Best 2024 Fiction Books to read

INSIDE : Read along with me this year! Check out the Best 2024 Fiction Books to Read and see my quick reviews of each of them. From mystery to thriller and romance, I love reading a wide variety of books and I’d love hearing which are your favorite!

This post may contain affiliate links.  See full disclosure here.

This post will be updated throughout 2024.

Reading has become such a beautiful escape to me over the last few years. I have found when life feels too busy and overwhelming, being able to sit down and find myself lost in a good fiction book is such a gift.

I also dove deeply into audio books last year. Being a mom to two middle school kiddos means I am in the car more than ever before, so having a good book to listen to on Libby or Audible has been such fun.

My Best Fiction books to read in 2023 went viral for a good part of last year. It was fun to see my post rank right under Barnes and Noble, Vogue, The New Yorker and THEN ME (Delineate Your Dwelling)!!!!

I’m in two bookclubs and think it’s such a fun way to encourage a vary of reading!

Want to check my favorite books from previous years? 

• Best Fiction Books to read in 2021 (read 23 books)
• Best Fiction Books to read in 2022 (read 35 books)
• Best Fiction Books to read in 2023 (read 65 books)
• Best Fiction Books to read in 2024 (read 99 books)
• Best Fiction Books to read in 2025

If you want to see all my recent books in one place, you can check out my Amazon Book page.

Here are all the books I’ve been reading so far in 2024 and I’d love you to comment below with your favorite reads, too!

Shop my 2024 fiction reads…

After reading almost 100 books in 2024, here are MY TOP PICKS from the entire year –

• Yellow Wife (This is not for the faint of heart, a REAL look into slavery – but I loved it.)
• The Perfect Marriage (Adore a good physiological thriller with a twist – so good!)
• Cork Dork (A deep dive into the world of Sommeliers and I found it all so fascinating.)
• Sandwich (It’s a book about the heartache of life, being a mother to adult children, aging, menopause and the ever-changing joys + hardships that come along with it all.)
• The Frozen River (Hooked on page 1 -had tense scenes, tender moments, love, heartbreak, motherhood, women’s rights, etc… it was great.)
• Big Little Lies (This book was great. I couldn’t stop reading it. I love a book with a good plot twist at the end and this one did not disappoint.)
• None of this is True (Another GREAT physiological thriller with a twist – LOVED, yikes!)
• Memoirs of a Geisha (I loved this book.)
• Bel Canto (A hostage situation ends up lasting numerous months and slowly the lines between the hostages and the kidnappers become blurred with hostages teaching terrorists how to speak different languages, how to increase their culinary skills, professionally sing and they even begin to fall in love. I grew to long the “bad guys” and I always think that’s the sign of a good book.)
• Kitchens of the Great Midwest (Each chapter highlights a different character and tells their story and eventually you find the small thread of how they are connected. It’s a story of nature vs nurture, broken mother/daughter relationships and seeing how amazing opportunities can arise when you are diligent and talented. I love books about food.)
•  The Giver (This is ACROSS THE BOARD a great book for all ages.)
• When Breathe becomes Air (It’s beautiful, it’s heart wrenching. It was so interesting. I loved it.)
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Story of endurance, clarity of mind, strength and humanity while under the darkest possible conditions, Nazi camp.)
• Take my Hand (Hard read, but SO good.)
• HONORABLE MENTION – The Lowland (A wonderful story set in 1960 about two inseparable brothers born in Calcutta, India who take very different paths in life.)
• HONORABLE MENTION – This book touches on love, race, brutality and forgiveness. I really enjoyed it. The Berry Pickers 
• HONORABLE MENTION – The Women in the White Kimono (I love Japan and I love learning more about their culture and traditions. I found myself heartbroken while Naoko was sent away and pregnant and loved the ending twist.)
• HONORABLE MENTION –  Everything I never told you (Tragic, but great story about a Chinese American family)
• HONORABLE MENTION – The Island of Sea Women (Touching tale of female friendships during Japanese WW2.)

Reviews of the Best Fiction Books in 2024

1. Go as a River by Shelley Read

Tori is a 17 year old girl who had to learn at a young age how to run the home after her mother dies. She’s the lone girl on her family’s peach farm in rural Colorado. All around her are troubled men, her father, uncle and brother – until she meets a young man named Wilson Moon.

Wilson is all alone, wondering displaced from his tribal lands and meeting Tori alters both of their lives forever. When heartbreak strikes, Tori becomes Victoria and digs deeper than she ever has for strength to do the unthinkable… she strikes out on her own, leaving all she’s ever known.

This story has love, heartbreak, strength building, living on the land, moving as a river, finding a way forward even when you simply can’t face the future.

I felt like there were sections that felt slow and long, but overall really liked this book. 3.75/4 out of 5 for me. Go as a River by Shelley Read

2. Where the Forest meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah

I read this book with my online bookclub for January. It sounded like an unusual premise, but I tell you what if you stick with the book… it all comes together and is really a fun read.

One day while in Jo’s Illinois backyard, a disheveled little girl shows up from the forest claiming to be from another planet. The girl calls herself Ursa and says she was sent to witness five miracles before she can return.

Jo tries to reason with her to explain where she came from and even tries calling the police to report a missing child… but the girl runs away immediately. Reluctantly Jo agrees to let her stay, just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Slowly Ursa works her way into Jo and Jo’s neighbor (Gabe’s) heart – however there are many difficult decisions to be made as Ursa’s mysterious past can’t go completely unanswered.

I actually really enjoyed this book. 4 out of 5 for me. I love a good twist in a book and this one does it perfectly. Where the Forest meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah

3. Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

I love Kristin Hannah’s writing. This is my fifth book of hers to read. I’ve read The Four Winds, The Nightingale, The Great Alone, Firefly Lane and now Magic Hour.

This is the story of Julia Cates, a child psychiatrist and “Alice” the little 6 year old girl who wild wonders into a small town from deep in the Pacific Northwest’s, Olympic National Forest. And she’s no ordinary little girl, she acts more animal like than human and doesn’t speak.

Julia is willing to do whatever it takes to get “Alice” to communicate and free her from her silent past. This is a hard, but great read.

4 out of 5 for me. I really enjoyed this book! Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

4. Sugaring Off by Gillian French

I was gifted this book a few years ago and just got around to reading it. It was an interesting read about a girl named Owl who lives in a remote Maple tree farm in the mountains with her Uncle and Aunt after an abuse incident with her father.

After a boy named Cody is hired to help with the season’s sugaring off, Owl can’t decide to who trust until she finds out her father is being released from prison and she turns to Cody. She later finds out he has quite a checkered past himself and finds herself in the middle of his trouble.

3 out of 5. I enjoyed this read, but wouldn’t say I was wildly in love with it. It held my attention and I loved the cover imagery, being a tree lover myself. Sugaring Off by Gillian French

5. Take my Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

I am reading this book with my local bookclub for January and can’t stop. It gripped me immediately. I am only halfway through it, but I could tell almost instantly this was going to be a powerful book. I think I held my breath during the entire chapter 5.

It takes place in 1973 in Montgomery, Alabama with two young Black girls, Erica and India who are loving far out in the country on a sharecropping shack in squaller. Civil Townsend’s first job, a nurse at a local family planning clinic is full of compassion to help young women have safe options – that is until she realizes two of her patients are mere children (11 and 13).

This book is historical fiction but touches on numerous topics I should know more about. I have since been researching Depo-Provera shots, Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment and other similar topics. This is the type of book that puts me to shame. Humans need to do better. Humans are all humans. Compassion for all is so wildly important. I can’t wait to finish this book, but I also don’t want it to end.

