Recent Non-Fiction Reads

I've read a few non-fiction reads worth mentioning lately! 

Raising World Changers in a Changing World: How One Family Discovered the Beauty of Sacrifice and the Joy of Giving // This was an excellent book that challenged me and made me really evaluate how we as a family are spending our time and money. Kristen Welch shares many stories and examples from her own family's life about how they've chosen to live counter-culturally in the way they serve and give with joy. She says that the "ultimate goal is to reduce entitlement, feed gratitude, and produce contentment". Her book is a must-read if this, too, is one of your goals in parenting. I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own. 

The Lifegiving Parent: Giving Your Child a Life Worth Living for Christ // I know some people feel inundated with the sheer number of parenting books we have access to, but I really enjoy reading parenting books! This book covers eight key principles explaining what it means to create an environment in your home in which your children are able to experience the living God. I think this book would be a great read for someone who does not want to read a variety of parenting books, as this is more of a book of general principles for creating and cultivating a Christian home environment. It would also be helpful for parents who perhaps were not themselves raised in a Christian home but are desiring to raise their own children based on godly principles. I found it to be a little too broad and general for my personal taste in parenting books, and I didn't come away with a lot of new insight, but it is packed with great truth, principles, examples, and ideas that many would find very helpful! I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Educated: A Memoir // This book probably does need any additional hype, but I will join in with the multitude and say this is an excellent book. I think my jaw was hanging wide open for a good portion of the book, because the way Tara Westover was raised and her view of the world in her childhood was absolutely mind-boggling. I flew through this book and think it's a great book for wide range of reading tastes and preferences.

Tell Me More: Stories about the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say // I thought this was an incredibly creative idea for a book, but on top of that, it was a really interesting and beautiful read. Kelly Corrigan takes 12 words or phrases (Yes, No, I Don't Know, Tell Me More, etc.) and writes the personal stories involving these phrases and how they've impacted her and taught her. It was eye-opening and just really well done.

Books Worth Reading

Searching for Spring* // If you're walking through a season of suffering or even just waiting for something in your life to become beautiful, this book is for you. Christine Hoover has filled this book with so much rich truth and so many great reminders about how God never stops his redemptive work, and that even the most painful experiences can lead us to the beauty of perseverance, hope, and even God himself. This book was such a timely read for me as I've struggled these past months with questioning God about this season of life he's put us in, wondering what the purpose is, and definitely not thinking it's a beautiful thing. I needed to hear these words that struck a chord deep within me: "Nothing changed except the posture of my heart...[God] was asking me to submit to the unchangeable blueprints in a way that would build beauty rather than bitterness, faith rather than futility, for his glory and for my good." This book was excellent, and I highly recommend!

The Masterpiece* // If you've not read any of the novels by Francine Rivers, then you are missing out! I love the way she writes and crafts her stories. This is a contemporary novel about a famous painter and a woman who begins work as his assistant. The book goes back and forth in time through both of their difficult pasts and their current faith journeys. The book is compelling, and I read it in one weekend! I highly recommend this if you're looking for a well-written, fast-paced, enjoyable story. Bonus: the cover artwork is gorgeous!

Never Unfriended* // I received this book last year when it first came out, but then my life kind of got a little crazy when we moved across the country! It ended up working out perfectly, though, because I am now in a season of making all new friends. This book was an easy and enjoyable read, and I thought it had some really great nuggets of truth about friendships! Whether you're in a season of walking through difficult hurt and struggles in friendships, or if you're in a season of making all new friends (like me!), I recommend reading this book!

Unbroken // If you are one of the few people who has not read this book, then I am here to tell you to read it as soon as you get your hands on it! This has been on my TBR list for years, and I finally picked it off our shelf last month. I could not put this book down! This is truly one of the most incredible books I have EVER read. It is absolutely mind-boggling to think of all that this man endured in his life. I felt extremely emotional throughout the whole book, and tears were definitely shed. This is a story that everyone needs to read and hear about, in my opinion. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year!

