Oh you guys, last week's trip to Nantucket was so dreamy! As you probably saw on Instagram (where all the Starr Struck action is happening these days), the trip included 6 adults and 1 toddler [who took long daily naps] and I actually got to read on the beach twice. TWICE!!! As a #todlermom, I seriously felt like I was living my best possible "vacation" life on this trip.

Plus, doing that tiny bit of beach reading got me thinking about how much I want to do lots more beach reading this summer (a fantasy that might be possible given that we live 5 mins from the beach...), and reminded me to pull together my summer reading list to share with you. Thus, today's post! 

Here are some of the fun, beachy, *mostly* light-hearted fiction books that are on my 2018 Summer Reading List:

• The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai: Amazon describes this book as "a dazzling new novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss, set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris." Sounds good to me!
  
  
• Tell Me Lies: A Novel by Carola Loverling: This book as has been on almost every "Summer Must-Read List" that I've seen this year and that's all I need. It follows a couple through college and their post-college life in NYC, alternating between their voices + experiences. Yes, please! I'm a sucker for a book written from different points of view. 
  
  
• When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Peri: Another book that has been making it's rounds on the recommended reading lists and it sounds really interesting--it's about a recently-dumped, traditional Kentuckian (now living in NYC) who falls for a woman for the first time in her life. 
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• Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant To Be by Rachel Hollis: You've probably heard of this book already because it's a NYT Bestseller and has been on the top of all of the charts, but if you haven't and like funny, honest, direct life stories and advice, I recommend you pick it up. I'm so excited about reading it!
  
  
• The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand: Hilderbrand has been called the "Queen of the Summer Beach Read" and with her novels based on Nantucket (in wedding season, no less!), that's no surprise. However, this one involves a dead body that washes up on the beach and turns everyone involved in a big wedding into a suspect. Duh duh duh... ;) 
  
  
• All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin: I've enjoyed Giffin's past novels and have heard that just like her others, this one is a total page-turner (in that great beach read kind of way). The basic premise? Three different characters are all brought together by a single photograph shared on social media, and the story is told in their three distinct voices. 
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• When Life Gives You LuluLemons by Lauren Weisberger: The sequel to A Devil Wears Prada! That's all I need to know. Can't wait to find out what's been happening in Emily Charlton's life since she left Miranda Priestly's office...
  
  
• The Terrible by Yrsa Daley-Ward: This is definitely the heaviest, most non-Beach-Read book on this list, but I had to include it because I really want to read it. It's a new memoir by Yrsa Daley-Ward (of Instagram Poetry fame) and it's supposed to be really incredible. I've never met a memoir I didn't like so it's obviously on my list.
  
  

8 Books for this summer! Do you think I can do it? Here's to hoping...and I hope that you, too, can find some time to head to the beach (or pool, or lake, or heck, bathtub!) and do some fun, carefree reading this summer. 

Happy July, happy warm weather, happy reading, + happy Independence Day to you!

Even though it doesn't feel [or look] like spring [at all] around here, it is supposedly spring so I guess that means it's time for my spring reading list!

I'm reading a *really* disturbing WWII-based historical fiction book right now (Finding Rebecca by Eoin Dempsey) and while it's very good, it's also been leaving me extremely sad and freaked out every night after reading, so it was nice to write this blog post and think about moving on to lighter books after I finish this one. Don't get me wrong--I'm going to read through to the end--but the graphic descriptions of Auschwitz and in particular, of the mass execution of children has been really hard for me to read about right now... 

So anyways, here are the books that are on my list/that I think you should add to your list this spring! 

• Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover: I've heard so many good things about this book. It's a NYT Bestseller about the experience of a girl who was raised in a Survivalist family and didn't go to school until age 17, but continues on to eventually earn a PhD. Can't wait to read it!
  
  
• Circling the Sun by Paula McClain: I just read this book by the author of The Paris Wife and it was really, really good. It's based on the life of a real British woman, Beryl Markham, who grew up in colonial Kenya in the early 1900's. She was a feminist before there were feminists and had a tough time in love (and life) but did some remarkable things regardless. I couldn't put it down. 
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• Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel by Jesamyn Ward: Savage the Bones was one of the most well-written books that I read last year, so I'm really excited to read this new one by the same author, Jesamyn Ward. It comes highly recommended from a friend but also won like 100000000 awards in 2017, so I think it's worth picking up ;) 
  
  
• New Day Dawning by Jonathan Kis-Lev: Here's the little blurb about this book from Amazon: "Inspired by the life of a real World War II survivor, written as a fictional tale, this remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history by saving but one soul." Enough for me! But I hope it's a bit more uplifting than the WWII novel I'm reading now...
  
  
• The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah: The newest book by the author of The Nightingale, an incredible book and a personal favorite from the past few years (if you haven't read that one, do so now!). This book is about a father who was a POW in Vietnam and returns from the war to move his family to Alaska to live off of the grid. It sounds like a good one.
  
  
• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: I don't usually like sci-fi or futuristic fantasy books, but I have been assured by two reputable sources/readers that this book is worth the read. I have to admit, the description + blurb don't pull me in, but I'm adding it to my list assuming it's a Hunger Games-like situation (I didn't think I would like that series but I ate it up). Also, it's another Bestseller, has an amazing rating on Amazon with over 16k reviews, and it's now a movie by Steven Speilberg. So there's that. 
  
