12 Books You Need to Read this Year

Hey friends! It’s Thursday and that means you get to hear from yours truly… Jo! Woot! How’s summer going? We start school in about 17 days, but who’s counting! Ha! #me #iam Jk.

 Annnnnyway, one of the ways I survive the desert and these freakin’ hot months is reading.  Are you a reader? I feel like I always have been but have definitely gone through phases in life where it just couldn’t happen. Then about 2 years ago myself and a couple friends decided to start a book club {one of these days I am going to write a post about what we did to start it and how it has worked for us!} But guys. To say that book club night has become a highlight of each month is an understatement.  We talk, we eat, we laugh, we have for sure shed some tears…. and YES, we REALLY discuss the book!! {Why do people always ask that?!} Anyway, I love that because of book club, reading has once again become something I love to do. **Now I do use the term “reading” lightly. I have always loved to hold the book and to turn the pages but once again there is a season in life for everything and I am proud to say that I am a total LISTENER…. Hello Audible! It’s life changing. We are pretty split down the middle as far as readers and listeners go and I know one day I will return to good ol’ books but for now, knowing that I can escape for a little bit while I fold laundry… Well, count me in!

So today I decided to share some of my recent reads along with some that we have read for book club! These aren’t in any order and there is a link to each book {which means it’s an affiliate. But just a small one. So we can, ya know…. Pick up an extra diet coke every once in a while! } I also included the link so that just in case you don’t believe my recommendation,  you can read the reviews on amazon as well!!

The Nightingale // 4.8 Amazon Star Rating, 42,639 Audible Reviews

 

Educated {A memoir} // 4.8 Amazon Star Rating, 9,401 Audible Reviews

 

Before We Were Yours // 4.7 Amazon Star Rating, 33,442 Audible Review

 

Girl, Wash Your Face // 4.9 Amazon Star Rating, 7,055 Audible Reviews

 

What Alice Forgot // 4.4 Amazon Star Rating, 19,566 Audible Reviews

 

The Thirteenth Tale  // 4.4 Amazon Star Rating, 8,297 Audible Reviews

 

The Secret Wife // 4.6 Amazon Star Rating, 1,353 Audible Reviews

 

These is my Words //  4.7 Amazon Star Rating, 587 Audible Reviews

 

Beneath a Scarlet Sky  // 4.8 Amazon Star Rating, 17,307 Audible Reviews

 

The Rosie Project  // 4.5 Amazon Star Rating, 9,727 Audible Reviews

 

The Storyteller  // 4.6 Amazon Star Rating,  9,676 Audible Reviews

 

A Man Called Ove //  4.6 Amazon Star Review, 58,861 Audible Reviews

Have you read any of these? If so, I would love to know what you thought! Also, are you a reader or a listener??? Tell me in the comments! And here’s to a weekend full of fun and page turning, errrr I mean listening! 😉 

xoxo — Jo

Published on January 24, 2020

12 thoughts on “12 Books You Need to Read this Year”

  1. I loved What Alice Forgot. In fact, I think that is the book that got me started reading all her others which then led to Big Little Lies. I recently read it and then binge watched the show on HBO. Soooo good! A Man Called Ove was surprisingly good. Someone had recommended it and I hesitated because it didn’t sound that interesting from the synopsis but I ended up enjoying it. I have to put some of your others on my list.
    Shelley

  2. Many of these are on my TBR list — definitely a reader, actually have detested being read to since I was 6; my mind wanders too much if I’m not holding the words — but haven’t read any of them yet!

    If you enjoyed these, then your book club would really like “Fastest Thing on Wings: Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood” by Terry Masear, a Los Angeles based hummingbird rehabber. Well-written and enjoyable memoir with fascinating but accessible science facts tossed in. Happy listening!

  3. I listened to Before we were Yours and Beneath a Scarlet Sky (twice on the latter!) They were both so so good! I also started reading The Nightingale but I find it hard to find time to physically read a paper book, so who knows if I’ll ever finish. Audible all the way for this momma!

  4. What Alice forgot was ok. Liked the concept though. I read These is My Words years ago for a book club and I remember enjoying it a lot. Haven’t read the others but a few are on my TBR list.

  5. Thank you so much for posting this! I reserved a bunch at the library and can’t wait to get started. Man Called Ove was sweet. Also glad I finally looked up What Alice Forgot. For some reason I always thought that was the second book after Still Alice by LIsa Genova, but now I see they are completely unrelated!

  6. I listened to :
    Before We Were Yours
    What Alice Forgot
    Educated
    I read Girl Wash your Face
    I am currently listening to Nightengale
    I watched A Man Called Ove on Amazon (and LOVED IT)

    I just finished aJodi Picault novel called Plain Truth. I’ll have to read The Storyteller
    That’s awesome that we like so many of the same books! We’ll have to chat!!
    Have you read Girl in Translation? So good! I’ll have to look through my list and see what else

  7. I constantly have a book playing in my car, and I often will be reading an old fashioned paper book simultaneously. I listened to A Man Called Ove, and Before We Were Yours. Loved them both! I really like Liane Moriarty, I recently finished Madly Truly Guilty, probably my favorite of hers. I also love Jodi Piccolt. Great taste in good reads!

  8. I loved The Nightingale! I love Kristen Hannah. I also read Beneath a Scarlet Sky! Great books! I’m going to make a list of your other recommendations . Thanks I’m always looking good books. I’m a reader!!

  9. I’m trying to make time for reading and recently read ‘The Storyteller’ based on a friend’s recommendation. Honestly, it would not have been the type of storyline I would be attracted to, but I thoroughly enjoyed (and appreciated) this book. It was somewhat difficult for me to get into it, as she goes back and forth in time, while introducing the characters. But I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. The historical value, the twists and turns keep it very interesting with a not-so-predictable ending.

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