I have always loved to read, and last year, I really enjoyed putting together a list of some of my favorite books of all time. In the past year, I vowed to keep you guys informed with the books I’m reading, and I have continued to do so over on my Instagram page with the hashtag #popcornbookclub. If you have a read a book you love, please join in on the fun and use this hashtag when you post so we can all stay informed and add new reads to our lists!
While I will always share my books over on Instagram, I plan to do a yearly recap over here on the blog. I didn’t quite make my goal of reading 26 books this past year, but I added 20 more to my “read” list! Without further ado, here are my book reviews from 2019!
Personal Development
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
- I don’t give 5 stars very often, but this book earned it! This book really spoke to my heart and helped me to view creativity in a new light. It was a very inspiring read, and I definitely recommend it.
- Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
- I just love Rachel’s voice. She speaks to me in a way I can truly understand, and her stories make me feel as if she is reading my mind and putting it on paper. A definite must-read for any #momboss or career mom trying to balance it all.
- Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
- This was a really inspiring read for those wanting to take on leadership roles. They take strategies from SEAL training and leading and bring it into the corporate world to help create high-performance teams. This book will definitely help you to level up your leadership skills.
- Build to Last by Keith Callahan
- A must-read for anyone in the network marketing business. It discusses pushing past your limiting beliefs, leadership, developing a team of leaders, and how to create time and financial freedom in your life.
- Rising Strong by Brene Brown
- We all go through struggles in our lives, and this book is all about owning our stories and getting back up. Brene Brown never ceases to amaze me with her research and theory and real-life examples. This book will challenge you to think about your own story and how you can achieve deeper meaning in your life.
- The Power of Significance by John C. Maxwell
- I have never met a John C. Maxwell book I didn’t like or that didn’t help me in some way. This man is genius. Read everything he writes and listen to everything he speaks.
- The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
- I liked the idea of this book, but the historical examples were just a little dry for me. I gained a few key concepts from this book, but I was a little bored.
- Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
- This book was well written and would have been helpful for me if I had read it starting out earlier in my career (out of college) and if I was currently following a corporate career path. It “missed the mark” for me personally, because I just couldn’t really relate with where I am today.
Other Non-fiction
- Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever by Kelly LeVeque
- This was an awesome book and was really in line with the way I currently eat and the meal plans I follow with the Ultimate Portion Fix and 2B Mindset with Beachbody. As a holistic healthcare expert, I was curious about what Kelly had to say about nutrition and how it compared to what I currently do. I was pleased to find many similarities (for example, the fad diets don’t work, and it’s about creating that healthy lifestyle and choosing food that fuels you and makes you feel GOOD!) and she has some really delicious recipes and ideas. It’s great for anyone who might have an unhealthy relationship with food and looking to free themselves from that mentality.
Fiction
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- I highly recommend this book! It took awhile to get into it, but once you’re in it, you can’t stop reading. I loved the characterization, the setting, the writing, and the overall story. So beautifully written!
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
- This was definitely a good read! It had a ton of hype, so I think I went into it with over-expectation. I enjoyed it and would recommend it, but I didn’t get that “WOW, holy smokes, must-read amazing vibe” while reading it. The storyline was interesting though, and I enjoyed the characters and the relationships between the characters the most.
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- This classic novel completely floored me! It gave me “Hunger Games” vibes in the sense that it was like this “what if-alternate disturbing reality world” but in a totally different kind of way. It’s a frightening and powerful read. I originally wanted to read it, because I wanted to watch the series, and I always like reading the books first. Glad I read it, and I look forward to watching the series.
- An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
- This author duo is one of my absolute FAVORITES! Their thrillers are so absolutely captivating that once you start reading, they draw you in and keep you turning the pages to find out what is coming next. I loved their first book, The Wife Between Us, and now this one. I can’t wait until their next one comes out.
- The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
- This book also came with a lot of hype, and I really enjoyed reading this thriller, but it was also totally predictable for me. All in all, it was a good novel and I would recommend it, but it would have been more fun if I hadn’t figured out all the twists and turns.
- An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
- I really enjoyed this murder mystery!!! I read Lapena’s booked “The Couple Next Door” and “A Stranger in the House” and enjoyed them, but I think this one is my favorite so far! I loved the character development and the ideas of them all being stranded in the hotel together like a murder mystery dinner party in the snow. A definite page turner!
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- I know this was all the rage, and I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie, but I have to admit, I was underwhelmed. It was OK, but to be frank, the characters just kind of annoyed me a lot, and I couldn’t handle all of the brattiness haha. It just seemed like the whole book was about a lot of really unimportant stuff. Which I guess was to be expected. I just didn’t think the story was all that great. The one thing I found interesting was the history of Singapore that was woven in, because I didn’t really know much about that part of the world.
- China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
- I decided to give the series another chance even after the first underwhelming book, because I was genuinely interested in finding out what happened in the love story of the main two characters. I actually enjoyed this book better than the first! So I’m actually glad i kept reading! However, I’m not sure I will read the third unless someone convinces me otherwise.
- Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
- I really enjoyed Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot by this author, so I thought I would give this newer one a try. WOW. It was WEIRD. Haha. Moriarty is a great story teller, and I originally liked the health and wellness retreat premise, because that is right up my alley, but the book got pretty weird pretty quick and it just got too unrealistic for me. If you like her books and her storytelling, you may enjoy it though!
- When Life Gives you Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
- This continuation of The Devil Wears Prada was a good, suburban Connecticut, gossipy novel! I enjoyed it. It wasn’t life altering, but if you have a trip coming up and want something easy and fun for the beach or plane, this is a good one!
- A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause (Young Adult)
- This is a debut novel from one of my Insta-friends! The story depicts a fashion competition set in the Victorian era in a fictional town/city. Autumn is a beautiful writer, and I enjoyed reading her book!
Okay, all my professional bookworm friends!!! What were your favorite reads of 2019? What do I need to add to my 2020 list?
Please share in the comments!
Hope you are enjoying the 3-day weekend celebrating MLK, and I hope you are finding some extra time to cozy up with a book and get some extra reading in with this colder weather!
XO,
Gina