  

What's on your list this spring? You know I love recommendations so send them my way! Also, I'm aware that blog comments are closed now (sorry guys, it had to happen) but you can still share your recent reads with me on Instagram, Facebook, or by shooting me a quick email. 

Happy reading + happy [eventual] spring!

Winter reading list time! Since I know we're all in [or want to be in] hibernation mode, here's a list of books to add to your list + read under a snuggly blanket while you wait for spring to arrive. 

This time I've only read 2 out of the 7 books listed below (it hasn't been that long since my holiday reading list!), so that means I've got lots of reading to do this winter ;) 

Here's what's on my list...

• The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn: If you like suspenseful thrillers (Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train), I've heard that this book is the real deal and should be your [my] next read. It's about an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnesses a crime through her window.  
  
  
• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo: I've been seeing this book pop-up on every "must-read" list of 2018, so have obviously added it to my list. From what I understand it is a *very* in-depth +  informative exploration of today's racial landscape in the US. Sounds like required reading, doesn't it? 
  
  
• A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towles: This book comes highly recommended by one of Ben's aunts who has a similar taste in books and is a big fiction reader like yours truly. It also has 7,174 reviews on Amazon and an average rating of 4.7/5 stars. That's enough for me!
  
  
• Wreckage by Emily Bleeker: I just started reading this book the other night when I found it for free on Prime Reading (I'd finished the book I was reading on my Kindle and was too tired to go back downstairs and pull up my library account on my laptop!). I didn't know much about it before starting it but wow, is it a page-turner! I've stayed up way too late reading it for the past two nights and can already tell you that I recommend it. 
  
  
• Brave by Rose McGowan: A memoir about Rose McGowan's childhood in a cult and her similarly challenging time in the "cult" of Hollywood, where she was repeatedly sexualized and taken advantage of. I keep hearing about this book and it seems like a very appropriate read in the age of #metoo. 
  
  
• The Awkward Age: A Novel by by Francesca Segal: I just read this book and really enjoyed it. It was a somewhat lighter read about family dynamics, romance, and parenting a teenager (eek!), but it definitely kept me both interested in the characters and totally freaked out about the fact that Charlie Mae will become a teen someday and could quite possibly hate her mom for a few years in there (OMG I hope not!).  
  
  
• Beartown by Fredrick Backman: Another book that comes highly recommended and has great reviews! It's by the author of A Man Called Ove, which has been on my list for FOREVER now, but which I still haven't read somehow. I need to get on that one, too! 

What's on your list this winter? What have you read recently and loved? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

You can peruse all of my past reading lists here. 

It's time for my third annual year-end reading list! Oh, how I love a good list of book recommendations. 

I read 26 books in 2017, which is less than last year, but seeing as though I had a child for 12 months this year as opposed to just 4 months in 2016, I think that's to be expected (for comparison's sake, I read 31 books in 2016 and 37 in 2015--a year in which I was childless).

Anyway, enough about that; here are my favorite reads of all of the books that I made it through this year. There's a little bit of something for everyone on the following list, and I've broken it up into 3 categories: my favorite "new releases," my favorite non-new releases, and my favorite lighter reads...

Best New Books Read in 2017:

• Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon: One of my very, very favorites of the year; a WWII-based historical fiction novel that also includes a moving love story.   
• One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul: The perfect gift for the personal essay-lover in your life [note: it's HILARIOUS].   
• Marlena: A Novel by Julie Buntin: A powerful book about the intensity of teenage female friendships.
• The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo An epic love story that follows a couple over a 13 year-long relationship. 
• The Hearts of Men: A Novel by Nickolas Butler: A novel that follows a couple of generations of boys/men and their fathers, and connects their stories through their experiences at boy scout camp.
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: A novel about an aging Hollywood movie icon and her "scandalous" love life/seven husbands. 
  
  

Best Non-New Books Read in 2017:

• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
• The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessarro
• The Girl With No Name by Diney Costeloe
• Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
• Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Page-Turners/Beach Reads/Airplane Books Worth Picking-Up:

• ​Don’t You Cry by Mary Kubica
• Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty  
• Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane 
  
  

Want more recommendations from years gone past? Check out my 2015 year-end reading list here and my 2016 year-end reading list here. You can check out my seasonal reading lists (I publish 4 per year) here. 

Happy reading! I hope your last few weeks of 2017 are full of downtime on the couch with a good book (+ glass of wine/tea/coffee) in-hand ;) 

It's almost a new season (Friday is the official first day of Autumn, woot woot!) so you know what that means...it's time for a new seasonal reading list!

As usual, this fall's list is made up of a few books that I've read recently and a few that I haven't...here's what made the cut:

• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward: My good friend, author, + voracious reader Jessica Shuck has highly recommended this book to me multiple times and I {finally} just started reading it this past weekend.  It's about 8 motherless children with an alcoholic father in a rural, poverty-stricken town in Mississippi, and the story takes place in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. Although I'm only a few chapters in, I'm already mesmerized by the language, the setting, and the story.  
  
