At the beginning of 2021, I decided to share the books I read (mostly listened to) on my Instagram via stories. At the end of each month, I would post a picture of the cover of the book and include a (very) subjective star rating for the title. I had been using Goodreads for a few years and often gathered new tbr (to-be-read) titles via books I saw shared on other accounts, so I thought it would be fun to share my own reading journey.
And it was!
I got so much positive feedback, and by the end of the year, I had many friends reach out to say that they hoped I would continue sharing in 2022. Thankful for the encouragement (and assurance that it wasn't annoying), I am happily continuing to share.
This year I'm hoping to document a little more of the process. Y'all know how to Google a summary, so I won't dive too much into plots, but I will share short thoughts of my own. I don't have a definitive plan of what this will look like and I am sure it will evolve with time, but for now, they'll be short and sweet like those I shared in my 2016 Summer Reads recap way back when.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this one, but had heard a brief synopsis on a podcast and thought it sounded interesting. I knew it dealt with the concept of what happens after you die, but I imagined it would similar to The Midnight Library and was pleasantly surprised at the unique construction of a limbo-esque tea shop that the author wove together. The main character, Wallace, is absolutely annoying and predictable, but not in a way that has you wanting to throw the book against the wall (or your phone if you listen to the audiobook like I did). The tea shop owner, Hugo, is charming and the other characters are lovely too. Overall, I really enjoyed it and am patiently waiting for my turn with House in the Cerulean Sea which I put on hold at the library immediately after I finished.
I absolutely love Father Greg Boyle and the amazing work Homeboy Industries does with formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people. If you haven't read Tattoos on the Heart, I would recommend beginning there. This is his second book, which I had heard wasn't as good, but I still very much enjoyed it. At the beginning, Fr Greg makes a note of someone commenting that he shares the same stories a lot when he speaks. This is true. I recognized multiple in this book, but that did not make it any less enjoyable. One story, in particular, touched my heart even more while reading this book than when I had originally heard him share it at a conference years ago. His most recent book, The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness, is sitting on my nightstand and was the impetus for me finally getting making time to dive into Barking to the Choir.
This has been on my "to-read" list for ages and came highly recommended by many friends. Set in France during WWII, I thought it had a unique storyline and beautiful character development. There were moments when I did not understand changes in time or which character's view we were reading about at the moment, but that could have been because I was listening to it and did not have signals that may have been included in book pages.
This also came recommended by a friend whose reading list matched much of mine last year. I read Malibu Rising by the same author and very much enjoyed it, so I was excited to give Evelyn a try. The premise of the book is a journalist getting the opportunity to write the memoir of a highly elusive movie star and the book hops back and forth from the meetings they share in present-day to the stories of the star's past. There were pieces of the plot I found predictable, but I was very impressed with a surprise at the end that I did not see coming and I absolutely LOVE when that happens.
A sweet book that centers around the main character searching for the man with whom she accidentally swapped luggage at the airport. I found it very enjoyable and thought its plot was a nice balance of unique, yet predictable which is really all you can ask for in a rom-com.
This is a fun reimagining of Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day New York City. I know not everyone likes adaptations of classic works like this, but I have always been a fan of them when well done. I will add the caveat that I have never actually read Pride and Prejudice (Don't hate me! It's on my list!), so my declaring it is a well done adaptation could be refuted by a true Jane Austin junkie.
7) Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brene Brown
This book articulated many thoughts I've had regarding our increasing polarization and included actual research to back up things I couldn't even form words around. I've heard Brene Brown speak on podcasts and seen a few YouTube videos with her, but I don't know if I've ever fully read one of her books and am so glad to have listened to this one.
I watched the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias and found it enjoyable. Nothing earthshattering, but I liked it enough to pick up the book. I read the first book in the series last year and with the upcoming release of season two, decided to try the second book. Book #2 was similarly fine/good enough to read the next book, but book #3 (my 11th read of the month) left something to be desired and had some serious plot issues - even for chick lit. I suppose it makes sense why #3 had no waiting time on the Libby app. #4 doesn't either, and I'm still so disappointed with the last one that I don't know if I even want to continue with the series...
A friend shared this on Instagram earlier this month and I am so glad she did. The book wasn't available at my library, so I used an Audible credit to purchase it and there's a good chance I will end up getting the hard copy too just because I want to underline, highlight, and sit with some of the wisdom the author shared. I think the best way to summarize the book is with a quote by Mother Teresa that the author references in the text: "The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small."
A YA novel about a Broadway-obsessed high schooler named Millie who "pulls a Mama Mia" or rather, a "Millie-Mia". I read You Have a Match by Lord last year and enjoyed it which led to picking this one up and I am so happy I did. It was delightful.
I was not a fan of this one. See book 8 above.
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And there you have it. The first bunch of reads for the year. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the bulk of them and I look forward to seeing what the rest of the year brings in terms of books.
What about you, friend? What are you reading?
Peace,
Sarah