8 Tips to Start (and Enjoy!) Reading

 

We’ve both have always enjoyed reading. But, we have a TON of friends who didn’t grow up reading as much and want to get into it now. We get asked all the time…

“How do you read so many books?”
“I want to read, but how do you find the time?!”
“I can’t seem to enjoy reading. How do you get yourself to actually like it?!”

Here are some quick tips we try to share on how to get into (and enjoy!) reading:

Set Realistic Goals: Begin with achievable reading goals, like reading a certain number of pages or chapters each day or week. Even just set a timer for five minutes a day. Little bits here and there add up. Make it quick and easy with no pressure at the beginning!

Find Your Genre: Experiment with different genres to discover what interests you the most, whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery, or something else. Friends who've said they don’t enjoy reading we’ve found are actually just reading the wrong things for them. Read a few chapters of different genres and see which ones hold your attention the most.

Create a Reading Space: Designate a comfortable and quiet space for reading where you can immerse yourself in a book.

Build a Reading Routine: Establish a regular reading schedule, such as reading before bedtime or during your commute. This is where we found a love for audio books! Hello afternoon mom taxi time! (Here are some of our past audio favorites if you need some audio book inspiration!)

Join a Book Club: Joining a book club can motivate you to read regularly and provide a platform for discussing books with others.

Make Use of Technology: Consider using e-readers or audiobooks if physical books are less accessible or convenient for you. (Again, audio books for the win!)

Keep a Reading Journal: Document your reading journey by jotting down your thoughts, favorite quotes, or summaries of the books you read. We keep track on Goodreads. We love that we can grab suggestions for other types of books we might like based on our ratings and interests.

Set Realistic Expectations: Don’t pressure yourself to finish books quickly, or ones you don’t like. Enjoy the process of reading and savor each book at your own pace.

Remember, the key is to ENJOY reading! We hope these tips help. 

Follow along with us on Goodreads!

HAPPY READING! 

Come spend the day with us on:

| Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter |

Book Club: March 2023 Reviews

 

Hello spring, how we have missed you! We are so excited about all things warmer weather, brighter colors, and the idea of reading poolside any moment now!

And with that said...

It's BOOK CLUB DAY!! 

March was serving last month when it came to reading. We read a book that we can easily see being in our top three at the end of the year. IT. WAS. SO. GOOD! But all the rest were pretty great too. April is going to have a lot to live up to, but fellow readers you understand when we say we're up for the challenge. :)

WHAT WE READ...

Carrie Beth

I was kind of in a rut for a while and couldn't really make myself get into a new book, but when Jen texted and told me she loved One Month of You by Susanne Ewart, I knew it would be the book for me. 

It ended up being totally different than what I had expected!  I was picturing a love story and even getting into the first part of it I was sure that is what I would be getting, but it turned out to be so much more! 

The main character is the caregiver for her mother, who has a terrible disease. Much to her mother's disapproval she has done genetic testing to learn that her fate will be very similar to her mother's. The result of learning that information is that she stops living. She stops letting anyone close, she stops trying to pursue her own happiness, and she limits the relationships in her life knowing that she doesn't want to get too close to anyone. This story follows her relationship with her mother as her mom's health declines and also her relationship with the man who she just can't seem to say no to, no matter how hard she tries. I was sobbing at one point and it made me think through a lot of different scenarios if I was in a similar position.  

Jen

Sports parent road trips mean lots of audio books, so this month I was able to sneak in more reading/listening than normal. 

First up, my in person Book Club pick - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I’ve heard so much hype about this book over the last year that I actually couldn’t wait to read this one. 

The story follows two childhood friends who meet in the hospital and bond over video games. Their relationship over the years goes through many ebbs and flows and on the journey with them you can’t really tell if  you are meant to like each character, dislike each character or feel bad each character. 

There is lots of video game chatter amidst the pages too. 

I rated this book a solid four stars. At times I would have bumped this up and others I would have bumped it down. It was a unique story that covered many important topics, but I think while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it if that makes sense. 

This next one though! My next book is one that I can already tell will be one of my top reads of the year. 

One Month of You I picked up somewhere on a whim and then forgot about it for a few weeks. I’m so glad I picked it up sooner rather than later though. It was the “give me all the feels with a dash of romance and a good ugly cry” book I didn’t know I needed. 

Jess has a lot on her plate and doesn’t have time for a relationship, no matter how perfect the person is for her. Then in walks Alec. It’s so tempting for her to break her rules for him. But then all her reasons behind her “why” keep making themselves known. Her top one - her diagnosis of Huntington’s Disease. The same disease she is seeing her mom suffer from each and every day she comes home from work. 