Pretty sure this is going to be my first 5 out of 5 for me. YUP, 5 out 5! Hard read, but a good one. Take my Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

6. How Can I Help You by Laura Sims

This is a darker read… dark as in YIKES at the darkness of people, but not scary. It’s written in a “light hearted” manner, but the main character a “sweet” librarian (Margo) is ANYTHING but light hearted. I’m about 50% done reading it and I have to say it’s a page turner! I have absolutely no idea how this book is going to end, but I am thrilled to find out.

I really liked this book, it was dark but also I couldn’t stop reading. The introduction of Patricia as a supporting character was perfect. I would have given this book a 5 star rating, but I never found out what made Margo/Jane and Patricia REALLY tick and I was waiting for that. Regardless, a great book.

4 out of 5 stars for me, fun read. How Can I Help You by Laura Sims

7. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Sometimes you just need a light easy read and that’s what this book was. I have enjoyed many of TJR’s books. I think they are well written, about love… but not a typical romance book type of love.

This book starts off in chapter 1 with Elise and Ben being married just 9 nine days and while Ben is out riding his bike, he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. The rest of the book is flashbacks to their whirlwind love affair and her coming to terms with how she will deal with the rest of her life without him… let alone the fact that her mother-in-law doesn’t even know Ben was married to her!

It was light and quick to read. 3 out of 5 for me. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

8. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

This book was excellent. It follows the story of a 4 year old Mi’kmaq girl who goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine in 1962. Her family is distraught trying to find her, but because of the color of their skin – no one comes to help.

In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of a family of many quiet secrets. Her father is very emotionally distant and her mother is wildly overprotective, getting headaches over seemingly everything.

Norma often wakes from recurring dreams of a completely different life, but is told they are only dreams. However, as she grows older she realizes clearly things are not as she was told.

This book touches on love, race, brutality and forgiveness. I really enjoyed it. 4.5 out of 5 The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

9. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG

What to say about this book… if you would have asked me like 2 or 3 chapters before it ended, I would have given it almost a 5/5! I loved the story line and just knew there was going to be a great ending. However, when I finished the book I thought wait – did I miss the chapter where things resolved, there were consequences for actions taken (HELLO SETTING FIRE TO A HOUSE) and the characters had any type of truth realization or understanding of themselves and the people around them???! I ended it really loving the book, but feeling irritated and that’s not how you typically want to leave a book.

I think the message of the book was rich white people get to do what they want and goodness, I think that’s more true than I would like to believe.

3 out 5 because it felt like unfinished business and I can’t stand books without justice… but I suppose it did make me think Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG

10. Honor by Thrity Umrigar

This is my local bookclub’s February read. It wasn’t an easy read and felt very heavy for most of the story. This book looks at the tension between Muslims and Hindus – which I admit I knew nothing about. It also delves into the huge sexism that women deal with in India.

Honestly, this book was good but I was not in the head space to really savor it. It felt a bit like a chore to read because it was so intense and I think you need to be ready for that. I never have had to skip sections of a book, but the scene with the children in the street (no spoilers) was so difficult for me to read, that I simply skipped pages. I could not read it.

It was written well and a storyline that really pulls on your heart of the issues of the world. 3.5 out of 5 for me because although well written and beautiful characters, I just struggled reading this one. Honor by Thrity Umrigar

11. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

This is my online bookclub’s February read. A friend of mine RAVED about it… can’t wait to get started on it! Also can we talk about the graphic on the cover of Fire Keeper’s Daughter – it’s by acclaimed artist Moses Lunham and absolutely gorgeous.

This book was beautiful and full of meaningful symbolism, but also I did have some issues with it.

Things I didn’t love about it first – numerous character’s dialogue felt long winded and too drawn out. The author wove such detail into Daunis and her feeling behind things, but it felt like it could have still be explained in a more succinct way. I think in general, I am not a huge fan of young adult books and although this one hit on some more mature topics (drug use, murder/suicide, rape) things like repeated saying, “hells no” felt juvenile to me.

Things I did love – I listened to this book and loved hearing the narrator speak Ojibwe words from the Anishinaabe language. It was beautiful how connected Daunis was to not only her culture, but the Earth and I loved how each day and many circumstances in life had specific prayers or rituals connected to them. I also liked how they are tied so closely to their heritage and is such a huge part of who they are.

I need to let it sit a while, I can’t decided if this book was a 3 or 4 for me… some parts were excellent, but it felt like it dragged on too long for me. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

12. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

I can’t remember where I heard about this book, but I am so glad I did!!

I happen to be in therapy currently and found Lori’s behind the scene insights, thoughts and stories about being a therapist and her personal experience being in therapy with Wendell so endearing. I loved it all. It was a funny read, but also very thoughtful and maybe sections I highlighted to come back to.

Therapy has been such a beautiful and challenging experience for me and loved reading about people having similar experiences. I really enjoyed reading this book. 5 out of 5 for me! Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

13. Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

If you are looking for a fun light murder mystery then this is the book for you! It felt like there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but once you get them squared away in your mind – this book is a fun one. I loved the three generations of women coming together and working out this light “who dun it” book.

4 out of 5 Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

14. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

I’m reading this book with my local bookclub. I was immediately intrigued by the first few chapters. I kept finding myself wanting to read just a little more and that’s always a good sign with a crime fiction/mystery book.

The story follows Lucca Marino, Evie Porter and all her other aliases as professional con woman. She is both deceptive and charming making her very good at her job. While on an assignment in Louisiana, her job becomes more personal as she begins to fall for her mark – Ryan Sumner. There are so many twists and turns that make you question everything. It’s the first psychological thriller I’ve read of 2024 and it was a great one!

4.75 out of 5 for me. I would definitely recommend this one. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

15. Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

I’m reading this book with my online bookclub and at first it felt a little slow, but the more I get into the more I am liking it. It reminds me of The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. It tells the story of a summer in a slow innocent Bible-belt town in Minnesota in 1961.

Frank Drum, 13 years old is touched by death four times that summer, one by accident, one by nature, one by suicide and one by murder.

The story is told from a 40 year old Frank recalling that summer and how he and everyone in his family changed and grew during it all. It was slow and beautiful, I enjoyed it. This book felt very Andy Griffith Show vibe with 4 deaths mixed in.

I loved the tension and grace between Ruth and the minister dad, a very interesting dynamic to me. This book felt very Andy Griffith Show vibe with lots of broken people mixed in. If you are looking for high drama or intense character depth, this read isn’t for you. Probably the first 1/3 of the book could have been removed and it would have been better, but I still enjoyed it and think listening to this one probably helped it keep moving along.

4/5 Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

16. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hm… what to say about this book? Trigger warning for many intense topics of incest and rape.

What started off as a lighter high school book turned into quite a few heavy topics and lots of sexy time. It felt like the characters were more college aged than high school. REGARDLESS of all the sexy time stuff, it was an interesting read. Still quite tragic and pretty heartbreaking. I don’t know, I liked this book, but also reading as a 43 year old… yeesh.

Sky has just started her first year in a public school as a high school senior when she meets Dean, who both scares and completely captivates her. Even though she tries to stay away from Dean, something keeps drawing them back together. Their attraction is (QUITE) high, but it’s clear that Dean is keeping secrets.

Eventually those secrets are found out and my OH MY, it’s surprising in not a great way. By the time, Sky starts putting the puzzle pieces of her life together, I had already pretty much guessed it all – however it’s still quite a story and quite a unique one at that.

2.5 out 5… I don’t know, 3 out of 5. This was a weird read to me… it felt too intense for high schoolers and not one of my favorites of Colleen Hoover’s. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

17. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

This book is equally heartbreaking, tragic and so beautiful. It is the story of two ordinary people, living through a VERY unordinary event… living at the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau during the Holocaust.

