Blogger Book Club: A Roundup of My Favorites & October’s Pick

Happy Saturday!  It’s a rainy, windy, and cold weekend here in Maryland.  It’s the kind of weather that’s perfect for spending time inside huddled with the family playing games.  It’s the kind of weather that warrants a hot soup or chili dinner.  It’s the kind of weather made for curling up with a good book and getting lost for hours.  With that in mind, and as suggested by a lovely reader, I thought I would share a roundup of some of my favorites from the Blogger Book Club, and maybe toss in a couple other books I’ve recently loved.  These are not in any particular order! (This post contains affiliate links).

1. The Forgotten Garden: A Novel by Kate Morton

You can read my full review here, but this was a historical novel taking place across generations in Australia and England (two places I have never been but dream of going to one day!)  I love a good historical novel with a mystery running through it!

 2.Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I loved this book so much that I ended up heading right into another book by the author,The Husband’s Secret, which I loved as well, but not as much.  Both of these books are about relationships and friendships, and both surround a dark secret which connects the characters.  My full review of Big Little Lies can be found here.

3.The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

The Good Girl was one of my all time favorites from the Blogger Book Club.  It weaves a dark mystery about a missing girl, but also includes a little bit of romance… I am a big softie who loves a good story, so this one sucked me in and I finished it very quickly.  Read my review here.

4.Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters! by Rachel Mary Stafford

This past summer we opted to each choose a self help book and I selected this one.  It was life-changing.  I admit that I have had a hard time keeping away from technology as much as I would like as of late, but luckily for me Stafford just published her second book, Hands Free Life: Nine Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better, and Loving More. I hope to pick this one up soon.

5. Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I am a huge Amy Poehler fan and Chris tells me constantly that I am just like Leslie Knope, and to be honest, it’s the truth.  I am a die hard believer in doing good things and believing in ourselves, and I love to make things with my hands and develop strong friendships with other women.  I am very Knope-ish.  Aside from that, I think Amy Poehler is a brilliant comedienne and I was interested in reading her story.  Interestingly, I think she may have read Hands Free Mama because she has a very similar philosophy!  I read this on an airplane and at moments had to quietly contain myself.  It also contains large graphics and photos, and I can’t imagine how the awkward 20 year old boy next to me felt when he saw a line in huge letters which contained the word “vagina.”  But aside from the funny moments, there were so many smart, sweet, candid moments as well.  I love her take on comparing ourselves to other women… “Good for her! Not for me. That is the motto women should constantly repeat over and over again.”  It’s so true… we need to remind ourselves that our journeys are all different.  Anyhow, this book made me laugh, and made me reflect on life.

6.First Impressions: A Novel by Charlie Lovett

 Last one for today… First Impressions was amazing!  This book, much like The Forgotten Garden, spans generations and takes place in England.  There is something about England, a mystery, and multiple generations that must really get to me.  You can read my entire review here.

So what is next for the book club?  For October we’ve selected Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert.  This book is supposed to be very inspiring for the creatives of the world, so we all thought it might be a fun pick me up read with lots of takeaways.  Can’t wait to get started!

.Now I hope you enjoy this October weekend and get a chance to curl up with a blanket, cup of tea, and a good book.  Cheers!

Be sure to check out my fellow clubbers round up posts:

Kirb Appeal

On the Banks of Squaw Creek

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