Bookworm. If I had to put a label on myself, bookworm would be the one I'd choose. I have loved reading since I was tiny, and it has been something that I am contiously trying to keep up with doing. I have so many friends who tell me that they wish they could read as many books, or just pick up a book as frequently as they used to when they were children, but that it's just so hard to find the time as an adult.
I agree.
After my undergraduate degree in English Literature, I felt all of the enjoyment for reading drain away from me. It's a horrible feeling. Reading books solely so that you can pass an exam on them is soul-destroying. I knew I had to do something to help myself fall in love with reading again.
So in 2017, I did the 12 a year book challenge. One book a month - sounded easy enough - and you know what happened? I beat it. I ended up reading 25 marvellous books that year. Some of which are pictured below.
After that, I decided to step it up a little, and challenged myself to reading 25 books in the first 6 months of 2018. I was so proud of myself for achieving it again and posted this photo on Instagram to share my 3 mid-year favourites. (I also read all of the Harry Potter books for the first time last year, and those are all included in my faves, needless to say)
I actually went on to read/listen to (yep, I re-activated that Audible subsciption last year, which I highly recommend, especially if you're struggling to find time to read because you can listen anywhere!) 65 incredible books last year. My end of year favourities included the fabulous Lauren Graham's 'Talking As Fast As I Can', Scarlett Curtis' 'Feminists Don't Wear Pink, and Other Lies', and Jenny Han's 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' because I adored the adaptation on Netflix.
This year, now that I've successfully regained my status as a bookworm, I decided to just read with no goal in mind. No pressure, all pleasure. I ended up devouring 37 beautiful books, and now I'll discuss my top 10 favourites!
Snow Falling - this one was gifted to me last Christmas, and it was one of the most thoughtful things I'd ever been given. If you're a fan of Jane The Virgin, you'd know that our main character, Jane, writes a book with this same title. I had NO idea that it is actually a real book, but it turns out that it is, and it made my heart incredibly happy to be able to read it. 100% go get your hands on this if you love the show.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton - This is a book all about, you guessed it, love. It's about growing older, and all the different kinds of love that you experience as you grow up. I loved reading all about Alderton's experiences with her amazing friends and not always so amazing dates. It's a book full of hope and wonder, and it genuinely made me feel warm inside.
Henry The Queen's Corgi by Georgie Crawley - my partner bought this book for me while we were in an independant book store in Yorkshire. I was drawn to it because a) I love dogs, and b) the new film, 'The Queen's Corgi' was about to come out and I was looking forward to seeing that. I have to say. This book is not at all affiliated with the film, and I'm so glad because the film wasn't my cup of tea in the end. The book is about Henry, who goes missing while his family are visiting London around Christmas time. It's about the adventure of this little corgi, and how much his family misses him. It's an adorable holiday read which will warm your heart.
Jack of Hearts and Other Parts by Lev AC Rosen - I first heard about this book when Youtuber and Author Hannah Witton mentioned it on her podcast, 'Doing It' (which I could do an entire other blog post on, because I love it and her so much). I listened to this one on Audible and I could. not. stop. listening. Jack of Hearts is probably one of the most important queer books this year. It is truly the sex ed that I didn't get. It's about about a high school boy who starts a sex advice column and then begins receiving suspicious notes in his locker. It is full of witty personality, PG teen raunch, and some truly hard-hitting bits, too.
Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams - I first discovered this author when I read 'Ice Cream for Breakfast' (pictured above) a few years ago, and absolutely fell in love with it. That book taught me how to embrace my childlike wonder in a way that doesn't make me childish, body confidence, self love and so much more. So when Williams wrote a fiction, I was totally behind it. I listened to 'Our Stop' in 4 days, and didn't want it to end. It challenges toxic masculinity whilst being romantic, adorable and about the law of attraction. It is the heartwarming, hilarious tale about a missed connection that I needed in my life. I still can't stop thinking about it, and have since tweeted Laura begging her to write more romance books. Read. This. Book.
If Only by Melanie Murphy - I genuinely did not want to say goodbye to any of the characters in this book when it was over, especially the main character, Erin. She's in her 30s, and dislikes multiple aspects of her life. She's then given the opportunity to receive the answer to all of her lifelong 'what if's when her grandmother gifts her a very special pendant. Give me a bit of magic realism like this any day. It's about getting older, that niggly second guessing thing that we've all done from time to time, all told in such a real and refreshing way. It's truly enchanting. BRB. I'm off to go re-listen to this one.
It's Not Okay To Feel Blue and Other Lies by Scarlett Curtis - After listening to Curtis' first book (mentioned above), I knew that I would love this one too, and I absolutely did. It features a number of inspirational public figures/celebrities' view on mental health, testimonies on their struggles and why it is absolutely okay to be feel blue. It is a wonderful companion to have when you're going through something, or know someone who is.
The Life Diet by Laura Jane Williams - this is a very short book which I listened to while making dinner one day. Yes, I cook slow and listen fast. It's a short but wonderful book of tips and tricks on how to declutter our lives, and enable our own potential, financially, emotionally, and more. Such a good life checklist - I love everything Laura does and this is no different.
Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo - this was recommended to me by a close friend and I am SO happy that it was. Forleo tells us the story of how she applied the idea that everything is possible to her own life, and how much she has been able to achieve using that mindset - from saving her marriage, to starting her own business. The book is one of the reasons that I continue to blog, because even if 100 other people have blogs, none of them are me, and can say exactly what I want to say. 'Everything is Figureoutable' is my new mantra and trust me, it should be yours too.
Strange Planet - my partner and I started following the Instagram account @nathanwpylestrangeplanet this year, and have found it so adorably cute and funny. It features comic strips of aliens trying to understand the oddities of human life. Pyle released a book with unseen comic strips, and we accidentally ended up buying it for each other, so we now have two of these beauties in the house. It's incredibly comedic to realise just how odd we, and all of the things we do, would appear to an alien. F a s c i n a t i n g.
I already can't wait to continue reading in 2020!
Does the 12 a year challenge interest you?! xo
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