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to Auschwitz and after realizing he can speak multiple languages, he’s given the job of tattooing his fellow prisoner’s with their assigned number.

He witnesses horrific conditions, actions and behaviors, but somehow through it all he becomes more compassionate to those around him and starts exchanging jewels and money for food to help keep his fellow prisoners alive. Then one day he tattoos prisoner 32407 and immediately knows that someday he will survive camp and marry this women.

These are the type of reads that all people should read. The story of endurance, clarity of mind, strength and humanity while under the darkest possible conditions. 5 out of 5 The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

18. The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren

After reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I need some lighter reading and my library had The Honeymoon Crashers available on Libby to borrow. I don’t typically like light fluffy romance type reads, but this one felt fun to me.

It follows Ami who is determined to break her family’s wedding curse. When she got married, the guests got food poisoning and her husband was found to be cheating shortly afterwards. So, Ami decides to do everything she can to make her twin sister’s Hawaii destination wedding a wonderful day!

With less than two weeks to plan this impromptu wedding, Ami brings her binder and plans to get lost in the details until Brody, the best man, crashes in to help her with planning it all.

It’s a light humored short read. I read the whole book in a day. If these types of book are your thing, you should add it to your TBR list. 3 out of 5 for me. The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren

19. Upside Down by Danielle Steel

I was looking for a quick easy Libby read that my library had available and this one popped up. I really enjoyed The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and felt like this had a similar iconic Hollywood actress main character vibe, so I checked it out.

Not only is this a story of a strong older woman (62) owning her passions and choices, but also a middle aged woman (38) doing the same and then on top of that working out the strained relationship between the two of them.

It wasn’t like the best book out there, but it was an enjoyable read and one that I’d recommend if you are looking for clean and light. A good second chances type read. 3 out of 5. Upside Down by Danielle Steel

20. Death Valley by Melissa Border

This book confused the heck out of me. I read the entire thing thinking this experience happened to the author. Was she on a multiple day drug trip? Did she really crawl into a cactus and chat with her father as a child? Why did she talk to so many rocks? I was confused, but I suppose also mildly entertained.

At the end of the book I read the reviews and realized it is in fact a novel that she made up… not her experience… but still, it’s an odd read – ha. Some of it felt profoundly deep as she worked through an ailing husband, a dying father and clearly her own depression, but I still felt overall it was just an odd book.

2 out of 5 for me. Not that I wouldn’t recommend it… but just know what you are getting into before you start it. Death Valley by Melissa Border

21. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

I love a good thriller and this one was great to the end.

The book goes back and forth each chapter between Adam and his wife, Amelia… until about halfway through when a new character is introduced. Things have been rocky in their marriage and they decide to take a weekend away to help sort things out in a remote church turned weekend home in the mountains of Scotland.

We learn about their marriage through the letters his wife has written to him each year, but he’s never been allowed to read them until this year. Each letter shares ups and downs and many secrets. The weekend away proves to be full of nonstop surprises and they come to find out, someone never wants them to leave.

4.5 out of 5 I love a good twist and turn read and couldn’t stop reading Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

22. The Women by Kristin Hannah

Gosh I love Kristin Hannah’s writing. I’ve read so many of her books and there is something about them that I just love. The Women so far has been an excellent read, as well! This follows Frankie as she courageously follows her brother into the Veitnam War. She trains to be a nurse and quickly realizes this war is like no other before or possibly after it. She falls in love, is wildly heartbroken, learns a strength she never knew she had and comes to terms with returning to “normal” life after the war.

More wonderful historical fiction like this, please! 5 out of 5 The Women by Kristin Hannah

23. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows + Mary Ann Shaffer

This was a darling read. Set in London right after WWII ended, it tells the story of Juliet who is working on writing her second book. In a very serendipitous way, she begins letter correspondence with a literary society living in Guernsey. The entire book is told through letters they all write each other.

It reminds me a bit of if Pride and Prejudice, WWII and one of those PBS Great Brittan drama series all were combined – ha. I enjoyed the book for sure… but also sort of wanted to wrap it up so I could start something else. SO – although it was a lovely read, I didn’t feel wildly connected to the characters.

3.5 out of 5 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows + Mary Ann Shaffer

24. When Breathe becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

I LOVE THIS MEMOIR. I love learning about the intricacies of professions and learning behind the scenes of young neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi was fascinating. However, the book also follows his journey with stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis just as he is finishing residency at the age of 36.

One day he’s a doctor on the VERY top of his profession and the next day he’s a patent struggling to live. He asks many important life questions like, What makes a life worth living? How much life do you want to live when you are dying? What is the purpose of having children… is it to carry on your name, to give your significant other something to remember you by or the joy of seeing a new life emerge? What happens when you can’t go on any longer? You keep going on.

Ah, it’s beautiful and heart wrenching. I loved it. 5 out of 5 When Breathe becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

25. The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Gracious. This book had me all kinds of confused, ha. I started off LOVING it and then about 60% of the way through it, it started feeling so disjointed. I realized it felt like the movie Inception and that should explain a lot of it. There seemed to be multiple time travel moments or universe travel moments… honestly, I am not even sure.

I give this book a 3 star, but maybe it should be 2 stars. It was so intriguing but by the end, I was completely confused as to who was alive, who was dead, who was real, who was living in a dream (or echos as they called them) world. This book was so close to being awesome, but it shouldn’t hurt my brain to understand it…. and it did. The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

26. The Giver by Lois Lowry

My 13 year old daughter was reading this book in school and kept raving about it. I realized, I had never read this classic myself, so I decided to pick it up and give it a try. I read the book in two days and loved every single second of it! It reminded me of the book I had just finished (The Ferryman), but without all the obnoxious annoying time travel confusion.

The book tells the story of a community that decides to all be the same and live without pain or heartache. You can see the merits of that type of living, but throughout the story… you see how having choice, being different from others and sadly dealing with pain and hurt ACTUALLY creates a life worth living.

Without a little bitter, the sweet would never be so good. I loved this read and after sharing it with a few friends… apparently MANY people also love it from their childhood also. Let me also mention, it did not read like a juvenile book at all.

5 out of 5 The Giver by Lois Lowry

27. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

I read this in May for my online bookclub. It was a beautiful story about two young women living on Jeju Island in Korea. This story follows them from 7 years old to well into their older elder ages. I never realized what a horrible stronghold Japan had over Korea during World War 2 and this book definitely dove into that in big ways.

This story jumps back and forth from their youth to “current day” and I found that sort of confusing trying to go back and forth. Also I found their matriacharical society so fascinating! It was mentioned numerous times throughout the book how husbands just sat at home taking care of the children, making dinner and weren’t to be expected to understand budgeting and spending money – ha I loved it.

But overall it was a touching tale of female friendships during some of the most impossible times.

Really enjoyable and good read, 4.5 out of 5. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

28. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

After reading the Giver, my daughter and I decided to read the rest of the books in this series. Gathering Blue is the second book and I was excited to give it a read. This book is said to be a continuation of The Giver, but after finishing it… I wouldn’t agree with that. There is a similar overall feel, but the Gathering Blue community felt much more primitive to me.

The story follows recently orphaned Kira, who with a leg disability has to be before a committee to fight to stay living in her current cot and not be fed to the Beasts. Instead of being sent to the Beasts, she’s given an honorary job as the Weaver and moved to a room with running water, food and warmth.

With her honorary job, comes less joy to the thing she loved most and then there are many questions that start to pop up.

