I love love love to read. If you haven’t already, check out my ‘Good Reads’ tab on my sidebar. My latest books are listed there.

I finished a book a few months ago and was completely devastated by the ending. Not that the ending wasn’t brilliant. It just wasn’t what I wanted it to be: happily ever after. I love fairy tales. I’ve come to realize I am a total sap and romantic and love stories that are picture perfect. (And often not realistic…sigh). **I feel like Emily Giffin just speaks to me** However, I read a lot of historical fiction and although they don’t all end perfectly, they do empower me and that is something I strive to feel when I read literature.

Last fall, I started reading the Harry Potter series again. I started on the fourth book because I have been through first three at least seven times. Call me crazy, but I can’t get enough of JK Rowling’s writing and the adventure & fate of Harry Potter. My mom was saddened to hear this news (”but there is SO much literature out there!”) I had to explain that some people have comfort food. I have comfort books. (I also have comfort food). But Harry Potter is my cozy sweater on the couch with a cup of tea.

Reading Harry Potter brings me back to Christmas of 1997 when I opened a very thoughtful gift from my Dad: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone. “They say this is the next big hit!” And of course, it was. Reading it reminds me of our road trip out west in ‘98 when the second book was released. And how my mom got us kids to calm down in the long car ride by playing the first book on tape. None of us wanted to sight see. We just wanted to hear the next chapter.

Opening up the books last fall brought me back to my fantasy world. And the best part was that we were getting ready to be married and visit Europe on our honeymoon. So in midst of the sixth book, we were visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. It was absolutely magical.

I’m an avid reader. I explore different topics and have branched out quite a bit from my crime thriller reads (Jo Nesbo is amazing) and HP repeats since I’ve moved here. I love them, but I’m happy to be entertained by different genres. I feel like I’m growing up! ;) But there will come a time again in the future when hot tea by the fire and Harry Potter will start calling my name again… Or I will need a Scandinavian crime novel between historical fiction reads.

Needless to say, I am always in the market for some recommendations. If you have any, please share.

Here are some awesome books I have read lately that I think you should check out:

The House We Grew Up In– Lisa Jewell // Fiction

We Were Liars- E. Lockhart // Suspense

Gone with the Wind– Margaret Mitchell // Classic Historical Romance

The One I Was- Eliza Graham // Historical Fiction

Me Before You– Jojo Moyes // Young Adult

Luckiest Girl Alive– Jessica Knoll // Thriller

The Girl on the Train– Paula Hawkins // Psychological Thriller

The Weight of Blood– Laura McHugh // Psychological Thriller

All the Light We Cannot See– Anthony Doerr // Historical Fiction

Carry On Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy Beautiful Life – Glennon Doyle Melton // Nonfiction

Orphan Train– Christina Baker Kline // Historical Fiction

Beautiful Ruins– Jess Walter // Historical Fiction

Language of Flowers– Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Defending Jacob– William Landay // Crime Novel/Suspense

Killing Kennedy– Bill O’Reilly/Martin Dugard //Nonfiction

A Conspiracy of Faith-Jussi Adler-Olsen // Crime Novel

Confessions– Kinae Minato // Psychological Triller

books fiction good reads historical fiction literature novels recommendations romance suspense thriller