Last December, I decided to make reading a priority for 2019. My goal was to read at least one book per month, which I did easily.
Here are the books that I read in 2019:
Crazy Rich Asian Series - Kevin Kwan
Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, Rich People Problems.
If you are like me you probably shrugged off this series/movie because of the title. When I first saw the trailer for the Crazy Rich Asians movie I said: "That looks so dumb." But as the reviews started rolling in I saw critics and customers alike were raving over the film. So I decided to read the book before I saw the movie. And boy was I surprised! The story is so cleverly written, with twists and turns in every chapter. The point of view is constantly changing from chapter to chapter which keeps the story exciting. I couldn't put the first book down and quickly digested the second two books of the series. Rich People Problems was my favorite as the drama that escalates throughout the series all comes to a close in the final book. And what I love about Kevin Kwan's writing is you really do not know how the story will end until the final chapters. Don't sleep on this series!
One Goal - Amy Bass
Based on the true story of the Lewiston, Maine high school soccer team, One Goal tells the story about how one team brought a whole town together. Despite Maine being one of the whitest states in America, an influx of refugees to cities like Lewiston have caused a divide among the citizens. But the quest for a high school soccer championship brings the players, families, and community together in a way that no one was expecting.
The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty
I had heard nothing but great things about author Liane Moriarty so I picked up this book at a local craft fair ready to enjoy! Moriarty has a similar writing style to Nicholas Sparks, a light love story riddled with darker undertones. I flew through the book pretty quickly but I wasn't the biggest fan of the story. I will definitely give some of her more popular books a try though!
T is for Transformation - Shaun T
I have been doing Beachboy workouts for over a year now, and I absolutely love the sweat I get from them. Shaun T is one of the most famous Beachboy trainers and he sure knows his stuff. However Shaun T had a very troubling life before becoming the fitness mogul we all know and love. From being abused as a child, to struggling with coming out, and dealing with food addiction, Shaun T discusses how every event in his life, good or bad, shaped him to become the person he is today. It was very inspiring to hear his stories and tips for many who struggle with demons of their own.
Haunted Maine Lighthouses - Taryn Plumb
This was a fun and interesting read about the paranormal history of some of Maine's lighthouses. Lighthouses have been a topic of interest for my photography this year, and the haunting stories in this book gave me a new perspective on the pillars of light. It also gave me an idea of some places to put on my list to photograph!
On the Road- Jack Kerouac
Craving stories of wanderlust, I picked up a copy of the famous travel memoir On the Road. Fun fact: Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell, MA, which is also my hometown! Although I had read this book in high school English class, I wanted to get a new perspective on the book and decided to read it again. I can't imagine living the life Kerouac and his friends did, hitchhiking all across the United States. Although Kerouac seems to ramble at times (paragraphs can be pages long!), I enjoyed the book this time around.
Becoming - Michelle Obama
I had heard great things about this autobiography, and since Michelle Obama is such a great role model, I wanted to hear about her life in the White House. In the book, Michelle covers all aspects of her life, from growing up in Chicago, to her law school experience, meeting Barack, and living in the White House. I loved getting a behind the scenes look at what life looks like in the most important house in America, especially coming from the point of view of the first lady and first children. Although I felt the book was a little slow to start, I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Obamas!
Fear - Bob Woodward
Since I work in the journalism field I was interested to read this book by Bob Woodward, one of the journalists who helped cover the Watergate scandal. I had heard glowing recommendations about the book from colleagues so I decided to educate myself about the day-to-day of the Trump presidency. The book is a compilation of hundreds of hours of interviews with members of the Trump administration to get an inside look at how the White House is run under this president. It was a very interesting read and provided a lot of insight about many of the scandals, large and small, that occurred in the Trump White House in the first two years.
The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost- Rachel Friedman
As I was looking for travel books, this one stuck out the most to me because I could really relate to the author. She surprised her entire family when she spontaneously booked a one-way ticket to Ireland. (I had just booked a spontaneous solo-trip to Ireland as well, however I did have a return ticket). Friedman befriends other solo travelers and ends up continuing her travels to Australia and South America.
Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
This book is a must read for women who have an interest in traveling. It is part self-help book, part travel-memoir...and the book is so much better than the movie! The story is an autobiography of Gilbert as she decides to leaves her husband and travel the world for a year. If only it were that easy to drop everything and go! It was great to read about a woman who was looking to reinvent herself, when everyone told her she was "too old" to do so. It truly shows that your life is in your control, and you can start fresh at any time!
To Brew or Not to Brew - Joyce Tremel
I needed a fun, light read to bring with me during my travels throughout Europe. My mom loves to read funky murder mysteries like these, and recommended this one! The main character in To Brew or Not to Brew is struggling to get her brewery ready to open in a small town in Pennsylvania, but trouble is looming as many of the community members begin to wind up dead...in her brewery! She helps the police to solve this crime before she becomes the next victim.
The Outsider - Stephen King
I decided that during "spooky season" I wanted to read some books by the king of horror: Stephen King. I especially wanted to read his novels since all of his stories are based in Maine! I went to the library and The Outsider sparked my attention. When a child is found raped and murdered in the woods, all evidence points to Terry Maitland, the Little League coach. However after questioning Maitland,the police realize out his alibi is solid...how can a man be in two places at once? Is the supernatural involved? With Stephen King you are never really sure until the final page. Note: Almost immediately after I finished the book HBO announced they would be making a TV series based on 'The Outsider', which I am excited to check out.
The Bachman Books - Short Stories by Stephen King
In continuing with the "spooky season" theme I asked a few coworkers for some Stephen King recommendations and a few told me to read some of his earlier short stories. It turns out King wrote four short stories early in his career under the alias: Richard Bachman. They were later republished under Stephen King's name, but I was able to borrow a copy of the Bachman Books from a friend. The four short stories in this collection are Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man. I really enjoyed these short stories, even though they aren't that short at all, with The Long Walk and The Running Man being my favorites!
The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin
I wanted to end the year reading some personal development to push me into a productive 2020 and this is the perfect book to read heading into the New Year. The Happiness Project follows the author's journey to lead a happier life. Instead of setting a bunch of resolutions for the entire year, instead Rubin works on 12 resolutions, one for each month. I thought this was a unique way to tackle New Year's resolutions and loved how this method forced her to delve into one resolution before working on the next one.
I will be continuing with the resolution to continue reading and I am excited to see what books 2020 will bring me!
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