2018: A Year in Books

Ok, Here it is! My final book post of 2018....even though it's 2019. Just work with me, mmmkay? This was an amazing year of books. Between updating the library app, connecting with reader friends near and far, being gifted the Book of the Month Club, and being dedicated to always having a read going, I can proudly say I read 72 books this year. My goal is typically 50 and I'm cool keeping it there for next year. Now, throughout the year, I kept a log of my reads with stars by the ones I liked the best that month. You can read all my 2018 book reviews HERE. I am so glad I noted which ones I liked best because then it made this Top 10 thing way easier. However....narrowing down to my Top Ten and ranking them was HARD. There were so many great ones this year! Are you ready for my TOP TEN BOOKS of 2018. They are sort of in order, but mainly they were too hard to choose from. I really enjoyed these 10 reads. 

10. I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

9. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendriks and Sarah Pekkanen

8. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

7. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

6. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

5. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

4. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

And now for the top 3........

3. The Mommy Group by Elizabeth Isadora Gold

2. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

1. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine 

Ahhhhh!!!! Really, those 10 are all winners in my opinion. So from that list, I suppose I can conclude: I like thrillers, female empowerment, heartfelt characters, tough topics (abuse, abortion, crime etc.), second chances, relatable narrators, love stories, and suspense. 

I hope if you are not a reader, you consider making 2019 your year. I always tell my students, there is no such thing as not liking to read, it just means you're not reading the right stuff. Here's the a 2019 full of connections, laughs, tears, revelations, and "aha's"...all through the written word. 

Savor Your Sparkle,

Leslie 

PS) Want to see the complete list? Here it is......

*1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
2. When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Whalen

*3. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan

4. Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker

*5. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

6. Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan

*7. The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell

8. Parent Hacks by Asha Dornfest

9. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

10. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

*11. Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hagar and Barbara Pierce Bush

12. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

13. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado

14. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert

15. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

*16. The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

*17. Sugar by Kimberly Stuart

18. Achtung Baby by Sara Zaske

*19. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen

20. Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman

*21. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

*22. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

23. Mindless Eating by Brad Wansick

24. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins

25. Our Father by Pope Francis

26. Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

*27. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

28. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

29. You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfled

30. This is Me by Chrissy Metz

31. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

32. The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir

*33. Calypso by David Sedaris

*34. We're Doing It Wrong by David Michael Slater

*35. Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

36. The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk

*37. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

38. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

39. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

40. There Are No Grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman

*41. Educated by Tara Westover

42. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

*43. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

44. The People We Hate At The Wedding by Grant Ginder

*45. I'll Be Gone in The Dark by Michelle McNamara

46. People I Want to Punch in The Throat by Jen Mann

47. Hello Sunshine by Laure Dave

*48. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

49. When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

50. From Scratch by Allen Salkin

51. Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

52. Heartland by Kimberly Stuart

53. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

*54. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

55. By The Book by Julia Sonneborn

56. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

57. Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

58. The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

*59. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg

60. Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

61. The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

*62. Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins

63. An Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks

64. Fashion Victim by Amina Akhtar

*65. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

66. Ruthless by Bo Stern

*67. Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand 

68. What To Expect The First Year By Heidi Murkoff

69. The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy

*70. The Mommy Group by Elizabeth Isadora Gold

71. The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center

72. Girl in Snow by Danya Kukofka

December Reads

I'm here with my final 2018 monthly book post! December is busy but I was able to get into some good books! Here we go.....

1. What To Expect The First Year by Heidi Murkoff: Now this is sort of a cheater one to add to my December list because I read along with it all year as Hank turned each new month. I cracked it open while I was pumping those first few weeks and finished it up just last week. Just like What to Expect When You're Expecting, I think this book is necessary for any new parent (great gift alert!). I love how you can read along as the months go by and the super detailed index means you can look up almost anything you're wondering about. BUT.....this book can cause unnecessary anxiety. I freaked out when Hank wasn't smiling when the book said he "should be." Every pregnancy/baby/parenting book needs to be taken with a grain of salt and this is no exception. Your pediatrician, baby, and spouse are the varsity team when it comes to what's best for your little one. Nevertheless, this book was super helpful and handy, and I found myself picking it up again and again.

