Five Specific Ways "Girl, Wash Your Face" Has Changed My Life.

A few weeks ago, one of my best friends texted me and told me I MUST read the book she'd just finished. It wasn't at the top of my to-read list, but I gave it a go anyway, because that's what bff's do, you know? So truly, that book changed my life. It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time, and I'll honestly be grateful for the impact it had on me for the rest of my life. 
I could rave about it for hours (and if you know me in real life, I probably have), but here are five specific ways Girl, Wash Your Face really changed my life. 
It introduced me to Rachel Hollis. || For some crazy reason, I had no idea who she was until Girl, Wash Your Face (Don't worry, I've gone back and stalked the crap out of her to make up for lost time). I'm just going to say this: It is incredibly exciting and motivating to see someone become wildly successful who started right where you are. She had a blog. A blog. She worked her way up. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?! It was so cool to read about her journey and honestly made me feel like there's no limit to what any of us can do. 
It completely recentered me. || I'll say this in a less hippie way: It completely reminded me of what I want to be at the center of my life. And then encouraged me to act like it. Like, if my ultimate goal is to move to Italy, I should be saving my money for Italy taking a class on Italian, not going shopping for bathing suits every payday and taking a class on jewelry making. A weird example, but does that make sense?

It reminded me of a simple and stunning truth: Someone else's opinion of you is none of your business. || You know those nuggets of truth that are really common sense, and you should know them, but when you hear them said, it just guts you with how profound it is? That's how this was. 
I have come an incredibly far way in how much I worry what others think of me. It used to truly be paralyzing to me. I've made really good strides, but hearing this made me realize how many things I do or don't do out of fear of what people will think of me. And you know what? Life is too short for that crap. 
It forced me to ask myself: Why isn't ____ happening? || I'll be blunt: It forced me to be brutally honest with myself in a really good way. Because, a good portion of the time, the answer to "Why haven't my dreams come true yet?" is "Well, because of you." Just some hypotheticals: Why haven't I published a book yet? Because you haven't written it. Why can't I get in good shape? Because you don't work out. Why am I not getting the yeses I want in life? Because you're too scared to ask the dang questions. See where I'm going with this? 
This book was a giant pep-talk, sure. But it was also someone calling me on my crap, and ooooh, I needed that. We all do!
It reignited my belief in myself. || I listened to the book on Audible and finished it a few weeks ago at the pool. I was sitting there, with my sunglasses on and headphones in, sobbing as I finished the last chapter. I felt so seen and encouraged and like there was someone on my side cheering for me to get up and get. it. done. And believing in yourself? Goodness, that's powerful. 
Have you read it yet?! What did you think?
PS: If you want to listen to it and have never used Audible before, let me know and I can send you the book for free! 

Books I Read in June (And Whether or Not You Should Read Them).

Guys. I did not have ANY duds this month. Isn't that the best?!
Forever is the Worst Long Time by Camille Pagán
Plot: When struggling novelist James Hernandez meets poet Louisa “Lou” Bell, he’s sure he’s just found the love of his life. There’s just one problem: she’s engaged to his oldest friend, Rob. So James toasts their union and swallows his desire.

As the years pass, James’s dreams always seem just out of reach—he can’t finish that novel, can’t mend his relationship with his father, can’t fully commit to a romantic relationship. He just can’t move on. But after betrayal fractures Lou’s once-solid marriage, she turns to James for comfort.

When Lou and James act on their long-standing mutual attraction, the consequences are more heartbreaking—and miraculous—than either of them could have ever anticipated. Then life throws James one more curveball, and he, Rob, and Lou are forced to come to terms with the unexpected ways in which love and loss are intertwined.

Favorite quote: "It was one of those moments when you feel unbelievably lucky to have been placed on the planet at the same time as the people in your life." <-- This made me cry in the best way.
My thoughts: Sam recommended this book to me and I will forever be indebted to her because of it (Dramatic? Possibly). It was the cutest, most heartfelt book I've read in a long time. I was so sad when it was over. 
Should you read it? Yes!!
Camino Island by John Grisham 
Plot: A gang of thieves stage a daring heist from a vault deep below Princeton University’s Firestone Library. Their loot is priceless, impossible to resist.         
Bruce Cable owns a popular bookstore in the sleepy resort town of Santa Rosa on Camino Island in Florida. He makes his real money, though, as a prominent dealer in rare books. Very few people know that he occasionally dabbles in unsavory ventures.
     