  
• One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul: I loved this collection of hilarious, honest essays by Scaachi Koul! They're all about growing up the daughter of Indian immigrants in Western culture, sexism, stereotypes, and "the universal mysteries of life." She had me laughing out loud many, many times while reading about her life. A great read if you're a personal essay aficionado, too (like yours truly).  
  
  

• Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult: If Jodi Picoult wrote it, I'll probably like it. Her books are intense, enthralling, and at times, melodramatic, but they always draw me in and keep me interested until the very last page. This is her newest and I hear it's a must-read if you've enjoyed any of her other books...
  
  
• Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane: Oh my, WHAT A PAGE TURNER! This novel was so good. Lehane is the author of Mystic River and Shutter Island and this book was a similarly thrilling thriller ;) If you like twisted, mysterious novels with unexpected endings, you should definitely pick this one up. 
  
  
• White Fur by Jardine Libaire: This book has gotten a lot of critical acclaim and the description is right my up alley--"a fairy tale of love and class and money and death and New York City in the 1980's, as seen through eyes so new and so young that everything seems like magic all the time..." (from NPR's book review). Sold! It's on my list. 
  
  
• Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon: This book! I cannot say enough good things about it! It seems like I've been on a WWII-based historical fiction book kick for years, and every time I pick up another one I remember why I find books about this period so important and engrossing; despite the utterly horrifying historical backdrop of these novels, there is something so inspiring about stories of the human will to survive, to help others, and to fight against hatred and tyranny. This is one of the best books I've read in a while and I can't recommend it enough.
  
  

What's on your list this fall? Read anything recently that you recommend?

Happy reading, fellow book lovers!

Summer has arrived, y'all! And it's the BEST! We had *such* a lovely weekend enjoying the sunshine (+ doing some much-needed yard work) and it felt so wonderful to be outside so much.

This past weekend of warm weather also made me realize that it's time to share the books that are on my summer reading list with you, so that you can get stocked up for your upcoming vacations, beach days, and/or lazy afternoons reading in the sun. 

We took a short family trip to the beach yesterday, which led me to realize that I probably won't be reading on the beach much [ever?] this summer, because beaching with a baby is slightly less relaxing than it was without (she wants to eat everything on the beach including all the sand!). But that doesn't mean that I'm not still planning on enjoying a bunch of good books this summer...so here's what's on my list!

{Oh, and I should note that my reading lists usually include a few books that I've read recently, but since I have so many good ones on my "to-read" list right now, I decided to make this list *just* books that I haven't read. I'll include some of my favorite recent reads on the next list.}

• Priestdaddy: A Memoir by Patricia Lockwood: This memoir has been getting rave reviews and Lockwood has been compared to David Sedaris, so it sounds like it's right in my wheelhouse. I've almost never met a memoir that I didn't enjoy and this one is about family dyanmics + having a dad who is a Catholic priest (!?!); I can't wait to read it. 
  
  
• Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris: Speaking of David Sedaris, did you know that he just released a book of his diary entries? I heard him interviewed about it on Fresh Air and since I love everything that he puts out into the world, I have no doubt that this book is wonderful. 
  
  
• The Leavers by Lisa Ko: This novel sounds heartbreaking and amazing. It's told from two perspectives--both the perspective of a young, undocumented Chinese immigrant mother and her son--after they are separated when he is a child and he is adopted by white parents. 
  
  
• ​The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir by Ariel Levy: Another memoir! This one was described as “Cheryl Strayed meets a Nora Ephron movie" by TheSkimm and was also named one of Time’s Best Non-Fiction Books of 2017 So Far. That's enough for me! 
  
  
• ​Don’t You Cry by Mary Kubica: Most of what I know about this book is that it's a gripping psychological thriller written by the author of The Good Girl, which is another book that has been on my list for a while and is a crazy popular NYT Bestseller. This one is also about a disappearing girl and the twisted story behind her disappearance. Sounds like a great beach read.
  
  

• The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo: Called "the epic love story of 2017," this bestseller follows "a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love" between a couple who meet in college. This is the kind of summer read that I always enjoy (because I always have been and always will be a hopeless romantic). 

What do you think? Is that enough to get you started? Haha ;) What's on your list for the summer?

I have to tell you that just composing this list has made me SO eager to read all of these books...maybe Ben and I can take shifts on our beach days so that I can do just a bit of beach reading (or it might be a while before I get through all of these)...

You can peruse my past reading lists here. 

Happy Summer!

Although it didn't feel like it around here until this past weekend, it's spring (finally)! And yesterday I went on a walk without a coat (finally!). And there are flowers sprouting up out of the ground (finally!). Spring is THE BEST. 

You know what else is the best? Reading. And good books. And swinging in a hammock while reading a good book (which I also did briefly yesterday while Charlie Mae napped). 

So anywho, since it finally feels like spring outside, I think it's time for our seasonal reading list.  I'm excited about this one because I've read some really good books lately and I know you'll enjoy them. Here we go...

• Marlena: A Novel by Julie Buntin:  I just finished this book and really liked it. It's about teenage friendships [among females] and how intense and life-changing they can be, even if they don't last that long. It's sad and hard to read at points, but super well-written and although not a memoir, feels very memoir-like. 
  
