I have always been a reader. There were a few years where I didn’t get to read much for pleasure – during college, during grad school, and during the crazy days of having twin babies. But, other than that, I tend to have a book going at all times.
This year I read around 50 books. I say “around” because I try to type them all in my phone but I know I missed a few and there were some I abandoned because life is too short to read a bad book!
When do I have time to read now? I definitely read more on my school breaks but I usually make time for reading every weekend. Sometimes I will just sit and read while my husband watches sports or something I’m not into. I also take a book when waiting for a son to get out of an activity. I find this more satisfying than looking at my phone and I think it’s better for my mental health!
I am also in a book club where we meet about 9 months of the year and read one book a month. It’s a lot of fun and you can start one, too, if this is your type of thing!
I only bought one book in 2018! I get all of my books at the local public library. When I see a book rec, I immediately request it from my library and pick it up when it’s ready for me. I do this for two reasons: 1) the money – when you read 50ish books a year it could cost $500-1000 dollars that could be spent on clothes and shoes! and 2) the space – I just don’t have room for the books and I don’t plan to read them again.
I think I will only list the books that I would recommend to you. So, you will not see all 50ish of the books I read, but I will go in order starting with January of 2018. Also, I like mostly fiction, chick lit, and historical fiction. I also like to read seasonally – Christmas books in December, beach reads in the summer, etc.
Authors I liked this year: Colleen Hoover, Kristen Hannah, Ann Hood, Elizabeth Berg, Kristan Higgins, Elin Hildebrand
Fitness Junkie by Jo Piazza and Lucy Sykes (cute, fun January read about the lengths people will go to to stay fit and young)
The Book that Matters Most by Ann Hood (this book totally surprised me and is worth your time!)
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman (kind of like a female Sheldon from Big Bang – very cute)
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (my first book club book for new book club in 2018 – everyone read it and everyone had lots to discuss about it, but an easy, quick read)
Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins (just a cute, fun read – her books are like Hallmark movies)
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (kind of like a male version of Eleanor O. – don’t read these too close together in my opinion)
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (i loved this – another book club book)
The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah (WWII but really good!)
Still Me by Jojo Moyes (part of a series so you should read all 3 I think!)
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (I liked The Last Mrs. Parrish better and they had a lot of similarities)
Other Books that I enjoyed:
The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin
Match Made in Manhattan by Amanda Stauffer
Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
If you have any suggestions for me, please let me know!
Happy Reading!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I love reading too and just like you I try to always have a book going – I read any chance I get. A lot of times I’m up in the middle of the night reading or while the tv is on and I’m not interested. Plenty of times I’d rather read than watch tv anyway. I try to request books from my library – they have home delivery! I get a lot on my kindle but I hate spending the money because once I’m done reading it just sits there and can’t even be passed on to a friend. I was thinking of getting kindle unlimited but it’s like $15 a month! So, you have just inspired me to make it a goal to NOT BUY ANY BOOKS but instead get them all from the library – let’s see if I can do it! BTW, I read Verity by Colleen Hoover and I really liked it!
Great post Amy!!!
xo,
Kellyann
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Your library has home delivery! I have never heard of such a wondrous thing! That’s how I felt about my Kindle but I did use and love it for 8 years until it died on me.
I will check out Verity – haven’t even heard of it.
I swear that we have so much in common! It’s a KD thing! Haha!
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I’m a reader too. Library girl all the way. I just read so much!
Have you been on Goodreads? I like to use it to keep track of all my books.
Thank you for the recommendations!
I’m always looking for new books to read.
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Yay for another reader! No, I have not tried Goodreads but maybe I will look into it. Tbanks!
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Can’t wait to check out some of your recommendations! I just finished Me Before You by JoJo Moyes and couldn’t it down. I love books by Anita Shreve, Elizabeth Berg, Jodi Picoult, Elin Hildebrand, Kate Morton, Jennifer Weiner, to name a few. I like Phillipa Gregory for historical fiction. I just love books and can’t do a Kindle. I never do the library though. I need to do that. I usually get most books at Half Price Books or Amazon.
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I will have to check out some of your authors. Thanks! You should see what your library has to offer! I can usually get brand new books and they have multiple copies. I love Half Price books, too, but haven’t bought anything there for quite awhile!
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I feel the same way- I would rather have extra spending money for clothes! Thank goodness my library has most of the books I want to read. I have Eleanor Oliphant right now and am ready to dig in! I also love Elin Hildebrand!
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You will love Eleanor I think! It is really cute and it made me see people like that that I might encounter in my daily life. I love my library so much!
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I know what you mean about going through seasons with books…currently, I’ve resolved to not read in 2019 unless I actually want to (I haven’t wanted to yet). It’s gotten to be too much pressure for me to keep up with what I feel I *should* be doing (my Upholder nature, I suppose).
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I think reading should be fun! I also like to read books set in places where I want to travel. Good luck on NOT reading! Lol!
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Amy, I just read The Last Mrs. Parrish and could NOT put it down. One of my favorite books ever. Have you read it? I need to be better about using our library but we have such a small one and not many new books come through. However, I do love discount kindle books. I love your list of books that you read. My goal is to read 2 a month. I love reading!
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Yes – it is on my 2018 list! I loved it! I liked it more than The Wife Between Us which everyone talked about! Kindle is great about suggesting books and I loved using mine while it worked. Now I’m more into turning physical pages and getting my books for free!
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