The whole time I read this book I kept thinking what I would do in Jess’s situation. Would I have found out if I had the disease too? Would have I made the same life choices? Would I be able to live without fear? The story is heartbreaking, devastating and beautiful all rolled into one. It’s more about Jess and her relationship with Huntington’s than her relationship with Alec, but one I am so so glad I read! 

The Maid's Diary was up next and it’s another Book Club pick. I was hoping to save it for closer to our next meeting, but  people kept texting about it so I went ahead and caught up. If mystery/thrillers are your thing - SO GOOD!! 

I could not put. it. down. 

Kit Darling is a maid by choice. A traumatizing event occurred when she was a teenager and it’s ruled her entire life. Just when she thinks it’s finally put behind her and moved on, she is thrust full force right back into her past. 

Then a brutal murder is discovered and the more investigators look at the situation, the more Kit (and her diary) becomes involved. 

The twists. The secrets. The deception. All so good in this one! I told my girlfriends to read it and we all agreed - best thriller we’ve read in awhile! 

Until I picked up this one… 

I wrapped up my month with All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham, and now I'm a huge fan! The story is about a mom who wakes up one morning to find her toddler son missing with zero evidence as to what happened. She spends the next year doing everything she can think of to get him back or find out what happened. She questions everyone and everything - including herself.  I could not stop listening to this one! It was such an edge of your seat read, and the ending was so surprising that I had to rewind and make sure I read that correctly. The novel touches on so many subjects about motherhood, and I couldn't stop thinking about what I would do in the same situation. Such an interesting take on a mystery novel. I can't wait to read something else now by Willingham! 

WHAT'S UP NEXT...

Carrie Beth

After a heavy and emotional read I was ready for something lighter. I've enjoyed all of Colleen Oakley's books so far and this one sounded fun!  The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise is about an unexpected duo of an 80 something woman and her 20 something caregiver take off cross-country in the middle of the night as one of them tries to outrun her past.  Check back next month for my review!

Jen

My heart needs something a little slower after the last two novels. Carrie Beth suggested Someone Else’s Shoes and so far I’ve found it to be the perfect spring break beach read! Stay tuned for the full review next month! 

I've also picked up the same book as Carrie Beth! I love Oakley's novels and when I saw she had a new one out I grabbed it to have ready. I can't wait to read The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise. 

WHAT WERE YOUR BOOKS FOR THE MONTH? ANYTHING WE NEED TO ADD TO OUR READING LISTS?

BOOK CLUB 2023

| January | February | 

Follow along with us on Goodreads!

HAPPY READING! 

Come spend the day with us on:

| Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter |

Book Club: February 2023 Reviews

 

Here we go - book club day! Our favorite post of the month!

And....

If you are ever looking for a wide range of book reviews in one of our book club posts, this would be it. This one has a little bit of everything. All we are missing is a biography and we might have completed every genre possible. And with Spring Break reading on the brain, we might have you covered. 

WHAT WE READ...

CARRIE BETH

First up for me this month was Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This one got tons of reviews so I wanted to see what the hype was all about.  A widowed woman who also lost her son in a tragic accident years ago befriends an octopus at the aquarium where she works. I know...it sounds kind of far fetched, but I've read weirder things. It was really a heartwarming story and I loved hearing the octopus' point of view as he worked to help point his friend in the right direction to finding out the truth about her son's disappearance all those many years ago. It was a heartwarming story! 

Next up for me was Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan. A fellow baseball mom friend recommended this one to me. It was a cute, quick read! Nora writes love story scripts for a living and is recently getting over a divorce. When one of her movies comes to life in her backyard she finds herself falling for the actor. Their unlikely connection quickly comes to an end and she is left wondering what went wrong before the truth finally comes out. This was just as my friend told me...quick and easy read (or listen) and a sweet story that was wrapped up nicely by the end! 

My last book this month was the latest from Jojo Moyes, Someone Else's Shoes. I LOVED this book. It had a girl power vibe, celebrated relationships of women and showed how important it was for us to support one another. 

A mix-up with a bag in the gym locker room leads to some major havoc for two women.  Both of their lives are falling apart for completely different reasons and a custom pair of Christian Louboutin red bottom shoes ends up bringing them together.  One super wealthy wife and mother looses her shoes and the same day finds out she is about to loose her high powered lifestyle as she knows it.  Another woman is dealing with a depressed husband, an unreasonable boss, and dealing with the stresses of being the only one keeping her family afloat. When her only option is to wear the heels she finds a confidence she didn't know she had and realizes she has to make a change. 