I liked this book, but not as much as The Giver. 4 out 5 for me. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

29. The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

Thriller alert. Although exceedingly twisted and dark, I really enjoyed her other fiction book – The Push. Oh my goodness, talk about terrifying and keeping you on the edge of your seat! The Whispers however… I don’t know – it kept me turning the page for sure – but I thought it was going to end much more wildly than it did.

I finished and was like, oh. I mean… sure, okay. That’s not how you want to feel at the end of a thriller – you want your brain melted with shock and everything you know to be true, to be wrong – ha.

The story follows four families living on the same street in a neighborhood. When a wild tragedy strikes, the truth about each of them and their twisted involvements with each other start to unravel.

I gave this one a 3 out of 5 because I liked it until the last 2 or 3 chapters… then I thought, oh okay, boring and finished the book. It was good, but definitely not great. The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

30. Funny Story by Emily Henry

My local bookclub is reading this book for May and although I never choose these types of books on my own, I am really enjoying this read. Sometimes it’s nice to have a light lovely read! I’ll report back when I finish the book.

Just finished this book and sheesh. A few people told it was spicy and it SURE was. I don’t read many of Emily Henry books, so maybe this is typical for her books. Other than the spice, it was a nice light read about an engaged couple who break up and start dating their ex-fiances’ ex-fiances. It felt like she tried to include a love story, a friendship story, a story about fathers and daughters, a story about children who try to fix broken parents, a story about brothers and sisters, a story about redemption, a story about crappy people you date, etc… it was like WHOA ENOUGH.

Again, I don’t typically gravitate to these types of books so maybe this all was typical, but it felt like stuffed with everything possible. I didn’t hate, but I didn’t really love it either. 3 out 5 Funny Story by Emily Henry

31. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty 

I really loved Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall book (that ending!!) and was excited to read another book of hers. I recalled everything flipping at the last chapter of the Apples book and so I knew I just HAD to read to the very end of Nine Perfect Strangers… AND goodness was I disappointed.

This story follows 9 people who book a 10 day stay at a wellness resort for various reasons, anxiety, peace and quiet, to lose weight, couples counseling, etc…. I kept waiting for some HUGE twist in the storyline and I mean, there was the smallest thing ever and that domino-ed into some crazy behavior, but I was never gripped or completely shook by it.

Sadly 3 out of 5 for me. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

32. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

I don’t know why I keep reading beach reads when beach reads just aren’t my favorite. This was a fine book and for those who love easy light love stories, this was a fine one.

I’d say 3 out of 5 for me, but only because I think even though I keep trying… they intrigue me but also bore me. Sorry! Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

33. Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

WHOA. Just finished reading this book this morning and it was a LOT. Here me loud and clear – this is an intense book, maybe the hardest book I’ve ever read!! It’s been banned in a handful of libraries around the country due to sexual and domestic abuse to children. I found myself holding my breath and skimming parts.

However, as horrible as it was to read those parts and hear the self loathing this poor sweet girl (her abuse started at 9 years old to 12 years old) felt… it was a powerful read. The author was spectacular and the book was so well written – it certainly makes you feel BIG big feels. And there are women and children all over our country (and world) dealing with poverty and abuse of all kinds.

Reading books like this hurt our hearts because the world should not be like this, but it is. It’s eye opening and tragic, but also how will we grow if we do not know? I don’t think I could read this once twice, it hurts my heart too much.

HEAVY hearted, but good. 5 out of 5 Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

34. Good Material by Dolly Alderton

This was my local bookclub’s June read and honestly I typically don’t LOVE light beach reads – however the last 2 or 3 chapters I felt gave this book a little more depth. It helped bring up more complex feelings that were happening earlier in the book without really knowing it. It bumped up my rating to a 3.75.

This story follows the breakup of Andy and Jen after a 4 year relationship. We see how Andy works through the ending of that season in his life in both good and bad ways. At the last few chapters, we hear from his ex-girlfriend and see her perspective on their relationship. I feel like the book needed that grounding end.

3.75 out of 5 Good Material by Dolly Alderton

35. Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

I just loved this book. If you are a foodie and love a good story about food, this is the read for you. It starts with Lars, a man with a clear passion for food, who ends up raising his daughter on his own when his wife walks away from him and their newborn for a sommelier.

The storyline quickly pivots to his grown daughter, Eva who clearly has gained his deep knowledge, love and skill for food. She has grown to be a star chef at a legendary pop-up dinner club. Each chapter highlights a different character and tells their story and eventually you find the small thread of how they are connected to Eva.

It’s a story of nature vs nurture, broken mother/daughter relationships and seeing how amazing opportunities can arise when you are diligent and talented.

5 out of 5 because I love books about food. Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

36. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

I loved this book! I’ve read The Dutch House and Tom Lake and both of them felt very soothing to me, so I was excited to read this one by her also.

The premise of the book was so intriguing to me. A huge birthday party was being held in the Vice President’s home for a very powerful Japanese businessman, Mr. Hosokawa. Even the renowned Roxanne Coss, a superstar in the opera world has come to entertain the guests with her singing.

Everything is going perfectly until the very end of the evening when a terrorist group bursts in and takes the entire 200+ party hostage looking to kidnap the President… who ended up not attending at the last moment.

For whatever reason (and I little unlikely in real life) the hostage situation ends up lasting numerous months and slowly the lines between the hostages and the kidnappers become blurred with hostages teaching terrorists how to speak different languages, how to increase their culinary skills, professionally sing and they even begin to fall in love.

I loved the book until the epilogue. I wish we wouldn’t have known that last bit of info, as I would have preferred the book end with the tragic ending of the last chapter. But, regardless… I still loved the story line, loved the characters and loved how many of them overtime enjoyed their imprisonment, seeing it as a slower more beautiful life than the hustle and business of the “real world”. I don’t know, I think I also crave so living – so I could also see how those lines were blurred and this weird life almost felt wonderful.

5 out of 5 for me. I really enjoyed this read. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

37. The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow, Liz Lawson

I’m reading this book before I let my daughter read it. I’m still not sure if she’s old enough for YA themed books, so I decided to read this one and decide if it’s age appropriate for her. I’ll report back when I finish it.

This book seems just fine for early teens. It was a light hearted mystery, I’m just not a huge YA lover personally. But it was good for what it was.

38. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I adore the illustration of the cover, I love the sound of the title and the overview of the book sounded great. What I didn’t love was how enormous this book was. Coming in at 736 pages, this was possibly my longest read to date.

The book starts in 1900 and ends in 1977. There are NUMEROUS characters and numerous storylines. Just when I would feel connected to a character, the storyline would pivot to someone new. At 40% read, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through to the end of the book. Did I like this book overall? Yes. But could it have been like 400 pages shorter? YES PLEASE. This book felt like a chore to read and that’s never how I want a book to feel.

It’s set in India and follows 3 generations of a family who is cursed with drowning in water. The book starts off with a 12 year old girl being married to a 40 year old man – so I felt uneasy off the bat. Thankfully their marriage although QUITE oddly aged, turns out okay but she does suffer much grief over her lifespan.

I wanted to love this book, but sadly the length really frustrated me.

3 out of 5 for me, although quite a few people messaged on IG saying they loved this book. So if you like long drawn out stories with what feels like hundreds of characters, check it out. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

39. The Fury by Alex Michaelides

I LOVED The Silent Patient. I LOVED IT and was so excited to read another book by the same author. This book was not The Silent Patient.

It felt like at the 60% mark of the book, we finally FINALLY got to the story. All of it previously was like background information. It was an interesting storyline layout, but again it felt like most of the beginning could have been condensed. I felt slightly exhausted by the time the book really got going and that’s never a good thing.

