For me? 2024 has been the year of the book.
Maybe it’s because all the chicks have left the nest? Or maybe it’s because I have more free time? Or maybe it’s because there are just so many good books written lately?
Whatever the reason one thing remains true.
Sigh.
Books are the BEST.
I’ve been all in on reading since Pa and Ma and Carrie and Mary and Laura started out in the big woods and went to Plum Creek and then took a wagon across the prairie.
And since then?
I’ve never looked back. There’s just something about the wonder and excitement and satisfaction found between the front and back cover of a really good book.
But this month has been extra special.
I’ve discovered some new authors and joined another book club that pushed me to read a mystery that I would have never picked up on my own.
So I wanted to share what I’ve read, what I’m currently reading and what books are sitting here on my bookshelf waiting for me to finish the books I’ve already started.
Here are eight books I couldn’t put down and what I’ve been reading lately.
// First Lie Wins //
1. First Lie Wins
Let me start with my FAVORITE NEW BOOK.
I joined a new book club and this is our book for November and I am the happiest reader in the whole world that I found this book.
Y’all.
If you like a mystery and a story that you think you have figured out, but then you really discover that you have no idea where it’s going?
This. Is. The. Book.
The premise of the story is that the main character (I’ll call her Evie here, but her name changes and I don’t want to give anything away) has different “assignments” where she has to accomplish a task for her boss, Mr. Smith. She changes her personalities and characters and transforms herself and is so successful. Until—until she starts falling for Ryan (her latest assignment) and then everything changes.
The ending totally surprised me and the book kept me guessing the entire time.
It is SO GOOD and you can read more about it here.
// Silver Girl //
2. Silver Girl
This is one of two Elin Hilderbrand books that I’m recommending on this list.
I’ve actually read 7 of her books, but these two are my favorites. I’ll start with Silver Girl.
This book was recommended to me by one of you and I’m so happy it was.
The story centers around Meredith whose husband is part of a huge Ponzi scheme and he gets caught and she goes from living a life that’s full of expensive shopping trips and around-the-world travel to becoming persona non-grata and generally abhorred by everyone in the world.
It’s the story of her redemption and how she finds her true self and reconstructs her life and discovers an amazing love along the way.
You can see Silver Girl here.
// The Paris Apartment //
3. The Paris Apartment
This is the book for the other book club and it’s a mystery.
It’s one of those books that sticks with you when you finish it and you want to re-read it to find out what you missed the first time after you figure out the ending.
Jess arrives in Paris and she’s broke and all by herself and the only person she really knows is her half-brother Ben who she plans on staying with.
Except.
Except he’s not there and there’s a really cryptic message so she starts investigating and finds a whole host of characters in the apartment building who all look guilty. This book kept me guessing and I kind of guessed the ending, but not all the details.
It’s so good and I finished it in two days because I couldn’t stop listening to it (I listened to it on my library app).
You can see The Paris Apartment here.
// Beautifully Organized //
4. Beautifully Organized
I had to share this beautiful book.
There are so many clever ideas and the photographs are absolutely beautiful.
I’m not sure why—but beautiful pictures inspire me to organize even more.
It’s by Nikki Boyd, creator of “At Home With Nikki” and she walks you through organizing room by room with simple, easy ideas for 2024 organizing.
You can see it here.
// The Blue Bistro //
5. The Blue Bistro
This is the second book recommendation Elin Hilderbrand
The Blue Bistro is my new favorite read by her.
The main character is a girl named Adrienne and she arrives on Nantucket without a plan and falls into the perfect situation as the assistant manager at The Blue Bistro, a famous restaurant on Nantucket. She ends up falling in love and learns more about the restaurant business along the way than she ever planned.
I loved the characters in this book so much and I didn’t want it to end.
It’s such a good read and you can see The Blue Bistro here.
// The Measure //
6. The Measure
The premise of this book is so interesting.
At the same time across the world, everyone receives a box with a string in it. Some of the strings are longer and some are shorter and eventually, everyone figures out that the string determines the length of your life.
It’s the PERFECT book for a book club because it presents so many dilemmas around the strings.
Definitely an interesting, thought-provoking book and one I thought about for a long time.
You can see The Measure here.
// Symphony of Secrets //
7. Symphony of Secrets
This book was part of the “Richardson Reads” program here locally in the Dallas area.
I had never heard of the author until then and I’m so grateful for the recommendation.
The story is all about a fictional composer named Frederick Delaney from the 1920s whose work continues to inspire. However, in the present day setting, a discovery is made that completely calls into question whether or not he actually wrote the music he is famous for.
It’s a mystery and an incredible story and one that will stick with you.
See the Symphony of Secrets here.
// The Lost Bookshop //
8. The Lost Bookshop
For me, this book was a little bit hard to get into at first and there are three characters and I kept getting the two girls mixed up, but then? The story really took off and it’s SO GOOD.
My mother read this, too, and loved it.
It’s a mystery about a bookshop that keeps disappearing and then appearing and it goes back and forth between 1920 and modern day. The characters are all a little lost with challenges (two of them are running away and the other is trying to make a name for himself) and the bookshop helps them achieve their dreams.
I’m only partly way through it right now, but it’s really good. I’ll come back and update the post when I finish it.
You can see The Lost Bookshop here.
And there you have it.
What I’ve read.
What I’m currently reading.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you think or if you have a book I need to read.
I have a little bit of January left.
PS How do you read books? Do you order them online? Check them out from the library? Go to the bookstore? I do all of the above.
But lately, I’ve been using Audible when I can’t find the books I want at the library—either because they are checked out and reserved for months or they are too new for the library.
Audible is great for listening to books if you go for a walk or are doing chores around the house. You can actually try it for FREE for 30 days.
Here’s the sign-up if you are interested.
disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post.
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