I’ve fallen back in love with reading again this year. It was my New Years Resolution that I stuck to and plan to continue this hobby right through to 2024.
I’ve listened to audiobooks and read physical books and I’m going to rate each one out of 5. So if you’re planning on doing more reading next year, or if you have a book lover to buy gifts for this Christmas, you can take some recommendations below.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Genre: Self help
Method: Paperback
Length: 320 pages
General Overview: In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter.
Overall Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Notes: What a great book to read at the start of the year. It definitely helped me get back in to a routine after the Christmas rush. I’d recommend everyone reading this book at least once.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Genre:
Method: Paperback
Length: 304 pages
General Overview: Connell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there. In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation – awkward but electrifying – something life-changing begins.
Overall Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Notes: While I really liked this book, I did find it hard to get in to at the beginning and I found Marianne and Connells choice of actions in this book to be completely frustrating. 😂
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Romance
Method: Paperback
Length: 384 Pages
General Overview: Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true
Overall Rating: 4 ⭐️
Notes: I couldn’t put this book down. I heard a lot about this book but hadn’t expected the twists in the story. It definitely is an emotional rollercoaster, so have your tissues ready.
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Romance
Method: Paperback
Length: 336 Pages
General Overview: Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for the bestselling phenomenon It Ends with Us left off.
Overall Rating: 2 ⭐️
Notes: I began reading this as soon as I finished “It Ends With Us” hoping that it would have me gripped likewise. It just didn’t have the same tension and I felt like I knew how the story would end.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Method: Audiobook
Length: 336 Pages
General Overview: Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
Overall Rating: 4.5⭐️
Notes: There are so many twists and turns in this book you’ll feel like you’re on a rollercoaster. I lost count how many times my jaw literally dropped. The end will have you wanting more!
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Romance
Method: Audiobook
Length: 352
General Overview: Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year.
Overall Rating: 3 ⭐️
Notes: I enjoyed this book about two / thirds of the way through. Without giving any spoilers, I feel like the end could have been written to include a more powerful message.
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson
Genre: Self Help
Method: Audiobook
Length: 256 pages
General Overview: For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. “F**k positivity,” Mark Manson says. “Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it.” In his wildly popular Internet blog, Mason doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is – a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected American society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
Overall Rating: 4 ⭐️
Notes: Another book that I recommend every single person should read. It gives you such a good perspective on what’s important in your life and what you shouldn’t waste your precious time worrying about.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Genre: Fantasy / Post Apocalyptic
Method: Audiobook
Length: 528 pages
General Overview: It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuvre his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.
Overall Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Notes: Incredible insight in to the mind of one of the biggest book/movie villains of the 2010s. I listened to this before watching the movie. As we all know, the books are always 10 x better. If you were a Hunger Games fan, this is an absolute must read/listen.
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Genre: Romance
Method: Paperback
Length: 448 pages
General Overview: Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team.
Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.
Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him
Overall Rating: 3 ⭐️
Notes: This book was all over “Booktok” for being “spicy” and to be honest that’s mostly what the book is all about. There’s no real gripping story but overall, I enjoyed the book as it was a light, easy read.
How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
Genre: Thriller, Dark Comedy
Method: Paperback
Length: 368 pages
General Overview: Meet Grace Bernard.
Daughter, sister, serial killer…
Grace has lost everything.
And she will stop at nothing to get revenge.
Overall Rating: 4⭐️
Notes: I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next in this book. Grace, our MC is the most unlikeable main character you’ll ever come across but I think that’s why I loved this book. She isn’t your typical heroine.
Genre: Romance
Method: Audiobook
Length: 352 pages
General Overview: When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn’t think it’s love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realise they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
Overall Rating: 3⭐️
Notes: I was expecting more from this book as I heard great reviews. I really enjoyed the POV of Tate, but Miles past felt like it wasn’t coming from a male POV. The story would have been better from one MC.
Genre: Romance
Method: Audiobook
Length: 400 pages
When Russ and Aurora cross paths at a university party, a drinking game ends with them spending the night together. The next day, Aurora slips away before Russ learns her full name.
This anonymity ends when they both turn up to their first day of work as camp counsellors. A job they had both chosen to escape Maple Hills for the summer.
Given their history, there’s still an obvious tension between the two but the camp has a strict “no staff fraternizing” rule. Russ doesn’t want to risk heading home early but Aurora has never been one for rules.
Overall Rating: 3.5⭐️
Notes: This book was from the same author as Icebreaker and included a lot of the same characters. I enjoyed this book as a follow on from Icebreaker and it’s generally nice book to listen to as it’s quite light. It’s a perfect book to listen to while you’re out walking.
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