It was the story of an ex-movie star and her closest friends and a murder. It wasn’t a bad read. I wanted to keep reading. But also it felt heavy on the front end and light on the back. I wish it was the other way around.

3 out of 5 for me. The Fury by Alex Michaelides

40. The Guncle by Steven Rowley

I keep hearing how much everyone loves this book, so I put it on hold at the library and finally read it. It was a lovely light summer read and I found it refreshing there was no romantic love in this book. It seems something that every single summer read is the same rom/com on repeat, so I loved that this book broke that typical mold.

When Maisie and Grant (young children) loose their mother and their father needs to seek treatment for coping with pills, they go to spend the summer with their Uncle Patrick… or GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick as he calls himself). He lives in Palm Springs and lives a fun happy go lucky life… but never has interacted with children much.

Over the course of the summer, Patrick learns how deeply he loves his niece and nephew and they vise versa. They both teach each other about trust and living life to the fullest. It’s a sweet quick read and full of humor and heart.

4 out of 5 The Guncle by Steven Rowley

41. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

I saw this book on a reading list a long time ago and I added it to my TBR list. And somehow weeks later I thought this book was a murder mystery… wow, this is NOT a mystery book. HA.

This is a fiction story that seems to parallel Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde relationship and let me just say – it’s a STEAMY read. And it got STEAMIER as you go – so do what you want with that.

It was an entertaining read because what lady in her late 30’s (almost 40) hasn’t wondered if she could run away with a super famous sexy rockstar in his 20’s…. hahah???! I haven’t – but maybe a lot of people have??! I have no idea.

I can’t imagine this book will end any differently than Harry Styles’ relationship does… I can’t fathom they are going to get married, settle down and have children, but who knows… I’m about 60% done, so we will see. I’ll report back when I’m done.

This book’s spice level felt high to me, ha. The number of times she mentioned particular lady parts was… high. I finished the book. I mean… it was fine if you could get past all the spicy spice. 3 out of 5 The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

42. My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith

I wanted to really enjoy this book. It was set in Italy and was about a man writing a book about food – both things I LOVE. Also I love the graphic of the front cover. The book was light hearted and fine, but eh. I never was very hooked.

2.75 out of 5 My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith

43. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

I started this book and got sidetracked then had to return to the library. Then 2 months later, it was finally available and I got it again. I was reading it online and at 94% completion – I RAN OUT OF TIME AGAIN and it was returned. I think there is a reason why I keep not finishing it… it’s a good read, but not really great.

Somehow I thought this was a mystery or a thriller and it isn’t either. It’s like a sweet riddle on a mystery island with a children’s author and a moody illustrator. I don’t know, it wasn’t a bad read… it just felt juvenile. Reminded me of the later Boxcar Children books – sweet and kind and good and a little borning.

3 out of 5. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

44. Park Avenue Summer by Renee Rosen

This was a fun/easy read. It was basically a fictional story of the making of Cosmo Magazine. I don’t read Cosmo and never really have, but it was still sort of fun to read about how difficult it was for women to be heard and their needs to be addressed even by a “women’s magazine”.

It was good for what it was. 3 out of 5.

45. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

I have long wanted to read Memoirs of a Geisha. I knew there was controversy of some kind, but went into the book fairly unaware. I was captivated right away as I am a huge lover of Japan and find their culture so fascinating. There were certainly parts that felt like they dragged on a bit (the beginning and later during the war), but overall thought learning more about Geisha and all the work and training they do was so interesting.

I’ve since read about how Arthur Golden basically stole Mineko Iwasaki story and then twisted and added parts to “western-ize” it. I don’t know how I feel about Geisha and I certainly don’t like his alleged taking of someone else’s story (he was sued and lost).

However, I loved the book. I love Japan. I stopped and googled many many parts to learn the real history of kimono parts, meanings of this and that, locations and any book that has me learning and staying up past midnight to read “just one more chapter” is a good book in my mind. 5 out of 5 for me. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

46. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

This book was great. I couldn’t stop reading it. I loved another book of hers, Apples Never Fall and I was excited to get into this one. I love a book with a good plot twist at the end and this one did not disappoint.

There are heavy topics covered in this book – domestic abuse, sexual abuse, bullying and murder. Despite these topics however, the book was wonderful!

This book follows three main moms and their children of a new Kindergarten class.

New to the area, Jane and Ziggy are quickly typecasted as horrible bullies even though Ziggy appears to be the sweetest most gentle 5 year old. Loud mouthed Renita’s daughter is being hit, bit and chocked by a classmate and all eyes keep going to Ziggy. Ziggy and his mom, Jane slowly are being ostracized even though she knows her son is innocent.

Celeste is quiet, a little skittish, but SO kind (and wildly rich). She has twin boys and a husband who is always jet setting off to other countries for work. And it’s a relief when he gets home to pamper the family… unless of course, Celeste does something to make him mad.

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and passionate – she remembers everything and forgives no one.

These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.

5 out of 5 for me! Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Ready to check out these books a bit closer? Check them out here…

47. Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano

If you enjoyed Hello Beautiful, then you will enjoy Within Arm’s Reach by the same author. And hint, I loved both books. Within Arm’s Reach was Ann’s first published book and it’s been recently re-released. (I’m so in love with the cover illustration, by the way.)

Somehow Ann is able to talk about difficult family dynamics in the most calming of ways. I described Hello Beautiful as getting a warm hug and somehow although a completely different storyline, this book felt similarly to me.

This is the story of a large Irish American family with 8 or 9 siblings, numerous aunts, uncles and spouses and how they are all connected, even during times of stress, death, celebration and new beginnings are all around.

4.5 out of 5 Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano

48. And then there were None by Agatha Christie

When you realize this book was written in 1939 – you immediately have to take pause and celebrate the book. And then to know it was written by a female during a time when women had JUST gained the right to vote, the right to an education and the right to divorce… it makes you celebrate the book once again!

I had read this book in high school, but it had been so long I decided to read it again as an adult. it’s a masterpiece of mystery and suspense that has been popular since published in the 30’s.

Ten people are invited to an isolated mansion on Indian Island by a host who they can’t quite place a face to the name. Once on the island they are quickly cut off from everything, but each other. One by one, the guests all begin to die… oddly enough just like described by the nursery poem posted in each of their bedrooms (The ten little Soliders). When no one else appears to be on the island…. who could possibly be killing them?

5 out 5, this book STILL stands up nearly 100 years later! And then there were None by Agatha Christie

49. Olivetti by Allie Millington

This book was cute. It didn’t knock my socks off, but was sweet for a nice easy (short) read. It’s told from the perspective of a typewriter and a boy who’s mother goes missing. Apparently Tom Hanks RAVED about this book and I’ll be honest, that seems a little bit of a stretch to me. It was a lovely little YA styled book. I mean one of the main characters is a typewriter – let’s calm down a bit here, ha. I think I will recommend my 13 year old daughter read it.

It reminded me of Remarkably Bright Creatures where one of the main characters was an octopus, but that book at least had some depth to it. And I must say, I think octopus’ are extremely intelligent animals. Typewriters… eh?! ha

3 out of 5 Olivetti by Allie Millington

50. Bad Blood : Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

We are reading this in my local bookclub for September.

I mean… it’s a wild book, feels like I’m watching a Netflix documentary. It’s about a women who didn’t even go to college who starts up a way to revolutionize the medical field’s way of testing blood and shocker – it’s all basically a scam. She speaks in a super fake DEEP LOW VOICE, she is always vague about the science behind her company, she fires people at the drop of a hat if they don’t agree with her, etc…

It’s just reading about the slow implosion of a company that had high hopes and falls very lacking. Also it’s a true story and the CEO Elizabeth Holmes is currently in jail for like 80 years. It’s certainly an interesting read and clearly she is charismatic, but it’s not a book I was super into.