  
• The Hearts of Men: A Novel by Nickolas Butler: Sara gave me this book because she's related to the author (who also wrote the critically-acclaimed Shotgun Lovesongs, which I also read and loved), and it was great. It's centered around a couple of generations of boys/men and their fathers, and connects their stories through their experiences at boy scout camp. I know this doesn't necessarily sound like a page-turner, but it is and I enjoyed it immensely--even though I'm not a father, son, or boy scout ;) 
   
• Exit West: A Novel by Mohsin Hamid: I haven't read this book yet, but I've been hearing about it everywhere and really want to read it. It's about a couple who meet and fall in love in a country on the brink of civil war, and then eventually decide that they must escape their country together if they want to live. Timely, isn't it? 
  
  
• Perfect Little World: A Novel by Kevin Wilson: This book was super interesting. A doctor tries an experiment by creating a utopian world where children are brought up collectively (somewhat like a cult or commune, but without any of the other characteristics of those types of groups) and of course, it doesn't work out quite like he had hoped. The story follows a teen mom who takes part in the experiment and how it affects her life and experience as a mother. I definitely recommend it!
  
  
• Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood by Karen Maezen Miller: I've had this book since before I was ever pregnant or even thinking about becoming a mom--I bought it back when I was teaching Prenatal Yoga and needed a mom-related book to read from at the end of class. Fast forward to now, and I recently picked it up and couldn't put it down. It's SO relevant and wonderful to read now that I'm actually a mom! Fellow mamas: this is a must-read.
  
  
• Behind Her Eyes: A Novel by Sarah Pinborough: I haven't read this book yet, but I added it to my list when my friend Jessica recommended it on her blog because I love a good psychological thriller. It sounds like a love triangle gone bad--with unexpected twists and turns everywhere you turn. My kind of novel, for sure! Thanks for the rec, Jess ;) 

And that's it for this month! Have any recs for me? I'd love to hear them and add them to my ever-growing list...

Happy spring + happy reading!

It's time for another reading list! Oh, how I love lists of book recommendations--give me lists + lists of good books and I'll happily comb through them for days.

Since it's winter, I know you're looking for books to enjoy while snuggled up on the couch, sitting by the fire, or hopefully, while on a long flight to some warm, exotic locale (Yay for you! Send a postcard!), so this season's list is meant for that kind of reading setup--the kind where you hunker down and read big chunks of your book at a time, getting completely lost in the story and the characters.  

{I should probably note that I'm not doing the aforementioned type of reading much these days. I'm really only reading before bed and it usually doesn't last long because I'm always *SO* tired and know that the babe will be up in a few hours (minutes?)...but that still hasn't stopped me from finishing a few really good books lately!}

Thus, here are some novels that I recommend adding to your list, or that are on my current short list. As usual, I've noted which ones I've read and which ones I simply hope to read soon...

• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: I'm reading this book right now (it was a gift from my dear friend and author, Jessica Shuck) and wow, is it good but super intense and horrifying and sad. I'm not even that far into it yet and I can already tell that it's a must-read for anyone and everyone. Jessica named it her Best Read of 2016 and I can see why. Whew.  
  
  
• The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessarro: Oh, this book! It was so good! The main character, Grace, receives an inheritance from someone who is a complete stranger, and travels to Paris to learn more about the mysterious woman who left everything to her. The book then jumps back and forth between Grace's life and the somewhat tragic life story of this mysterious woman. I loved every minute of it. 
  
  
• Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple: I haven't read this book yet, but I plan to. It was on a lot of "top books" lists in 2016 and was quite buzzed about, and is by the author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?, which I enjoyed. The plotline--which I understand takes place all in one day--also sounds intriguing! 
  
  
• Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance: This is another great recommendation from Jessica Shuck (her review of this book is here) that I'm really looking forward to digging into when I'm done with The Underground Railroad. In this current political climate, I think we should all read it ASAP, as it's about working-class whites and how our surroundings influence who we become (and of course, our political beliefs). 
  
  
• Finally You: A Smart, Sexy Rom Com for Biblophiles by Jessica Shuck: I know, I know, but I had to give one more shout-out to Jessica! This is her book that I have already talked about at length {see this Q&A with the author), but just finished reading for the second time and thus, had to mention once more. It's so good! If you want a fun, smart, easy read to counter the emotional intensity of something like The Underground Railroad or Hillbilly Elegy, this is your book. It's also a perfect beach read for those of you jetting off to somewhere fabulous this winter. 
  
  
• The Promise: A Novel by Ann Weisgarber: Although this story had a rather tragic ending [don't worry, I won't give it away], it was a wonderful book. Based around 1900, it tells the story of a young woman who, amidst a social scandal, moves to Galveston, TX to marry a man she hasn't seen in years and doesn't really know. The book follow what happens to her once she arrives on this wild island, where she lives in conditions quite unlike what she was used to in Dayton, Ohio, and tries to figure out how to be happy in her new life. 

I could go on and on, as I have so many more books that I'm dying to read, but I'll stop there for now and save the others for my next reading list installment.

​Want more book recommendations? Click here to peruse past reading lists.  

Happy reading!

