I’m not a frequenter of the romance aisle, but there’s no better time to start than on Valentine’s Day. Whether you’ve got a significant other this year or not, reading a classic romance novel is sure to get you in the loving mood. I recommend stocking up on some pink and red cupcakes, sugar cookies, and a box of chocolates before your dive into your new read — you’re sure to need them when the tears start flowing. I’ve got five recommendations for you to add to your list. Let’s get started! Image from nicholassparks.com 1. “The Last Song” by Nicholas Sparks This was the first book I ever read…
5 Influential Female Authors to Read Today
This past weekend women around the world protested in major cities speaking out against injustices against women in the 2018 Women’s March (an event that began last year as a way to speak out against inequality, sexism, assault, and more). This movement has continued to grow in the last year with fuel being added to the fire every day. From the #metoo movement to an executive order rolling back a mandate that requires companies to cover birth control in their health care plans, it’s more important than ever that women (and men) speak out about their rights and equality. In honor of this movement, I’m here to share some of…
Top 12 Books to Look Forward to in 2018
A new year means a whole new set of books coming out to read. I’m typically pretty bad about looking forward and figuring out what amazing books are coming out, but this year I decided to add some new releases to my list to look forward to. I’ve compiled a list of books including one release for each month of the year. Genres include fiction, young adult fantasy, non-fiction and more. Let’s get started! Photo from Amazon 1. January — “When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing” by Daniel H. Pink In his new book, Pink strives to prove that timing is a science rather than an art. Using research and…
Top 5 Books I Want For Christmas
Christmas was never a huge deal in my family. Of course we celebrated, but when I was a kid, the importance of the holiday was placed on spending time with family, and as I got older, that didn’t change much. I think as the years go on, we all become a little more aware how important time with our loved ones is, and Christmas is the perfect time to come together and celebrate each other. But alas, people still ask you what you want each year. I like to think I’m pretty easy to buy for because I have so many interests, but my parents still make me tell them…
Books I am Thankful For
It’s not quite yet 2018, but I’ve still got a handful of books that I am incredibly thankful for this year. Maybe they were just entertaining, or maybe they taught me an important life lesson — either way, 2017 wouldn’t have been the same without these page turners on my nightstand. Photo from Amazon 1. “Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes I’ve probably already talked about this book too much already, but Shonda Rhimes truly crushed it with this wonderful piece of work. This is one of my favorite books of 2017 (so far) for two reasons: 1) It kept me sane and entertained for seven hours of a 13…
Top 5 Books to Read on Halloween
Happy Halloween! I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of the spooky holiday (I blame my introvert side), but I definitely love getting in the spirit of the season with a good book (as any good bibliophile should). Here are five recommendations of books to read this Halloween to get you feeling in the ghosty, ghouly mood . Photo from Books About Books (booksaboutbooksblog.com) “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson I am actually currently reading this short story, and I have to say I am highly impressed with it (as one should be with Robert Louis Stevenson). I’ve owned the book…
Man Booker Prize: My Short List
Last week, the Man Booker Prize was announced. More commonly known as the Booker Prize, this award is given each year to the best novel written in the English language and published in the UK. This was the second year that the prestigious award went to an American author (originally, the award was given to British, Irish and South African citizens, but in 2014 it grew to include any English-language novel). There is a Short List and a Long List for the award (check out both here). Here is my Short List from the Long List nominees. (Image from Amazon) The Winner: “Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders Of course…
Top 10 Books to Read in College
Most universities have been in session for at least a month now (some for two), so I thought, what better way to welcome the new school year than by creating a book list just for college students (honestly, the lessons these books teach are timeless, but I think they especially pack a punch for those still in school). I know it’s hard to make time for reading when you’re rushing between classes, meetings, and study sessions, but if you’re anything like me, reading is your therapy, and you can manage to squeeze in at least 15 minutes a day to pick up a good book. Here is my list of…
Top 10 Tuesday: Have a Laugh
Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in 2010. It combines what I love most in this world into one—lists, books, and blogging. It couldn’t be any better suited for me! Today’s list is all about getting a laugh. Let’s jump right into the book that have made me chuckle in the past. 1. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris I read this recently and some of his mementos are absolutely hilarious. He recounts serious tales of speech therapy as well as hilarious moments of scooping a turd out of a toilet bowl. A great, light read that leaves you with a couple giggles. If…
Top 5 Wednesday: The Tough Stuff
This Top 5 Wednesday is brought to you by the tough stuff. This week I’m going to highlight the books I’ve read that talk about tough topics such as sexual assault, sexuality, abuse, mental health, or truly anything else that isn’t super happy or healthy. It’s important that books cover these topics because they are present in life and readers should be aware of the tough stuff going on around them, especially when it isn’t happening to them. Let’s get started. 1. Luna by Julie Anne Peters Luna tackles the difficult topic of sexuality and chronicles the struggles of being transgender and understanding your identity in high school. I read this during…
