Friday Favs: Winter Reading List

Friday, February 7, 2014




3 words: worst. winter. ever. The upside: I've had the chance to read a LOT of really good books. So get cuddled up under some blankets as snow storm #1000000 of the winter moves in this weekend and enjoy some good reads (for free):

PS: My Kindle Paperwhite is the best gift I have EVER received (hint hint to everyone looking for V-day gifts). With the click of a button I can check out books from the library, so while a Kindle is a little pricey at $100, I haven't paid for a book in over a year which has saved me about $100- aka paid for itself in less than a year. The Paperwhite is the one that has brightness adjustments so I can read outside or in the pitch black, and it's easy to hold in one hand AND swipe the page while holding onto a bus pole with the other hand. Ok, that's enough for my ode to my beloved Kindle. About the books:

  1. Defending Jacob by William Landay: The DA investigates the murder of a small town boy only to discover his SON is the #1 suspect. It's written by an actual DA, and since I just finished up my week of jury duty I pretty much consider myself a courtroom vet at this point. But for real this suspense/mystery/family conflict will have you on the edge of your seat.
  2.  The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory: Queen. Kings. Sex. Victorian Era cheating scandals. What else do you need to know?
  3. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain: Based on true events and letters from Ernest Hemingway's first wife, this book takes you through the intense, emotional journey that was being married to Hemingway.
  4. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg: If you are a woman in the workplace do yourself a favor and read this. This book was full of those "wait so it's not just me?" moments with actionable advice for being a successful woman in the workplace. Sidenote- Sandberg is waayyy more of a normal person than I was expecting. I would totally go to happy hour with her.
  5. The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls: Walls tells the story of growing up in extreme poverty with her non-conformist, nomadic parents in such a real yet touching and respectful way that you won't be able to put this one down. Walls and her siblings' incredible will to persevere is incedible- I laughed, I cried, I got inspired. Oh and this is going to be a major motion picture starring none other than Jennifer Lawrence.
  6. Sister by Rosamund Lupton: When her mom calls to tell her that her younger sister has gone missing, Tess returns to London expecting to find her and give her the usual lecture all older siblings are accustomed to giving. This thriller truly captures the bond between siblings- if you're an older sibling you HAVE to read this one. And it has one of the biggest plot twists I have ever read.
  7. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter--And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay: Look it's no secret that I was a hot mess in my early 20s. Apparently that's normal, and apparently it's normal to be doing what I'm doing now too. Meg Jay, a psychiatrist who specializes in 20-somethings, explains the psychology behind why we 20-somethings are so (insert every adjective your parents have ever called you here). She tells actual stories about her patients and gives advice for how to deal with being in your 20s in the era of "30s are the new 20s".
  8. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver: The mother of a school shooter recounts raising a son who turns out to be a school shooter. My point of view changed approximately 100 times while reading this, and I'm still haunted by aspects of the story.
  9. Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian: A murder-suicide (or is it?) rocks a small town. The plot thickens when the pastor runs away with a Hollywood-esque author who writes about angels. Nothing's what it seems (dun dun duuunnnn!)
  10. Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky: The memoir of a guy who has worked every job in every type of hotel. He shares a few secrets (like how to clear out the minibar without paying), but the main thing is - you will never look at hotels the same.  
Want more book recs? Check out my page on goodreads.

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