3.5 out of 5 for me – interesting, but also eh – Bad Blood : Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

51. The Women in the White Kimono by Ana Johns

I decided to read more books set in Japan after I finished Memoir’s of a Geisha and this is the first one I’m reading. It’s a novel about a girl in Japan who falls in love with (and secretly marries) an American, while her family holds very tightly to the Japanese traditions. She becomes pregnant and her family sends her away so her baby can be “taken care of”. Her husband, Jimmy, does not know where she is and she continually tries to run away and return to him.

The book switches back and forth from the past when Naoko is 17, pregnant and newly in love + married to Jimmy in 1957 and current day in America where Tori Kovac, while caring for her dying father, finds a letter containing a shocking secret – that she has a sister.

I loved this book. I love Japan and I love learning more about their culture and traditions. I found myself heartbroken while Naoko was sent away and pregnant and loved the ending twist.

4.75 out of 5 The Women in the White Kimono by Ana Johns

52. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I loved The Giver of Stars written by JoJo Moyes, but I thought Someone Else’s Shoes was just okay (a little too light and cheesy for me). And although Me before You was a “lighter read”… it wasn’t a light romance, so I ended up really enjoying it.

The story follows a late 20 something woman who lost her job and was in need of a job, so she began caring for a young paraplegic man. I loved their dynamic and although the ending was maybe not how you would have wanted it to turn out, it was very thoughtful.

4.5 out of 5 Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

53. I Could Live Here Forever by Hanna Halperin

I just randomly picked this book up at the library and really ended up enjoying it. It’s a story of big feels, addictive behaviors, codependence and broken people trying their best to do right again and again.

When Leah meets Charlie n line at the grocery store, their attraction is immediate and intense. Charlie is like no man she’s met before with BIG feelings and quick love. However she starts to wonder when she finds out he’s 31 and still living with his parents, asking for gas money, sleeps constantly and always seems to be feeling ill. He finally reveals he’s a 3 year recovering heroin addict.

The story follows Leah’s journey through getting her writing degree and starting the next chapter of her life, but how even though she has red flags – Charlie is a person she can’t seem to stop. (Her behavior, in my opinion, although more “outwardly” healthy mirrored a lot of his behavior – interestingly enough.)

This isn’t a light love story, but it is a love story of broken people. I really enjoyed it.
4.5 out of 5 I Could Live Here Forever by Hanna Halperin

54. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

We are reading this in my local bookclub for the month of October, spooky Halloween! This was touted on Amazon as one of Barack Obama’s Favorite Reads in the Summer of 2024 and although I thought it was good – it certainly wasn’t a favorite of mine.

It’s set between 1960’s and 1975 at the Van Laar’s summer camp – a wealthy local family who owns the summer camp and employs most of the area’s residents. A daughter of the Van Laar’s goes missing one day at camp… in a very similar way that 14 years earlier her older brother disappeared never to be found again.

I really did like the book, but there were a lot of characters and that always makes a book harder to follow. There was a lot of complexity to the secrets this family has held. And I feel like I didn’t get even half of the hidden meanings or complexities of the book! Like who was the God of the Woods and what does that even mean???

I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. 3.75 out of 5 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

55. Sandwich by Catherine Newman 

I’m reading this for September with my online bookclub. It’s very comically written, which I typically find sort of annoying – but this one I have been enjoying! The main character reminds me of Lorelai from the Gilmore Girls and all 4 of her children (and husband to some extent) banter back and forth with each other like Rory and Lorelai do in Gilmore Girls.

It’s a book about the heartache of life, being a mother to even adult children, aging, menopause and the ever-changing joys and hardships that come along with it all. I felt sort of melancholy while reading it because although it’s light and silly, it’s so hard being a mother and watching your children grow. It’s so hard to age and see youthful people all around. It’s so hard to see your parents getting VERY old and stumble and fall. Life is just hard, but also wonderful.

Honestly, it was sort of a heavy book but I loved it. It felt like a perfect sandwich of hard and wonderfully real life and that’s my favorite. 5 out of 5 Sandwich by Catherine Newman 

56. After Annie by Anna Quindlen

Geeeez. I read this book because it was available when I was looking for something to read. I loved it. It was sad. And sort of dark. And… I loved that the mom dies in chapter one and everything is not easy and happy and full of love.

After Annie dies (hence the name of the book), the mom of 4 kiddos and wife to a local plumber, this book chronicles the oldest daughter stepping up into her shoes, how the husband deals with her death, Annie’s best friend has a relapse, and her kiddos all struggle in their own way.

It’s a story of resilience, love and making the right decisions. Really enjoyed it. 4.75 out of 5 After Annie by Anna Quindlen

57. The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

I can’t remember how I heard about this book, but I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed reading it from the first page to the last.

It’s a story set in 1960 about two inseparable brothers born in Calcutta, India who take very different paths in life. One is dutiful and reserved and one is more charismatic and impulsive (very birth order driven also).

There is a death, a woman married twice, a daughter left behind and lots of real emotion. It tells the story of family dynamics, love, hurt and honesty. Really enjoyed this book.

4.75 out of 5 The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

58. Writers & Lovers by Lily King

I picked up this book and quickly fell in love. It was an easy read without feeling like a “beach read”. Casey, a novelist, has been working on her book for six years when her mother suddenly dies and leaves a huge hole in her heart. She waits tables and rents a tiny room while working on her book. But at 31, she feels a little stuck at what she wants – a creative life on her own, but also maybe the joy of having love in her life. Then enters, two very different men.

4 out of 5 Writers & Lovers by Lily King

59. None of this is True by Lisa Jewell

WHOOOOA this is SUCH a good book! I’ve read many a psychological thriller and many of them were very eh. Silent Patient, The Push and None of this is True are now officially my favorite 3 thrillers. I also highly recommend getting this book on audio because it they did it excellently!

The story follows Josie, a 16 year old girl who falls in love with a 43 year old man (ew!). Roughly 20 years later and she’s ready to share her story with true crime podcaster, Alex. My oh my, there are twists and turns and typically you can guess how things will play out, but you really can’t with this one. Very eeie. Very odd. Nothing horrible, just very dark. One that you will sit and think about for a while. I loved it. What else has Lisa Jewell written? I need to find out!

5 out of 5 None of this is True by Lisa Jewell

60. The memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimee K Runyan

Do you ever pick up a book because you fall in love with the cover? That would be this book for me. If I could live in this cover, I would. And then it just so happens to be a lovely story also! I love stories about food and gardening – so check, check.

This ended up being a book that I slowly slowly read, so by the end I still enjoyed it but it was never a read that I just couldn’t wait to get to the end of. About 3 chapter before the end, I feel like we figured out everything and I could not get through the last bit. It was a sweet read, but one that just creeped along to me.

3 out 5 The memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimee K Runyan

61. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

This book I read for November with my online bookclub ladies. It was a DOOZY of a read.

I actually really enjoyed the storyline, but man alive – if this author could use 4 words to describe something – she would use 44 words. It felt like so many paragraphs of descriptions and lofty dreams circling around with words and feelings and thoughts and emotions and lavish imagery and more words and more words… are you getting the idea?!

How do I say I loved the book, but only half of it was needed? I listened to this book and even at 2x speed it took me forever to get through it. 32 hours is too long for a fiction read (775 pages), in my opinion. But would I suggest it to others? 90% yes, just go into knowing you are in for a long read.

