Wow. In Arizona, we’re expecting four days of rain, a few days of sunshine, and then mixed rain and snow for two or three days.
This. Never. Happens. At least we’re getting in some good cuddling while working.
Everyone thinks the coronavirus is a sign of the end of the world, but I think it’s all this rain in Arizona.
Either way, we’re finding ourselves spending more time at home and inside. And that means more time for reading!
Here’s a list of my favorite books, in no particular order:
(Quick note: this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and then purchase from Amazon, I’ll receive a small commission, which helps cover the cost of running this blog.)
Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. Okay, I lied. THIS is my favorite book of all time, and that’s why it’s first. It’s the first in a series and it has just about everything: time travel, a little magic, history mother-daughter dynamics, and, of course, romance. The romantic element is my favorite. Star-crossed lovers who can’t live without each other but must… so, so good. Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably seen ads for the TV series based on this book series. I love the TV series but if you’re a big reader like I am, then you’d probably agree the book series is even better.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling. I know. This is everybody’s favorite, right? Or, at least, many people who’ve read it LOVE it. And what’s not to love? Magic, good versus evil, friendship, pet dragons… When I was a young person, I worked at the daily newspaper and was lucky enough to go to a couple of the midnight release parties for the books in the middle of the series. I bought the books at midnight, wrote my news story for publication, and then stayed up all night reading the book from page one to The End. If you haven’t read these books yet, now is the time!
The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. This book is so poignant and heart-wrenching and full of hope. It’s about a girl who’s grown up in foster care, and what happens when she’s emancipated from the system. It’s about family and friendship and resilience. It’s a heavy read but also so, so good.
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, by Kelly Harms. I reviewed this one a while back and you can read the full review here. This book is both funny and heartwarming. Amy Byler is a mom whose husband (and the father of her children) left her under mysterious circumstances several years before the story starts. He comes back to reconnect with Amy and their kids, and wants to prove he’s a capable dad. So she lets him watch the kids while she goes to New York City for a week. I won’t tell you what happens, but I will tell you that the story unfolds with lots of humor while touching on some serious subjects. I truly enjoyed this one.
Matchmaking for Beginners, by Maddie Dawson. This is a light, funny read that still brings up some real feelings. The quick synopsis: Marnie MacGraw thinks she’s about to build her dream life (hubby, kids, house in the suburbs). Her new marriage ends within a couple of weeks, just like her new husband’s crazy aunt said it would. When said crazy aunt dies, Marnie inherits her house – and her neighbors. This is a delightful story of new beginnings, new friendships, a little magic, and romance. Most of all, it’s a story of finding yourself (my favorite kind!).
Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon. This young adult novel has a unique premise: the protagonist, Maddy, is a teen girl who is allergic to everything and therefore, is sealed inside her house 24/7. A new, cute neighbor boy, Olly, moves in across the street and the two of them strike up a friendship through their windows. Witty banter and clever scenarios ensue, resulting in a memorable story!
Life and Other Near Death Experiences, by Camille Pagán. Libby, the protagonist in this book, is an unwavering optimist, until she gets two really big, bad pieces of news on the same day. She decides to head off on an island vacation, leaving all that bad news behind. On her big adventure, she discovers that while ignoring the bad things in her life won’t make it go away, her life can still be filled with beautiful things. This book contains a little bit of everything: heartbreak, romance, travel, tropical islands, and a sexy man. 😉 It’s at once heartbreaking and refreshing, sad and funny.
The Last Anniversary, by Liane Moriarty. This story starts out with the protagonist, Sophie, inheriting the beach house of her old boyfriend’s aunt. She moves in, and inherits a whole new family. The cast of characters in this story is what really makes it shine: I feel like I gained new perspective on what it must be like to go through a variety of situations. Like I’ve said about several of the books on this list, The Last Anniversary is funny and poignant at the same time.
I’ve Got Your Number, by Sophie Kinsella. I love pretty much everything Sophie Kinsella writes. Her characters are always so funny and good-hearted at the same time. They’re perfectly imperfect, and while the decisions they make border on unbelievable, they lead to some great twists and turns. The books are anything but predictable. I think I’ve cried at the end of every one of her books. This one is about a girl named Poppy who loses her phone and her engagement ring as she’s planning her wedding. She finds a different phone (which someone has left behind at a hotel) and sets off to find her ring. Of course, the phone’s owner comes looking for his phone and their lives become intertwined – in a hilarious way.
When We Believed in Mermaids, by Barbara O’Neal. There were so many things I loved about this book! First, the mystery. ER doctor Kit sees her sister Josie on the news – only, to her knowledge, Josie has been dead for 15 years. She goes to New Zealand to find her. While Kit searches for her sister, she meets a sexy Latin man (and who doesn’t love reading about that?!). Through this new relationship, Kit begins to learn more about her own ability to love. Meanwhile, we get to explore Josie’s life through her point of view. No spoilers, here, but I love the sisterly relationship and the way Ms. O’Neal writes it. This story is mysterious until the very end.
Those are my Top 10 Favorite books for now, and I’m always on the lookout for more. I’d love to hear from you about whether you’ve read any of these, and how you liked them.