Book Recommendations

For as long as I can remember, I have always been a reader. My mom used to take me to the library all the time growing up, and there was nothing more exciting than seeing the Bookmobile in my neighborhood! The Sweet Valley Twins books were some of my very favorites back then (probably showing my age, haha!). There have been many nights over the years where I have stayed up until the wee hours of the morning reading because the book of the moment was just too good to put down. I’ve had a few of you ask me for book recommendations, so I thought I would first start with a list of some of my most memorable reads from the past few years. For me, these were the books I never wanted to end and could go back and read again one day, or made such an impact on me that it was still on my mind for weeks after finishing.

I’ll start with one of my all-time favorite authors, Kristin Hannah. I’m sharing three of her books, although every book I’ve ever read from her has been great. Her novels are long (love a long book!), span over decades, have complex characters, and are so beautifully written. Almost every book I have read by her has brought me to tears. Some of her books may seem slow in the beginning or difficult to get into, but stick with them – before you know it, you’ll be sucked right in! I can’t do the description of these books justice, so just click on each one and read the Amazon descriptions if you want more details! The Nightingale is for sure one of my top three favorite books EVER!

The next few are all from Kristy Woodson Harvey. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors – maybe it’s because we are both from North Carolina! All of her books are set in the south, and the characters are so relatable…I feel like I could be best friends with them! My favorite of all her books is Dear Carolina – I recommend this book to everyone – it is the most touching story and it’s set in an eastern North Carolina town not far from where I live! She also has a new “Peachtree Bluff” series which is centered around a mom and her three adult daughters – I just loved the characters in these books and hated for the last book to come to an end!

The Peachtree Bluff Series:

• Book One: Slightly South of Simple
• Book Two: The Secret to Southern Charm
• Book Three: The Southern Side of Paradise

Where are my Chip & JoJo fans?? I remember when their book was available for pre-order, I immediately placed my order, MONTHS before it was even released! Everything they do or touch turns to gold, so I knew their book would be great, too. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. I literally had allllll of the feels while reading this book – I laughed out loud, I cried, I even had chills at one point (lol!). These two are inspiring in so many ways – I love everything about them. Definitely read this book if you haven’t already!

The Art of Racing in the Rain is a book I read YEARS ago. I am not even sure how I found it to be honest, but it is one of my most memorable reads. It is narrated by a dog, which I LOVED. Reading a story about a family and all of the trials they went through from the perspective of their devoted dog was incredibly touching for me as a dog owner and lover. Highly recommend!

A few months ago, I read Redeeming Love after seeing it as a highly recommended book on another blogger’s list. This book receives high praise and has outstanding reviews on Amazon, and after reading it, I can see why. This story is a perfect portrayal of God’s unconditional love for us. I don’t understand why this one isn’t a movie!

Still Alice is a novel that was made into an Oscar nominated movie, which is what led me to read it (I always like to read the books before I watch the movies, anyone else?). This book really had an impact on me – so much so that I could not stop thinking about it for weeks after I read it. It’s based on a woman in her 50’s that gets early onset Alzheimers. While this was a heavy and heartbreaking story, it also brings a lot of awareness to what it is like to live with this terrible disease, both for the person impacted and their families. Very eye-opening.

What are a few of your favorite books/authors? Comment below and let me know – I am always looking for good recommendations! Also, if you read any of the books I have mentioned here, let me know what you think! Thanks for stopping by!