This book follows Theo Decker, a 13 year old boy who survives a bomb explosion in an art museum he was visiting with his mother. It follows him through to adulthood and all the heartbreaking twists his life takes. It reminded me a bit of Demon Copperhead, which was another LONG very devastating story. This is not an uplifting happy book. There is a lot of depression, underage drugs, heart break, many storylines with unanswered questions.

I actually enjoyed the storyline of this book, but the length and unnecessary detail felt irritating. You shouldn’t feel irritated while reading. It got a 3 out of 5 for me. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

62. The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

I kept wanting to read this book. I love books that you learn about different professions. I wanted to really love this book, but it felt very okay to me.

This book follows Ray and his struggles as a rural North Carolina classical musician. His family never supports his love of the violin, to the point of hugely discouraging it in every way. But Ray has a gift and only his Grandmother embraces it. She gives Ray his grandfather’s violin which he later finds out is a Stradivarius worth MILLIONS.

He overcomes racism, disbelief from all around him, betrayal and getting his violin stolen. 3 out of 5 for me. The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

63. Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

Eh. I felt very so so about this book. I LOVED his book Kitchens of the Great Midwest, but this one I never quite connected with in the same way. It wasn’t a bad read, but I was never hooked by it. 3 out of 5 Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

64. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

I loved this book and found it super engaging from the very start. This book takes place in 1789 in Maine with a frozen dead man being pulled from the Kennebec River. Martha Ballard, the local midwife/doctor is called to examine him when suddenly the new “official Harvard doctor” busts in and takes over.

The story that follows is who killed this man, why he was killed and all the births/love triangles/court cases that make up this small community. I found it all SO fascinating. Women basically had no purpose other than giving birth and had less rights than I even realized. It was a great great read.

The Frozen River  had tense scenes, tender moments, love, heartbreak, motherhood, women’s rights, etc… it was great. 5 out of 5 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

65. Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

Someone recommended this book and raved and raved about it. I just finished it and it was cute. I wouldn’t say it was a top 10 book, but if you are looking for a light happy read, it was a sweet one. It’s a story about how the people we meet in life (even on a train) can impact and support each other.

4 out of 5, I almost want to say 3 out of 5 because there wasn’t DEPTH but it was a sweet read so I’ll give it a 4. Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

66. The last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis

This book took me a while to get into. It was a good read, but I don’t think the topic of the book really was one that I was drawn to and I never connected with any of the characters. I read it for November in my local bookclub.

It follows the women in the Moon family. They are from Winston Salem, NC and all the females in their family have secret “healing” powers. They aren’t witches, but they aren’t exactly not witches. When Lizzy Moon’s beloved grandmother, Althea dies Lizzy returns home to sell the family farm and ends up trying to sort out a long ago unsolved murder mystery that named her grandmother as the culprit.

Lizzy finds a Book of Remembrances meant to help her learn more about her own special gifts, meanwhile she reconnects with an old high love interest, her estranged mother and all the while is trying to solve a murder case while no one in town wants her back.

This book ranks highly by Amazon and Goodreads, I just personally felt sort of ambivalent towards it. Was it a book about witches, love, friendship, family trauma, murder? Eh, who knows. 3 out of 5 for me. The last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis

67. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

I’m reading this book with my online bookclub for November and I wasn’t thrilled about it.

This book was so odd. It was told the story of a futuristic society where science and technology have gotten rid of all pain, suffering and individuality. Humans are genetically grown in mass quantities – engineered and conditioned into pre-decided social castes to ensure prime stability and happiness.

I’m all for a book that touches on these topics and makes you think, but honestly I thought this book read SO BORING. I didn’t connect to anyone because they all acted like emotionless robot people. It felt like I was watching a documentary movie where the narrator was simply explaining about experiments and society, which I think was partially the point.

I think this book is considered a classic and lists of the greatest novels of the 20th century because it was written in the 30’s and so much of the “warnings” have happened – so for that reason I can acknowledge it was ahead of it’s time, but still – if you are interested in a book like this, I recommend The Giver ANY DAY over this one.

2.5 out of 5 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

68. Everything I never told you by Celeste Ng

I’ve had this book on my to be read list even since reading Celeste’s Little Fires Everywhere. I just finished it and REALLY enjoyed it.

It follows a Chinese American family in small town Ohio in 1970 and the hardships of navigating a father who wants his children to fit in and “be cool” since he never felt that way and a mother who wildly pushes her daughter to be the smartest, most educated and eventually a doctor like she was never able to do. It’s not a happy read, but one that shows generational hurts being passed down are never a good thing.

4.75 out of 5 Everything I never told you by Celeste Ng

69. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

This is a beautiful read about a family who’s mother passes and leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, a black cake and a voice recording she wants them to listen to. In the message, she shares her difficult story about her life and shares things her children had no idea about her past.

The book follows a handful of characters as it weaves from Eleanor’s (the mother) past and then jumps to the current day. Her children have some big decisions to make and when the correct time will be to eat the black cake their mother made for them and requested they eat it together.

This is a story about the life of a family changed by the choices of its matriarch. I really enjoyed this book, but I also never felt super connected or invested with any characters so I gave it a 3.9 out of 5 Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

70. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

Just started this book and I don’t know what it is about a murder, but I was hooked immediately. This spice is a smidge in this book, but really it was a really good read. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book where the wife of a cheating husband is now defending him. This line caught my attention “Would you defend your husband if he was accused of killing his mistress?” UHM, no no I wouldn’t, ha… but that’s why it was a good book!

Sarah Morgan is very successful as a defense attorney. And from the outside her life, job and marriage look so ideal. However, her husband Adam is struggling along. As a writer and a husband… things aren’t great.

Adam has been having a passionate affair for about a year now AND THEN everything changes. Adam is arrested for her murder. The mistress has been found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home and Sarah soon finds herself playing the defender for her own husband.

AH! I can’t say anymore because I don’t want to ruin it… but read to the end. You just must. 5 stars for me. 70. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

71. Messenger by Lois Lowery

This is the third book in a series of 4 from Lois Lowry. The most popular being the first one, The Giver (which is excellent!). This is a very quick simple read, grade level around 7th to 9th grade and even though I typically don’t like YA books – this one doesn’t read “young adult” at all.

Trouble is brewing in Village. Once a utopian community that prided itself on welcoming strangers, Village will soon be cut off to all outsiders.

Matty is one of the few able to travel through Forest and he is given the task to take a message of Village’s closing and try to convince Seer’s daughter Kira to return with him before it’s too late. Forest is trying to kill Matty and he must risk it all to get to back to Village.

I’m glad someone told me there were more books than simply The Giver because although not as good as that first one, they all have been quick, thought provoking and worth reading. 4 out of 5 stars for me. Messenger by Lois Lowery

• The Giver
• Gathering Blue
• Messenger 
• Son

72. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid always writes lovey easy reads. This one I enjoyed, but also it was a confusing read. The entire books jumps back and forth from two different storylines of the same characters and there really is no way to tell the distinction between each story until you are a few paragraphs into the chapter. I would have appreciated if the chapter titles indicated which story line you were now reading.

The basis of the story is about a woman named Hannah Martin and just a few chapters into the book, she makes a decision to not stay at a bar with her ex-boyfriend (potential love interest again). That decision makes a huge ripple in her life, which puts her on a path of circumstances (which I won’t share). THEN, the very next chapter starts back at the bar and she decides to stay and see where things lead with the ex-boyfriend. That choice then puts her life on a path of circumstances.

It’s an interesting concept, slightly reminds of me the Midnight Library – where there is no heads or tails, there is a heads AND tails because all moments are happening with different versions of you out there in the cosmos. I didn’t especially love that line of thinking in Midnight Library and although this in general is a “cute” love story type book, I don’t think I really enjoyed the flipping back and forth of storylines in this book either.

