Once upon a time, I made a New Year’s Resolution to read more! I’ve always had a love for reading, but I let my love take the back burner. Last year, I made it a point to take a little time to read every night, mostly stories that helped me relax and clear my mind, but also non-fiction books that taught me a thing a two. Here are a few of my favorites to inspire you to read a little more in 2016:
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. Liane Moriarty is the best! I’m going to share a couple of her books on this list, but I recommend all of her books! Big Little Lies tells the story of a group of grade school parents, that witnessed the death of one of their own during a party. The story is told from the point of view of many characters, that gives you insight into the mind of each parent and what they saw happen that night and the weeks leading up to the big event. This book is funny and like all of Liane’s books, has a great lesson weaved in between.
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. This story is told from the point of view of a Tupperware selling trophy wife, a single mom and the mom who lost her daughter years ago. Tragedy has happened and someone has a secret. You won’t be able to guess! I loved how relatable every character was in this story, I found something in common with each woman and could hardly put this story down.
Euphoria by Lilly King. This story follows three Anthropologists in the 1930s as they study the culture of tribes along the Sepik River. Through their studies, a love triangle develops and mysteries ensue. This story was fun to read and even though it was fictional, I felt like I learned something. This book was a top ten for 2014, so I was a little late to pick it up. But if you too haven’t read it yet. I highly recommend it.
The Sell by Frederick Eklund and Bruce Littlefield. If you watch Million Dollar Listing New York you are familiar with Frederick. He is a hilarious, high kicking, real estate mogul. This book isn’t about being a sales person, rather it’s a book about owning who you are and making the ultimate sell in every aspect of your life. I thought Frederick was funny, easy to read and had a lot of great tips for anyone in different stages in their life.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. You will never guess how this book ends. It seems like a sweet story about a summer shared between friends and family on their own island, but it has a twist. I read this book in one day! Pick it up for an easy read.
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. This book is another twisty read that you won’t see coming. I’m a fan of novels that keep me guessing and this one doesn’t disappoint. In The Good Girl ,Mia Dennett, the daughter of judge and a well to do family disappears. While she is held captive in a secluded cabin, her mother and detective Hoffman work day and night to find her. In the end, you find that nothing is as perfect as it seems.
The Castaways by Elin Hildebrand. A group of friends mourn the lose of their two friends who drown on a sailing trip that was set to celebrate their anniversary. This book follows the perspective of each of their friends through their grief and the experiences they shared with them. I like a book that makes you think and this one does that.
Reading has been shown to improve your vocabulary, improve your analytical thinking, enhance your memory and you’re more likely to learn something new every day! So grab a good book and read a little more this year.
– Brooke
