I’ve found reading to be one of the best pandemic distractions available. I have always loved reading and the extra time at home right now turned into an opportunity for extra reading time that I couldn’t ignore. It’s National Read a Book Day so I’m recommending to you some fantastic reads I’ve consumed since being home for lockdown.
Every time I post about reading, I get messages from mamas asking how I find the time to read. So before I begin my list of what I’ve been reading I’ll start with the how. Being home right now has given me a lot of free time in the evening and made this much simpler. I have watched everything I can find on Netflix and am trying my best to cut down scrolling on social media. Books are the perfect alternative to both of these things. But I know what moms are asking. How do you give something (other than your kids) your undivided attention during the day?
I always have a book out and within reach in the living room. If my kids are watching a movie or playing on their own I start reading. I’ve come to see it as a positive thing. It’s a great habit for them to observe. In general, pre-pandemic, I would make sure those books were paper not digital. I don’t feel like the kids can discern me scrolling on the phone versus reading so I don’t like how that may appear. For a while the libraries were closed so this was difficult and I had to switch to ebooks. I use the Libby app on my phone to check them out. It’s awesome! If I am reading on my phone while the kids are around I make sure to give them a verbal acknowledgment that’s what I’m doing. That may seem like a silly thing to do but it absolves me of my guilt and I’m on my way to book town. Sometimes I read three pages and others I read three chapters using this method. Both are progress!
And one final rule… I read what I like! I don’t pretend I need to read anything deeper, smarter, or more popular. Perhaps you and I will like the same things – awesome! And if not, I encourage you to find a genre you love and read it.
I’ve broken down my favorite reads by category.
Memoir
Untamed by Glennon Doyle: This book is a forceful and gorgeously written memoir about how women can find themselves. I laughed, cried, and have gone back to read several passages over and over again. This book is a rallying cry for women to find themselves and unleash their power.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott: I’ve had this on my to read list forever! (Oh there’s another tip – keep a to-read list and you’ll always have your next must read). This book is heralded as fantastic writing advice for basically everyone. It definitely lived up to that hype and was a fun ride the whole way through.
Fun Fiction (with Fierce Females)*
Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev: A Desi take on the beloved classic Pride and Prejudice. The book focuses on the stubborn Dr. Trisha Raje who is navigating family drama and eternal singlehood. Of course this all changes when she meets an incredibly irksome chef. They clash, they kiss, they fall in love! I’m here for it all.
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev: A follow-up to the aforementioned novel. This time a twist on a different Jane Austen novel, Persuasion. It features another of the Raje family, Ashna, who is trying to save her father’s restaurant and legacy. She gets a chance to do so on a reality competition show which brings a long lost love back into her life.
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan: This is another book that had been on my to-read list for a long time. I love the Fug Girls and have been a long time reader of their site. They’re huge royal fans and have concocted a very fun fairy tale romance of an American girl falling in love and marrying a British royal. It’s also worth noting this book came out long before Harry & Megan and that makes it extra fun.
The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan: The newly released sequel to The Royal We picks up immediately after the first book ends. It’s a fun and delightful visit back into this fantasy world finding out what happens after the royal wedding ends and real life begins.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid: This book was an absolute page-turner for me. The dialogue and story was so well written I was completely enveloped in this world. The book follows a well-to-do successful mom and her twenty-something babysitter. It is an interesting social commentary examining race and privilege.
Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho: Andrea Tang is a successful lawyer in Singapore. She’s sure she’s one promotion away from a perfect life. But in her family’s eyes what she needs is to find a husband. This was a really fun read and I look forward to future novels from Lauren Ho.
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner: This story focuses on the social media influencer life of Daphne, a plus-sized woman. She’s working her way through self-love and acceptance and finds some bumps along the way. This book is but as a long time reader of Jennifer Weiner I wouldn’t say it’s one of her best.
The Jetsetters by Amanda Eye Ward: Charlotte Perkins talks her children into a mediteranean cruise in hopes of repairing their relationships. I thought this was an interesting read on how an estranged family can find their way back to one another.
Romance
My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella: To take the obvious joke, this is a not so perfect book. It’s a fun workplace drama and romance about a Londoner named Katie. It’s easy to read through but not very in-depth or moving.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory: I have become a big fan of Jasmine Guillory’s fun romance novels. This one is definitely one of my favs. It centers on Vivian Forest who gets to follow along on her daughter’s work trip to style one of the royal family members. It’s Christmas time in England and Vivian meets a very cute royal family employee. Romance and love ensues.
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory: This book opens with a very public proposal that goes awry at a baseball game and leads us through the ups and downs of Nikole Paterson’s life. It’s fun, spunky, and an overall good time.
Social Justice**
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad: This 28-day workbook takes you through your implicit and unconscious bias so you can begin identifying and dismantling your privilege. It was at times uncomfortable and difficult to push through. But was a truly eye opening experience that I highly recommend.
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi – Kendi’s title encompasses his main thesis: simply not being racist isn’t enough. We must actively choose to be “antiracist,” working to undo racism and its component polices in order to build an equitable society. This is invaluable learning for each of us that want a more just society.
*Always working to find ways to call things something other than chick-lit.
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