By the end of the book, all the characters in both storylines were so mixed in my mind, I found it very confusing. So… wait, she’s married to him in this one and a coworker of him in that one? Her ex is her friend now, but she had a baby with that guy? It’s certainly not a bad read and I’m sure many people who enjoy it. Very cute light read. 3 out of 5 for me. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

73. Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

MERCY. I loved this book, but also was so difficult to read. Reading this book rips open my heart for the true horribleness of slavery. We HAVE to read books that rip out our hearts because these things happened and we can NEVER let them happen again. Each time I read a book like this I say the same things – PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE and we must value all as such.

This is a fictional story, but inspired by a real slave jail in Virginia. It’s the story of Pheby Delores Brown, born on a plantation and living a sheltered life protected by her mother who is favored by the Master’s sister. Pheby is always told she will be set free at age 18, but when her mother dies and she is immediately sold off – the promise of freedom she clung to is now gone.

Heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time. This is a book that will sit in my heart for long time. I did love this quote, “Mama always said that a grateful heart served as a magnet for miracles, so I latched onto the worship and gave thanks.”

5 out of 5, loved this hard book Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

74. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Read this for my local bookclub December read. Hmmm. This is another book I’m going to put in the same category as Midnight Library and Maybe in Another Life. It was intriguing, but also weird.

A man awakens in an alternate reality where his life is unrecognizable, forcing him to question which world is real and how to return home. It dives deeply into the multiple universe concept like the above mentioned books. Each time the main character enters this “box” to try and find his wife and child in his original world – he basically unknowingly makes a copy of himself. So near the end of the book there are endless “Jasons” and they are all trying to kill each other to get to his wife and kid. It’s pretty out there.

If this type of book is your jam, then you’ll love this read. It’s not my favorite, it was a fine book, but at some point I’m like this is ridiculous, ha. 3 out of 5 Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

75. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

This is the book I needed after reading like 8 serious intense heartbreaking books. It started off I thought with an interesting twist to many typical rom/com beach reads which made me more intrigued. I typically really don’t care for this genre of book. It got spicy mid way through, but if you can get past that, it was a fun/light read.

3.75 out of 5 The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Other genres of books I’m reading…

• Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequest – I read this book a few years ago, but felt like the subject matter would be good for me to read again. Shauna is a high feels person, but I love everything she writes.
• Glucose Revolution – The life changing power of Balancing your Blood Sugar by Jessie Inchauspe – What a fascinating book. I believe everything in balance, but this read definitely gave me some great ideas for how to balance the things I am eating in better ways. I especially loved the idea of the order of what foods I eat.
• Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker – I loved this book! It was a deep dive into the world of Sommeliers and I found it all so fascinating. 5 stars for me.
• Daring Greatly by Brene Brown – Brene always shares such truths… the ones that sometimes are hard to hear, but so good. Great book.
• The Spare by Prince Harry – I don’t know what to say about this memoir. I didn’t really want to read it, but it came highly suggested by a few friends. I hate feeling bad for people of royalty, but it does appear like the Royal family in general is pretty dysfunctional and have very closed off thinking. It was an interesting read, but I would have been fine without reading it also – to be honest, ha.
• Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey – Let me start by saying I’m not a wildly huge fan of Matthew, but had heard there were quite a few bits of wisdom sprinkled in his book… so I gave it a try. I actually enjoyed it, ha. It was very entertaining, I listened to it and goodness he is a good narrator. Don’t know if I think more or less of him after this book, still pretty indifferent. But I do appreciate someone who has worked hard to get where they are. I shockingly liked this memoir better than Prince Harry’s – ha.
• The Whole and Healthy Family : Helping your kids thrive in mind, body and spirit by Jodi Mockabee – So this was an interesting book. Honestly some parts were wonderful and great concepts to think on, but it was pretty intense in regards of no chemicals in foods, only spending your time meditating on the scriptures, etc… If you can filter out some of the very intense Christian themes and hear the over arching goodness and truths, then this is a decent book.
• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben – I’m a self proclaimed tree lover, so this was a natural fit for me. This book dives into very interesting topics like do trees talk? Are they social? Do they live in communities? It felt a little long in the middle, but I still enjoyed it.
• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson – Oh geeeeeez. This book was great, but also hard. It applies to all relationships, not just parent/child. I loved how many worksheets and quizzes were included to help you as you read.
• What happened to you? by Dr Perry and Oprah Winfrey – I’m clearly on a journey of digging into mental health and wellbeing. This was a wonderful read and a great way to reframe the question of why did you do that???! to what happened to you? I think it brings more compassion to the conversation.
• Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry – This book was wildly sad. I felt horrible for the hiding Matthew Perry did his whole life, so alone feeling, so broken, so addicted to alcohol + drugs, so needing of fame and notoriety… only to realized he STILL felt alone. And now that he’s passed, it all feels even more heartbreaking.
• Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch – This book was all about learning the root causes of various illnesses and what foods we should be eating to try and counterbalance our hormones and genes. It was interesting and my main take away was we should ALL be eating more whole foods (vegetables, fiber and protein). The book felt overly long to me, but I think it’s because this isn’t a genre I typically read a ton about… so although it was interesting, it could have been more precise.
• How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key – Hmm. This memoir was good/a bit much. Harrison is CLEARLY a comedian or some kind of comedic author, but it felt like every single second needed to be a punchline. 3 stars for me.
• Life Worth Living : A guide to What matters Most – There were a ton of good nuggets of wisdom in this book. For some reason, I always struggle with this question – a life worth living and this book helped me to pause and really dive into more than just the surface issues. I loved this thought also, ‘maybe your character matters more than your accomplishments. And maybe living a good life isn’t one that’s fulfilling your desires, but helping encourage and celebrate others.‘ 4 stars for me.
• Walking, One step at a time by Erling Kagge – This is a great quick read about moving, walking, journeys and how all these things help work out stress, worry and lack of creativity. Erling has walked to both poles and walked up Mount Everest, so he has quite a bit of knowledge in moving your body. He also talks about why we walk? What is our destination? And how we walk. I loved this little read and may also read his book titled, Silence.
• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara – This is a deep dive behind the scenes of a fine dining resturant in New York City that pushes endlessly to show their guests over the top care, attention to detail and more thoughtfulness that you could ever imagine. I really enjoyed learning about their secret sign language they used and all sorts of other innovative ideas they tried. At some point, the book started feeling a little repetitive to me – like we get it – you guys are changing the world of fine dining (ha), but overall a super interesting read.
• The Botany of Desire : A plant’s eye view of the World by Michael Pollan – There were definitely interesting aspects to this book. It covered the apple, potato, marijuana and the tulip. Some parts were interesting, others eh. 3 out of 5
• Raising Worry Free Girls by Sissy Goff – This book dives into the ever increasing levels of anxiety in our daughters. It goes into the “why” and then the “how” to help – from breathing exercises to holding onto the truth of God’s strong, safe love for her. It was a good read.
• Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor by Caleb E. Campbell – Well, this was an excellent read. The first 2/3 was lots of background on Christian Nationalists, what they believe, why they believe those things and what our attitudes should be towards them. The last 1/3 was a “when they say this, you can say that”. I feel more compassionate towards the (sadly) MANY Christian Nationalists I know after reading this book.
• Ghosted: An American Story by Nancy French – My pastor recommended this book and it was a very fast/interesting read. It didn’t knock my socks off, but I appreciated hearing her perspective on her life and how she got to where she is now. I also liked her chapters on Trump and how in her opinion (and mine) the conservative party changed, but she had not.

I’d love to hear what you are reading these days! Let me know below in the comments.