As the title of this blog post suggests, one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Jessica Shuck, has recently written her first novel. Jessica has been one of my dearest/soulmate friends for over 13 years now, and I could not be more proud of her or love her book more. 

There are four things you should know about Jessica before you read her book and meet her through today's Q&A:

1. She's one of the smartest people I've ever known (and I really and truly mean this). 
2. She's an incredible writer--I've known this about her since we first became friends + fellow English double majors--and I've been waiting for her to write a book for about 13 years now. 
3. She's one of the funniest, quirkiest, and wittiest people I've ever met (great combo). 
4. She's a *total* romantic and always has been, and we share a deep love for romantic comedies, romantic books, romantic stories, romantic TV shows, grand romantic gestures, etc. 

Thus, you won't be surprised to learn that Jessica's first book is a combination of these four things--it's smart, well-written, funny, and romantic--and it's wonderful.

I read the first draft voraciously while breastfeeding Charlie Mae back in her first few weeks of life. I think I read it in about 2-3 days because I couldn't put it down (and also because I was feeding Charlie Mae basically all day every day so I had a lot of time for reading); I've been waiting to share it with all of you ever since.

Because Jessica's book is now available on Amazon for Kindle and in paperback (yay!), I felt it only appropriate to talk about Jessica + her book here on the blog today. So lets hear from her! 

​You can learn more about Jessica below or by hopping over to her blog...

1. Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are professionally.
I wrote about this in greater detail on my blog, The Naptime Writer, but the gist is this: after a lot of thought, I decided to drop out of my English Lit. PhD program because I just wasn’t happy doing what I was doing. When I couldn’t find a job right away, I decided that it was the perfect opportunity to see if I could write a book (or as perfect as any opportunity would ever be.) Now I’m blogging regularly, working on my second book, and taking care of my adorable and mischievous toddler. In short: I’m the happiest I’ve ever been professionally or personally. (Sorry that this sounds like an infomercial).
 
2. You just wrote an entire book (!). How did you make that happen? What was your writing routine like? 
I’ve tried to write fiction so many times before and it didn’t happen because I didn’t push through the hard parts, like what happened immediately after the first sentence. Once I forced myself to keep writing (and “forced” isn’t an exaggeration), my writing routine became writing in the mornings before my son woke up, when he napped, and/or when he went to bed at night—that’s why my blog is called The Naptime Writer.
 
3. Where did you get inspiration for your book? 
My immediate spark of inspiration was sadly seeing a mouse race through my own kitchen. I imagined how my heroine would react to that, and the next couple of chapters came to me pretty easily. And genre-wise, I’ve been inspired by some of my favorite romances, including Pride and Prejudice, all of Meg Ryan’s rom-coms, lots and lots of romance novels (I tend to gravitate toward those featuring Scottish lairds or FBI agents), and, of course, my relationship with my husband, Daniel.
 
4. Why did you want to write a romance novel? 
I’ve been into romances for as long as I can remember. (Did anyone else love Beethoven 2 and Mighty Ducks 2 for the romance plots?) As far as romance novels are concerned, I got my love of them from my mom. When I was a teenager, I started sneaking romance novels from her collection and reading them in my walk-in closet. And one of my biggest motivations is that I’m still very happily in love with my husband, Daniel, after 12+ years together. I love romance novels because they evoke that magical feeling of falling in lust and love with a forever love.
 
5. Why did you start blogging?
My original motivation for blogging was that I thought it would be a smart marketing strategy to start gathering an audience before I announced that I had self-published a book. But I have always wanted to share my thoughts about what I was reading/watching, etc. (the main topics of my blog) in the same abstract way that I have always wanted to write fiction. Once I started blogging I was amazed at how much I loved it.
 
6. If you had to give one piece of advice to women (or men!) who want to take the plunge and pursue their dreams of working for themselves or starting their own business or blog, what would it be?
This is for all of my perfectionist friends and/or readers: stop worrying so much about whether you’ll be the best x who has ever lived and focus instead on trying something that makes you happy. When I focused more on the internal rewards of doing something professionally and creatively fulfilling, I began focusing less on comparing myself and my work to others. (This doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be a great writer. It just means that I’ve prioritized feeling happy and fulfilled over what I previously prioritized—my huge anxiety regarding failure and what people might think if I “tried” to write.)

7. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
My son, Samuel. And second, probably writing and self-publishing a book.

8. What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
Oh my gosh, I watch the worst reality television shows. For some people, like Mary Catherine and our other best friend Laura, this was more of a college phase, but it looks like it’s going to be a lifelong guilty pleasure for me. I watch way too many of The Real Housewives spin-offs, and I love reality television shows about cooking, even though I don’t enjoy cooking itself. (That’s not an exhaustive list of the reality tv shows I watch, btw).

9. If you were exiled to a desert island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be?
I’m not going to list my husband and son because I want to be fun and also because it’s probably selfish to exile them to the hypothetical deserted island with me, so I’ll say a gigantic Norton Anthology of English Literature, swimming goggles, and a lighter.

10. Words of wisdom you live by?
​“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” -Dumbledore (J. K. Rowling)
 
And now, here's the blurb from the back of Jessica's book (FYI, if you're buying it for Kindle it's super affordable at $2.99, and if you have Kindle Unlimited you can read it for free!): 

Things get complicated when your greatest rival becomes the object of your lust.

