My Book Picks

As one of the few people in America who hasn’t seen Hamilton, this was the perfect read because I knew absolutely nothing about the characters. I learned so much history- the book is well-researched, for sure- and I kept Googling the Schuylers and Hamilton just to learn more. I loved the dynamic between the two main characters, and their banter often made me chuckle. I’m looking forward to reading the second and third installments in this clever YA series.

Ok, so the first time I tried to read this book, I couldn’t get into it at all. When I picked it up last week, I fell in and didn’t want to get out. I used to think Matthew McConaughey was a cute, quirky hippie. I still think that, but he’s also a thoughtful advernturer and a master storyteller. The story of the golfing trip he took with his brother had me laughing so hard I started crying. This one has plenty of quotes you’ll want to remember, so keep a notebook handy.

I’m going to go ahead and name this my favorite book of the year. I really don’t know how anything else can top this story of war, love, family, and faith. I felt like the characters were real people who I wanted to meet. For the last third of the book, my anxiety had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart was truly in my throat. I will say, you may want to finish this in private and have the tissues ready. You’re gonna need them!

This historical novel has a little bit of everything–mystery, murder, and misguided romance. With hidden identities and a family saga that spans decades, this one kept me turning the pages until the very end. Bonus points for the all of the art references that make me want to plan a trip to NYC ASAP!

This was the perfect book to start my Christmas break. It reminded me a little bit of Emily Henry’s The People We Meet on Vacation, as the the characters have been travel partners for years before they realize they have feelings for each other. This one warmed my heart and gave me a some good chuckles too.

As an 8th grade English teacher, I often get asked for YA recommendations, so here are a few of my favorites. I highly recommend all of the books by these authors, especially Gordon Korman. I think he’s my all-time favorite for providing humor and good life lessons.

Here are some of my favorite reads from 2022. Some are new releases, while others are classics. They range from an espionage thriller to a historical romance with a wide variety in between.

It’s been awhile–about four years, to be exact!– since I’ve written about books, so I thought I’d start with a reading round-up of sorts.

I recently went through a major chick lit romance phase. I think I like these writers because their stories are light and entertaining, the perfect way to escape. There’s a lot of witty banter and heartfelt tenderness that made me tear up a time or two. Each writer has written multiple novels, so I’ve shared my favorites to get you started.

Did you know we make over 35,000 decisions in a day? Just typing that statistic makes me tired. If you struggle with decision making, or if you’re like me, and you’re exhausted by all of the decisions you have to make, this book is for you. I loved how each chapter opens with a quote and ends with a prayer and a practical way to apply Freeman’s advice to everyday life. I wrote down so many quotes from this book, but my favorite is this one about the importance of silence in our lives: “The silence serves as a colander, helping me discern what I need to hold on to and allowing what I don’t need to fall gently away, making space to access courage and creativity, quieting to hear the voice of God.”

This book has been surrounded by a lot of hype, and while I liked it, I’m not sure I loved it. The story itself kept me hooked, and Kya’s ability to survive blew me away, but I found myself getting bogged down by all of the descriptions of the marsh, no pun intended. While the story seemed far-fetched at times and made me think Owens was trying a bit too hard to be Pat Conroy, overall, I enjoyed the book. I was definitely intrigued by the characters and their lives.

This book is also part of Reese Witherspoon’s book club, but I read it because a friend, who I actually know in real life, suggested it. Turns out, they were both right in praising this one. Next Year in Havana tells the story of Marisol, who has returned to Cuba to spread her grandmother’s ashes. While there, she learns the true story of her grandmother’s life in Cuba, one filled with love and heartbreak during Castro’s takeover. Not only was this a beautiful story, but I learned so much about Cuban history and culture as well. I Googled everything from Cuban politics to a recipe for ropa vieja while I was reading, and it definitely made me want to visit the country.

A friend recommended this book a while back, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it because I wasn’t sure I thought Jim Gaffigan was funny. Well, after about the first two pages, I was assured he is, in fact, quite hilarious. And insightful as well. He nails the parenting experience, especially the topics of children’s literature, kids’ obsession with candy, and the enigma that is the adult swim shirt. That chapter was so funny, I literally fell off my stool when I was reading it at my podium during silent reading.

When I posted about how much I liked Hannah’s The Great Alone, everybody told me I just had to read this. I wasn’t really looking forward to it because I worried it was just another WWII romance. After reading it, however, I feel like I can safely say it is THE WWII romance. One word of caution . . . don’t read it in public . . . or at least don’t read it at your podium during silent reading with a bunch of teenagers staring at you. When my eyes started sweating, it was a little awkward for everyone involved!

I got this book for Christmas and have loved reading it. It’s part biography, part cookbook, part guide to being a true Southern lady. So many things Reese describes remind me of growing up in the South and spending a lot of quality time with my grandmother, just like Reese did. One of her grandmother’s pearls of wisdom was to never stir coffee with a knife because it brings strife. That could explain why some of my days are better than others! Even though this is organized like a coffee table book, you can definitely read it cover to cover.

This was a fascinating story of intrigue and deception. Amber has her sights set on becoming the next Mrs. Parrish, but in order to do so, she has to befriend and then deceive Daphne, the current Mrs. Parrish. To everyone’s surprise, Daphne isn’t quite as naive as she appeared, and Amber’s plan quickly begins to unravel. A real page turner!

My Oxford Year tells the story of Ella, an American Rhodes scholar studying at Oxford. I was immediately transported back to my own days of foreign study. Of course, I didn’t fall in love with a charming, if somewhat secretive, Brit, so I enjoyed living vicariously through Ella’s adventures. If you like JoJo Moyes, you should add this to your list.