*Disclosure: I did receive these books for free from the publisher in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

5 Recent Reads

Hum If You Don't Know the Words // I can't say it better than Amazon does: "Perfect for readers of The Secret Life of Bees and The Help, a perceptive and searing look at Apartheid-era South Africa, told through one unique family brought together by tragedy." This is beautifully written, unique, and I loved it so much. 5 stars

Victoria // This is a novel based on the diaries of Queen Victoria, so much of it is true! Daisy Goodwin wrote the PBS Masterpiece show Victoria, and this book follows season 1 of the show almost exactly, as you can imagine. We watched the show first and then I read the book, and both are great! I don't think you need to do both, since they are so similar. Either one is perfect for fans of Downton Abbey or The Crown. 4 stars

The Four Tendencies // This is Gretchen Rubin's newest book, and since I'm a big fan of her work, I naturally had to read this one. She touches on the Four Tendencies (her personality framework that looks at how we respond to expectations) in her book Better Than Before, but this book is a complete deep dive into the framework. I LOVED the chapter on the Four Tendencies in Better Than Before (and the whole book, for that matter. Find more of my thoughts here), so I was super excited to read this. I did enjoy it, but the chapter about my tendency was obviously my favorite. The chapters that didn't apply to me or Caleb were a little bit of a drag to get through. But, I do think it's totally worth picking up to read the chapter on your tendency as well as your spouse/partner. It has sparked really great conversations! 4 stars. I did receive this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for a review. All opinions are 100% my own.

The Lifegiving Table // This book is all about creating a rich culture around your table, something I am all about! Sally Clarkson covers why spending time with your family (and friends) around the table eating is important, and how it impacts your children for the rest of their lives. She shares many practical ideas for conversations, personal stories from their own family, and recipes to try yourself. I really enjoyed reading this one, as it reinforced many things I believe and also gave me some new ideas. I've only tried one of the recipes so far, but we loved it and Caleb told me I definitely need to make it again! 4 stars. I did receive this book from the published in exchange for a review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World // This book has been on my shelf for a while, but I had an itching to read it as we enter this Christmas season. I loved it, and I found it to be very thought-provoking but also offer practical tips for helping cultivate gratefulness in kids of all ages. It's one of those books that I've been thinking about since I read it, and I'm sure I will either read it or reference it many times in the future. A great read! 4 stars

5 Good Books I Read This Summer

Lucky Boy // This is one of the best books I've read in a while, and it will probably end up on my "best books of 2017" list! This story explores the strength and depth of a mother's love throughout every stage of mothering: infertility, pregnancy, birth, fostering, adoption. It was beautifully written, and the story was original, and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend! Bonus: it just came out in paperback! 5 stars

The Alice Network // This is an excellent book about a network of female spies during World War I. It's loosely based on fact, with a lot of imagined elements thrown in, but it was so fascinating and well-done. It was really enjoyable to read a different type of World War fiction, as this was different than anything else I've read. I flew through it (it's deceivingly long at 500+ pages) and thoroughly enjoyed it. 5 stars

The Windfall: A Novel // This is the story of money, status, family, and nosy neighbors: Mr. & Mrs. Jha get an unexpected enormous amount of money and find themselves trying to fit in on the super-rich side of Delhi. This book had me laughing at how ridiculous they were acting and the great lengths to which they went while trying to keep up with the Joneses. It was a fun and quick read, and I loved reading a book set in modern India. I received this book for free from Blogging for Books but this review is 100% my own. 4 stars

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo // This was such a fun book to read! Evelyn Hugo is a famous actress who has lived a very full life and is ready to divulge all of her secrets in an end-of-life interview. She's been married seven times and each chapter of the book chronicles her relationship with that particular husband. The book was really interesting, well-written, and fun to read. I was surprised by some of the plot twists in the book, which is always a bonus! 4 stars

We Were the Lucky Ones // This is one of the better World War II fiction books I've read, because it was so beautifully written and gave a more comprehensive look at how the war affected different countries and families. The story is about all of the members of one family and how each of their lives was turned upside down by the war. It was a heartbreaking read, but so very good. 4 stars

Disclosure: Please keep in mind that books are very personal, so what I like you might not like, and vice versa! I try to read and share a variety of books on this site. Some of the books in this post may include coarse language or sensitive material, so please be aware of that as you choose what to read next. This post does include affiliate links, meaning if you click through and purchase one of these books, I may get a small commission! 