2. The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy: Knox McCoy is half of the talent on the podcast "The Popcast." I. Love. The. Popcast. I promise it'll make you laugh out loud and there's over 250 episodes. Give it a chance. Anyway, Knox wrote his first book which is sort of the male version of the Melanie Shankle, Sophie Hudson variety. Basically, it's humor, with a dash of memoir, and some faith lessons thrown in, all told in little vignettes. I liked this book, I really did, and found myself laughing out loud in parts. However, with all my adoration of the Popcast, I had much higher expectations for this book. I could have used more snark and less Sunday School. Does that make me a bad person? Well, anyway, if you're looking for a humorous, warm, quick read, this one might be worth it. Plus, Knox is so dang genuine and likable, that I pre-ordered this one on Amazon (I rarely buy books anymore) pretty much because I think it's so cool he made his book writing dreams come true and his thoughts deserve an audience.

3. The Mommy Group by Elizabeth Isadora Gold: I LOVED THIS BOOK! The funny thing is, I have a list of books I want to read and usually just choose straight from there, but every once in a while, I pick up one randomly at the library and it pays off. This book is written in a humorous journalistic style (a lot like "Living Danishly", "More Than Happy" and "Bringing Up Bebe") about a new mommy and the friends she makes in her artsy/yuppy Brooklyn neighborhood. It follows the author through her whole first year of motherhood and it was just a delightful read. It's funny, insightful, interesting, sweet, and so so so relatable. If you're a mom, read this one. I really enjoyed it.

4. The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center: I had never heard of Katherine Center until her book, "How to Walk Away" was one of my spring Book of the Month picks and I really liked her writing style. This books was just ok.....it's definitely chick lit in every sense of the word and plays out like a Hallmark movie. Which is fine by me, honestly. It is about a woman who suddenly becomes a single mom and then, bam, falls in love with the actual boy next door. Cute, light, fun, fluffy.

5. Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafa: I had heard that this book was a thriller like Gone Girl or Girl on The Train (I mean, it shares a title word with both of them), but this book comes nowhere close to those classics. It has very heavy, poetic writing and seems like it's trying too hard at times. The "dramatic ending" was sort of blah for me. There were a few times when I was reading this that I'd stop and look at Amazon reviews to see if I was alone in my thoughts about it. My views fit with the consensus: it tries but falls flat and the suspense of the murder mystery gets lost in slow wordiness. I'd skip it.

Sometime this next week I'll be working on my TOP TEN books of 2018. What a great year of books it has been! Grab a steamy mug of cocoa or a chilled glass of moscato, curl up under and giant blanker and get into those pages, friend! Tis the season!

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

November Reads

Hi Friends/Readers!
     I am so excited to share my November reads with you today! I played catch up with some Book of the Month picks, got my hands on the new Jodi Piccoult and read a great faith-based book too.

Ready? Set? Read!

1. The Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks: Yes, that Tom Hanks. Guys, I hated this book. Like it was hard to plow through it. I haven't read a book like that in a long time. Here's the thing, this is a book of short stories, which normally I love (David Sedaris, Sloane Crossley etc) but these were just boring to me. I was telling AJ about it and he asked what all the stories have in common or if there is a common thread (one of the most endearing parts about short story collections) and you know what I said, "Yes, all the stories have something to do with TYPEWRITERS." I'm not kidding, it's the truth. I didn't realize how crazy that was until I said it out loud. Maybe it's too literary for my taste and I'm missing something, but I don't think so. Tom, I love ya, but I was not a fan of this collection.

2. Fashion Victim by Amina Akhtar: I chose this book as a fun, spooky Halloween read but I didn't get around to it until November. Oops. I liked this book in the same way I liked Pretty Little Liars: Creepy, engaging, but also found it sort of outrageous and ridiculous. This book is about a fashion magazine and a creepy employee who is "dying" to fit in....at whatever cost. This book is very violent but it made me want to keep reading. It's told from the villain's point of view so it's interesting. It definitely has Young Adult novel vibes, but overall, it was worth the read.

3. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult: I've been waiting for this book for months! I am a major Picoult fan and this one did not disappoint. Now, it wasn't my favorite of her books (Nineteen Minutes and Leaving Time are my faves), but it features her beautiful, poignant storytelling and her masterful ability to get into the head of every single character. This book is about a shooting at an abortion clinic and it's told hour by hour backwards with vignettes about how each character managed to find themselves at the clinic that day. A warning---there are graphic descriptions of shooting/hostage situation that I found disturbing but there is also a tough scene about an abortion procedure....at times it was hard to read. BUT...I would still overwhelmingly recommend this book. It's one that begs to be discussed and really opens the conversation about women's rights, politics, faith, freedom, class, sex, and ultimately, how women can be each other's allies. A heavy one, but a good one.

