What I Am Reading in 2018 + Some Of My Favorite Books

Hey friends! Reading is something that I love to do. I tend to be a bit of a fast reader which is a good thing cause when I start a good book, I become completely sucked in and I kinda forget that the life is still happening around me. Can anyone else relate? I have already finished 1 book in 2018 with several more in the line-up. I thought I’d share what I am planning to read in 2018 + some of my favorite books.

Reading on vacay is one of my favorite things. Stick me on a beach, by a pool or just anywhere outside in the sun with a book in my hand and I am happy as a clam {where did that saying come from anyway? Random thought, is a clam really happy?}.

I tend to stick to specific genres: Motivational, self-help, fiction, autobiographies. Although I do not ever watch dark or depressing movies {my general rule is that I stick with all things comedy related cause I literally feel so sad when I watch things with too much drama or sadness}, I will get into a book that has more drama or darkness in it. It doesn’t affect me quite as much as a movie does.

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One of my favorite authors is Liane Moriarity. I have read a handful of her books and none have disappointed. My most recent one was Big Little Lies which was also an HBO miniseries. It was picked up for a second season. Honestly, it got rave reviews and it even earned Nicole Kidman and Emmy. Still, I loved the book so much and the series veered off of that a bit. I will still watch season 2.

Liane Moriarty – I love her books as they have a bit of drama, comedy, mystery and usually a touch of romance. They really keep your attention as they have so many little puzzle pieces that you are putting together and the ending is usually oh so good!

• The Husband’s Secret
• Big Little Lies
• What Alice Forgot
• The Last Anniversary

Kristin Hannah – I read these books a few years ago and was completely sucked in. There was a bit of sadness to them but they really were about friendship which is one of my favorite things!

• Firefly Lane
• Fly Away 

Chip & Joanna Gaines – If you know me even a little then you know that my decor loving self is a total  HGTV junkie. Fixer Upper is definitely my fave but I seriously just adore Chip and Jo cause they seem authentic and just happy to do what they do. And they are SO good at what they do. Both of their books inspired me. They are full of real-life truths. They aren’t full of fluff. They had some rough times and they persevered to be where they are today. To me, they are a success story but they worked hard to get where they are and they are still so humble and grateful for what they have.

• Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Dumb Stuff
• The Magnolia Story
• The Art of Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein if you are a dog lover, then you will LOVE this book! It is written from a dogs perspective. It’s a beautiful story – one that will make you want to hug your furry friends.
• The Middle Place – Kelly Corrigan I was lucky enough to hear Kelly speak right after I read this book. It is based on her life – being in the middle of taking care of her own family and also dealing with her sick father. Little did I know that I would be living that life a few years later when my own dad was sick.
• The Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls This was a bit sad and haunting but it also had a bit of inspiration as a child who overcame some big hurdles and succeeded regardless of how she was raised.
• Like Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen This love story took place in a traveling circus. I am a sucker for books that become movies and in this particular novel, the movie stayed pretty on course.

I have read so many books over the years and it’s hard to recall all that I loved. I can get really sucked into specific authors and trends. Twilight? Yep, read them all years ago! I was really surprised that I enjoyed them as much as I did because they were so far out of my wheelhouse. Nicolas Sparks? Yes, I love his books too!

Books in my to read pile? After receiving some gift cards for Barnes & Noble, I scoped out their buy 2 get 1 free table and added these to my list:

• Truly Madly Guilty – Liane Moriarty
• Brain on Fire – Susannah Cahalan
• In a Dark, Dark Wood – Ruth Ware

My hairdresser lent this one to me. It is the same author as The Glass Castle

• Half Broke Horses – Jeannette Walls

I also have several that I have been meaning to read like Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. My parents listened to his albums when I was little and I have been hooked ever since. Did you know that he suffers from depression? This was an interesting fact to me. It made me want to read his book even more as it makes him so very human. He’s still always going to be The Boss though.

These are some others that have been hanging around and begging to be read.

• Glitter and Glue – Kelly Corrigan
• The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin
• The Little Book of Letting Go – Hugh Prather
• The Joy Diet – Martha Beck
• Hands Free Mama – Rachel Macy Stafford

Are you noticing a pattern? I am kinda digging self-help books. I mean, can’t we all use some help in this whole adulting thing? Raise your hands if you hear what I am saying.

Jen Hatmaker inspires me via her Instagram feed so I was really pulled towards her books. I scooped up Of Mess and Moxie and it’s next up on my reading list.

Promise Me Dad by Joe Biden is on my list but I don’t have it on hands — yet. I spotted this one at
B & N and I really would love to read it. Joe Biden has gone through so much and this story will likely break my heart as it’s about how he lost his son to cancer but I am somehow really pulled to it.

So tell me, what’s on your reading list? Inspire me!!