Eliza Ward, high school English teacher, has been smitten with her gorgeous friend, Luke, for an embarrassing length of time, and she’s finally decided to do something about that crush. 

There’s only one problem, and his name is Theo Sorensen. 

Eliza and Theo have competed with one another for years, and the announcement of an available chair position in their English Department only exacerbates their conflict. But somewhere along the way Eliza and Theo start spending less time thinking about how to one-up each other, and more time fantasizing about how to get the other person naked.

This is where it gets complicated.

Should Eliza pursue Luke, the figure at the center of her romantic daydreams since elementary school? Or should she pursue Theo, a man who looks devastatingly hot wearing glasses and reading a book, but who has been her long-standing foe? Or should she choose neither? (It’s definitely not Option C.)

Finally You is a smart, sexy rom-com perfect for bibliophiles and the chronically romantic.

Thanks so much for sharing a bit of yourself with us, Jessica! 

​If you want more great book recommendations (Jessica read 100 books in 2016!) and/or to learn more about this amazing gal, I highly recommend her blog and/or following her on Facebook or Twitter. 

Last year, I created my first annual year-end reading list, and it was so much fun that I'm back with a second annual version this year.

I read 31 books in 2016; this is 6 less than I read in 2015, but seeing as though we had a baby and my reading was majorly sidelined by exhaustion (both while pregnant and since having sweet Charlie Mae...), I'm feeling okay about it. 

So, here are my favorites of all of the books that I read this year. There's a little bit of something for everyone on the following lists, and I've broken them up into 3 categories: my favorite "new releases," my favorite non-new releases, and my favorite lighter reads {I've also included a few comments here + there because sometimes I can't keep my input to myself}...

Best New Books Read in 2016:

• The Memory of Us: A Novel by Camille Di Maio: I think this is one of my favorite books that I read in 2016. I can't recommend it enough!
• The Girls by Emma Cline
• Blackout: Rembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola: An incredible memoir about alcoholism. 
• Fates and Furies: A Novel by Lauren Groff: Not for everyone, but I loved the writing style and the characters. 
• My name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
• The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer: I LOVE Amy Schumer and everything she does. Such a great book that made me laugh many, many times. 

Older Books that I Read + Loved in 2016:

• War Brides by Helen Bryan: Another one of my favorite books that I read this year. How did it take me so long to hear about this one? 
• Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• The Lake House: A Novel by Kate Morton: Kate Morton is incredible! I recommend all of her books. 

New Page-Turners/Beach Reads/Airplane Books Worth Picking-Up:

• When I'm Gone: A Novel by Emily Bleeker
• The Widow by Fiona Barton: Total page-turner for fans of murder mysteries/thrillers. 

• The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

• Everything We Keep: A Novel by Kerry Lonsdale: I read this one while waiting for Charlie Mae to arrive and it kept me perfectly distracted ;) 

Also, I have to mention that one of my BFFs, Jessica Christensen, just wrote her very first book--a smart, sexy romance novel--and it was another one of the best books I read this year, but it's not available *yet.* It will be soon though, and you'd better believe that I'll be sharing more info about it as soon as it's out!

In the meantime, if you're looking for more book recommendations, hop on over to Jessica's new blog for tons of good book recs by the most well-read person I know [she had a goal of reading 100 books in 2016 and she's almost there--OMG!]. 

Happy reading and gifting! I haven't bought A SINGLE Christmas gift yet [gulp], so that's what I'll be doing over the next two weeks...

 As I make my way through my Summer Reading List, which is full of beach reads + [mostly] fiction books, I have also been making time in between the "fun" books to read pregnancy and mommy-related books. Not that these books aren't as enjoyable to read per se, but they definitely require me to be in a different mental space in order to read them.

That being said, I've gotten a lot out of reading these types of books, as they make me feel more educated and aware of what's out there in this unknown world I'm about to enter--even if I don't agree with or understand everything written in each book. 

So, here are the books that are on my mom-to-be reading list. I've already read 3 of the books listed below, and the other 3 are in my queue...

• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger:  If you're at all interested in breastfeeding, I highly recommend this book. It was given to me by one of my friends who found it really helpful, and I felt the same way--reading it made me feel SO much more knowledgable about breastfeeding, it's benefits, it's challenges, and the resources that exist out there to help new mothers with breastfeeding. Really interesting + informative!
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• The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Carp: I've heard multiple mothers and experts mention this book as a must-read, and since I hear that newborns like to cry a lot and can often have trouble sleeping, I think it's worth getting into. Quick admission: Sara gave me a DVD that covers most of what is in this book, so there's a high probability that I'll watch that (with Ben) instead of reading the book...because I only have approx 5 weeks left before this babe comes, and that's not a ton of time!
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• The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth by William Sears and Martha Sears: This book was recommended to me by my HypnoBirthing Coach, and I found it to be particularly helpful in explaining the science behind birth and what's actually happening in your body throughout the birth process. For me, understanding the physical logistics of birth has been helpful in making it feel much more doable (and less scary), so this book has been an important read for me thus far. 
  
