I didn’t read too much in the second half of December because I was too busy enjoying all of the festivities surrounding Christmas and the New Year. We did listen to Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island on our car journeys, though I definitely need to re-listen because I may or may not have slept through most of it (I really enjoyed the parts that I did hear, though!). I also read When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi to prep for the Diversify Your Reading Challenge’s Memoir month and ended my year with the Middle Grade Outside by Sarah Ann Juckes.
Now it’s 2019, which means that all of my 2019 reading challenges are officially underway. And I’m pleased to say I’ve started the year off strong! Click here to check out my progress on each challenge. Here are all of the books I’ve read so far this year:
Christmas in the Snow by Karen Swan
Christmas, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Karen Swan is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors for holiday reads. Christmas in the Snow is a heartwarming story about family and romance, with the incredibly successful workaholic, Allegra Fisher, at its centre. This isn’t heavily Christmas focused (more winter focused) so I highly recommend reading it at any point through the winter, especially if you’re heading on a ski trip, especially if that ski trip is taking you to the Swiss Alps!
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Young Adult
The Outsiders is well and truly a classic that everybody needs to read at some point. I remembered the story a bit from when I read it for school over ten years ago, but it was so wonderful to experience the story of the Greasers and the Socs all over again. This book will forever “stay gold” in my heart.
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
Young Adult
Five Feet Apart was recommended for the Popsugar Reading Challenge as a book becoming a movie in 2019 (the movie stars Cole Sprouse, swoon), and I am so happy that I decided to read it. It’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking and I found a soft spot for absolutely every character that was introduced. You’ll easily tear through it in a day! *I received a free copy of Five Feet Apart via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Love Poems for Married People by John Kenney
Poetry
I was heavily anticipating this collection of poetry going into 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Love Poems for Married People is extremely relatable for anyone married or in a long-term, live-in relationship. It’s probably even more relatable for parents. Regardless, John Kenney has written a hilarious collection of poems about being married in this modern age, and I found myself laughing out loud frequently. It’s a great way to explore the poetry genre if you’re participating in my Diversify Your Reading Challenge!
Educated by Tara Westover
Memoir
January is Memoir & Autobiography month for the 2019 Diversify Your Reading Challenge and the Facebook group selected Educated as our group read. This is such a captivating read that leaves the reader thinking about what “educated” means and whether formal educations are actually necessary. I tried to pace myself through the book, but couldn’t help tearing through the last 50%. I highly recommend this to everyone!
This Is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay
Memoir (Humor)
As a second memoir for the month, I chose Adam Kay’s This Is Going to Hurt. It’s hilarious. I loved reading about Adam’s time as a junior doctor for the NHS and it taught me so much about this UK’s healthcare system in an entertaining way. The stories were so funny but, more importantly, a serious message was delivered in an understandable and engaging way. I enjoyed the book so much that I’ve bought tickets to see Adam Kay live!
Enchantée by Gita Trelease
YA Fantasy & Historical Fiction
It feels a bit cliche to call a book about magic magical, but that is exactly what Enchantée is, and it’s not just because of the magic. It’s the descriptions of Paris and the revolution; the excitement of a hot air balloon ride; the mystery surrounding the characters; and, the glitz and the glamour of the French aristocracy that make this a truly magical read. Reading this even inspired me to start learning French! It’s rather magical when a book can do that.
In non-reading news, we just returned from a ski holiday (actually, this could be considered reading news because I love reading when I’m in the Alps; my favorite moments are those spent bundled up with a book and a glass of rosé out on the terrace). I’ve also successfully jumped back into meal planning for 2019 which means less money spent on food, healthier meals, and delicious leftover lunches. I’m totally crushing my reading goals at the moment, and hope it stays that way throughout 2019!
What are you reading this month?
