One of my favorite things about Goodreads is that I can look back over the past month or year and be reminded of all of the great books I read. In case you’re looking for another good read, I’d thought I’d share my favorites with you.
January:
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer – Amy Schumer is hilarious in this book, but she’s also fascinating. She’s not afraid to bare it all between the covers, and I loved her story of persistence, despite many, many setbacks, to become the amazing comedian she is today.
Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye – Jane Eyre was one of those books I didn’t appreciate until I was older. When I read the book as a teenager, I thought Jane was a boring good-goody. As an adult, I appreciated what a rebel she is, an incredibly tough and daring rebel. In this book, Lyndsay Faye makes Jane even tougher, without veering too much from believability or from the original text. A thoroughly intriguing, fun read.
February:
Vicious by L.J. Shen – Honestly, this book was almost too vicious for me. I had a hard time believing there were any redeeming qualities in this bad boy book boyfriend. He eventually comes through, somehow without losing his bad boy attitude. He stayed the same and I changed. The book is thoroughly entertaining and a fun, fun read.
Two Brutes, One Barista by Shaye Marlow – I absolutely adore this series by Shaye Marlow. Every book is laugh out loud funny and this one is no different. None of these characters would be nearly as much fun in real life, I suspect, but they are a ton of fun in fiction. If you want to laugh, read this book, though you might want to start with Two Cabins, One Lake.
March:
Cheater by Rachel Van Dyken – I wasn’t sure I could get behind a love story about a cheater, but Lucas Thorne won me over and I loved Amy. The story surprised me and kept me turning pages until the end.
April:
Rome by Jay Crownover – This is another series I just can’t get enough of and this book did not disappoint. Rome is an outwardly tough guy with an incredibly sweet and vulnerable side and Cora is a tough-as-nails, lovable, and totally fun character. I highly recommend this series, but start with the first book, Rule.
May:
Wasted Words by Staci Hart – The bookstore alone was enough to make me want to live in this book world. I want to go to one of their character-inspired parties. The story itself, based on Jane Austen’s Emma, was incredibly sweet and fun, with the kind of characters I’d love to hang out with.
Wicked Beautiful by J.T. Geissinger – J.T. Geissinger is one of my very favorite authors – she’s pretty much an immediate one-click for me – and this book did not disappoint. A seriously fun book about revenge and second chances.
Royally Screwed by Emma Chase – A prince and a pauper story, where the pauper is not the least bit impressed by the prince’s wealth or ego and the prince is drawn to the pauper and treats her like a princess. Despite the royalty, the characters in this story are relatable and the love story is believable. This is no prince charming saving the damsel in distress, but a meeting of equals.
June:
The Martian by Andy Weir – I had a hard time getting excited about all the technical details in this book, but I liked that they were there. I also liked that I could skim them and get to the heart of the story, which is about survival and persistence and the strength of one man who has every reason to expect to fail.
Words are my Matter by Ursula K Le Guin – This is a book of essays and book reviews by one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. I may have skimmed over most of the book reviews, but the essays are fabulous and provide insight into Le Guin and her life, but also a view of her life as a writer, the craft of writing, and the state of the writing and publishing world today.
July:
White Hot by Ilona Andrews – Ilona Andrews’ books really has it all. They have heart-flipping romance and heart-stopping action. And the characters, the characters are the best part – they have depth and personality and are just such solidly good people, even when they are doing very bad things. And the dialogue, I could get lost in the dialogue. Just read Ilona Andrews. I recommend this series, but any of their series are wonderful.
August:
Nuts by Alice Clayton – This book was hilarious. It was so well-written and the story flowed in that beautiful way that makes you never want to put it down. A chef and an organic, sustainable farmer get together and the food, the food is as sexy as the actual love scenes. A ride that hits every one of your senses.
The Fox and the Hound by R.S. Grey – The older I get, the more I just want to read and watch stories that make me laugh. There is enough in the real world to cry about, I want my entertainment to make me happy. And this book makes me happy. Plus, there are dogs. A really fun, funny read. I’m a huge fan of R.S. Grey and all her books are on Kindle Unlimited, so she’s super easy to binge read.
September:
Rituals by Kelley Armstrong – This is (sob) the final (boo-hoo) book in the Cainsville series (cue full-on weeping), and it is so, so good. The perfect ending to a perfect series. If you haven’t read this series about the kick-ass Olivia Taylor-Jones, the gruff, silent, ruthless lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, and the sweet, biker Ricky as they get tangled up in a world of supernatural, mystery, and murder, read it now.
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins – This book and its images and descriptions of water are just gorgeous. It is beautifully written and the story pulled me in right from the first page. Paula Hawkins is so skilled at giving away just enough information to keep me turning pages and wanting to know more. A wonderfully woven mystery with a commentary on the status and perils of women throughout history.
October:
Wild Irish by C.M. Seabrooke – I’ve been a sucker for books set in Ireland lately. I can’t say why, but if the setting is Ireland I’m likely to one-click that book. Sometimes I’m disappointed, but not with this book. A moody, broken-hearted rock star and a woman who’s far from home and dealing with her own loss and sadness meet and find some happiness together. I typically steer away from rock star romances, but I highly recommend this one.
Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken – I love Rachel Van Dyken’s books and this one was no exception. I’m not typically a fan of football romances – I know I’m probably in a minority here, but it is what it is – but the characters in this book were incredibly down-to-earth and likable. I was rooting for all the characters in this book about a second-chance at love and I’m so glad I read it.
November:
Train Wreck by Elise Faber – I can’t handle a book about a woman who is truly a hot mess because I really just want to slap her and tell her to get over herself and woman up. Pepper thinks she’s a hot mess and she is almost unbelievably clumsy, but she’s actually a kind, fun, loyal, hardworking person who’s a bit lost. She’s willing to do the work to improve her life, it just takes her a minute to figure out how. And that’s a struggle I can get behind. This was a really fun, incredibly sweet love story.
After We Fall by Melanie Harlow – This is a funny book, and a sad book, and a heartbreaking book, and a sweet book. It really, really just has ALL the feels. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I love this story and these characters. One might be a cowboy and the other a rich woman from the city, but they are in no way stereotypes or empty tropes. They are real and they are likable and . . . This book is just awesome.
December:
Dating-ish by Penny Reid – I love Penny Reid’s books because they make me laugh. I can’t put down her books because they make me feel things, all the best things. Dating-ish was one of those books I couldn’t put it down and, when I did put it down, I couldn’t do anything else because I was still worrying about the characters. The characters, who are both down on relationships for their own reasons, but are drawn to each other like magnets on steroids. Bonus: this book taught me stuff about technology that was really cool (although I clearly didn’t learn what to call super-strong magnets).
Once Upon a Rose by Laura Florand – This book is so freaking beautiful I thought I could actually smell the roses Florand was describing. It takes place in Italy at a rose farm – who even knew such a place existed? – and the opening scene with the party and the drunk Matt who flirts outrageously is so funny and sweet and adorable. Plus, the woman is the rock star in this one. A truly sweet, beautiful read.
Worth it by S.M. Shade and C.M. Owens – I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy and Worth it is an outrageously funny romantic comedy about three women who crash and intend to cause trouble at the wedding of the cheating, scumbag ex of one of the three women. The characters are women I’d like to hang out with, though I’m almost 100% certain they’d find me boring, and you get two love stories for the price of one since the book is told from the perspectives of two of the three best friends. I loved this book so much that I went on a complete C.M. Owens binge and I loved every one of her books that I read – particularly her Wild Ones series, which is hilarious.
