I didn’t dive into reading immediately when the work-from-home orders began but eventually hit my stride and read a number of amazing books this year that I’m so excited to share with you. You can shop the full list here and find all of my book ratings (not just my 5-star reads) on Goodreads. To see why I linked to Bookshop instead of Amazon, check out the Cookbook section of my Small Business Gift Guide.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing is a beautifully written multi-generational story that follows the families of two half-sisters in Ghana with very different fates. The lineage of one sister follows warfare and British rule at home. The slave trade leads the other to the South, where they live through the Civil War, migrate north, and find their footing in Harlem. This book stuck with me long after I read the final page and is one I cannot recommend enough.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Becoming was a little bit of a slow burn but an interesting one nonetheless. I loved every chapter of Michelle Obama’s life more than the last and it left me feeling hopeful and inspired during a scary time politically. She is an incredible person and I especially loved her takes on being a politician’s wife and finding her footing as a working, and later very public, mother and wife.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I was first introduced to Taylor Jenkins Reid through Daisy Jones & The Six which was one of my favorite books of 2019 so I wasn’t surprised when I loved the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo just as much. Famous actress Evelyn Hugo reveals the secrets of her life through an interview with a journalist who’s trying to figure out why she was entrusted with the story in the first place.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Just Mercy should be required reading. I learned so much about the criminal justice system through this book but it never felt like a textbook. Stevenson’s writing is compelling and the stories he tells of death row prisoners and children subjected to life in prison are heartbreaking and hopeful and real. It’s emotional but well worth the feelings it’ll stir up. It changed how I think about the prison system and the criminal justice system.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Once I got into The Great Alone I couldn’t put it down. Seriously, I spent 80% of Thanksgiving Day reading chapter after chapter and then woke up Black Friday to finish it before even considering looking at deals online. Leni, used to being the misfit who’s constantly being moved around by her dad, finds herself and learns what she’s capable of when her parents move her to Alaska at age 13. In this coming of age story, Leni faces the challenges of winter in Alaska and the challenges of being trapped inside during long, dark nights with her family. I’m glad I own the hard copy of this one because as soon as I finished it I was ready to re-read it.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
This book was a very quick read for me. It’s a bit of a mystery, trying to understand what’s happening as the story unfolds. I found it to be really interesting and easy to read.
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
This one was a little bit of a thriller and a definite page-turner with twists I couldn’t see coming. Another quick read but one I thoroughly enjoyed.
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