I felt disappointed for not meeting my reading goal last year. I had set an ambitious target of reading 45 books, as mentioned in my last newsletter, but I’m hesitant to set the same goal again. Reading serves as a great escape for me, and I hope to regain my momentum this summer and fall. Typically, I find book recommendations from The Popcast Green Light Sections or Carly’s Instagram (she has a story highlight). If you have any book suggestions you think I’d enjoy, feel free to add a comment below!

January:

#1: 10% Happier

I read this book for my book club at the start of the year. While we’re not always keen on “self-help” style books, we wanted something to kick off the year positively. Dan Harris’s “10% Happier” wasn’t what I expected. Although it’s about meditation, I didn’t know much about the concept before reading it. My personal rating: 3/5 stars.

#2: All the Sinners Bleed

My brother-in-law gave me this book because I wanted something unrelated to happiness, family, or love. Although it touches on those themes, the backstory is intense. S.A. Crosby did a fantastic job addressing real issues faced by black men and women in the South today. The characters felt authentic, possibly drawn from people he knew, which added passion to the book. I look forward to reading more of his work. My personal rating: 3.5/5 stars.

#3: The Butterfly Garden

I stumbled upon the name of this book, and I’m glad I did. It reminded me of my Law & Order SVU era, with its present-to-past storytelling. The descriptions of the girls and the garden were vivid. Despite the world’s darkness, the book conveys the message that there are always people who care. My personal rating: 4/5 stars.

February:

#4: Fourth Wing

A friend recommended this book, and it gave off vibes similar to ACOTAR. While it’s a fantasy novel with an intriguing world and storyline, I found some of the romantic aspects unnecessary. There were several sex scenes that I skipped, unable to emotionally handle them at the time. However, the ending was captivating, and I’m eager to read the next book. My personal rating: 4/5 stars.

April:

#5: The Women

I experienced a reading funk in March, reading nothing. This book helped reignite my enthusiasm. We chose it for our book club, and I listened to the audiobook, which influenced my rating. Kristen Hannah skillfully sheds light on historical stories often overlooked. Learning about women nurses in Vietnam was eye-opening, as it wasn’t covered in my education. While the love story had its stretches and the writing was occasionally repetitive (topics we discussed in book club), I still found it engaging. My personal rating: 3.5/5 stars.

May:

#6: First Lie Wins

This was our book club book for the month and it was a wonderful little thriller. It kept me intrigued throughout the whole book although I didn’t expect the ending which is important to me in a thriller. The book club questions I think helped us dive deeper into Eviee’s character development which I enjoyed. Loved the Atlanta references sprinkled about. My personal rating: 4/5 stars

#7: All My Rage