The other night a friend texted me, “have you read any really good books lately you didn’t want to put down?”
Read below for the list of 6 page turner books I responded with…
I know, I know. You’re busy. But hear me out…
As busy moms, it might feel like you have no time to read. I don’t mean to ruffle any feathers, but I’m going to challenge you and tell you that you do.
Case in point #1: My friend who is a mom to 4 kids under 6 (!!!) read 45 books last year (that’s almost a book a week!).
Case in point #2: My cousin who has 3 adolescent, very busy kids, AND runs her own business read 34 books last year.
How the heck did they do this? It’s actually pretty simple, they:
- Opted to read instead of scroll on their phones.
- Climbed into bed a little earlier to read (it’s amazing what reading 15-30 minutes a day can do!)
- Woke up before the kids for some “me-time” to read (full disclosure: I have a toddler and am pregnant with baby #2 and I would fall asleep if I did this! But maybe in another season!)
- Read a book you’re actually interested in reading. This has been a game-changer for me!
The magic of reading a really good book
Carving out a little bit of time to read each day is magical. It’s also a great (and free or low-cost!) form of self-care, which we all could use!
I would also argue that it’s critical for moms to do something on the regular that fills their cup – reading is a great option for that!
Really good books = happiness every time
Lately, I’ve been making more of a conscious effort to not pick up my phone to scroll after my daughter is tucked in for the night, the kitchen has also been put to bed, and I’m relaxing for the rest of the evening.
Instead I’ve gotten back into the habit of reading.
And let me tell you something, reading totally fills my cup in a way my phone just never does.
And another perk? I fall asleep easier and sleep more deeply!
Whether I’m cozying up on the couch (in the comfiest slippers, drinking a cup of chamomile tea in one of my cute mugs that always brings me joy) or I decide to crawl into bed early, doing this while diving into a really good book just makes me so dang happy. It recharges my battery in a way that, again, scrolling on my phone just can never quite do.
And I’ve gotta say, the less I’m on my phone, the happier I am and lighter I feel. It has become a bigger life question for me – how do I actually want to spend my oh-so-short and so very precious time?
What do I want my life to look like? What kind of mom, wife, person do I want to be? When I ask myself questions like that, I become much more protective of my time! And energy! And I definitely want to be someone who reads good books.
Why these must-read books made the list of books you won’t want to put down.
For the most part, when I read a book, here’s the criteria I’m looking for:
- Light, but engaging pretty much from the first few pages.
- Feels like I’m watching an enjoyable rom com, Nancy Meyer’s movie, or *light* thriller (we’re talking Big Little Lies).
- Emotionally engaging, heartwarming, or leaves me feeling a sense of delight.
- Usually involves a story about a female lead character going through some major life thing or a complex family dynamic.
And if audiobooks are your jam (PRETTY MUCH FREE BOOK ALERT!)…
A friend of mine opts for audiobooks (which is an option for all of these can’t put-downable books recs!) And guess what? If you have Spotify premium these page-turner books are free.
Yes, you read that right. Simply search the titles below on Spotify.
Alright, here it is. THE LIST OF 6 BOOKS YOU WON’T WANT TO PUT DOWN!
#1 Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
If you haven’t read an Emily Henry book, do yourself a favor and let this one be your official introduction! And no judgement if you do as I did and binge-read all books by Emily Henry!
Let me tell you, not only did I read this book in under a week, the ending blew me away!
I have to admit, a friend had recommended it to me and after I read the book description I wasn’t overly interested. In fact, if it wasn’t suggested by a trusted friend, or it wasn’t written by Emily Henry, I wouldn’t have read it. But I’m so happy I did!
Here’s what it’s all about:
“Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years–or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
Margaret then invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story. But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.” – Goodreads
#2 The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
If you love a dramatic family saga, this one is for you! One thing I love about longer books (this one is around a whopping 500 pages) is you get to enjoy a genuine story! This book reminded me of a show like Brothers and Sisters or This is Us, and all the complex ups and downs that comes with being in a family. Read below for a summary:
“When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that’s to come. By 2016, their four radically different daughters are each in a state of unrest: Wendy, widowed young, soothes herself with booze and younger men; Violet, a litigator-turned-stay-at-home-mom, battles anxiety and self-doubt when the darkest part of her past resurfaces; Liza, a neurotic and newly tenured professor, finds herself pregnant with a baby she’s not sure she wants by a man she’s not sure she loves; and Grace, the dawdling youngest daughter, begins living a lie that no one in her family even suspects. Above it all, the daughters share the lingering fear that they will never find a love quite like their parents’.” – Goodreads
Note: the book image on Amazon may be different than the image above!
#3 One Night On The Island by Josie Silver
While visiting the coast with my family, this book sat on the bookshelf in the house we were renting. I hadn’t read a book in a long time, but after a quick read of the back it dawned on me that it had been far to long since I read a book. And this one did not disappoint! It was such a charming and heartwarming delight!
Here is a description:
“Spending her thirtieth birthday alone is the last thing that dating columnist Cleo wanted, but she is going on a self-coupling quasi-sabbatical–at the insistence of her boss–in the name of re-energizing herself and adding a new perspective to her column. The remote Irish island she’s booked is a far cry from London, but at least it’s a chance to hunker down in a luxury cabin and indulge in some quiet, solitary self-care while she figures out her next steps in her love life and her career.
Mac is also looking forward to some time to himself. With his life in Boston deteriorating in ways he can’t bring himself to acknowledge, his soul searching has brought him to the same Irish island in search of his roots and some clarity. Unfortunately, a mix-up with the bookings means both solitude seekers have reserved the same one-bedroom hideaway on exactly the same dates.
Instantly at odds with each other, Cleo and Mac don’t know how they’re going to manage until the next weekly ferry arrives. But as the days go by, they no longer seem to mind each other’s company quite as much as they thought they would…” – Goodreads
#4 The Wedding People
This is absolutely a book you can easily sit down and finish in one weekend because it’s just that special. There’s just so much heart and humor in this book, you’ll be sad when it’s over (so read slow).
“It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.” – Goodreads
#5 Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Gosh, this book was totally addicting! To be honest, anything you read by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a total page-turner, but this one was one of my favorites by her. This also speaks to my future self who learns how to play tennis!
Here is a synopsis of the book:
Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular.
By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.
But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.
At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the ‘Battle-Axe’ anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever. – Goodreads
#6 Beach Read by Emily Henry
I told you I loved Emily Henry! Seriously any book by her is a total page-turner. This is one of those books you can’t stop reading, but you also do not want it to be over. Also, each of the characters Henry brings to life are totally charming and it was a joy to get to know. Totally one of my fave romance, beach-reads of the year!
Here’s what it’s about:
“Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.
They’re polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no-one will fall in love. Really.” – Goodreads
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