I finished the year off with some great books… and then I never shared them. I’m catching up now.

The ones that were OK:



Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

I didn’t really like anything about this book. I read the whole thing because I was waiting for something to happen, but I didn’t really like anyone in the book. Sometimes I’m OK with that, but in this situation, I really wanted to like someone but I just didn’t. Lots of people love her books, so I’m not sure if I just started with the wrong one…

The Royal We by Heather Cooks & Jessica Morgan

This was read in two days. It read just like watching a special on the royal wedding mixed with a rom-com. It’s perfect for the beach. I liked it, but I also love cheesy rom-coms. If that’s not your thing, this definitely won’t be.

Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison

I couldn’t put this one down either, but if you have no interest in Playboy or the Girls Next Door, I don’t know if this will be as interesting. This show was so interesting to me and so this book was a more real life extension. It was definitely a different portrayal of life in the mansion than the show. I could always tell things weren’t as they seemed, but this gave you a whole different side.

The ones I would recommend:

One Plus One by JoJo Moyes

I love JoJo Moyes all the time. This book was an easy read about a road trip and an unlikely friendship. I loved it. Her characters always just seem real. I’ve got a couple more of hers to read, but I’m trying to spread them out a little bit.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

I couldn’t put this one down either. Her books are super easy to just pick up and not put down. This are never too heavy and there’s always some crazy situation. This book was no different. You have a woman that loses her memory and spends the entire book trying to piece back together the pieces of her life and family. I loved it.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

This book has a permanent spot in our apartment. It really is as good as people say. These aren’t rules as much as guidelines. We were able to purge and declutter more from the help of this book than any other advice we’ve received. Some of the ideas were a little extreme for me, but so much of it was helpful. The second I put it down – things started to be eliminated. I just got her next book and I’m excited to dive a little deeper. I’m curious – has anyone else read this?

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

I got this book from my sister in law who teaches middle school. We have some great conversations about breaking down barriers and I love getting her book recommendations – especially ones that she finds helpful in her life or ones that they are teaching in schools now. I read this book in about an hour. It’s written about the childhood experience of the author fleeing Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and moving to Alabama. I liked the child’s perspective and I’m so happy I read it.

So that rounds out my 2015. Next month, I’ll share the books I’ve read this year so far and how they fit into my reading challenge. I’m excited to check out other posts on Steph’s linkup

Tell me – what have you been reading? Has your life changed thanks to Marie Kondo?