  
• Elevating Childcare: A Guide to Respectful Parenting by Janet Lansbury: While I don't know a ton about this one, I've heard a lot of good things about Janet Lansbury and want to read this book in order to learn more about her ideas on parenting. I have no idea whether or not her parenting style/thoughts will resonate with me or not, but from what I understand, it's worth reading just to broaden my horizons. {This book might be one I'll have to get into after we have the babe, but we'll see...}
  
  
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin: If I lived in or close to Tennessee, I think I might venture over to The Farm (Ina May's Midwifery Center) to give birth. But since I don't, reading her book and finding inspiration from the stories and wisdom shared within it's pages will have to do for now. A beautiful read for anyone interested in natural childbirth and the magical spirituality of childbirth. 
  
  
• Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Drukerman: Despite this being my first pregnancy, I feel like I've been hearing about this book for quite some time now, simply because it ruffled a lot of feathers when it first came out by bringing up some big differences between the way French mothers and American mothers parent. Then, I recently read this article about why American mothers can't possibly parent the way that French mothers do because we don't have the same kind of support from our government, and it piqued my interest again, so I've added it to my list. 

So, that's where I am at this point when it comes to baby books! I'm sure this list will be constantly changing as I get deeper into the process (and actually have a baby!), but there you go. 

Fellow pregnant ladies and/or parents: what books would you recommend? Any must-reads that I haven't included here? Please post to comments to share the learning love!

I'm back in a good reading groove! Phew. While I may only have a few more months (around 2) that are exhaustion-free (or baby-free, I should say), I've recently had the energy to get back into my bedtime reading routine and therefore, get through a few good books over the past month or two... 

Thus, it's summer reading list time! Whether you're headed to the beach, traveling for work, or just taking a load off for a little while, here are 6 books that I recommend adding to your list in June, July, and August...

• Modern Lovers by Emma Straub: I'm currently in the middle of this book by the author of The Vacationers. So far, it's great--it's an easy beach read all about relationship dynamics, family, and friendship, and the chapters are told by the points of view of different characters, which always makes for an enjoyable experience. 
  
  
• Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy by Susan Schmidt: While I haven't actually read this book yet, it's on my list after hearing about it from a friend. I'm always a fan of an interesting memoir, and this one definitely sounds like it fits the bill.
  
  
• The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams (also A Hundred Summers by the same author): If you're looking for some fun, light, yet addictive reading, I definitely recommend Beatriz Williams' books. I've recently read both of the above and think they're perfect for the rom-com-loving crowd, but are also very well-written. I read them both quickly and found them to be entertaining and easy.
  
  
• Life After Life: A Novel by Kate Atkinson: Another recommendation that I haven't yet read, this book jumps between different stories/endings/outcomes of one person's life--it gives the protagonist a chance to live and die again and again in different ways, showing how much things can shift in life if just one detail had gone differently...
  
  
• Pretty Girls: A Novel by Karin Slaughter: Fan of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, etc.? Here's your next read. Warning: it's pretty dark, twisted, and scary (not for the faint of heart or sensitive reader), but I couldn't put it down. Creepy, but a total page-turner. 
  
  
• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman: While I haven't gotten to this book yet, it's been on my list for a while and it sounds like the perfect summer read. It's been on the NYT Bestseller list for months, it's gotten great reviews on Amazon, and I hear it's a total feel-good book. Sign me up! ;) 
  
  

What are you reading this summer? What's on your list? Hope you have lots of downtime planned so that you can lounge by the ocean, pool, or lake and get caught up on your reading, too...

Enjoy!

It's been a couple of months since my last reading list and I have to tell you the reason for this: since becoming pregnant I have been SO tired that I've had a very hard time getting through any books during my usual nightly reading time.

This has *never* happened to me before; I can't remember a time when I wasn't a voracious reader every night before bed--but for the past few months, even if I get into bed at 8:30pm, I still fall asleep within just a few minutes, meaning I can only get through a few pages before nodding off (and therefore, have had a very hard time getting through a book in a timely manner).

So, couple that with a full schedule and not much travel (another time when I read a ton), and books haven't been on my mind as much as usual. Sigh. I've been "reading" Unfinished Business by Anne-Marie Slaughter for what feels like months now and am only halfway through, which is just not the norm for me. {But I guess it is these days!}

Anyways, despite becoming a super slow reader as of late, I do still have a growing list of books that I want to read--not counting the huge stack of pregnancy, parenting, and baby-related books on my nightstand--so I hope that my energy returns soon and can get back to it ;)

In the meantime, I'll share my list of "to-read" books with you...not exactly the same as the lists made up of books I recommend, but still worthwhile, I think, especially if you already know that we share a similar taste in reading material...

Here are 6 books that are on my list right now:

• The Widow by Fiona Barton: From what I understand, if you loved The Girl on the Train or Gone Girl, you'll love this thriller. Enough for me! Maybe I need an addictive page-turner to keep me awake for a while... ;) 
  
  
• The Buddha Walks Into a Bar...: A Guide to life for a New Generation by Lodro Rinzler: Given to me by a friend + student who loved it, this book is a fresh take on Buddhism, mindfulness, and compassion for 20 and 30-somethings. I've read the first few pages (before falling asleep, haha!) and it seems great.  
  
