Are you a bookworm? I am, so I was excited to learn that March is National Reading Month.
The goal of National Reading Month is to encourage people to make time to read every day.
While we all know it can be hard to carve out time for ourselves as a mom, I find that reading helps me unwind at the end of the night and fall asleep more easily. I love to keep my current read on my bedside table and spend a few minutes reading before I go to sleep. When I’m reading a particularly great book that I can’t wait to get through, I sometimes download the audiobook version as well and listen to the book during my commute (in addition to the nighttime reading routine).
In case you want to celebrate National Reading Month, I wanted to share a few of my favorite recent favorite reads. There’s something for everyone in this list!
For an edge-of-your-seat thriller: Try Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
My friends had warned me that Pretty Girls was incredibly “messed up.” I was too scared to read it for a long time. While they weren’t wrong in their description (consider this a trigger warning for violent content, including violent sexual assault) the book was so gripping that I couldn’t put it down. It had too many twists and turns to count.
Kim’s Rating: 5/5 Stars
For a “who done it” type mystery: Try A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
I recommend listening to this one on audiobook because it’s performed by a full cast. This is actually a Young Adult book but it was really entertaining and I felt very engaged in the storyline. The concept of the book is that the main character is trying to investigate a cold case in her town and is writing a senior capstone about her work. Much of the book is told in the format of interviews with people and journal entries. I really enjoyed the style.
Kim’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
For a cheesy romantic comedy: Try Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
Who doesn’t love a romantic comedy? When there’s a lovable lead character that you just can’t help but root for, it can be just as easy to become invested in a great book as it is in a great movie. This was a quick, fun and flirty read. Better yet, it’s set in Columbus, Ohio!
Kim’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
For a book to transport you to the beach: Try 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
This was such a FUN read. It’s a classic Elin Hilderbrand. Part beach read, part romance, with a lot of switching back and forth in time, which kept things very interesting. The main character and her love interest agree to meet every year for one weekend, on the same day. Despite moving on with new relationships and separate lives, the book tracks them as they continue to meet back on Nantucket each year.
Kim’s Rating: 5/5 Stars
For a historical fiction about family relationships: Try The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Historical fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, but this book swept me up right away. Ann Patchett does a wonderful job creating two strong characters in Danny, the younger brother, and Maeve, his protective older sister. The story follows these two characters through several decades of their lives. I loved reading about their dysfunctional, blended family. It was a captivating and out-of-the-ordinary read. For an added bonus, Tom Hanks narrates the audio version of this book.
Kim’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
I hope you find the opportunity to enjoy one of the books on my list! If you’ve read any of these books already, I’d love to hear what you think. I’d also love to hear about your favorite recent read!
