Books, books, and more books!
I was never much of a reader. I’d have on and off reading phases but never read more than a book or two a year. But, after some push and encouragement from my book worm roommate, last year (2022) I read 50 books! This year I have already read 25 and my goal is to read at least 60. Keep reading to learn how this change in habit happened and some books I recommend!
Goodreads! Goodreads is an app and website where you can track the books you have read, want to read, and are currently reading. You can also rate the books you have read, and get personalized recommendations of other books you may like. You can add your friends and see what they are reading, and their ratings of books for motivation and recommendations. You can also set your own personal reading goal and see your progress throughout the year! There is even a year wrapped that shows all the books you’ve read (like on Spotify)! This app makes me especially motivated and excited to read new books!
Libby! Libby is an app where you can get ebooks and audiobooks for FREE! Yes, free! It’s through your public library! Just get a library card (you can usually do this by filling out a simple form online) and input the information on the app. You can download books for at least 14 days at a time free of charge!
Audiobooks! I do a lot of driving. Sometimes driving is a great time for me to think and it can be where I come up with my best ideas, but, sometimes get real bored. Audiobooks have been the perfect way for me to actually look forward to my drives! It’s like watching tv except it feels smarter and watching tv while driving would not be safe…but this is! I listen to my audiobooks whenever I am driving and in a non-distracted headspace, cleaning, doing housework, or getting ready for bed! It’s a great self care habit for me to escape from my day every so often while also being productive.
Bed Time Routines! I’ve been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately and my therapist told me something that stuck; we have bedtime routines as kids to help us settle down and get ready for bed. Maybe we would read a book, or write in our diaries. Why does this not really exist as adults? I’ve started trying to re-incorporate a bed time routine. I have started getting ready for bed 30 minutes before I plan to sleep. I then clean my room for 5 minutes, read a chapter of a book, write whatever I feel like in my journal, and then listen to a meditation or calming music to go to sleep… and voila it works!
Choose the right book! Don’t start with a book you “should” read. Read a guilty pleasure book. Something that is fun and hooks you right off the bat. It shouldn’t feel like a chore to read. You’ll get to those “should read” books when you’re ready, I did!
My 5 star reads:
Fiction/Historical Fiction:
The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Romance:
Confess by Colleen Hoover
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Kiss Quotient series by Helen Hoang
Thriller/Suspense/Mystery:
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
Verity by Colleen Hoover
The Maid by Nita Prose
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
The Silent Patinet by Alex Michaelides
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Nonfiction/Self Help/Memoir:
You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
Overthinking About You by Allison Raskin
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