Mercer Mann is a young novelist with a severe case of writer’s block who has recently been laid off from her teaching position. She is approached by an elegant, mysterious woman working for an even more mysterious company. A generous monetary offer convinces Mercer to go undercover and infiltrate Cable’s circle of literary friends, to get close to the ringleader, to discover his secrets.

But soon Mercer learns far too much, and there’s trouble in paradise—as only John Grisham can deliver it.
My thoughts: Story Time: My mom LOVES John Grisham. She's always telling me I would also love him. However, I read a book of short stories by him a few years ago and hated them, so I've been reluctant to try him again. I finally gave in on vacation and she told me to start with this one. DEAR GOODNESS I LOVED IT. I especially loved the heavy literary themes and author friends and book talk. A mystery book about books? Sign me up. It was so good!
Should you read it? Yes!
The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
Plot: Mark, Todd, and Zola came to law school to change the world, to make it a better place. But now, as third-year students, these close friends realize they have been duped. They all borrowed heavily to attend a third-tier for-profit law school so mediocre that its graduates rarely pass the bar exam, let alone get good jobs. And when they learn that their school is one of a chain owned by a shady New York hedge-fund operator who also happens to own a bank specializing in student loans, the three know they have been caught up in The Great Law School Scam.  
But maybe there’s a way out. Maybe there’s a way to escape their crushing debt, expose the bank and the scam, and make a few bucks in the process. But to do so, they would first have to quit school. And leaving law school a few short months before graduation would be completely crazy, right? Well, yes and no . . .
 
Pull up a stool, grab a cold one, and get ready to spend some time at The Rooster Bar.
 
Favorite quote: “These are mistakes, not regrets. Regrets are over and done with and a waste of time to rehash. Mistakes, though, are bad moves in the past that might affect the future.” 
My thoughts: I loved Camino Island so much that I jumped right into another Grisham book. This book was incredible. The plot was so unique and managed to be shocking while still staying believable. It had one of the best endings I've read in a long time. I'm officially converted to a Grisham fan now. 
Should you read it? Yes! 
Three books, all winners! That's a good month. What did you read this month?

Books I Read in April & Whether or Not You Should Read Them.

A Separation by Katie Kitamura
Plot: "A young woman has agreed with her faithless husband: it's time for them to separate. For the moment it's a private matter, a secret between the two of them. As she begins her new life, she gets word that Christopher has gone missing in a remote region in the rugged south of Greece; she reluctantly agrees to go and search for him, still keeping their split to herself. In her heart, she's not even sure if she wants to find him. Adrift in the wild landscape, she traces the disintegration of their relationship, and discovers she understands less than she thought about the man she used to love.
A story of intimacy and infidelity, A Separation is about the gulf that divides us from the lives of others and the narratives we create for ourselves. As the narrator reflects upon her love for a man who may never have been what he appeared, Kitamura propels us into the experience of a woman on the brink of catastrophe. A Separation is a riveting stylistic masterpiece of absence and presence that will leave the reader astonished, and transfixed." -via Goodreads

Favorite quote: "In the end, what is a relationship but two people, and between two people there will always be room for surprises and misapprehensions, things that cannot be explained. Perhaps another way of putting it is that between two people, there will always be room for failures of imagination."
My thoughts: I do not understand why this book got such awards. I. Hated. It. I didn't love the writing style, but I can see how some people would (not much punctuation, no quotation marks so it's hard to know when something is a thought and when it's said out loud). My problem was that this was, essentially, a plotless book. Truly. Nothing happens. It's bizarre that's it's touted as some big mystery, because it's not.
Should you read it? No. Hard pass. 
Liar by K. L. Slater
Plot: How far would you go to protect your family? 

Single dad Ben is doing his best to raise his children alone, with the help of his devoted mother Judi. Life isn’t easy, but Judi’s family means everything to her and together, they manage. 

Then Ben meets Amber. Everyone thinks this is a perfect match for Ben but Judi isn’t sure … there’s just something about Amber that doesn’t add up. 