4. Ruthless by Bo Stern: My brother in law, Matt, gave me this book written by a pastor at the church he attended in Bend. This was a really great book about, as the cover puts it, knowing "The God who fights for you." This book is well organized and each chapter finishes the sentence, "The God who fights for you______." This book used scripture passages and bible stories (Stern previously wrote a book all about discovering God's character through the battles in the Bible and that theme is woven throughout this book too) to share essential truths about who God is and what that means for our lives. One of the quotes from the book I loved so much that I took a picture and wrote it in my journal: "We have mistakenly recast the idea of God's grace as something that eliminates sin rather than what it really is: the thing that activates forgiveness. Grace positions us within reach of God's mercy; it does not remove our desperate need for it." Truth bomb right there. This is a great little read if you're looking for a faith-based read this season.

5. Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand: This was such a fun read! I've read a few of Hilderbrand's books before, and they are a no-fail/good plot line/chick lit choice. This is the start of a series (the other ones are due out in the next few years, so no pressure to commit to a whole new series now) about a family shaken by the death of their patriarch, their unexpected travels to St. John's and the characters, experiences, secrets, and of course romance that meets them there. This was one I read late into the night because it has everything I like in a novel. Now....is it an award winning, incredible, recommend repeatedly, so dang good book? No. But it's fun. Perfect hot cocoa companion read.

Whew! Only one month left of 2018 left to read! Ahh! Here are my 2018 reads....hoping to get in at least a few more this year. I put stars by my very favorites. I was thinking about putting together a Top 10 list next month....it'll be a hard choice!

Happy Reading, friends!
Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

*1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

2. When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Whalen

*3. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan

4. Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker

*5. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

6. Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan

*7. The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell

8. Parent Hacks by Asha Dornfest

9. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

10. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

*11. Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hagar and Barbara Pierce Bush

12. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

13. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado

14. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert

15. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

*16. The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

*17. Sugar by Kimberly Stuart

18. Achtung Baby by Sara Zaske

*19. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen

20. Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman

*21. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

*22. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

23. Mindless Eating by Brad Wansick

24. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins

25. Our Father by Pope Francis

26. Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

*27. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

28. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

29. You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfled

30. This is Me by Chrissy Metz

31. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

32. The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir

*33. Calypso by David Sedaris

*34. We're Doing It Wrong by David Michael Slater

*35. Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

36. The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk

*37. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

38. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

39. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

40. There Are No Grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman

*41. Educated by Tara Westover

42. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

*43. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

44. The People We Hate At The Wedding by Grant Ginder

*45. I'll Be Gone in The Dark by Michelle McNamara

46. People I Want to Punch in The Throat by Jen Mann

47. Hello Sunshine by Laure Dave

*48. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

49. When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

50. From Scratch by Allen Salkin

51. Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

52. Heartland by Kimberly Stuart

53. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

*54. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

55. By The Book by Julia Sonneborn

56. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

57. Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

58. The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

*59. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg

60. Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

61. The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

*62. Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins

63. An Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks

64. Fashion Victim by Amina Akhtar

*65. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

66. Ruthless by Bo Stern

*67. Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand 

October Reads

It's time for another edition of monthly reads! To see all the book posts from 2018, click here.
October started out slow on the reading front and I wondered if I'd even finish 2 books, but I did and ended up really enjoying this month of books.

1. The Other Woman by Sandie Jones: I had super high hopes for this one and was on the library waitlist for a while, and this one sort of fell flat for me. It's about a struggling young woman and her evil mother in law (2018, please cool it with the Lifetime movie character prototypes). I found parts to be a bit laughable and the "twist" at the end made me eyeroll. I'd skip this one if I were you.

2. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg: Ok, so I loved this book but nothing really happens in it. How's that for a ringing endorsement? This book is a short novel about a woman rebuilding her life after her husband passes away. She moves to a small town, befriends the local characters, and "finds herself." There are no major twists or crazy plot points, but it was sweet. And heartfelt. The description of this book reads, "Elizabeth Berg's The Year of Pleasures is about acknowledging the solace found in ordinary things: a warm bath, good food, the beauty of nature, music, friends, and art." This is a simple book that was a perfect choice to usher in cool fall days. 

