Need a Good Read? Here are Some Books I've Enjoyed Lately

THE FARMHOUSE

Need a good book? I’ve been reading (and listening to) a lot of books lately and wanted to share some of my recent favorites. I wrote a similar post at the end of 2019 so I thought we’d make book lists a thing. There’s no specific genre or style or rhyme or reason to this list, but every single one of these books was hard to put down. So if you’re in need of a good book, read on.

Our Farmhouse bedroom // artwork, all other sources here

My favorite reading happens at night, in my bed after the kids are asleep, and preferably with an actual book. But I like audio books too, especially during the daytime when I’m not at risk of falling asleep and losing my place. I usually check out both types of books from the library (I use the Libby App to listen - highly recommend!), but with our local branch closed during the pandemic, I’ve resorted to purchasing some books, too. I’m not going to lie, I’ve quite enjoyed it. There’s something really lovely about cracking open a brand new book and smelling that new book smell. Not to mention it’s nice to be able to read a popular novel without having get on a weeks- or months-long waitlist. But I’ll take my books any way I can get them!

This list has a little bit of everything on it - nonfiction, historical fiction, young adult, new, old… Some titles have helped me gain perspective on current issues (like racism and immigration) and some titles have provided a reprieve from current events. Take what you will.

12 books I’ve enjoyed lately

The Nightingale, Kristin Hanna - this book is haunting and beautiful and one of my favorite reads of recent memory. It tells the story of two sisters in France in 1939 who have a complicated relationship. As war ravages their country and family, each sister embarks on a treacherous path to survive Nazi occupation. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

The Hate U Give, Thomas - this was a recommendation from the comments of my last book roundup and it did not disappoint. It’s about a 16-year-old girl who lives in a poor community with her family lives and attends an affluent suburban private school. When she witnesses the shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer, both of her worlds are upended. I think this might technically be a young adult novel, but it’s fabulous. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

The Book of Lost Friends, Lisa Wingate. I picked this book up at Costco since I liked Lisa Wingate’s last novel, and I was so glad I did. The book is narrated by two women in Louisiana, separated by a century, but connected by the plantation where they live. Hannie, a freed slave in 1875, searches for lost family while Benny, in 1987, works to discover Hannie’s history and teach her students. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid - This book tells the fictional story of Evelyn Hugo, an iconic and reclusive movie star, who decides to tell all about her career, well-publicized life, seven husbands, and who the love of her life really was to a journalist she has a mysterious connection to. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

At Home, Bill Blyson - nonfiction isn’t my usual bag, but so many of you recommended this book that I had to listen to it. And WOW! I can’t say enough good things. It tells the fascinating history of home and private life. The audio version is great, but I wish I had the paper copy to refer back to. (Amazon affiliate)

Small, Great Things, Jodi Picoult - this book was hard to read (because of topics like infant mortality and racism) but it was also hopeful and beautiful and wonderfully written. It’s about a seasoned labor and delivery nurse who is told not to touch the baby of a white supremacist couple, and the tragic events that follow. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

Evvie Drake Starts Over, Linda Holmes - this was such an enjoyable read - a love story at it’s core that’s complex and quirky and full of heart. I couldn’t put it down. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

A Good Neighborhood, Therese Anne Fowler - This book still has me reeling. The story follows neighbors in a tight-knit neighborhood in North Carolina, who have little in common besides a property line. I think this is technically a YA novel, but it’s incredibly complex, thought provoking, and well written. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

Next Year in Havana, Chanel Cleeton - the story of a wealthy Cuban family who fled to America during the revolution. It’s told by the daughter of a sugar baron in 1958 and her granddaughter in 2017. This book felt like a Cuban history lesson wrapped up in an engrossing fictional story. The audio version is excellent! (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson - Oh man, this book is amazing. It’s the autobiographical story of Bryan Stevenson, the young lawyer who founded the Equal Justice Initiative and defends death row inmates. I laughed, I cried, and was profoundly moved. Highly recommend the audio version read by the author. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

The Sun is Also A Star, Nicola Yoon - I listened to this book over two days and it was such a gem. It’s the story of two young New Yorkers who fall in love over the course of one day. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

Nine Women, One Dress, Jane L. Rosen - the fun and delightfully-told story of one dress and the nine women who wore it. This is an easy read that’s sure to put a smile on your face. (Amazon affiliate, Indiebound)

Lots of these books were recommendations from you guys, so thank you for that. And please…give me more! Leave a comment and let me know what you’ve been reading lately.