Ben can’t see why his mother dislikes his new girlfriend. And Amber doesn’t want Judi anywhere near her new family. Amber just wants Ben and the children. 

The further Judi delves into Amber’s personal life, the closer she gets to shocking secrets that could change everything. And Judi must make a decision that could lead to the most disastrous consequences. -via Goodreads

Favorite quote: “There’s a point at which you may might realize the journey isn’t really for you any more. But every time you get a chance to change paths, you just stay put because it’s easier. You end up trudging along the same old way and watching as life happens to other people as you pass by. Then one day you just stop looking around you.” 
My thoughts: My friend Kait recommended this one, and based on her review, I knew I was going to love it. It did NOT disappoint. It was twisty and layered and kept me guessing the whole time. The characters were so well written and I loved their point of views. Everything I want to say about the book, I can't say without spoiling it. So just read it. 
Should you read it? YES. 
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Plot: Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down. 

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is meticulously planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colours of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the alluring mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past, and a disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When the Richardsons' friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town and puts Mia and Mrs. Richardson on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Mrs. Richardson becomes determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs to her own family – and Mia's. 

Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of long-held secrets and the ferocious pull of motherhood-and the danger of believing that planning and following the rules can avert disaster, or heartbreak. -via Goodreads

Favorite quote: “Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground, and start over. After the burning the soil is richer, and new things can grow. People are like that, too. They start over. They find a way.” 
My thoughts: When I was about 1/3 of the way through this book, a friend asked me if I was enjoying it. My answer was that while I loved it so far, I still had no idea what it was actually about. 
That's what made this book so good. It's about the characters, not about any one event. There is a plot and a big event, but by the time you get there, you're so invested in the characters and their own explorations that the twists are just background noise, if that makes sense. She writes the most amazing characters, and I was sad when this book was over because I wanted to know even more about them. 
Should you read it? Yes! 
What have you read lately? And should I read it?

Books I Read in October (And Whether or Not You Should Read Them).

The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle c/o Netgalley
Plot: Iris and Will's marriage is as close to perfect as it can be: a large house in a nice Atlanta neighborhood, rewarding careers and the excitement of trying for their first baby. But on the morning Will leaves for a business trip to Orlando, Iris's happy world comes to an abrupt halt. Another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board, and according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers on this plane. 
Grief-stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. But as time passes and there is still no sign of Will, she reluctantly accepts that he is gone. Still, Iris needs answers. Why did Will lie about where he was going? What is in Seattle? And what else has he lied about? As Iris sets off on a desperate quest to find out what her husband was keeping from her, the answers she receives will shock her to her very core. -Via Goodreads
My thoughts: I read this book in a day. Not because it was amazing, though I did want to find out what was happening. It was more that it was an easy read to lose track of time with...it didn't take too much thought to follow the story, and I curled up in bed and finished it in a few hours. 
It was an interesting plot that made me wonder what I would do in a similar situation-I mean, if you find out your husband is a pretty big liar, what exactly does one do? I thought the main character was very relatable and I liked trying to guess what choices she would make. 
It wasn't the best book I've ever read...it was a little cliche and predictable at parts, and it didn't really stick with me after I'd read it...but I will say this: The very last paragraph of the whole book made me want to stand up and applaud, and I'd throw in an extra star just for that. I love a good ending.
Should you read it? If you're in a reading rut and have some extra time, sure! It's a good read. But you're not missing anything life-changing if you skip it. 
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware Plot: In this tightly wound story, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…
With surprising twists and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another intense read. -via Goodreads

Favorite quote: "We all have demons inside us, voices that whisper we're no good, that if we don't make this promotion or ace that exam we'll reveal to the world exactly what kind of worthless sacks of skin and sinew we really are. Maybe that's true. Maybe mine just have louder voices."
My thoughts: I started this book off a little worried because the main character reminded me of Rachel from The Girl on The Train. Spoiler alert: I did not like Rachel. But a few chapters in, this book sucked me in. 
I didn't guess the twist (love when that happens) and I was bummed that I had to stop reading it to get some sleep...both signs of a great mystery. I try to read a good thriller every October and this one definitely fit the bill!
Should you read it? Yes!
First, Kill All the Marriage Counselors by Laura Doyle Plot: Laura Doyle’s marriage was in trouble. Marriage counseling made their problems worse—each session seemed to reinforce the feeling that she and her husband were just too far apart.
Desperate to avoid divorcing the man she loved, Laura tried something different: she started talking to happily married women, some for more than 15 years. What she discovered shocked her.

