The best authors are those who read extensively. Here is what I’ve been reading lately.

If you're interested in learning more about the non-fiction books I've read and the insights gained from them, be sure to listen to the Two Booked Up podcast.

February was a great month for reading with many books enjoyed. With school and activities back, I spent a lot of time being the 'mum taxi', so audiobooks came in handy!

I love my local library for electronic, audio and print books, but many of these I listened to on Audible, as part of the Plus Catalogue.

Fiction Reads

Weyward by Emilia Hart

A friend recommended Weyward, and I loved it! After reading it, I could easily see why it was awarded two Goodreads wins in 2023 (Best Debut Novel and Best Historical Fiction). With three strong lead women across three different periods, it’s a complex, spell-binding story. It made me look anew at crows and insects, too.

Hypnotized By Love by Sariah Wilson

I’ve read a couple of Sariah Wilson books, which are always enjoyable and easy reads. And this one was no different! Set in Florida, the lead female character, Savannah, is a trained hypnotist and twin. Years ago, her long-time best friend Mason ditched her before a high school dance, and she’s never forgiven him. Fast-forward ten years, and Mason shows up, wanting her to hypnotise him. Cue the romantic comedy! Good fun, as Savannah realises many of her decisions over the last ten years were based on incorrect assumptions.

There's No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin

Poppy is a forty-something single mother, missing her only daughter, being chased by the IRS, who can’t sew and hasn’t watched any movies for years and ends up in the wardrobe department for a Hollywood film studio. Minor issue: the man she has thought of for years as, ‘the-one-that-got-away,’ is on set too. I enjoyed this fish-out-of-water story, and Poppy was a character that was easy to relate to.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

I’d seen all the Instagram and Pinterest images quoting Kahlil Gibran and, specifically, phrases from The Prophet, so I decided it was time I read the original. The Prophet is a collection of poetic essays that are philosophical, spiritual, and inspirational. A quick read, it was another tick for diversifying my reading and a tick for reading something I’ve wanted to read for a long time.

Betting On You by Lynn Painter

I listened to this one with my 13-year-old, and it was the ideal entertaining listen. Seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job and is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance, Charlie, as one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Bailey and Charlie are opposites, so let the romance and comedy begin! It was a fun listen that was age-appropriate for my young teen.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

I realised that despite loving romantic comedies and having written a love story, I’d never read any of the great Nora Ephron’s books! So when an author I admire recommended Heartburn as one of her favourite books about relationships, it seemed like a sign! My delight was magnified when I discovered the audiobook was read by Meryl Streep, which made choosing to listen a no-brainer. Fabulousness all around! It might sound like a misnomer, but Heartburn is a very funny novel about the disintegration of a marriage.

Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea

It's a super fun story, set in high school and with some time travel thrown in - what’s not to love? For Charlotte and Renner, high school seniors, it’s seventeen going on thirty—overnight. Charlotte is ultra-organised and has just one last item on her high school bucket list. But then a decorating accident sends her crash-landing into her archnemesis J. T. Renner. She’s thirty years old when she wakes up, and Renner is her fiancé. It is a romantic comedy that reminds us to live in the moment.

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

The 2023 Booker Prize Winner, this book was recommended to me by my dad. It presents a terrifying and shocking vision of a country sliding into authoritarianism and a profoundly human portrait of a mother’s fight to hold her family together. It was very moving and, at times, distressing. It’s brilliant but hard-going at times. I also learned I’m not a fan of dystopian fiction. But I’m pleased to have diversified my reading and stepped out of my reading comfort zone.

Non-Fiction Reads

Tell Me Again by Amy Thunig

In this memoir, Amy narrates her journey through childhood and adolescence, growing up with parents who struggled with addiction and incarceration. She shares the importance of extended family and community networks when your immediate loved ones are dealing with endemic poverty and intergenerational trauma. At times, it was heartbreaking, but this was an inspiring read about the power of resilience.

The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

The Year of Less documents Cait’s life for twelve months, during which she bought only consumables: groceries, toiletries, and gas for her car. The challenge became a lifeline when, in the course of the year, she found herself in situations that turned her life upside down. This memoir also includes her insights and practical guidance, which I appreciated. I’d wanted to read this one for years, so I was delighted to do so.

Love The Home You Have by Melissa Michaels

Another audiobook choice, this book was my ‘break’ listening after reading some of the more emotionally taxing books this month, and with that purpose in mind, it didn’t disappoint. Melissa Michaels is the creator of the popular blog The Inspired Room, which I had not heard of before. I enjoyed her gentle humour and candour, as well as the practical suggestions for finding beauty in the ordinary while embracing creativity and style.

The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees

Another book recommended to me years ago, I’d started it and then got distracted, or perhaps more accurately, sidetracked by doing the practical exercises included in the book. Anuschka Rees is a style writer, and I appreciated her strategic approach to identifying, refining, and expressing personal style and building the ideal wardrobe to match it. The infographics, charts, and practical activities were handy. This is another book I’m pleased to have read, and I suspect I’ll re-read as required.

What have you been reading lately? Do you have a recommendation for a book you read and loved?

Do you listen to audiobooks? I’d recommend Trying Audible Plus for access to a huge range of audiobooks.

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