both Shall Live by Joann Chaney11. *The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth12. If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey13. *The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman14. Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanne Elden15. *Regrets Only by Erin Duffy16. *Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell17. I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella18. *The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris19. *Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott20. When Did I Get Like This? by Amy Wilson21. *Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman22. Maid by Stephanie Land23. Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson24. Sh*tty Mom by Laurie Kilmartin, Karen Moline, Alicia Ybarbo, MaryAnn Zoellner25. Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson26. Dietland by Sarai Walker27. The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth28. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang29. *Life Will Be the Death of Me by Chelsea Handler30. *Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand31. Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty32. *The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides33. Roar by Cecelia Ahern34. A Love Letter Life by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff35. The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Frances36. *Lock Every Door by Riley Sager37. *Can I Get An Amen? by Sarah Healy38. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson39. *Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid40. How Do You Tuck In a Superhero? by Rachel Balducci41. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert 42. *No Exit by Taylor Adams43. *Things You Save In a Fire by Katherine Center44. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
45. *Again But Better by Christine Riccio
46. *Secrets from the Eating Lab by Traci Mann
47. I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi
48. Well Met by Jen DeLuca
49. What Happens In Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie
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