3. Whiskey In a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon: Reese Witherspoon wrote a book ("What? Like it's hard?"-Elle Woods) with an adorable title that I was excited to dive into. This is a really fun read that's part coffee table book, part cookbook, part lifestyle manual, part memoir. It's all about Reese's childhood in the South and how to emulate the best parts of Southern culture (food, manners, gumption) wherever you are. This was a fun read and would make an awesome holiday book gift!

4. The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle: This was a Book of the Month club pick and I liked it. I did. But... it sort of confused me. This is about a young woman who ends up at a mysterious dinner party with ghosts from her past (actual ghosts, people....one of them is Audrey Hepburn) and rehashes her relationships to make more sense of them. I feel like that description didn't make a lot of sense because the book sort of doesn't either. It goes back and forth from the mysterious dinner party to the relationship with her ex-boyfriend. I liked the love story but the whole concept was sort of odd. I read this one quickly because I found myself wanting to read on to find out how it all fits together. This is not one I typically would have picked up, so I'm glad for the Book of the Month Club to expose me to some new reads. 

5. Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins: This book was so fun. If you're looking for classic chick lit with a lot of heart and great characters, pick this one up. This book follows a group of girlfriends who try and attack their bucket lists after their friend passes away. This one deals with weight, love, family, girl power, and more. This is just a great book that was the perfect balance of easy breezy and heartfelt and thoughtful. 

That's 62 book so far in 2018. I have a stack of other fun reads ready to roll. Grab a cozy blanket, make a cup of tea, and get into some pages!

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie 

September Reads

Hi Guys!
     I have my September book post for you today. I read 5 books and enjoyed them all. Anyone else wish they could just hibernate for a few hours (or days, or weeks) and get after all.the.reads?! Without further ado.....here we go!

1. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin: I am a huge Emily Giffin fan (her chick lit never disappoints). This one was a departure from typical Giffin novels but I really liked this new direction. It reminded me a lot of Jodi Piccoult books with the various perspectives that switch. This one is about high schoolers who make bad decisions at a party, the fall out and consequences, and how their parents cope. It dives into sexism, social media issues, parenting, and more. It was a good novel to curl up with this month.

2. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage: THIS BOOK! AHH! Let me put it this way: I devoured it in 3 days (which for a working mom is a feat, ya'll), texted numerous friends that they needed to read it ASAP, passed it on to AJ, and I can't stop thinking about it. I won't give too much away but this one explores psychopathic behavior in a child. Think Bad Seed. Can children be born devious or is this a learned behavior? Is the child really evil? Is there supernatural business going on? Who is abusing who? Who is playing who? This is twisty, freaky, fun, bizarre and perfect for Halloween time. This one is not light and fluffy but dang, it captured me!

3. By The Book by Julia Sonneborn: This one is a chick lit read about an English professor, her fun friends, and a blossoming romance with an old flame. This one is predictable, but cute and fun, nonetheless. I think this would make a fun romantic comedy movie. If you want a novel that's fast paced, cute, and thoughtful, pick this one up.

4. The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah: This one scared me away a bit because it's LONG. But it was worth it! I loved the beautiful descriptions of Alaska and the wonderful female characters we read about. This is a major Girl Power read and I loved the romance. BUT....I am getting slightly sick of reading about weird/abusive family situations (Glass Castle, Educated, Hillbilly Elegy etc). However, this one had a lot of heart to it (and it helps that it's a novel and not real, too, you know?). This would be the perfect book to crack open under a blanket this fall and get lost in the beautiful landscape of Alaska. Warning, keep tissues nearby.

5. Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman an Kim Barnouin: I have mixed feelings about this read. I loved how it was light and easy to understand. It truly made nutrition basics easy to digest (pun intended) and I even loved some of the snarky writing style. I learned great things from this book, like did you know most Americans consume way more protein than necessary? What we're really lacking is leafy greens. I didn't love the push for veganism and felt that some of the "gross out" sections about the meat industry were sort of unnecessary. I will still drink milk and coffee and eat meat (the authors of this book would shun me for that), but it was worth the read for one perspective on healthy eating and nutrition.

I cannot wait to dive into my "To Read" pile next! Here is my list of 2018 reads so far! I put stars by the ones I really liked.