What I Read in May

It's summer which is my favorite time for reading! May weather in South Carolina is HOT, so it feels like summer has been hanging around for the past month or so. The number of books I read each month increases dramatically in the summer; I just love taking extra time to read in the summer months. Here are the 12 books I read in May! Tell me what you've been reading lately!

Dark Matter // I loved this book! I couldn't put it down, and it was one of those books that I had to talk to Caleb about (there's not very many books that I do that with!). It was outside of my normal reading realm, with a mixture of science fiction, suspense, and even a tiny bit of romance. As the author's note says in the back, this book is the "manifestation of everyone's existential question: Am I who I was supposed to be? Is this the life I was meant to be living?" He explores this through a story that involves quantum mechanics, but don't let that scare you away! It was absolutely fascinating, and I highly recommend it! I did receive this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review. 5 stars

None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That's a Good Thing) I really enjoyed working through this book and studying different characteristics of God. Jen Wilkin's style of writing is very straightforward and no-frills, which I love. Each chapter was filled with Scripture passages and also questions to work through (that weren't lame), and I really enjoyed studying through this book. I found myself thinking things about God that I've not thought of before, and I loved what I learned. This is a great book for individual or group study! // 5 stars

Threads of Suspicion // This is the second book in a series about a lieutenant in the police force who works cold cases in various counties across Illinois. I've said this before, but I love Dee Henderson's books because they're suspenseful but never gruesome or terrifying. I'm not one for a true horror or intense mystery, so this is the perfect amount of suspense for me in a mystery book! I find Dee Henderson's books to have almost perfect pacing, so that I never want to put the book down. The plot and the cases are always interesting, and I appreciate her character development as well. Worth reading if you enjoy a more mild mystery/suspense book! I did receive this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 4 stars

The Hopefuls // This book fell a little flat for me. The characters were annoying and the story was a little predictable for my taste. Others really enjoyed this book, so this is probably one of those books that just comes down to personal taste. 3 stars

Secrets of a Charmed Life // This is the first book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. It's a WWII fiction, specifically revolving around two sisters during the evacuation of children from London and the blitz on London. I thought it was a great story, it was well written, and I flew through it. 4 stars

Ginny Moon // This was a debut novel, which I always enjoy reading and spreading the news about. Ginny Moon is a young adopted teenager with autism, and Ginny is also our narrator. I loved reading through her perspective. The story moved quickly (I finished it in a couple of settings), but I did find it sad. Ginny doesn't completely understand why she can't live with her biological mother anymore, and she's struggling to identify family and home. It's a great story and one worth reading this summer! 4 stars

Messy Beautiful Friendship: Finding and Nurturing Deep and Lasting Relationships // This was an excellent book! If you've ever thought that adult friendships are difficult to make and/or maintain, or if you've ever been hurt (or have hurt) a friend, or if you've ever felt like you don't know who your true friends are, read this book! I found myself underlining so many passages, which is always a good thing! Christine Hoover has so much wisdom to offer in the area of friendships, and I really thought she offered a great perspective on the topic. I was challenged by ways that I can be a better friend, and I was encouraged by the friendship that I have in Jesus and the friendships I have with other women. Highly recommend! 5 stars

The Nightingale // Everyone has raved about this book for a couple of years now, but I have hesitated to read it. I started another Kristin Hannah book years and years ago, and I didn't finish it. Something about her writing turned me off, so I've put off reading this title as well. Finally enough of my friends said it was excellent, so I gave it a try. It was so good! The writing style/content didn't seem anything like what I remembered from her other book, which was a pleasant surprise. If you enjoy reading historical fiction, you will like this book! I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but this story was unlike any of the ones I've read, which was refreshing. If you haven't read this one yet, it's now out in paperback, which would be perfect to throw in your beach or pool bag! 4 stars

