I’ve always loved reading. I learned how to read near the end of kindergarten. When I was in second grade, I discovered the world of books for the first time. I had just moved to another school and didn’t know many people. The world of reading kept me company and transformed me into faraway lands of my imagination. Of course, I enjoyed being read to as a kid, but once I could read myself, I started to love reading. I remember reading my first chapter book in third grade. “Wayside School is Falling Down.” It was a silly book, but I was so proud of myself for reading it. I used to get chapter books at the bookstore and even asked for some for my birthday. Books were $3 a piece back in the ‘90s! My favorite books as a kid were The Babysitters Club, Judy Blume books, and Sweet Valley High. My babysitter used to bring her old books to me to borrow. I am so glad I learned a passion for reading as a kid. My son seems to have the same passion for books, though he hasn’t learned to read yet. I hope it continues to stay that way for him. 

We used to have contests to see who could read a page the fastest, and I attribute that to how fast I read today. I was always the kid in school who read ahead while reading aloud in class, and I used to prefer reading traditional books over listening to an audiobook. These days, I switch between Kindle books and audiobooks through the Libby library app. I enjoy listening to books in the car or while folding laundry. Since my books are usually not kid-friendly, I can only listen to them alone or using my earbuds. Some people prefer paperback books, but I find them bulky and annoying to read nowadays.

A great way to talk about books is to join a book club! Book discussion can lead to different perspectives on your perception of the book. You may see things one way, and a friend thought of something different. Discussion can lead to a better understanding of the book, and it’s fun to share about a book you love with others. However, sometimes the chosen book is not a genre or story you enjoy.

I’m in two book clubs. One meets on weekday mornings every six weeks, and the other club meets monthly on the weekend. My weekday book club is through my mom’s group. We usually meet at a restaurant for brunch or someone’s house to discuss the book. Near the end, we end up talking about other things. Then, we pick the next book we will read. Someone usually suggests a book, and then we all vote on it. In the past, we have read “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover, “Becoming” by Michelle Obama, mysteries, and so many more. We have met for about five years, with new members joining often. I’m looking forward to reading our January book, “The Woman in Me” by Brittany Spears. 

My weekend book club is called Rogue Book Club. They have been meeting for over 12 years, and the members have rotated through. Some members have been in the book club for a very long time. I joined in 2021 and haven’t been as active in it as I wish due to scheduling conflicts. Rogue Book Club meets monthly at a different member’s house. The host chooses the book that month, which allows for a wide variety of books and genres. I hope to attend more meetings in the coming year. 

With both of these book clubs, I have a lot of books on my reading list! I don’t read every book, and if I haven’t gotten a chance to read the current selection, I often skip the meeting. If I don’t finish the book, I usually still go, but once I find out the ending during the meeting, I don’t finish the book. With so many assigned books, it’s hard to keep up!

I pick and choose what I want to read, whether it is a book club book or a novel I want to read myself. I read my favorite authors and many popular books. I also read book recommendations from friends. I have so many books on my to-read list, that I won’t ever wonder what to read next! I have about 7 or 8 printed books at home I have yet to read and about three on my Kindle app I have not started yet. That does not include my ever-growing Amazon wish list of books to read! Wherever I find an interesting book, I add it to that wish list. There are about two dozen books on there I’d like to read someday. 

It takes me a few weeks to read a book, and I often read two at a time. I read one physical or ebook and listen to one audiobook. I get bored reading more than 50 pages at a time, so it takes me a while to finish. It’s hard to read while watching my son, so I find time here or there to get a few pages in. I like to listen to books while folding laundry, making dinner, or even driving. 

Buying books can add up quickly, and I try to find the most economical way to read them. One way is the Libby app through my local public library. Most libraries have an app where you can check out ebooks for free and read or listen to them on your device. It has been a lifesaver for me! You can check out a book for 21 days. I often have to check them out twice because I didn’t have time to finish it. There are waits for popular books, and you can put them on hold to wait for your turn. I put a few books on hold at a time so I always have something to read. Often, they all become available at once, and I have to figure that out! You can suspend the hold until you are ready to read it, which is helpful. eBooks transfer from Libby to your Kindle app, so it’s very convenient. Once your 21 days are up, the book is no longer available in your app. I listen to the audiobooks directly through Libby. 

If there is a long wait, or if the book is unavailable from the library, I will buy the book on Kindle or even a paperback. Often, Costco is the least expensive place to buy a book. I know many people use Audible for audiobooks, and I have used my husband’s account a few times, but I mainly stick to Libby. I used to buy all my books through Kindle, which became very costly. Thank goodness for free books on Libby!

So, what is on my reading list? 

I recently enjoyed: 

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Maybe Someday and Maybe Now by Colleen Hoover
The Husbands by Chandler Baker
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner
Meant to Be by Emily Giffin
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (RIP)

On my ever-growing to-read list:

Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher
Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Mad Honey by Jody Picoult
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
#IMOMSOHARD by Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley
After You by Jojo Moyes

And so much more!

I hope this post inspired you to pick up a book and read it. I hope you discovered new authors you haven’t heard about or book recommendations to try. 

Keep Reading!