*1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
2. When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Whalen
*3. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan
4. Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker
*5. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
6. Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
*7. The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
8. Parent Hacks by Asha Dornfest
9. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
10. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
*11. Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hagar and Barbara Pierce Bush
12. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
13. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
14. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert
15. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
*16. The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani
*17. Sugar by Kimberly Stuart
18. Achtung Baby by Sara Zaske
*19. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen
20. Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman
*21. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
*22. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
23. Mindless Eating by Brad Wansick
24. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
25. Our Father by Pope Francis
26. Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser
*27. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
28. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
29. You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfled
30. This is Me by Chrissy Metz
31. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
32. The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir
*33. Calypso by David Sedaris
*34. We're Doing It Wrong by David Michael Slater
*35. Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

36. The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk

*37. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

38. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

39. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

40. There Are No Grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman

*41. Educated by Tara Westover

42. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

*43. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

44. The People We Hate At The Wedding by Grant Ginder

*45. I'll Be Gone in The Dark by Michelle McNamara

46. People I Want to Punch in The Throat by Jen Mann

47. Hello Sunshine by Laure Dave

*48. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

49. When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

50. From Scratch by Allen Salkin

51. Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

52. Heartland by Kimberly Stuart

53. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

*54. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

55. By The Book by Julia Sonneborn

56. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
57. Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

Savor Your Sparkle,

Leslie 

August Reads

I have been so pumped to post my August reads for you all because this was my favorite reading month of 2018 (so far!). August is also the last month of summer so I know my reading will probably slow significantly so I felt like I had to read read read this month to get in all these great ones!
Here we go....

1. I'll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara: This. book. was. amazing. I am a true crime lover and the story of the Golden State Killer fascinates (and sickens) me. This book is a wonderful non-fiction book that reads like a novel. It's just as much about Michelle's journey and thoughts as it is about straight facts about the case. My heart absolutely breaks that his arrest occurred after Michelle passed away. There is a beautiful and haunting poem in this book that Michelle wrote in the midst of decades of dead ends (but how close she got to actually pinning down the killer is uncanny) where she writes that one day he will be an old man, living his life, smug that he got away with so much terror, and the police will knock on his door and justice will finally be served. CHILLS (this actually happened this past spring). If you like true crime, this is a must read.

2. People I Want To Punch In The Throat by Jen Mann: This one was a delight. I am a huge fan of hilarious memoirs and this one all about suburban motherhood made me laugh. From Jen's anxiety over getting her kids signed up for the "right" summer camps to her strong desire to own a mini van, this one is relatable and funny, self-deprecating in all the right ways and sweet at heart. A fun, fast read.

3. Hello Sunshine by Laura Dave: I was browsing audio books at the library looking for one to round out the summer in the car and the cute cover of this one caught my eye. This book was so fun, I loved it! It involves romance, the social media and food scene, pretty descriptions of the Hamptons, and more. This is cute chick lit at its best. You'll find yourself cheering for the protagonist as she rebuilds her life and has adventures along the way.

4. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan: I LOVED THIS BOOK! I finished this one in a weekend because I just had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. This one follows an American Woman who goes to Oxford and has fun adventures (reminded me a lot of The Royal We) but then she falls in love....with a professor. About half way through there's a major twist that I did not see coming. I cried in this one, laughed, and cheered. It was a wonderful book.

5. When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger: I was on the library hold list for this one for a long time and it makes perfect sense: this is a great pool-side summer read. This one was cute, fluffy chick lit. I mean, it's Lauren Weisberger (The Devil Wears Prada) so you know it'll be good. There's honestly not much of a story here, more like 3 pals brought together in Connecticut and how their lives unfold. Still, it was definitely worth the read. The best part? The cameo from Miranda Priestly (the devil herself)!

6. From Scratch: Inside the Food Network by Allen Salkin: This book was in my Easter basket from my family this year. I love the Food Network and I loved reading about the stars of the network. It made me respect Bobby Flay, eye-roll over Robert Irvine, love Rachael Ray, confirm that Anne Burrell is pretty odd, and decide that Ina is in a class all her own. This book was way too long and dense (lots of talk about how the network was created, early days of niche cable networks), but overall it was an interesting read. I'd only recommend this one if you watch and like the Food Network...and even then it was a lot. It's worth skimming!