Everything she had heard in marriage counseling was wrong. Laura realized there are basic truths that can help women maintain loving, intimate marriages.

After seeing her own marriage transform, Laura set out to help other women do the same. In First, Kill All the Marriage Counselors, you’ll learn Laura’s “Six Intimacy Skills,” which have been used by over 150,000 women who have turned their unhappy marriages into blissful unions.-via Goodreads

My thoughts: First things first: I am a huge proponent of counseling. The author had a bad experience with one and got a catchy book title out of it. In no way does a book take the place of therapy. 
Now that we've got that out of the way...I enjoyed this one! I appreciated that it came from the stance of, "You probably love your husband and he probably loves you, so let's make your marriage even better!" Instead of, "Your marriage is probably falling apart and you probably suck and so does he so let's change everything about you." 
However...this book is one of those where you've got to take everything and sift through it. There was some stuff that was so good...and some stuff (especially towards the end) that made me think. "Um...say what now?" The things I took away from the book were incredibly valuable, and I was able to just disagree with the things I didn't like.
Should you read it? If you can take things with a grain of salt, yes. If you're the kind of person who likes to read self-help books and take them as complete truth, skip this one. 
What did you read this month?

Books I Read in September (And Whether or Not You Should Read Them).

The Rumor By Elin Hilderbrand 
Plot: Madeline King and Grace Pancik are best friends and the envy of Nantucket for their perfect marriages, their beautiful kids, their Sunday night double dates with their devoted husbands. But this summer, something's changed, and if there's anything Nantucket likes better than cocktails on the beach at sunset, it's a good rumor.
And rumor has it...

...that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer's block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation--and a desperately bad decision;

...that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect;

...that Grace's husband, successful island real estate developer "Fast Eddie" Pancik, has embarked on quite an unusual side project;

...that the storybook romance between Madeline's son, Brick, and Grace's daughter Allegra is on the rocks, heading for disaster.

As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight--but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it. 

My Thoughts: This book dealt with some big, deep issues while still feeling like a light summer read that you can just tear through. I love when a book can do this. 

I loved this book. I loved that one of the main characters was an author, I loved that the main characters were established adults who had worked hard to get where they were (because I realize I'm in my young twenties, but I hate it when every "adult" book features a main character who is 22 years old who is somehow already 20 years into her career), I loved how the author perfectly captured the way people gossip, the reason why people gossip, and just what gossip can do. Reading this book made me feel like I was sitting on the beach, having a drink and listening to all the town's rumors firsthand.

It felt like a breezy beach read, but it surprised me with how deep it got! 

Should You Read it? Yes!

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney advanced reader copy c/o Netgalley

Plot: Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.

EMMA
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant—and it does.

JANE
After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street she is instantly drawn to the space—and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror, as the girl before. -via Goodreads

My Thoughts: TWISTY. TWISTY. TWISTED. I have so much to say and I can't say any of it without spoiling this for you. 

So I'll say: I devoured this book in a day. This is a unique thriller. I love the way the story is told (we read about the girl then and the girl now in alternating chapters) and it had way more than one goosebump-inducing moment for me. 

I will say that there was an element to the book that made me feel gross, like, "ew why would you just throw this in here?" (See disclaimer below) But it does come back to play a really big part later.  

There were several times where I had the though BOOM I've solved it! And I was wrong every. single. time. 

It's a hard book to review without spoiling the plot, but it's one of the best thrillers I've ever read. It will leave you asking: Who exactly is the psychopath in this story?

Should You Read it? Yes. This book is coming out in January, and it's going to be 2017's Gone Girl and Girl on the Train. Trust me. You want to get your hands on it. 

A quick disclaimer: Just like everyone has different taste in books, I understand that everyone lands somewhere different with what they are comfortable reading. It's too much to keep track of what each book has in terms of language, violence, etc. And sometimes, it's impossible to talk about without giving the plot away. Please understand that just because I think a book is worth reading does not mean it's a book with no controversial content. I'll tell you if it's a good story or not, but you should look it up (or just ask me!) to see if it's something you are comfortable reading (instead of sending me an angry email). xoxo! 
What did you read this month?

