I need a space to dump all these amazing books I’ve read in the past few years. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a book round up! So hold on to your hats and get ready for some goodies and short snippets about the books listed.
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. High School Sweethearts. One Night Drama. Semi-Saucy. Never fell out of love romance. Christina Lauren really doesn’t write a bad book. Roomies is cute and I would read twice and is very steamy if you’re looking for that. *wink*
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Feminism power. Romance. Politics. Western but in a good way. Heartache. Pregnancy and Birth. Just a beautiful story about sisterhood and friendship.
Kitchen Chinese by Ann Mah. Sweet and super personable.
When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison. I’m a sucker for a little bit of baby drama. Like when you have a one night stand and end up pregnant but can’t find the number to contact the father kind of drama.
Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March. Another book about feminine friendships. A little heartache and a little bit of real life intermingled with new romance. Just has it all. And Meryl the GOAT.
Ok, let’s break from the femininity and the romance for a few books that have changed my view of grace and given me new perspectives on history.
I spoke too soon, this one has some genuine romance in it, so not steamy but beautiful. While The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris has a relationship story in it, it also has a very detailed account of what it was like in Auschwitz. A day in the life, if you will. It’s very moving and has a happy ending and outlook to it, which is not usual in a story surrounding mass genocide.
The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Battle your demons alongside the main character in this book and come out even more powerful than you were before picking it up.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I’ve always been a little wary of war stories cause I had a bad streak once where I kept on reading stories were women were abused in it. And that’s just something I don’t like to read about. This one didn’t have that. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking like the cover says.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance was a random roulette pick off the shelf at the library kind of book that turned extraordinary. It’s mystical and strange but set in our times. A story of love, a story of a boy raised by wolves, a story about a hurricane being magically altered by that same boy. It’s out of left field, unlike any other story I’ve read.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This is a mixture of history, current stats on the justice system, death row, and face to face time with real men and their stories.
Let’s move on to some books that have made me laugh out loud and falling in love.
Not many authors write novels about the marriage part of a relationship. In face, almost all of them end with the marriage part of the relationship, which is a shame because we married folks need to know how everyone else is doing sometimes, because people rarely share these things amiright?! Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella was so fun and had me laughing out loud.
Unlike some other series, you could read this second book without reading the first and still get wicked giggles and fun out of it. China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan is like a Chinese reality series with super wealthy characters who just don’t get real life intermingled with the real world characters. It’s a hoot.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion and it’s trilogy that follows is addictive and fascinating and hilarious in a blunt sort of way. You see through the eyes of a man on the autistic spectrum and your guided through his mind and thoughts so intricately you truly feel his train of thought and reasoning while at the same time knowing better because of the social cues you as the reader might pick up but he doesn’t. It’s a masterpiece with humor laced in.
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. It’s safe to say Sophie makes me laugh almost every book of hers I read. The grandma ghost is hilarious. The main character is always talking to herself in public. She has to ask a guy out for her ghost grandma’s dying wish. It’s to die for. See what I did there?
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. This book changed me. Steamy romance. Unlikely bond. Unusual circumstances. Mental health struggle. This is the first romance I’m going to make my husband read. The first encounter and blunt nature of the main character is so sweet and funny.
Calamity Jena by Janet Elizabeth Henderson was flippin’ cute and funny. Steamy. Romantic. Action filled. Explosive. And has books following it that tell stories of all the other sub characters which I love.
Intercepted by Alexa Martin. And the whole Playbook Series… You guys. Alexa lets you into the life of a football player’s spouse and you can never unsee it. Commitment. Loyalty. Steam. Plus Size body positivity. Housewives kind of drama. Woman empowerment. It’s all here and seriously underrated.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory. Strangers to lovers. Last minute date. Plus size women positivity. I couldn’t get enough and proceeded to read all of Jasmine’s books. But start with this one for sure.
Speaking of body positivity. Let’s shift to Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot. This is the start of a mystery series that is too much fun. This ex pop star gal is in the center of a murder at a dorm, and has other drama that chalks up her life that makes it a blast to read.
Another by Meg Cabot. Read the Little Bridge Island series then plan a vacation to Florida. Page turning. Feisty. Romantic. Sassy. Start with No Judgements and go from there.
That’s a wrap folks. Twenty of my favorite books since 2020. Of course, there are more than 20 books here if you include the series that are attached to each book so get reading so you can enter the worlds I’ve been in the last three years. Then comment with your favorite!
Thanks for the ideas! I needed a new book to read❤️