7. Ghosted by Rosie Walsh: This was my July Book of the Month pick. Ok, I LOVED this one for the first half. It follows the story of a woman who meets and falls in love with her dream man over one fateful weekend. He then disappears leaving her reeling. You do end up finding out why she was "ghosted," and it all wraps up nicely in the end. I guess all the psychological thrillers and twisted characters in other reads this year had me expecting a bit more.

8. Heart Land by Kimberly Stuart: Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the first book to ever make me have a library fine! This one was due earlier this week and I was half way through, it couldn't be renewed, and I had no choice. I'd say it's 75 cents well spent. I loved the book Sugar by Kimberly Stuart so I put her name on my list to check out and this is her latest book. The good? Fun romance and "prodigal daughter" story line. The not so good? Typical. Very typical. This one has a sightly Christian bend but not enough to be considered a "Christian novel." I am torn on this one. It was cute and fun but totally not memorable.

This was one of my favorite reading months! I have full nightstand of September reads ready to roll. Now if only I could add some more hours in my day. Happy reading, friends!

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

July Reads

This was a major month for reading around here. Being a teacher, going on vacation, and having the time off will do that I guess! I read 9 interesting books this month (well, listened to one on audio) and have some thoughts....

1. The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk: I enjoyed this light read which was a nice mix of biblical reflections and real talk about being a mom in 2018. There's a lot of talk about the holiness and calling of motherhood and the necessity of self care. I liked it. This would be a great gift for a new mama.

2. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell: I LOVED this book! I could not put this one down. It's super creepy (and mildly disturbing, honestly), but very suspenseful. It follows the story of a mom who is trying to rebuild her life after the mysterious disappearance of her teenage daughter and she finds clues where she least expects to. If you like Gillian Flynn, I think you'll enjoy this page turner.

3. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon: This was a book given to teachers at my school to read over the summer to prepare us for our theme of the year next year. This was a super fast read and a tiny book. I liked how it shares management/team building principles in a parable form. It made some great points and no one can disagree that energy is a key ingredient in work life. I'm excited to see how it's applied to our school culture this next year.

4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle: I have been on the audio book waitlist for this one for months! It came in to the library about a week before our road trip so I listened to about half before we left and the other half on the road (sorry AJ, lol). I really want to see the movie now and see how it was adapted to the big screen. It was good, I didn't love it. Sci fi isn't really my scene. I'll be honest, I really picked this up because of Oprah #sorrynotsorry.

5. There Are No Grown-Ups by Pamela Druckerman: I found out about this book because the author wrote one of my faves, Bringing Up Bebe. This was a light, fast read but it wasn't my favorite. It's a memoir about experiencing middle age in Paris (and as with most things, I imagine it's much more delightful in Paris than Utah), but it felt like the author was stretching to make a book out of what could have essentially been an article. She also details a threesome experience that made me clutch my pearls. Skip this one.

6. Educated by Tara Westover: This book is fascinating! It is a memoir about an amazing young woman (she's about my age which made it super interesting) who grows up to "survivalists" (think preppers, bunkers, end of times people) and her journey to a college degree even though she never. went. to. school. before. then. Seriously! It's endearing, devastating, interesting, and super sad. But you'll find yourself rooting for Tara, she's amazing and has done remarkable things with so little support. I LOVED Hillbilly Elegy last summer and this reminds me a lot of that book.

7. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg: This book was a cute comedic tale of a group of elderly folks in Sweden (the book has been translated....I still found myself googling some terms) who decide to rob banks to go to "posh" Scandinavian prisons where life is better than their scandal-ridden retirement home. There's all sorts of mishaps and adventures but ultimately, this is a story about friendship. The relationships between these badass octogenarians are so sweet. This was a great vacation read and feel good story.

8. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman: I think I can say that this was my favorite July book! Eleanor is a delightful narrator and you'll find yourself wanting to give her a hug and make her a mug of tea. This story, told from Eleanor's quirky perspective, is about a woman trying to survive daily life and forge relationships in spite of her traumatic past. There's a twist ending and despite some heavy themes, it's really a sweet book. Pick it up this summer.

9. The People We Hate At The Wedding by Grant Ginder: This is a novel about a dysfunctional family and their preparations for a family wedding no one really cares about. I liked the shifting narrators to get multiple perspectives (a la Jodi Piccoult....she does this best), and there are some funny moments, but none of these characters are likable and I honestly felt bad for the bride in this book----what a rude and selfish group at her big day. Ha! This is pretty classic chick lit and it wasn't bad but there are better beach reads out there by far.