  
• Fates and Furies: A Novel by Lauren Groff: This book came out late last year and has already won a bunch of accolades and made a lot of "best of" lists. It follows a marriage over the course of 24 years and shares both the perspective of the husband and wife as that marriage changes, grows, and struggles. Sounds really interesting!
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• My name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout: I really enjoyed Strouts last two books--Olive Kitteridge and The Burgess Boys, so will definitely read this one (her latest). All I know is that it's about a tough relationship between a mother and daughter, but that's all I need to know to add it to my list ;) 
  
  
• Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari: I know this book has been out forever, but I never had a huge interest in reading it until I binged on 'Master of None' and realized how much I LOVE Aziz Ansari. Now I really want to read his book because I'm a huge fan of him, his sense of humor, and his take on romance and dating. 
  
  
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of DeCluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo: I know, I know, I know, I need to read this book. So I've added it to my list. I've been hearing about it for what feels like years now and for the longest time, I felt that I got what I needed from it just by hearing podcasts about it (and having enough people explain it to me). But everyone says it's worth a quick read and I'm in a crazy nesting and organizing stage, so I just need to read it. 

And that's my current list [+ approximately 1 million baby-related books, of course]. Good thing I have a bunch of travel coming up in April and May! ;) 

What books have you read lately? Anything I should add to my list? Let me know!

I read quite a few books this year. In fact, I just looked back on my Kindle and the final number appears to be around 37. I'd say that's a lot, would you agree? We can probably thank the two retreats that I led and my three international flights for such a high number ;) 

So, since I did so much reading this year, I feel that I can adequately provide you with a list of the best new/newish books of 2015. I should be clear that since I read mostly fiction, that's what this list is made up of: fiction books that I couldn't put down over the past 11 months.

Also, since I read so many books in 2015 and not all of them were new, I'm including three short lists below. First, a list of the six best "new releases" that I read this year (books that came out in late-2014 or 2015); second, a very small list of a few older books that I finally got around to reading this year and loved, and third, a list of page-turners and travel reads (perfect for the beach, a long plane flight, or those times when you don't want to think too much while reading). 

If you haven't read these books, I definitely recommend each and every one of them. If there's a book lover on your gift list, I also highly recommend giving any of these books as gifts. Here goes!

Best New Books Read in 2015:

• We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
• The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
• The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford
• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Older Books that I Finally Read + Loved in 2015:

• Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim
• The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak
• The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

New Page-Turners/Beach Reads/Airplane Books Worth Picking-Up:

• The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
• The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North
• Sugar by Deirdre Riordan Hall
• Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Looking back at all of the books I read in 2015, there are some common themes that emerge: WWII-era novels, novels about the horrors of slavery and the bonds/friendships that arose despite those horrors, and family + relationship novels. Sounds about right...

What books did you read in 2015 that you just couldn't put down? I'm always looking for new books to add to my list!

Looking for more suggestions? You can peruse all of my past reading lists here. 

​I've read some *amazing* books lately. I mean, really top-notch. So, as we head into cooler weather and the days of curling up by the fire to read (sounds lovely, doesn't it?), I figured I'd share some of those books with you. 

This season's reading list is a bit different: I've listed a few that I've already read (since they were so good that I want to shout them from the rooftops!) and a few that I plan to read in the next couple of months...

Here's your list!

• The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh: Okay, I have to admit that this book was on one of my reading lists a few years ago, but I never read it. Then, I saw that the author had a new book come out recently (one that has gotten great reviews--see below), and it triggered my memory! So I finally read this one and wow, I'm glad I did; I could hardly put it down! It's heartbreaking and beautiful and hopeful all at the same time. A must-read if you love good fiction. 
  
  
• We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh: As already mentioned, this is Vanessa Diffenbaugh's newest book (just came out), and like The Secret Language of Flowers, it's incredible. Both of Diffenbaugh's books explore mother-child relationships--and specifically the lives of mothers who have had rough lives and are trying to figure things out--but they do so in very different ways. Can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this one!
  
  
• Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani: It's a total coincidence that two of my recently read books both have the word "wings" in the title, but weirdly enough, they do. This one is also about family dynamics and relationships, but focuses on three grown daughters from an Indian American family who are dealing with some intense issues from their past + upbringing. It's a sad, hard read, but its beautifully-written and does end on a hopeful note. 
  
  
• Rising Strong by Brene Brown: I don't think I need to say much about this one except that it's Brene Brown's new book and I love everything that she does. I haven't read this one, but plan to ASAP!
  
  
• A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age by Matt Richtel: This book was recommended to me by frequent Starr Struck Radio guest Brian, and he said it's incredible. From what I've read, it explores the impact of technology on our lives through a page-turning story (or mystery). Can't wait to read it!
  
  
• Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling: The fabulous Mind Kaling's new book, obviously. I love her, so definitely want to read this. Also, this book coming out reminded me that I never read her first book, so that's on my list again, too. 

Oh, and I should note that I recently finished one of the books that was on my Summer [Fiction] Reading List, The Life and Death of Sophie Stark, and I loved it! It's really interesting and very well-written. Highly recommend.

What have you been reading lately? What's on your fall list?

Have fun diving into these books! I know I plan to ;)