A Family Shaped by Grace: How to Get Along with the People Who Matter Most // I heard about this book through Emily P. Freeman & The Nester, because their father is the author! I was able to be a part of the book launch team, so I got to read this book before it was out. Whether you have great family relationships or very strained family relationships, this is a great book to read, and I highly recommend it. He gives some very practical advice about how to create a culture of grace in your family (hint: it starts with you!), whether your immediate family or extended family. As we remember who we are in Jesus, we are free to accept our family members as we've been accepted in Jesus, and we are freed from the need to criticize, compare, and find fault with our family members. A great book that I think all families should read! 4 stars

This Is How It Always Is // I heard great reviews of this book from a couple of my trusted book recommendation sources, so I had high hopes for the book. I don't tend to know a lot about a book's plot before I jump in, and this one caught me a little off guard. It's about a family whose youngest son (age 4) wants to be, and thinks he is, a girl. This is what I would call a sensitive subject, which made for really surprising subject matter in a fiction book. I didn't particularly love that central theme of the book, but I did enjoy the other themes throughout - parenting, childhood, lies, secrets. Worth reading if you enjoy reading about dysfunctional families and are okay with reading about perhaps a more sensitive topic. 3 stars

Surprised by Motherhood: Everything I Never Expected about Being a Mom // This book was such a treat to read. Lisa-Jo always swore she never wanted to be a mom, but her heart changed some years into marriage and she and her husband had several kids. This is not a how-to parenting book by any means; it's Lisa-Jo's story, reflections, and lessons through the early years of motherhood. I laughed, I cried, and really enjoyed this book. I think any young mom would really enjoy it, or if you are also a woman who does not want kids, this book brings an interesting perspective that I haven't read elsewhere. 4 stars

Still Life // I heard about this book through the What Should I Read Next podcast. It seems like there's quite a Louise Penny following, so I picked up this first book in the Chief Inspector Garmache series.  It started off pretty slow but the story grew on me as the book progressed. Not the best book I've read, but I also heard that her books get better and better. I'm going to keep working my way through the series with that in mind! This is a great book for people who like a mystery but do not enjoy horrific, gruesome mysteries; this one is pretty tame! 3 stars

What I read in April

America's First Daughter: A Novel // This was such a good book! It's historical fiction about Thomas Jefferson's daughter, but it's loosely based on letters from Thomas Jefferson's personal correspondence. There were parts of the story that I was familiar with, but much of it was new to me. It was all so interesting, and I really got swept up into both the historical facts and the fictional aspects that were added.  Definitely worth picking up! 4.5 stars

Girl Meets Change: Truths to Carry You through Life's Transitions // I am not one who loves change, so any big life change (even the good ones!) can be challenging for me. My sister has recommended this book several times, and after having Cora I knew it was time for me to read it. I really enjoyed the truths that Kristen shared in this book about change, how to view change, and how to trust in the God that never changes. If you're going through any type of change (a move, a new baby, a new marriage, a new job, etc.), I would recommend this book! 4 stars

You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are // I enjoyed this book while I was reading it, but I can't say it was deeply impactful or made a huge impression on me. The truths that Rebekah shares are good: we are free in Christ, and because of that, we are free to rest in the presence of Him, free to grieve and confess, and free to move forward into what God has called us to. If you feel bogged down by the expectations of others (or yourself) and are striving for approval, this might be a worthwhile read for you. 3 stars

The Girl on the Train // This is a book that needs no introduction, and I might have even been the last person on earth to have read it. Unfortunately I didn't really like it, and I definitely didn't think it was worth all of the hype! Paula Hawkins' next book Into the Water came out this week, but I don't feel inclined to read it. Just not the type of suspense novel that I enjoy! 2 stars