5 Books That Changed My Life.

I started this out as a single post, but to be honest, it's definitely going to be a series of posts. There's just no way to fit all the books I've felt were life-changing into one single blog post.
I'm kind of hippie-esque in the sense that I think every book you read changes your life in some small way. Even the bad ones have some small influence on your views or opinions. But these are (five of) the books that just straight up changed my life for one reason or another. 
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I know this is a popular, more recent read, but it was a truly life-changing read for me. I think anyone with a creative side (or passion for anything, really) should read this. I listened to this one on Audible and there were so many times that I was talking out loud, saying YES, me too, me too, me too.
I felt like I had so much in common with the author, especially when she talked about her childhood (growing up to be afraid of calling to make a dinner reservation [why?!], being timid and afraid to ask for what you want), and fear of wanting a creative life.
She writes that pursuing a creative life is a wonderful gift to yourself. You don't have to make money from your passion, you don't have to make a career out of it in order to be successful. If your creativity brings you joy, you're already a success. 
Read this if: You consider yourself a creative, or you want to be.
Paper Towns by John Green. I've talked about my zealous-like love for this book before. Even though it's about seniors in high school, I think everyone can understand the sudden desire for things to be different, the need for something exciting to happen, and the panic that comes along with big life changes. This book covers all of that.
Honestly, I'm not sure why this was so life-changing for me. I just know that it was. That when I finished it, it took me a long time to be able to get into another book, because I had that book that just changed your life hangover going on. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's the EXACT kind of book I want to write one day. 
Read this if: You enjoy YA lit or John Green books.
Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge. My dad read this book and then mailed everyone he's ever loved a copy of it within 24 hours. He doesn't recommend books so passionately very often, so I paid attention and read the copy he sent me. And I'm so glad I did...I don't think there has ever been a book I've read that so quickly changed such a huge part of my life.
My faith, which is a giant part of who I am, is something that is ever changing. I think that's true for everyone. It changes based on what you go through, it changes based on who is speaking into your life, what books you're reading, etc, etc. Your faith gets stronger, it gets weaker, you have questions, you find answers...it's a lifelong journey, you know?
I grew up in church and have always been around it in some aspect. I think a lot of times, religion comes in and focuses on "do" and "do not" more than focusing on Jesus as a person. When reading this, I had to ask myself, "Have I ever actually thought about the type of person Jesus was?"
It's a beautiful, beautiful book. It talks about Jesus' personality in a way that almost felt irreverent, but were exactly what I needed to reset my perspective. 
Read this if: Your view of Jesus has become (or has always been) monotonous and not personal, and you'd like to change that. Or if maybe you've become accustomed to the views of just one church or just one person, and would like to explore more of what your own views of Jesus may be. 
The Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn. This is a sweet, sweet young adult series. I grew up with Christy. If you haven't read my blog for too long, you might not know that my parents ripped me away from everything I knew in our home in Tenessee (did that sound dramatic enough?) and moved us to Florida the week I was turning fourteen (the horror). I didn't know anyone at all. Christy is in a similar boat. 
Here's the thing about this series: I have always been a good, rule-following, stick to the plan girl. Always. Also a little awkward, but that's beside the point. And in all the YA books I've read featuring girls like that, the big breakout moment happens when the girl changes who she is, or she takes a major risk or breaks the rules or goes skinny dipping or something drastic like that. And, even as a young teenager, I knew that was just never going to be me. 
But here's a series about an awkward, rule-following girl who I had pretty much everything common with, and things worked out pretty good for her. She meets a surfer boy named Todd who, since he is a fictional character, is basically everyone's dream guy. When I felt so depressed over moving to Florida, my mom would say to me, "Maybe you needed to come here so you could meet your Todd." 
In one of the books, Todd takes Christy to Disney for Christmas. The first year we were dating, Chris took me to Disney for Christmas, and I remember coming home that night and telling my mom, "I think I might have found my Todd." 
I cannot tell you how many times I thought about Christy as I as growing up. She may have been fictional, but she was a pretty good role model.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac. This is the first book I studied after switching my major to English (the best and worst decision, as I'm sure all English majors can agree), and I cried so many times while reading it because it just made me feel like yes, this is where I'm supposed to be. Side note: I may have accidentally named my baby after this author.
It's a fascinating look into that era, into author's lives (something we actually don't see a lot of books about!), and into the mind of someone who is desperate for life to happen to him.
It's a raw (and often severely inappropriate, at times) book, but it woke something up inside of me that has stayed awake ever since. It walks the line of life can be so good if you just out there and live it and life is so hard, we've just got to do what we can to survive.
Read this if: You're interested in the beat movement. Or you've been itching for some adventure in your own life and you need some inspiration. I will say that because of the way it's written, go into it less like you're reading a novel and more like you're turning to some art for inspiration, if that makes sense.
I'll be back with many more, but we'll stop at five for now. Your turn: What's a book that changed your life?

