Required Reading: Summer List

A month or two ago Dani over at Sometimes Sweet posted a Summer Reading list and ever since then I've been meaning to do my own. Then she posted another reading list this week and I was reminded and re-inspired to make mine. 

The problem is, I have so many books to recommend. Fiction, YA Lit, Memoir (ish), Self Improvement... see my dilemma? 

It's okay though, I decided on upbeat* reading since it's summer. Most of these, heck, all of these are easy, quick reads if you want them to be. They can also be nice slow reads, something to savor. Either way I think you might just like them. Here's a little intro for each:

Happier At Home - I've already recommended this here, but it works well for summer too, so I figured I would put it here again. I loved the Happiness Project, love it. Read it twice, got ideas for my life... her second book was full of more ideas. I think we could all benefit from a Happiness Project or two. I haven't embarked on a year long journey like Gretchen but I stay inspired by her none the less.

The Queen of Babble - This book is cute and fun and reminds me of The Shopaholic Series but with a little less anxiety because the main character isn't spending like crazy. A quick read, something for the pool or the beach... or the couch, or a lazy morning in bed.

You Are a Badass - I cannot say enough good things about this book. I recommend it to anyone that is wondering what's next or needs a little (or a lot of) encouragement. I'm on my third reading and I have a feeling I'm going to make a not sheet to look back on. Maybe just open the book randomly on days I have a harder start. I will recommend this book up and down and all around.

The Lucky One - It may just be because I am watching the movie that came from this book but this is one of my favorites by Nicholas Sparks. The Notebook definitely wins top spot, and now that I think about it, Dear John probably comes in second, but this might just be second and a half. If you have seen the movie, know that the book is better. I mean, I don't hate the movie, but the book is definitely better.

An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns - I've sang John Green's praises on just about every book of his. I would say read any and all of them. I put these on the summer reading list for a reason though, they are both road trip books and summer is made for road trips. I can't pick which of Green's books are my favorite, both of these, on second read, battled for a top spot with The Fault in Our Stars and Looking For Alaska. So, do yourself a favor, and read ANY of his books. Any of them.

I have a huge stack of books I need to get through before I get another but I'm always taking suggestions, my good reads to read list is almost overwhelming but I can't help but add to it still. So give me some titles, what are you reading?

xoxo

*minus a few parts in The Lucky One, but what do you expect with Nicholas Sparks? 

Required Reading: Lesson One

I think it's safe to say I've been reading a lot this year, maybe even more than last year... quick check shows I am 18 books ahead of last year... and I think it's time I shared some of these lovely books with you. I'm not doing the books of (enter month here) this year because honestly, I didn't think I would read nearly as much as I did in 2011. How wrong was I?

I figure it's time to showcase some of my favorites of the year thus far... here they are, highly recommended. Three of which I've read twice this year... yeah, twice... oh shoot, so maybe I'm only 16 (I'm not finished with the second reading of TFFS yet) actual books ahead...but the reading time was still there, does it still count? Whatever, I'm counting it.


Looking for Alaska by John Green
I just introduced myself to John Green this year, starting with a book called An Abundance of Katherines. It was awesome and good and I really did like it. I'll probably have to buy it now that I think about it. I just can't get enough of his writing. Looking For Alaska took AAoK and blew it out of the water, in fact it blew everything out of the water for me. Everything I thought I liked best, every favorite book was pushed to the side. This is in my top 5 of all time. Could I list the rest? Probably not, they change frequently, but still. Top 5. I wrote about it here a while back and after rereading that I can't say anything more. This book makes me believe that guys can love girls and that books are meant to be reread many, many times.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
And then there was this book. While LfA changed everything, this book came and rocked me even more. I sobbed so hard and had so much hope at the same time. I realize that I haven't done a Between the Lines post about this book and I need to. So fantastic. I rarely buy books in hardback (unless they are the two others in the picture...) but it got to where it was the only thing I wanted to read (and it was the second reading) and so I caved. Watch, in a month it will come out in paperback. But it doesn't matter. I love this book so much.

Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach
Okay, finances and such are definitely not something I get excited about unless I find a nice $20 in a pair of pants that I had forgotten about. This being said, I know at 26 it's definitely time to get a hold of these things and have an idea of where I am at and where I want to be. This is not a book about growing millions and millions of dollars like the title might suggest, it's about knowing where you are at, knowing where you want to be, figuring out how to navigate the difference and stay smart about it all. It has been quite helpful and will stay on my bookshelf for future reference when home buying, life insurance or 401ks and Roth IRAs are something I can deal with and worry about. I suggest it highly if you are confused about all of this stuff like I was (and admittedly still am a bit).

Happier At Home by Gretchen Rubin
I loved The Happiness Project, I read that a second time right before 2011. I'm pretty sure I will get a used copy in paperback and go through it one more time. As much as I liked it, I liked Happier At Home even more. For some reason her projects connected more to me this time. I'm going to be thinking about my own Happiness Project and what timeline it's going to have. I'm pretty excited. The book was such a fast read, so easy to relate to and I found a lot of wisdom in it.

The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte
Oh Fire Starter Sessions, how I love you so. I went through this book once and had a hard time getting a lot out of myself. I loved what was being said, I loved reading it and I felt a spark of hope but it wasn't quite reflected in my answers to the worksheets until the second go through. I'm still in the middle of it and I still have some room to dream and think bigger but I've made a lot of progress and that's saying a lot. I've read many, many self-help/motivational/whatever you want to call them books and this one has helped me the most. Maybe because I was tired of reading books, getting excited and then forgetting all about it, I'm not sure. All I know is that I love this book and re-reading I just keep finding and re-reminding myself of things I need to know. I suggest this to any creative person, any person who is incredibly hard on themselves, I recommend it to anyone who's willing to do some work.

What books have left you feeling awestruck lately?

xoxo