Peace Like a River // This was our book club book for April, and it was a book that I had had sitting on my shelf for quite some time. I had heard excellent things about the book, but I'm disappointed to say that I didn't like it. The story was a little too slow for me, and if it hadn't been for book club, I don't think I would have finished it. 2 stars

What I Read in February

Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty // I had high hopes for this book. I loved the title, I loved the cover, I loved the premise. But, it fell a little short for me. There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed, but overall it seemed to drag. It took me a little while to finish it because I didn't find the story to be that compelling, and I didn't particularly like the characters. I can see that this is one of those books that some people would really love, but it just wasn't that for me. 3 stars

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches // Sometimes a book hits you at just the right time, and for me, that was this book. Adjusting to life with two kids under two has been challenging for me, but I found this book to be so helpful in changing my perspective and embracing these crazy days. I ended up reading this book in one day (it's short!) and found myself underlining and starring sections that were what I really needed to hear in that moment. Unlike some parenting books I've read, this book did not overdo it on the personal anecdotes; it was straightforward and really refreshed my spirit. If you're in the midst of mothering little people, I highly recommend this book! 5 stars

Letters to My Daughters: The Art of Being a Wife // I'm working through a big stack of books I received for Christmas, and amidst all of the parenting books was this book on marriage I had asked my mom for. This is one of the better books I've read on marriage: it's a book of letters Barbara Rainey writes to her daughters in response to wide variety of questions about marriage. The format of the book made it so enjoyable to read, because it was so personal and relatable. The advice in the letters was straightforward and biblical, and I really enjoyed reading this! I should also mention that this book is absolutely beautiful; there are gorgeous illustrations throughout the book, and it's definitely the type of book you could keep out on your coffee table. It would make a great gift! 4 stars

Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard // This book kept popping up all over my social media, so I decided it was time to read it. I'm so glad that I did. Jennie Allen does a really good job of writing about the struggle that many of us face in feeling that we are not enough, which leads us to trying to prove that we are, when really we just need to understand that Jesus is enough and is the only one that will ever satisfy us. I really loved the second part of the book where she talks about Jesus being the one who can bring us rest, who can truly satisfy us, and who can be enough for us even in the midst of suffering. This was a really great book, and I highly recommend it! I did receive this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for a review. 4.5 stars

Run // I'm going to sound like a broken record here for a minute: another Ann Patchett book that I really enjoyed! This book takes place within 24 hours, but somehow she doesn't make it feel rushed or cheesy. The story took several twists that I was not expecting, which I really enjoyed, and again, her writing is beautiful. What I have come to really enjoy about Ann Patchett's novels (aside from the writing), is that all of her stories are so different! I never know what to expect when I start one of her books, but I'm always pleased.  4 stars

Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline // I was so intrigued by the title of this book, because that's exactly where I am: long days that feel full of seemingly small things. While I definitely agree that there is deep spiritual fruit to be found in this season and these tasks of motherhood, I don't agree with the premise that we can replace spiritual disciplines and time in prayer and the Word with the tasks of mothering simply because this is a busy season of life. Because of that, I didn't connect with the main theme of the book, but I did really appreciate how this book emphasized that these often mundane tasks are actually significant in the lives of our kids and our families. I did really enjoy several of the chapters in this book, and I thought the author did a good job of helping give an eternal and spiritual perspective to the ordinary tasks of motherhood. I did receive this book for free from the publisher in exchange for a review. 3 stars

The Wicked City // This was my book for book club this month. I've read most of Beatriz Williams' books and have really enjoyed several of them, but this one wasn't my favorite. The story takes place during the Prohibition era, which really interested me because I haven't read much during that time period. The story seemed a little disconnected and random throughout the book (though she did tie things together at the end), and it also seemed so long. I was ready to hurry up and find out what happened to all of the characters, which tells me I didn't love it. I also found it difficult to read, partly because of the Appalachian dialect and partly because of the narration. Not my favorite, but not horrible. 3 stars