This story was funny, sad, heartwarming and really great. Definitely recommend it! 

JEN

Since it was the month of love, I kicked it off with a rom com. A Guide To Being Just Friends was the perfect way to start out the month. It was a little predictable, but the story had some unique tie ins that made you feel like it was fresh. It follows the friendship of Hailey and Wes. Both moved to the area to get a fresh start. One from a break-up to follow their dreams, and one to escape an overbearing father to work with his brothers. The two have big goals, and a relationship isn't one of them. They vow to just be friends, and instantly become the best of friends. 

I won't divulge more - so no spoilers - but it was a super cute and quick romance novel. If you are looking for a light and easy read with fun banter this one is for you!

I switched it up for my next book. The Last House Guest popped up and I had to read it. I loved reading Ryan novels last year. She definitely knows how to write a good psychological thriller. And this one is all sorts of twisty turny crazy. 

You meet Alyssa as she is on the brink of a nasty divorce. Big money is in play and her soon to be ex-husband knows just how to always get what he wants. Then Alyssa meets Bree, who is also having her own relationship troubles. Soon they realize they might be able to help each other. But when a third person gets added to their trio, Alyssa wonders what is really going on. 

This was a page turner for sure. I enjoyed it and it kept me guessing the whole time. The ending is a doozy that I did not see coming, and while a little farfetched, I can also totally see something like it happening. 

Colleen Hoover. Rarely can you go in a book store or online without seeing her name. And with good reason. I guess I heard that she had a new novel coming out with her best friend and I pre-ordered it because Never Never  showed up via Amazon on my doorstep the day it published. After reading some things online I realized this is an older novel of theirs that they are re-releasing. Originally it was split into three smaller novels, but it now released as one.

Right from page one this one is intriguing. Charlie and Silas are a couple. Or so they are being told. They both get amnesia at the exact same time, and have to figure out everything from who they are, where they live, and why they suddenly lost their memories all while battling feelings that pull them together even though they are now strangers. 

This is definitely more of a young adult novel, but it was still a fun read. It's a cross between a romance and a mystery with a little bit of fantasy thrown in. I read it in just a few days and it is different than anything else I've read by Hoover before. 

A friend and I want to watch the new show Dear Edward on Apple TV. We heard there was a book and decided to read it first. Oh my,  Dear Edward gets my full tissue warning. This book was so good, but also so heartbreaking to read. It follows Edward who is in a plane crash as a child and is the sole survivor. You get a peek at his life and feelings following the crash. Some parts of it were a little redundant to me, but all together it was a story I really enjoyed. I kept thinking what I would do or feel if I was in a similar situation (which I hope never ever happens). I just can't even imagine! If you are looking for a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story - this one is for you! 

WHAT'S UP NEXT...

CARRIE BETH

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole randomly popped up on my Amazon when I was searching for a new book.  After reading the reviews a lot of people were kind of divided on this book, but most said what a heartbreaking love story it was.  Tears, emotion and heartbreak are some of my favorite books, so I'm going to give this one a try! 

JEN

Our golf club hosts an in person Book Club and this month I plan to join in the fun. They chose Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow . I've seen a wide range of reviews for it, so I am curious to see how I feel about it myself. It definitely covers a different topic than I am used to reading, but it will be good to read something out of my comfort zone for a change. 

WHAT WERE YOUR BOOKS FOR THE MONTH? ANYTHING WE NEED TO ADD TO OUR READING LISTS?

BOOK CLUB 2023

| January |

Follow along with us on Goodreads!

HAPPY READING! 

Come spend the day with us on:

| Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter |

Book Club: January 2023 Reviews

 

Hello, February! Who's ready for a month full of love? Or at least romance reads?! ;) 

Winter seems to be dragging this year. We both have said that at least February has a holiday in it, just so it breaks up the monotony of these endless dreary days. This is the South. Where is the sun???

Complaints aside, at least it makes for some good reading weather. Today is Book Club day and we are sharing what we kicked off a new year of reading with. We'll be honest...our reviews are all over the place for January. As are our genres. 

We are both craving finding something we LOVE. Maybe February will sprinkle some of its love magic to our reading piles? If you read something good - share it with us! 

WHAT WE READ...

CARRIE BETH

Jen flew through the first half of Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout and told me I had to listen.  It was SO good.  It was all about the chase, the hard to get girl and the boy who is usually used to getting anyone he wants throwing themselves at him. Cam had to really work for this girl and because they were friends first they both slowly fell in love with each other.  It touches on some traumatic situations in Avery's past, which is why she is really slow to open up.  The characters felt so relatable. It was emotional and touching, but lots of chemistry and love between the two characters. I loved this book!