WHEW!!! That's a wrap on my July reading. I know my reading will slow down a bit once school starts, so I've tried to pick some really good ones to read next. I'll, of course, keep you posted! Thanks for following along. And for kicks, here are the 2018 reads (with stars by my faves)! Here is where you can read my posts on them.

*1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
2. When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Whalen
*3. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan
4. Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker
*5. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
6. Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
*7. The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
8. Parent Hacks by Asha Dornfest
9. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
10. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
*11. Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hagar and Barbara Pierce Bush
12. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
13. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
14. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert
15. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
*16. The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani
*17. Sugar by Kimberly Stuart
18. Achtung Baby by Sara Zaske
*19. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen
20. Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman
*21. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
*22. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
23. Mindless Eating by Brad Wansick
24. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
25. Our Father by Pope Francis
26. Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser
*27. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
28. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
29. You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfled
30. This is Me by Chrissy Metz
31. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
32. The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir
*33. Calypso by David Sedaris
*34. We're Doing It Wrong by David Michael Slater
*35. Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

36. The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk

*37. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

38. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

39. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

40. There Are No Grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman

*41. Educated by Tara Westover

42. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

*43. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

44. The People We Hate At The Wedding by Grant Ginder

Happy reading!
Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

June Reads!

Hi Friends,
   This month was a big one in the book department. I read 7 books. Summer reading is one of my most favorite things! If you are interested in the books I've read and reviewed, click HERE.
Ok, here are my June reads..... 2 short story collections, 2 autobiographies, 1 education book, 1 chick lit novel, and 1 dramatic novel.

1.You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld

I really liked this book of short stories. Curtis Sittenfeld has written some of my fave books (Prep, American Wife, Eligible) so I knew this collection was bound to be good. Some of these stories are rated-R so be warned, but I found myself so engrossed in her tales and I think it's the true mark of a talented writer to be able to tell a short story. Check this one out for thoughtful, engaging takes on modern womanhood.

2. This is Me by Chrissy Metz

If you are a fan of This is Us (and if you're not then you can't be my friend. Jk...kinda), then you know of Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson. Her story to fame and a starring role on a hit TV show is really interesting. Throughout the book she includes little tidbits of advice that she calls "Bee Mindful" sections. Overall, this is a fast, fun read that I would check out if you like This is Us

3. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Jenny Lawson is the popular blogger behind The Bloggess and I've been told numerous times that I'd enjoy her quirky off beat humor. This book was funny and I especially enjoyed the parts about marriage and motherhood (the parts about her childhood go on for too many pages I think), BUT Jenny Lawson is one kooky lady. I appreciate some odd humor and people who embrace their weirdness but this chick is kinda nuts and the book reads like her ramblings and it sort of feels like you're in the mind of someone with severe ADHD. It was a light breezy summer read but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

4. The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir

This book was my June selection for the Book of the Month Club. The basic rundown without giving anything away: Imagine if one of the Duggar children suddenly got pregnant as a teenager. The family decides to stage a fake marriage to make the pregnancy look planned. Things sort of derail from there. This book pretty predictable but I did still enjoy it. An interesting premise and a really fast read. I didn't want to put it down to find out what happens and it turns out the hunch I had at the beginning was correct. Overall, it was pretty good.

5. Calypso by David Sedaris

I've been on the library wait list for this book for months (even though it was just released!). I adore David Sedaris. This book did not disappoint and for David Sedaris fans, please pick this one up. It's exactly what you'd expect from him: quirky, offbeat, thought provoking, spot on commentary on the absurdity of life. It deals with the tragic suicide of his sister in a thoughtful deep way without getting too terribly dark. My favorite story was, without a doubt, the one about how much he loves buying souvenirs on his trips to Asia. In response to his mom's question of why he doesn't prefer a museum over a mall, his response is, "Um, because museums don't sell shit." Makes sense to me, David. Loved this one.

6. We're Doing It Wrong by David Michael Slater

I already gushed about this one on Facebook. I love reading some education books and this one was so. amazing. The format is for every 25 ideas that Slater claims are being implemented incorrectly, he offers research-based solutions that he believes can transform classrooms, schools, and the whole education system. I really resonated with this author and nearly every page I was practically shouting, "Yes! Preach!" Slater doesn't suggest throwing out current teaching and assessment techniques, he merely suggests we tweak the focus from test scores and achievement to teaching great student habits and respecting the art of teaching. Loved It!