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World // I think I may be the last person on earth to have read this book, but better late than never! I had low expectations for this book, despite all of the hype over the past several years, but I was presently surprised to find that I really enjoyed this! Bob Goff is a fascinating man, and he has some pretty incredible life experiences that he shares in this book. I was captivated by the way he lives his life and the detail to which he recounts it in this book. This book is really interesting, funny (I read a couple of passages aloud to Caleb and we were both laughing out loud), and thought-provoking. 4 stars

Please Stop Laughing at Me: One Woman's Inspirational True Story // I really enjoy reading memoirs, so I picked this one up. The author tells her story of being horribly bullied throughout her childhood. It was very surprising to me to read the extent of the things she suffered at the hands of her classmates. The bullying deeply affected her, which is evident even in the detail to which she recounts specific instances of being bullied. I found the writing a bit weak, and the book did seem to drag on a little. This was not a favorite of mine, but it could be a good resource for teachers or maybe for parents whose kids are being bullied.  I received this book for free from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my review. 2 stars

Disclosure: Affiliate links are included, so if you click on any of the titles above and purchase the book(s), I may receive a small commission. Thanks for supporting the blog + my reading habit.

What I Read in January

Staying on top of my reading resolutions for this year with a recap of the books I read in January - and two of them were non-fiction! What did you read this month?

The City Baker's Guide to Country Living // Sometimes I browse bookstores and add every book with an interesting cover to my to-be-read list. This cover was one of the ones that caught my eye, so I was excited to receive a copy of the book from Blogging for Books! I really enjoyed reading this novel! The setting - an inn in a small town in Vermont - felt very Gilmore Girls-esque, which I loved, and the plot had several unexpected aspects which I really enjoyed. I love detailed writing about food, so the cooking scenes and descriptions of all of the food were a big plus for me. A fun, easy read. 4 stars

Commonwealth // This was my book club's January book. I've mentioned before that I love Ann Patchett, and this is my current favorite title of hers. The writing is beautiful, and I loved how the story spanned five decades. This is probably going to end up being one of my favorite books for this year, so I highly recommend! I will warn you that this is not a happy-feel good book; it's about how a divorce affects the children of two different families. That being said, I love books that are well-written and true to real life, and this book was both of those things. 5 stars

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living // In this book, Shauna says that "present over perfect living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice". The entire book is about her journey to living in a more simple way, being careful with what she says yes to, and taking the time to just be who she is and enjoy what's most important to her. As someone who is a perfectionist who likes to say yes and be busy, this was a good read for me. I didn't feel like it was life-altering, but I enjoyed her writing and found myself resonating with some of the things she wrote. 3 stars

My Heart: Every Beat Surrendered to Our Unchanging God // This book was SO good. It's the first-person account of a young mom who finds herself in active heart failure. The book is a combination of a retelling of her story, her prayer journal during her most difficult days, and the letters she writes to her two young boys as she faces the very real possibility of death at an early age. This book challenged me, encouraged men, and made me cry! Julie has a beautiful way with words, and it was a gift to be able to read her honest thoughts and struggles in the midst of deep suffering, yet at the same time her total reliance and trust in a faithful and loving God. Highly recommend! 4 stars

Affiliate links were used in this post, so if you click through on any of the book links above and make a purchase, I may receive a tiny commission. Thanks for supporting my reading habit + this blog! 

What I Read in November + December

Whew - a long overdue post on what I read in November + December! It's a bit of a long post because there's a bunch of books, but I wanted to finish out the year with these recaps because I know so many of you enjoy them.

