Between the book and the authors notes at the end, this was an incredible read. If you haven’t read the Tattooist of Auschwitz, you don’t have to have read it before this one, but I highly recommend it as well.

This book tells the story of Cilka, who was a minor character in Tattooist, and her time in Auschwitz and then in a Russian prison camp.

I’m not sure if I loved this story or it’s characters more. I just know that I loved this book and especially the author’s notes at the end. I’ve said before that I hated studying history growing up, but books like this bring it to life and make me want to learn more.

Highly recommend this book!

This was a re-read for me and so perfectly timed! If you haven’t read this yet, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

It’s not just about saying yes to the things you are afraid of. It’s about saying yes to yourself. It’s about saying yes to saying no. It’s about bringing the joy back into your life.

Shonda Rhimes is real and funny and this book is like hanging out and catching up with a best gal pal over a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

ESPECIALLY after this crazy year we’ve had, grab this book to inspire you, lift you up, and make you laugh all at the same time.

When you pick up a YA book about an honors-student-by-day-video-game-developer-by-night high school girl, you expect a little high school romance, some teenage angst, and some cool video game talk. “SLAY” is all of that and so much more.

I don’t read fiction books to help me grow, but occasionally a book does just that.

As the seventeen year-old main character, Kiera, (who is as frustrating as any real-life teenager) struggles to defend the on-line role-playing game she’s created where Black gamers can come together exclusively. When the game is outed to the rest of the world it is seen as racist and discriminatory, not the safe haven she intended it to be.

Because so much of the book is Kiera talking to herself about how she feels about what is going on and what she should do, author Brittney Morris addresses a host of issues without preaching. This book challenged some long-held notions I knew I had and others I didn’t know about. My point? It made me think without making me wrong which is absolutely the best way to start a dialogue.

I love this book and absolutely recommend it. Not everyone will love reading a YA book about gaming, but there is SO MUCH MORE to this book.

Even if this is not where this book is getting most of its hype (YAS QUEEN!), if you are trying to understand why your teens love gaming, definitely grab this book… by the end you will be wanting to grab a controller, too!

This is the book I needed to read right now and I know a LOT of other people would benefit from it as well.

If you aren’t familiar with the idea of fixed vs growth mindset, Dweck not only explains the difference but also gives real life examples. There are also exercises to help you identify where you have a fixed vs growth mindset and ideas on how to develop a growth mindset moving forward if you don’t currently have one.

Cannot recommend this book enough.

Nothing I say will do justice to this book, so I will just tell you to read it.

Nic Stone has a remarkable way to represent all sides of an issue. Her characters are real (as a mom of teenage boys, sometimes too real) and make you think about things in new ways.

This story has moments that are so real and raw I feel like she might have witnessed them in my life. And then she writes about them in a way that takes them apart and makes them make sense.

This book made me think of The Hate U Give, but it is definitely its own book and shouldn’t be compared to it. Instead, I think of them as books that complement each other to give a very powerful message.

Read this one, and read it soon.

There are so many things I loved about this book.

I loved Sam and his misfit best friends, his parents, and even the antagonists of the story. I loved Sam’s perspective on the events of his ordinary life, especially as he contrasts them against his mother’s extraordinary expectations. I loved the contrasting narrative of his childhood and his current life. And I loved Dugoni’s casual, conversational writing style.

A book that is heavy on heartwarming with enough heartbreak to keep it real, this book is about friends and family, keeping, losing, and finding faith, and overcoming the obstacles that life inevitably puts in your path.

I highly recommend this book.

Just wow. My first 5-star book in a while and it’s not surprising that Fredrik Backman wrote it. I didn’t know anything about the story before I started it, and I guess I expected it to be like A Man Called Ove. This story is nothing like Ove, but the beautiful writing and fully developed characters are very familiar. You will experience a range of emotions while you read this and sometimes you will put the book down so you can think about what you just read.

If somehow (like me) you haven’t read this yet, read it now. You deserve it.

Oh…. my heart. How did I go so long without reading Beartown and Us Against You? If you haven’t read these, your reading life is incomplete. Backman’s ability to see the ordinary and then write about it in the most extraordinary words is truly a gift. ⠀
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Backman’s words are amazing, but I think the thing that makes this book and Beartown so loveable, heartbreaking, and un-putdownable are his characters. They are so all so real, even the minor ones, even the ones you don’t like. You know them. You understand them. You cheer for them. You curse them. You cry for them. And in Beartown, you bleed for them.⠀
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I cannot recommend these two enough, but I will tell you that my eyes leaked a lot. I know I’m talking a lot about Beartown in my review of Us Against You, but I read them back to back and they are two halves of a whole; two halves of the same broken heart.⠀

Just wow. Talk about a double timeline that weaves together perfectly, characters that are real and easy to love, and a story that is both mesmerizing and compelling. I loved this book, maybe more than Before We Were Yours.

Some hard topics but such a feel good book. Add it to your TBR. Now ❤️

I cannot say enough about this book. Part chick-lit, part murder mystery, this was a great story with relatable characters and I highly recommend.

I originally wrote a lengthy post extolling all of the book’s virtues and heaping praise on Jennifer Weiner, but I went into the book blind and I think it’s best if you do, too.

Read it now.

Such a fabulous story. Based on real-life, it’s heartbreaking to read, but I loved how she wove the story and the characters in and around each other.
Highly recommend.

Holy wow. If this is on your TBR, move it to the top and read it now.
A story about an up-and-coming rock and-roll band in the’70s that will sing to your soul. I loved the format – a biographer attempting to tell the story of why the band imploded just as they were reaching their goals through a series of interviews. I loved the characters; they were full and flawed and familiar. And the story. Oh. My. Heart. I have found my other favorite book of 2020.

A PERFECT mind candy book!!! So much fun with a perfect happy ending. Such a rare thing. Highly recommend!!!! ⠀

Five Stars. For the story, the characters, for the writing…. fabulous historical fiction. JoJo wins again. ⠀

I hated studying history in school and my ignorance of the past saddens me. This is an amazing book full of history that I had very little knowledge of. Loved the story, the setting, the characters…. 5-stars.

I realize that we are only three months into the year, but I may have found my favorite book of the year. Full transparency, I loved The Night Circus, and when I heard Erin Morgenstern had a new book I *almost* jumped with joy.

I will admit that there were a couple of times that this book seemed to…. drag. But I don’t care. Morgenstern’s imagination and her ability to craft a story about stories have given this book a permanent place in my heart.

As a chronic insomniac, I cannot say enough about this book. It’s divided into four parts, Part 1: This Thing Called Sleep, Part 2: Why Should You Sleep, Part 3: How and Why We Dream, and Part 4: From Sleeping Pills to a Society Transformed. Each was informative and fascinating in its own way, and I found myself taking notes throughout the entire book.

Whether you are a chronic insomniac like me, someone who loves the science behind sleep, or someone who is just looking to get a better night’s sleep, you will find great information and tips in this book. Highly recommend.

I know that book clubs get a bad rap, but my book club picked this book and it is a five star winner. I loved this book for so many reasons. First off, I listened to it and Trevor Noah narrated it himself. That accent. Swoon!

Second, his story is simultaneously incredible, inspiring, and heartbreaking. He is completely unapologetic as he tells the story of growing up half-black, half-white during apartheid in South Africa and the tumultuous time that followed when it ended. I laughed out loud during some of his stories, gaped open-mouthed at others. Loved this book. Highly recommend.

Check out my 2019 5 star books here!