12 Books I Recently Read + Loved

I love reading – I always have.

I grew up in a family of readers; when my brother and I were little, our big treat every once in awhile was when my parents would take us to a bookstore and let us pick out a book to read. I looked forward to those outings so much, and am grateful to have found joy in reading from an early age. 

Nowadays, reading is still my special decompressing time – I always read in bed right before I go to sleep. Depending how good the book I am reading is, and how tired I am, I’ll read for up to an hour – but some nights it’s only 10 minutes and I’m ready to hit the hay. 

Since I tear through books pretty quickly, I always love getting book recommendations from friends and bloggers I follow. 

My friend Julie published a 12 Books I Recently Read + Loved blog post last week that a) gave me a bunch of new books to add to my list, and b) was a good reminder to copy her and write a similar post because I’ve read some really great books recently that I want to share with you guys, too! Thanks for the inspiration, Julie. 🙂

So – here are a handful of books I’ve read recently and really loved. I’d love to hear any recommendations you have, too – feel free to join in in the comments! 

1) The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister

I randomly picked this book up at the pool earlier this summer, from one of those “take a book, leave a book” type shelves.

I’m not going to lie that I totally judge books by their covers – and this one was pretty. 😉 But what immediately grabbed me was the writing – every sentence was so beautifully crafted that I could tell by reading the first paragraph that I would love this book. 

This was one of those books that I could NOT put down and stayed up way past my bedtime, huddled in bed, escaping into another world. 

From Amazon: “a coming-of-age novel about childhood stories, families lost and found, and how a fragrance conjures memories capable of shaping the course of our lives.”

The premise is really unique and fascinating – I absolutely loved it. 

2) Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This was another book that I couldn’t put down. It reads like a memoir, done entirely through interviews, following the rise and fall of a popular (fictional) band called Daisy Jones & The Six. 

The only bummer about this book was that the band wasn’t real – I would have loved to listen to their music! 

3) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

After finishing Daisy Jones & The Six, I loved the book so much that I wanted to read something else by the same author, so this was my next book! 

This was a fun fictional read that also drew me right in. It follows the journey of a reclusive Hollywood star and her rise to fame – there are a lot of interesting twists and dramas and the book did a great job keeping you interested. It’s a fun, fast read.  

4) Becoming by Michelle Obama

I love Michelle Obama and was really excited to read her memoir; it did not disappoint. 

Beautifully written, insightful, and very real. I especially resonated with some of her thoughts about early motherhood, and her struggle to balance that with her career.

Politics aside, her memoir is worth a read. 🙂

5) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

This is one of my favorite memoirs – it is heartbreaking and totally engrossing. I first read it when it came out in 2006, but while we were staying with my parents in between our houses this summer I picked it back up off my bookshelf and read it again. 

It’s pretty well known so you may have already read it – but if not, give it a shot.

I loved it just as much the second time! An incredible story of resilience in the face of adversity, and beautifully written too. 

6) The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer

This is another fascinating, heartbreaking, and insightful memoir that came out in 2006 that I absolutely loved, and that I just re-read this summer upon rediscovering it in my bookcase at my parent’s house. 

The author is a journalist, and at the time I originally read his book I was working in PR so I had access to all the journalist email databases. I loved the book so much I emailed him to tell him, and he actually wrote back and said thanks, which meant a lot to me, too. 🙂

7) Educated by Tara Westover

Apparently I’m obsessed with memoirs – I read this last year but can’t remember if I ever recommended it officially on the blog, so wanted to include it here even though it’s another one that everyone and their mother has probably already read because it was so popular. 

This is another heartbreaking and beautifully written memoir about resilience.

Tara grew up in a family of survivalists in the mountains of Idaho and didn’t set foot in a classroom until she was seventeen. It’s very worth a read. 

8) Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This novel took me a minute to get into, but once I did I couldn’t put it down! It’s a fast, easy read. 

From Amazon: “…at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.”

9) The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

This is another can’t put it down novel that you will blow through. 

From Amazon: “a desperate family seeks a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness of Alaska only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in human nature.”

10) The Thousandth Floor series by Katharine McGee

I was obsessssssed with these books when I read them early this year – this is the first book in the 3-part series. I think they are probably technically young adult books but whatever, sometimes you just need to read something light and easy. 😉 

The books are set in Manhattan in 2118, and the world they create is fascinating and immersive.

From Amazon: “a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall….” 

I know, so dramatic. But so entertaining. 😉

11) The Terrible: A Storyteller’s Memoir by Yrsa Daley-Ward

This was probably the most unique book I’ve read in a really long time – it’s a collection of poems that tell the author’s life story. They are fascinating and heartbreaking and raw and honest.

Absolutely worth a read. 

12) The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Okay, I had to throw this book in here because it was SO entertaining and super fun. But be warned it’s a little racy/definitely rated R. 😉 

It’s a fictional book about an almost 40 year old woman who falls in love with a 20 year old rock star who is in her teen daughter’s favorite band.

It’s such a fun read that you won’t be able to put down – highly recommend if you’re looking for something light and easy. 

And that’s that! 

What are the best books you’ve read recently? I keep a massive list of “to read” books on my phone… always looking for books to add to it! 

—

Please note there are affiliate links in this post.