Reading to our children is important, but so is reading for ourselves. A few years ago, I was only reading non-fiction like parenting, self-help and business books. After a while, reading no longer felt like an escape, just work. Now I mix up what I consume. I flip flop mostly between fiction, rom-coms and realistic fiction with some non-fiction and historical fiction sprinkled in. This balance has made me fall back in love with my own reading again.
The thing I hear most often from busy moms is, “I just don’t have time to read.” My best advice? Find a little crevice in your day and make it yours. For me, that time is at night—I’m an audiobook girl through and through. I love the comfort of someone reading me a story. I also love cuddling my kids to sleep (though they take forever to drift off!). We read together, say our prayers, and I sing a song or two. Then, once the lights are out, I pop in an earbud and listen to my book. That time each night has become sacred—a mix of quiet moments with my children and a bit of self-care just for me.
And you know what? I actually fly through books this way. Here’s what I read this summer, in no particular order…
Rom-Coms
I read Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, Say You’ll Remember Me, Part of Your World, and The Happily Ever After Playlist, all by Abby Jimenez. Also on the list were One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, The Love Haters by Katherine Center, and It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan. They were all quite good. I have liked others by Katherine Center (like this one – The Rom-Commers) and Abby Jimenez (or this one – Just Here for the Summer) better, but these are still light and fun reads. If I had to pick just one, it would be Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life or Jimenez’s Part of Your World.
Fiction
I like to mix in highly-rated fiction and the two I read did not disappoint. You know when you read a book and it pops into your mind over and over for a long time? The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni is one of those books. Absolutely heart-wrenching at times, but one of the best stories I have read in a long while. If you read it, be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end. It wrapped it all up for me and made the story that much more meaningful.
I just finished Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. Set in the British countryside, a young woman’s story unfolds – her young love, her now husband, their children, and a death that rocks the community. It’s not a thriller but will keep you on the edge of your seat. The back and forth between past and present creates intrigue and I truly couldn’t stop listening. The audio is particularly well done.
Non-Fiction
Finally, the non-fiction books I read this summer are a mixed bag. As a long time fan of Gregory Boyle, I had to read his latest one, Cherished Belonging. As a long-time Jesuit priest amidst gang members in Los Angeles, his books give a different view point and perspective. He is the ultimate expression of love and empathy and his work is grounding to read if you are religious.
If we crossed paths in August, I probably mentioned this book. Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier is fascinating. She interviews experts and parents around the world and sheds a lot of light on American kids, the mental health crisis, and more. And it’s not phones and social media.
On occasion I re-read books worth re-reading. When my friend told me he was reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, I decided to read it again. It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for a reason. If you’ve never read it, make sure it makes it on your to-be-read list.
Last but not least, I had to read The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins for myself and see what it was all about. Even just a chapter here and there is a much needed mental reset. If this isn’t your type of book, just read about the theory. It’s a good one!
On my TBR…
I have been a long-time fan of Kate Strickler of @naptimekitchen. I read someone else’s take on her and they said something along the lines of Kate gifting us her grace, practical ideas for motherhood, humor, and relatable content. I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen, her new book, is already a New York Times bestseller. This is my next read and I can’t wait!