Be With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout was the second in the Wait For You series so I couldn't wait to start on this one. It focuses on one of the supporting characters from Wait For You, and while I read it pretty quickly, I didn't think it was near as good as the original. So much of it seemed far fetched and I felt like every major traumatic life event was thrown into it with a bunch of romance scenes to break those up.  I'd 100% read Wait For You and then just pass on this one. 

Next up was Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score. This was a cute story about Maggie, a YouTube home renovation star about about hit 1 Million subscribers, and her new hot landscaper that is working on her latest project.  It was fun to follow along with the renovation of a historical mansion, but also to see Maggie decide to finally settle down instead of zipping off to her next project. 

I should have known what I was getting myself into with Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, but I decided to still give it a go.  It has SO many amazing reviews and of course topped many charts last year.  Those books usually aren't my favorites, but for some reason I was drawn to this one. Set in rural Appalachian the story is told by a man who takes readers from his birth to a teenage mother in a single wide trailer to an incredibly hard youth as a foster child, onto teenage years and opioid addition that runs so prevalent in this area and finally to his recovery. I found this story just depressing and sad. I know it is a reality for many people in our country and it did open my eyes to the addiction problem that haunts so many.  The characters were so well developed and you felt like you really knew them which made hearing who they lived even harder.  It was a very well written book, but just not for me. 

My last book of January was Where The Grass Is Green by Lauren Weisberger. You guys know I love Audible, but I actually started reading this physical book back in July.  It only took 6 months and two adult only trips to complete it, but I did it!  It was actually a really cute story centered around a college admissions scandal! It was pretty fitting since my oldest is talking colleges and applications and SAT tests and all the things.  The family who appears to have it all together with a mom who is a powerhouse news anchor will do anything to get her daughter into an Ivy League school, even if it isn't what her daughter really wants.  She goes too far and ends up paying for it in many ways.  It was a cute story!  

JEN

Talk about some heat to keep you warm in Winter.  I kept seeing Wait For You all over Tik Tok, so I decided to see what the hype was about. I made it about halfway through in one sitting. And then promptly texted CB to read it too. 

Mysterious events (although you can kind of guess what happened), hot neighbor, witty banter, and lots of references to abs, what more can you ask for on a dreary winter day? 

It was a quick and easy read and is part of a series. I enjoyed it so much I couldn't wait to dive into the rest of the series. I read the second one, Be With Me, but while it was still spicy, I think the basic story wasn't as good as Wait for You. It was good, but not "great". But it could be that I needed to mix up my genres before digging back into the land of angst and abs. 

Next on the list was Too Good To Be True. I read/listened to this one with a friend from my book club, and we both had the same reactions. It's a psychological thriller with a lot of twists and turns, but the end through us and we agreed none of the characters were likable. Like the more they dived into their lives, and made decisions, the more you wanted to throw your hands up and say, "I'm done!". 

It's told in multiple time lines from three different POVs. Skye meets Burke on vacation and there's no going back for either of them. Their relationship moves at warp speed, and before they know it they are planning the wedding of their dreams. But shortly after the honeymoon everything begins to unravel and secrets are unveiled. You have to figure out if their love can survive, or if their secrets from their pasts are too much. 

For my fourth read of the month, I decided to mix the two genres and throw in a little humor. The Finlay Donovan series has been a joy to read so far, so when I saw a third one released I couldn't wait to listen. (The Audible reader of this series is so good!).

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun drops Finlay and her trusty nanny into another round of run-ins with the local mafia/law. This time her nanny is more mixed up a mess than she thought and lands them right into a "cop camp" for a week to see if they can get out of it. A little romance. A little mystery. And a lot of laughs. This series is just plain fun!

WHAT'S UP NEXT...

CARRIE BETH

When I was looking for my next read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt kept popping up. It topped a lot of lists last year and while at first look the story seems a little far fetched with an octopus as the narrator, I've certainly read weirder things. Hahah!  Most reviews say how this is such a heartwarming story and a tear jerker at times, so I'm going to give it a go! 

JEN

Deciding to keep it light for the month of love, I'm going to read the rom-com A Guide To Being Friends by Sophie Sullivan. It sounds like the perfect romance read! 

Follow along with us on Goodreads!

HAPPY READING! 