Shepherding a Child's Heart // I really enjoy reading parenting books, and this was one I had asked for for my birthday last year. There are really good principles about training your children from a young age to obey and respond to parental authority, and I really liked it. This wasn't as much of a practical handbook as laying down foundations in your child's heart. 4 stars

What Alice Forgot // I've read several of Liane Moriarty's books, and this was by far my favorite. It was our November book club book, and I could not put it down. The story is about Alice, who wakes up thinking she's 29 and pregnant, when in reality she's 39 and has three kids and a falling-apart marriage. We had a lot of fun discussing this book during book club, and everyone really liked it. Definitely worth picking up! 4 stars

The Underground Railroad // This book won the National Book Award last year, was Oprah's Book Club pick, and was given rave reviews everywhere I looked. But, I didn't like it! I kept reading it waiting to feel really connected to the book or for this moment when I wouldn't want to put it down, but that just never happened for me. Yes, it's well-written and clever, but I didn't really enjoy reading it. If you want to read a book about slaves in the south, I would recommend The Kitchen House or The House Girl long before I would recommend this one. 2 stars

What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage // I've had this book for a while, and I wanted to read it because I hadn't read a book on marriage in a while. There were some really great truths and principles in this book that I found helpful, especially as good reminders 6 1/2 years into marriage. I did find the writing a little redundant, but I enjoyed it. 3 stars

A Certain Age // I am a big fan of Beatriz Williams, but for me this title fell a little flat. It just wasn't as compelling as some of her other stories. I did enjoy reading it, but I didn't really like it, so it doesn't get a high rating from me. 3 stars

All the Pretty Things: The Story of a Southern Girl Who Went through Fire to Find Her Way Home // This was one of those books that was popping up all over my social media, so when the publisher sent me a copy I was thrilled to read it in exchange for a review! I love reading personal stories and memoirs, so I enjoyed this book. I think there's value in reading about people who are very different than you, and that's how I felt about this book. I can hardly wrap my mind around the way that Edie grew up. It was an interesting read, and she definitely has a story to share. 3 stars

Winter Storms // I've read all of Elin Hilderbrand's books, because they are so easy to fly through and so enjoyable. This was the third book in her winter trilogy, and I enjoyed it just as much as her other books. It's not very long and was a breeze to get through, but the characters and story are engaging and very enjoyable. 4 stars

State of Wonder // I've always heard good things about Ann Patchett and recently finished Bel Canto, which I really enjoyed. This book was also very good - well-written, interesting characters, unique plot. It's safe to say I'm now an Ann Patchett fan and will continue to work my way through her books.  4 stars

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep // What I loved about this book was the child's perspective from which it is written. The way the girl perceives the things that adults do and how she explains them was so entertaining. I thought the plot was a little strange and left me wanting more, but it was an enjoyable read. 3 stars

Truly Madly Guilty // If you've read some of Liane Moriarty's books (like Big Little Lies or The Husband's Secret) and enjoyed those, than you will enjoy this one. There's the suspense of wondering what has happened to this group of people in the book, and the chapters alternate between detailing the actual event surrounding the book and the aftermath. I don't love books written in that way, so this was not as good as What Alice Forgot for me. It was interesting, and I'm glad I read it as it was on the Bestseller list, but it just wasn't my favorite. 3 stars

The Mothers // I was really anticipating this debut novel because I had heard good things about it, and I was not disappointed! I really enjoyed a book written within the American black church culture, something that I was pretty unfamiliar with. The writing is very good and the plot had a few unexpected twists. There is quite a bit of language in this book, just to warn you, but if you can look past that, it's a great read. 4 stars

The Mommy Group: Freaking Out, Finding Friends, and Surviving the Happiest Time of Our Lives // I didn't really know what to expect from this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was really nice to read a non-fiction book on motherhood/parenting that didn't really have an agenda. The book really just tells the stories of this group of moms in Brooklyn as they go through pregnancy, birth, and the first couple of years of their children's lives. It was refreshing, honest, and funny, and I really liked it. This would be a great book to give to a pregnant friend or a new mom. 4 stars

Today Will Be Different // I really loved Where'd You Go, Bernadette, so my hopes were extremely high for this book. And those hopes were unfortunately dashed, because I just did not enjoy this one! I liked the premise: a mother decides that her day will be different in a number of ways, and the book takes place in the 24 hours of that day. However, the plot was not compelling enough, and I didn't enjoy the main character. There were several lines that I found to be snarky and entertaining, but definitely not enough of those to warrant a good review. Disappointed in this one. 2 stars