Books I Read in August (And Whether or Not You Should Read Them).

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Plot: Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong?

Sam and Clementine have a wonderful, albeit, busy life: they have two little girls, Sam has just started a new dream job, and Clementine, a cellist, is busy preparing for the audition of a lifetime. If there’s anything they can count on, it’s each other.

Clementine and Erika are each other’s oldest friends. A single look between them can convey an entire conversation. But theirs is a complicated relationship, so when Erika mentions a last minute invitation to a barbecue with her neighbors, Tiffany and Vid, Clementine and Sam don’t hesitate. Having Tiffany and Vid’s larger than life personalities there will be a welcome respite.

Two months later, it won’t stop raining, and Clementine and Sam can’t stop asking themselves the question: What if we hadn’t gone?

In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty takes on the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood, and friendship. She shows how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than what we do, and how sometimes it is the most innocent of moments that can do the greatest harm. -via Goodreads

Favorite quote:

My thoughts: I absolutely love Liane Moriarty's books. I was so excited to read this one, but it was very different than I expected. That doesn't make it a bad book by any means (it's not!), it was just less mysterious and shocking than I expected.

Most mysteries go like this: You find out an event that happened (like murder or kidnapping or something like that), and then you're introduced to all of these characters and have to figure out who did this thing. 

Her mysteries go like this: You're introduced to all of the characters and the mystery isn't who did what, the mystery is that there is a thing has already happened you have to figure out what that thing is. I love it. 

This book follows that model, it just does so in what feels like a milder sense. It focused more on the characters than the events. 

Should you read it? If you're already a Liane Moriarty fan, yes. If you're not, start with What Alice Forgot or The Husband's Secret. 

The Vacationers by Emma Straub 

Plot: For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan. But all does not go according to plan: over the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated.

This is a story of the sides of ourselves that we choose to show and those we try to conceal, of the ways we tear each other down and build each other up again, and the bonds that ultimately hold us together. With wry humor and tremendous heart, Emma Straub delivers a richly satisfying story of a family in the midst of a maelstrom of change, emerging irrevocably altered yet whole. -via Goodreads

Favorite quote: 

My thoughts: I picked up this book, read the first six or seven chapters, and then completely forgot about it...never a good sign. 

Jack took an extra long nap yesterday, so when I saw it on my dresser, I decided to finish it. 

And I liked it!

I don't think it's as amazing as everyone makes it out to be, but I do think it's a raw and honest (so therefore sometimes sad and sometimes funny) look at family, friendships, mistakes, and just life. 

When I finished the book, I felt like nothing had really happened, but I still felt closure. And really, it's not a book where a lot happens. It's a family and some friends who go on vacation together, and you get a view into their lives and their pasts and their mistakes and what they're going to do about all of that. 

It made me think a lot about my own life and family, and I always love when a book that really has nothing to do with me can make me feel a connection like that. 

Should you read it? Sure! But if you decide to skip it, you're not missing out on anything life-changing.

What did you read this month? I really need an "absolutely loved it" kind of book for next month...send one my way!

Nine Moments Every Book-Lover Has Experienced.

I'm a book-lover, and that's putting it mildly. I think "almost dangerously book-obsessed" might be a better term, but let's stick with book-lover, because that just sounds better. 
As any true book-lover knows, reading is an emotional rollercoaster full of its ups and downs. Please laugh and cry along with me as we take a look at some of the most common moments we've all experienced in our reading journeys...
When your favorite character gets killed off. 