Come spend the day with us on:

| Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter |

Best Books of 2022

Usually this post is our very favorite to write all year long! Often times the second we finish a book we know it is going to make our top three for the year and can't wait to sing its praises. Some years we have SO many favorites that it is almost impossible to narrow it down to just three. This year just felt different though. We kept checking in with each other trying to see if there was anything we both loved or anything we were missing, but a lot of the books we read this year just didn't have the same effect as some of the years pasts.  However, when we started looked back there were some great standouts so without further ado, we are finally sharing what we think were the best books of 2022!

OUR FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2022

CARRIE BETH

THIRD FAVORITE: 

I LOVE a good coming of age story and this one was told over 6 summers and one weekend. An emotional and great twist on the classic boy and girl next door story. They experience friendship, fall in love over 6 summers, and ultimately end their relationship in terrible heartbreak. They are reunited for a funeral years later and their connection is undeniable, but they must face what pushed them apart so many years ago.  

You can read my original review HERE. 

I LOVE books that make me feel and this one did just that! 

SECOND FAVORITE:

My second favorite book of the year was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. This title hit so many best seller lists and won several awards so I'm sure you have all heard about it by now. Set in the 50's and 60's, forward thinking Chemist, Elizabeth Zott, finds herself teaching a cooking show to housewives and uses her platform to share a powerful message to all women. 

You can read my original review HERE. 

It was a true girl power book and although I don't have a career in a heavily male industry, I have SO many friends that do and this book felt like a champion for all women. It made me want to say, "You go girl!" so many times and it was just so thoughtfully written. Quirky and cute, it made me laugh out loud, and I loved the powerful message to all women.    

FAVORITE BOOK OF 2022:

 

Here we go...my favorite book of 2022 was Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez.  This was a random title I selected when scrolling for a new book one day and I am so happy I went with it.  Jen and I talk about this often, but there are MANY times that the award winning books are obviously amazing, but just not my jam. That certainly wasn't the case with my number two pick this year, but in most cases the books that receive all the hype just don't live up to the hype for me.  I love books that make me feel and if a book can make me both laugh and cry, well that one is a winner for me! This book isn't likely to win any awards except for my favorite book of the year, but it is just the type of book I love. I started it thinking it would just be another love story, but it really felt like so much more. 

You can read my original review HERE. 

I loved the big city doctor and small town lifestyle unexpected connection the two main characters had. It made them question everything they knew and ultimately forced them to decide if love was worth giving it all up for. When a book had me staying up WAY past my bedtime, listening to it in bed because I just don't want to stop, how could it not be named my favorite of the year?!?

JEN

Oh my this is tough! I read 85 books last year, and I still can't believe that. 85!! That car pool/audio book situation is really doing things to increase my intelligence. Or at least teaching me 97 ways to murder someone. It could go either way really.  

In addition to my top three, I really enjoyed all three that Carrie Beth mentioned too. Two of them almost made my list, but then I thought that would be boring for you to hear about. So...three different options and after reading my reviews from past post, I think I got it just right. 

THIRD FAVORITE:

I loved this little Italian treasure from Rebecca Serle. Her books are full of beautiful imagery, wonderful characters and a story that sticks with you for awhile. Here is my original review of One Italian Summer, and if you haven't read it yet - put it on your reading list asap. And maybe start scouting good deals on flights to Italy. 

SECOND FAVORITE:

So I normally wouldn't call my self a thriller lover. But...numbers don't lie, and I read a lot of thriller/suspense novels last year.  I actually think now it is one of my favorite genres to listen to on Audio because it holds my attention when I'm in the car for hours at a time. I tried to pick out my favorite for the year, and a few really stood out. The top one though...The Golden Couple. This was the one I read and then shared with all my girlfriends. Unanimously they all agreed - it was twisty goodness!

Read my original review of The Golden Couple.

FAVORITE BOOK OF 2022:

After I read all of my top reviews for 2022, choosing The Wedding Veil as my favorite was a no brainer.  Kristy is one of our all time favorite authors, so it is no surprise that her release for the year topped my list. I loved the relationship building in this story, and the tie in with the Vanderbilt legacy in such a unique way made for a story that stuck around with me all year long. 

If you haven't read this magical story yet, read my original review and add it to your cart now! 

And there you have it! Bring on 2023 reading! 

What was your favorite book of 2022? Share with us!!

BOOK CLUB 2022

| January | February | March | April | May | BEST BOOKS OF SUMMER | June | July | August| September | October |   

| November |

BEST OF 2021

BEST OF 2020

BEST OF 2019

BEST OF 2018

BEST OF 2017

BEST OF 2016

BEST OF 2015

Follow along with us on Goodreads!

HAPPY READING! 

Come spend the day with us on:

| Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter |