One thing I loved about 2017 was getting back into a good groove with reading. I’ve been reading every night before bed and it’s the best way for me to unwind, relax and get sleepy. I’ve read quite a few good books (and suffered through some bad ones too!) but I wanted to share my top 10 favorite books of 2017 with you…selfishly in hopes that I will get some good recommendations to kick off 2018 with! 😛
Here we go!
The page turners and mysteries that kept me up way too late…
The Woman In Cabin 10 – I read this book a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting my grandmother and I literally couldn’t put it down. I think I finished it in under 48 hours and stayed up until 1 a.m. reading the night that I did.
The Good Girl: this book sucked me in quickly. It was crazy and I never would have seen the ending coming. I can’t say that it’s the best book ever by any means but it’s great for a mindless page turner, which sometimes is just what I need to turn my brain off at night!
The women-themed war fiction that I couldn’t put down…
The Nightingale: I have always been a fan of Kristin Hannah but I was slow to decide to read this one. I always shied away from reading war fiction in the past but this book really changed my mind on it. I ended up reading two more WWI/II books after it this year and really enjoyed them. The Nightingale truly struck my heart when it came to the amazing strength of women. I think I read most of it with my heart racing or my mouth gaping open. It’s an incredible story.
Lilac Girls: Oh my goodness how I LOVED this book. It’s a gripping story of three women whose lives come together in unexpected ways around World War II. It’s based on a real WWII heroine and much of the unbelievable events take place at Ravensbruck, which was a concentration camp exclusively for women. Please add Lilac Girls to your list if you haven’t read it.
The Alice Network: this one was suggested by quite a few people when I asked for recommendations recently on Instagram. I’m finishing it up now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It brings together two women, the first being a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during WWI and the second an American socialite searching for her lost cousin in post WWII era. The chapters alternate between telling the women’s two stories and a shared mission of finding truth.
The dramas that wrapped me up into their characters and stories…
Before We Were Yours: this is another book that is based on real-life events, which is honestly so hard to wrap your head around once you read the story. How people can be so terrible (especially to children) is terrible. I finished this one in a matter of days and it stayed with me for a long time.
Here’s a glimpse into the storyline…
Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals–in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country–Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.
Small Great Things: while I have read some Jodi Picoult books, she’s not a go-to author for me. After receiving many recommendations for Small Great Things early in the year, I decided to give her another go and I’m so glad that I read this book. This book deals with the topic of racism and feels very real and applicable to the world we live in today. The book begins with a black labor and delivery nurse and a baby of white supremacist parents that dies at birth. What unfolds is a story full of drama but also a lot of humanity, love and lessons learned. It’s not only a page turner but also a great read.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: I picked this one up during a “wander through Barnes and Noble” kind of afternoon and it ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year.
It’s full of Hollywood glitz and glamour but also has it’s fair share of grit and heavy-hitting reality. Here’s a snapshot…
In this entrancing novel “that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all” (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.
I think you’ll be so surprised to learn about the reason for Evelyn’s seven husbands and how hard and complicated that was for her. Love, love, loved this book.
The non-fiction titles that spoke to me most…
Option B: Written by Facebook COO Sheryl Standberg after the death of her husband, Option B was probably the most helpful grief book that I read in the year after my brother’s death. It’s relatable and raw but also really helpful and educational. I would recommend this for anyone going through a hard time.
The Book of Joy: I mean how can a book by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu not be one whose lessons and ideas stick with you for days and weeks and months after listening? Do yourself a favor and add this one to your library for times when you need a pick me up or to get yourself in a better head/heart space. I have it on Audible and will sometimes just cue it up while I’m walking the dogs or folding laundry just to hear some wise and comforting words.
For more on what you’ll get…
We get to listen as they explore the Nature of True Joy and confront each of the Obstacles of Joy—from fear, stress, and anger to grief, illness, and death. They then offer us the Eight Pillars of Joy, which provide the foundation for lasting happiness. Throughout, they include stories, wisdom, and science. Finally, they share their daily Joy Practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives.