When the couple you've been rooting for since the first chapter kisses. 

When you find out the character you were hoping was fake dead is actually real dead, and there is no justice in the world. 

When you hate yourself for guessing the twist way too early.  

When you don't guess the twist at all and are genuinely surprised. 

When you finally get your hands on a book that everyone has been raving about...and you hate it.

When you read a book that turns you into a fanatic. 

When you finish reading one of the best books of your life and have the biggest reading hangover that won't let you make it past the third or fourth page of a new book, because nothing will ever be as good. 

When you catch yourself wondering how your favorite characters are doing or where they're at in their lives...and you have to remind yourself that they're not actually real. 

Books I Read in May (And Whether or Not You Should Read Them).

Two. I read two books in May. To be fair, I've had a lot going on with Christopher's graduation and buying a house and all. But when I got pregnant, someone told me I would never ever have time to read a book ever again in my entire life (just a bit dramatic to say to someone, but okay), so I'm feeling pretty good about myself.
Also, I've crossed over to the side that believes listening to a book is the same as reading it. It's better than watching TV, right?!
Anyway, on to the books! 
No One Knows by J.T. Ellison 
Plot: In an obsessive mystery as thrilling as The Girl on the Train and The Husband’s Secret, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison will make you question every twist in her page-turning novel—and wonder which of her vividly drawn characters you should trust.
The day Aubrey Hamilton’s husband is declared dead by the state of Tennessee should bring closure so she can move on with her life. But Aubrey doesn’t want to move on; she wants Josh back. It’s been five years since he disappeared, since their blissfully happy marriage—they were happy, weren’t they?—screeched to a halt and Aubrey became the prime suspect in his disappearance. Five years of emptiness, solitude, loneliness, questions. Why didn’t Josh show up at his friend’s bachelor party? Was he murdered? Did he run away? And now, all this time later, who is the mysterious yet strangely familiar figure suddenly haunting her new life?

In No One Knows, Ellison expertly peels back the layers of a complex woman who is hiding dark secrets beneath her unassuming exterior. This masterful thriller for fans of Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Paula Hawkins will pull readers into a you’ll-never-guess merry-go-round of danger and deception. Round and round and round it goes, where it stops…no one knows. -via goodreads 

My thoughts: I downloaded this book on a whim without knowing anything about it (something I never do) because I had an Audible credit about to expire and this was recommended based on my previous purchases. Funny enough, it ended up being about a girl married to a guy in med-school in Tennessee (that's where I'm from). It was fun to have so much in common with a main character in a mystery. 
Now...I base "shocking twists" in books on Gone Girl (SPOILER COMING) and when we find out she's really alive. When I got to that point in the book, which I was reading on my phone, it shocked me so much that I dropped my phone in my coffee. There was no phone-dropping with this one, but more of a "Okay, I see the twist coming. Wait...there's more to it? Oh, and more? Wait, again?" A bunch of little twists that spin the story around and around until you're finished with the book and you kind of understand how you got there, but it was quite the ride.
Should you read it? Yes. Goodreads is right in comparing this author to Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Paula Hawkins. If you like mysteries, this one is worth a read. 
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Plot: "Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work,  embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy." -via Goodreads
Favorite Quote(s): SO. MANY.
"So this, I believe, is the central question upon which all creative living hinges: Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?" 
"“Recognizing that people's reactions don't belong to you is the only sane way to create. If people enjoy what you've created, terrific. If people ignore what you've created, too bad. If people misunderstand what you've created, don't sweat it. And what if people absolutely hate what you've created? What if people attack you with savage vitriol, and insult your intelligence, and malign your motives, and drag your good name through the mud? Just smile sweetly and suggest - as politely as you possibly can - that they go make their own (beep)ing art. Then stubbornly continue making yours.” 
My Thoughts: There's a John Green Quote that says, "Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” Big Magic is that book for me.
Reading it was a mix between being at a conference and hearing these great talks about creativity and having coffee with an encouraging friend and meeting with a therapist who already knew about all your inner turmoil. It touched me so much that I'm tearing up just writing this. Every other page I felt myself saying, "me too, me too, me too." If any part of your life involves any sort of creativity at all, please, please read this book. 
Should you read it: YES. 
What did you read this month?