I have been on a roll the past few months with readings….lots of fiction that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

• The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve F
• Whiskey in a Tea Cup by Reese Witherspoon NF
• The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty F
• The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood F
• Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith NF
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens F
• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch F
• Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand F
• Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan F
• Marilla by Sarah McCoy F
• The Other Woman by Sandie Jones F
• Stretched Too Thin by Jessica Turner NF

FAVORITE FICTION BOOK

This is a toughie! So many good ones, especially historical fiction! I’m going to say Becoming Mrs. Lewis, although Crawdads and Marilla are close behind!

I just really enjoyed the story of Joy Davidman and the insight into her life and Lewis’, even Tolkien’s. Honestly, I felt this story was more compelling to me than the Narnia stories…I know, I know. Sacrilege.

It stuck with me though, the details of their relationship and how short lived it was. It seriously made me upset. I was constantly wanting to slap people, especially knowing that it would all end too soon.

Before reading this I hadn’t know much, if anything, about C.S. Lewis’ personal life, but this made it all very interesting and I wanted to find out more.

And second though, does this even count as fiction? Seeing it’s a truthful novel about actual people and events…no clue.

FAVORITE non-FICTION BOOK

I’m going with my girl Reese!

Fast fun read! I’m a bit of a geographical confusion, born in Brooklyn, raised in the Catskills, and a southern girl at heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Reese’s anecdotes and memories, as well as a variety of delicious sounding recipes (all of which left me wondering just how she stays so slim). If you’re looking for a fun look-through with great ideas and recipes, this was great!

And yes, I still wish Reese and Jennifer Garner would adopt me as their little sister…we could share our love of food and quilts.

The Book I didn’t like

The Shakespeare Stealer. Absolute crap. I had picked it up at the Little Free Library and thought it would be a fun one for me and Avie. It was so lame and unexciting that I finished it and put it in the Salvation Army box. It was that bad.

What have you been reading?

Keep up with what I’ve been reading on GoodReads or Instagram 

(I’ve notated books I’ve read for my book club * and F for Fiction, NF for Non-Fiction, and A if it was an Audiobook).

*This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

I was doing REALLY good in August and then….It’s been a struggle to read these past few months. I know the holidays are just around the corner and it’s a crap-shoot as to whether I have more or less time to read. I was thinking there’s no way I’m going to read my 35 book goal for this year, but I’m at 31….so I’m hopeful!

• The Lightkeeper’s Wife by Sarah Anne Johnson F
• Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner F
• The Wolf Hour by Sarah Lewis F A
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows F
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty F A
• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han F
• The Lifegiving Home by Sally & Sarah Clarkson  NF
• Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge F
• The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams F

FAVORITE FICTION BOOK

This is always so hard! I love fiction, especially historical fiction and I managed several of them this fall. I’m going to have to be completely cheesy and say that To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was my favorite. Yes, I know. I’m rolling my eyes while typing this. The rest of the fictions I’ve read were all great and I enjoyed most of them, but ATBILB was just a goofy, girly read.

My sister and I watched the movie on Netflix and both thought it was a fun, fluffy movie…and can we just say give all the heart eyes to Noah Centineo. The writing and the story were nothing spectacular, nothing surprising, but it was just a heartwarming teen romantic comedy. Something that just struck a chord in the teen girl in each of us.

Jane of Austin was right there with ATBILB, and honestly I may have loved a bit more. I’ve loved everything I’ve read my Hillary Manton Lodge. Her stories and characters are endearing and her knack for incorporating food and recipes is exquisite, not to mention very yummy. I’ve always had great success with ANY of her recipes.

 

FAVORITE NON-FICTION BOOK

By default the Clarkson Ladies have it, The Lifegiving Home. I honestly haven’t read much by any of the Clarksons that I didn’t love, but The Lifegiving Home was a different read. Month by month Sally and Sarah go through how they make a house a home, which is perfect for this time of year.

We’ve actually been going through TLH with my Raising Generations Today mom group; it’s been a great resource for discussing our homes and what we want our homes to be for our families. It’s a slow, thoughtful read (which is sometimes hard for me), but it would be a great book to take slowly over a year and really think about what you want “home” to mean to your family.

 

THE BOOK I DIDN’T LIKE

Big Little Lies. I tried, really I did. Some of it I liked. Some of it I skipped (like the last 1/4 of it). There was just way too much and it was drawn out and I just wanted to know what had happened. I listened to it on audiobook. I seriously skipped a couple of HOURS of reading, and I didn’t miss anything.

This is the first book of Moriarty’s that I read and people have raved about it for years, especially as her BEST book. I’m thinking I probably won’t pick up another book of her’s again. It’s just not my cup of tea.

 

What have you been reading?

Keep up with what I’ve been reading on GoodReads or Instagram 

(I’ve notated books I’ve read for my book club * and F for Fiction, NF for Non-Fiction, and A if it was an Audiobook).

*This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.