7. Fitness Junkie by Lucky Sykes and Jo Piazza

I heard about this book from the Big BooCast Podcast. I haven't read a good, classic chick lit novel in a long time and this one right here fit the bill. The premise is a young wedding dress designer who is told by her boss to lose some lbs. Hilarity ensues as the protagonist tries all sorts of zany exercise and food trends to shed the weight. My biggest issue with this book was that the main character doesn't throw more of a fit that she's basically told she's ugly and she better change or get fired. Ummm, excuse me? I thought more of a resistance on her part would have made the book more believeable. Nevertheless, this is a great beach/pool read and gives all the elements of great chick lit: big city, love story, likable protagonist, misadventures, and a nice, happy ending.

And because we're a HALF WAY into 2018 (What? How?) I am posting all my 2018 reads so far here. While all had their pros and cons, I put stars next to ones I especially enjoyed.

*1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
2. When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Whalen
*3. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan
4. Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker
*5. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
6. Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
*7. The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
8. Parent Hacks by Asha Dornfest
9. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
10. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
*11. Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hagar and Barbara Pierce Bush
12. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
13. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
14. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert
15. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
*16. The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani
*17. Sugar by Kimberly Stuart
18. Achtung Baby by Sara Zaske
*19. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen
20. Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman
*21. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
*22. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
23. Mindless Eating by Brad Wansick
24. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
25. Our Father by Pope Francis
26. Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser
*27. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
28. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
29. You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfled
30. This is Me by Chrissy Metz
31. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
32. The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir
*33. Calypso by David Sedaris
*34. We're Doing It Wrong by David Michael Slater
*35. Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

Happy reading!
Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

May Reads

It's time for another monthly book recap! I read 5 books this month and tried to get a variety of types. If you want to see other book reviews from 2018, click here. Here we go.....

1. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins. I liked this book, I think it'd be a great one to toss in your pool bag or to pack on a getaway. It takes place in Maine is a bit of a prodigal daughter story. It was typical chick lit, not the greatest one I've come across, but a perfect summery book.

2. Our Father by Pope Francis: This was a super short read and I really liked it. I love the wisdom of this pope and I really liked the format of this book breaking down The Lord's Prayer. He writes beautifully about God as the father---a caring, loving God completely invested in our lives.

3. Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser: This was the first book I received from my Book of the Month Club subscription (AJ got it for me for my birthday. Each month they send you summaries of 5 books and you pick the one you want for the month. If you want to add a previous month's book selection to your monthly box it's only $10. Many of the books haven't even be released yet). Anyway, the description of this book about a neighborhood wine club of young moms full of secrets seemed right up my alley (Liane Moriarty, anyone?) but I didn't love this one. It has a really satisfying and happy ending but it took way too long to get to it. It wasn't bad but there are way better suspenseful chick lit reads out there.

4. How To Walk Away by Katherine Center: I really liked this book!! This was another Book of the Month club pick and I chose it because I was in the mood for a novel to get lost in with an uplifting story and some romance. This story is about a woman who becomes a paraplegic and how she rebuilds her life, reconnects with family, and makes her life one worth living. The bulk of the story takes place in a hospital and it paints such a realistic portrayal of patient life and recovery. This might make it into my top 10 books of the year. I'd love for this to be made into a movie!

5. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis: Ok guys, I had HIGH expectations for this one. I was reading everywhere that this book is a must read for the Jen Hatmaker/Melanie Shankle/Shauna Niequists fan girls (me!). I really did not love this book. It's got great points (follow your dreams! work hard! commit to your marriage! don't have mom guilt!) but the author has a massive ego and never fails to put in sections about how awesome she is and how she has such a huge social media following. I kept feeling like the "lessons" she delivers are coated in smug self satisfaction (the title of this read should have been my clue). I read many reviews of this book and it seems I am the only one who feels this way (shoulder shrug emoji). There are beautiful, heartfelt, hilarious books about modern Christian womanhood that are just so much more worth picking up in my opinion (For The Love by Jen Hatmaker and Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist  to only name a few). 

Now we are approaching summer and I am ALL ABOUT cracking open a good book, sipping an iced beverage and relaxing! Happy reading, friends!

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie