Books that are on my "to read" list

It’s time for getting cozy with a cup of coffee or tea, and a good book. I don’t know about you, but reading opens up a whole new world, free of the madness of real life, and I try to escape it as often as I can. Luckily, these days there is no shortage of [good] books (the list below is a testimony of that). However, I often see people asking for book recommendations, and I thought of sharing what’s currently on my list. I’ve mostly gathered these from various online sources, and I have to admit that I haven’t heard of the vast majority of them, nor am I too familiar with what they’re about.

When it comes to genres, I found that, lately, I’ve been enjoying historical fiction, or some mix of it much more than contemporary reads, though I won’t deny that I have recently read some from the latter category that left a deep mark.

In recent years, I’ve also gotten into the good and bad habit of not reading book descriptions, and instead jumping right in. I have stopped reading a few that were not “pulling me in” (something that changed with the pandemic — I used to always finish a book, no matter if it was interesting to me or not) and was left beyond pleasantly surprised by others.

This is a long list, and it’s ever-expanding (I most likely will update it so you can bookmark this page if you want) — I hope you find titles that captivate you. Now shall we?

Calling in “The One” by Katherine Woodward Thomas. I may not be single, but that doesn’t mean that learning about relationships and getting better at them should stop. Described as “An inspirational approach that offers a radical new philosophy on relationships, Calling in “The One” is your guide to finding the love you seek.”, this book shows how to build long-lasting, and fulfilling relationships.
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. I’ve seen this book mentioned several times by different women in a group, so of course, I became curious about it and added it to my “to-read” list. Summarized as “One of the most beloved and bestselling novels of spiritual adventure ever published, Ishmael has earned a passionate following.” — I can’t wait to learn why.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I shared this book in my Motivational books to get you started with the new year blog post, and it’s one that I will re-read to remind myself of its principles.
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. This is another book that’s been mentioned several times in a group I’m part of. Described as “In many ways, we’re more comfortable than ever before. But could our sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, under-challenged lives actually be the leading cause of many of our most urgent physical and mental health issues? In this gripping investigation, award-winning journalist Michael Easter seeks out off-the-grid visionaries, disruptive genius researchers, and mind-body conditioning trailblazers who are unlocking the life-enhancing secrets of a counterintuitive solution: discomfort.”, I am curious to read this perspective.
A Handbook for New Stoics by Massimo Pigliucci, Gregory Lopez. We are more distracted than ever, and I am all for learning how to “overcome adversity and find tranquility in the modern world”, as the book’s description puts it.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt. “Under the influence of a charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at a New England college discover a way of thought and life a world away from their banal contemporaries. But their search for the transcendent leads them down a dangerous path, beyond human constructs of morality.” — sounds intriguing and I can’t wait to read it.
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen. As advanced as we may be, it seems like we are the unhappiest we’ve ever been. This book “guides us with an understanding that comes from knowing how to see the view, the richness in living.”… “Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won’t happen. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live ... to love the journey, not the destination.”

The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein. I will say that this is not an easy read by any means… It takes time, it requires focus, contemplation, and practice. But it’s eye-opening and offers fairly simple, yet insightful ideas on overcoming fear and turning it into faith. From the description: “You’ll learn how to stop chasing life and truly live with a more positive mindset. Making the shift from fear to faith will give you a sense of power in a world that all too often makes us feel utterly powerless.”
The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Valerie Young. Imposter syndrome has gotten the best of us, and this book promises to teach on how to overcome it. “Learn to take ownership of your success, overcome self-doubt, and banish the thought patterns that undermine your ability to feel—and act—as bright and capable as others already know you are with this award-winning book by Valerie Young.“

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. From the publisher: "Jitterbug Perfume is an epic. which is to say, it begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia and doesn't conclude until nine o'clock tonight [Paris time]. It is a saga, as well. A saga must have a hero, and the hero of this one is a janitor with a missing bottle. The bottle is blue, very, very old, and embossed with the image of a goat-horned god. If the liquid in the bottle is actually is the secret essence of the universe, as some folks seem to think, it had better be discovered soon because it is leaking and there is only a drop of two left.
"Jitterbug Perfume has a large and exotic cast of characters, all of whom are interested in immortality and/or perfume... Go see for yourself; you'll have a good time."
A Dangerous Woman by Susan Ronald. “A revealing biography of Florence Gould, fabulously wealthy socialite and patron of the arts, who hid a dark past as a Nazi collaborator in 1940’s Paris.”. I find it curious to read about historical “figures”, especially women, and since I came across this book, I added it to my list for someday.

The Change by Kirsten Miller. “Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick—a gloriously entertaining and knife-sharp revenge fantasy about three women whose midlife crisis brings unexpected new powers—putting them on a collision course with the evil that lurks in their wealthy beach town.“ — Perhaps, a light, yet interesting read?
A hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams. “Lily Dane has returned to Seaview, Rhode Island, where her family has summered for generations. It’s an escape not only from New York’s social scene but from a heartbreak that still haunts her. Here, among the seaside community that has embraced her since childhood, she finds comfort in the familiar rituals of summer.
But this summer is different. Budgie and Nick Greenwald—Lily’s former best friend and former fiancé—have arrived, too, and Seaview’s elite are abuzz. Under Budgie’s glamorous influence, Lily is seduced into a complicated web of renewed friendship and dangerous longing.
As a cataclysmic hurricane churns north through the Atlantic, and uneasy secrets slowly reveal themselves, Lily and Nick must confront an emotional storm that will change their worlds forever...” — this sounds like a typical beach/summer read for when one needs an escape — count me in!
Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor. “Jillian Cantor revisits the glittering Jazz Age world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, retelling this timeless American classic from the women’s perspective. Beautiful Little Fools is a quintessential tale of money and power, marriage and friendship, love and desire, and ultimately the murder of a man tormented by the past and driven by a destructive longing that can never be fulfilled.“
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: a Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I have just read this book this month: “In this entrancing novel “that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all” (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.”

Outline by Rachel Cusk. “A man and a woman are seated next to each other on a plane. They get to talking—about their destination, their careers, their families. Grievances are aired, family tragedies discussed, marriages and divorces analyzed. An intimacy is established as two strangers contrast their own fictions about their lives.”. I have had this book on my list for a long time; perhaps this will finally bring it to the front of my mind?
Untamed by Glennon Doyle. “In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, the activist, speaker, bestselling author, and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People) explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet others’ expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us.”… “This is how you find yourself.” — and that’s the selling point for me, something like, curiosity killed the cat...
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. “Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?”. Ok, I love books that inspire and make me think, and this one seems just it — I have to read it asap!

The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester. “1940: As the Germans advance upon Paris, young seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee everything she's ever known. She's bound for New York City with her signature gold dress, a few francs, and a dream: to make her mark on the world of fashion.”. I’m not a huge fan of reading books taking place during wartime, but this one seems promising.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. The only reason I haven’t read it yet is that it takes place during wartime. However, I do want to read it sooner rather than later as I see it mentioned a lot.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton. “INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER • A smart, sexy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about ex-boyfriends, imperfect parents, friends with kids, and a man who disappears the moment he says "I love you"”—from the bestselling author of Everything I Know About Love.” — I’ve seen it recommended several times, and as it seems to be a fun read, it made it on my list.
The Lost Village by Ann Mah. “Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II.” — sounds captivating and I can’t wait to read it.

Madame Fourcade’s Secret War by Lynne Olson. “NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The little-known true story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the woman who headed the largest spy network in occupied France during World War II, from the bestselling author of Citizens of London and Last Hope Island”. Again, not a huge fan of novels about war, but I love reading about powerful and influential women, so this is a must-read for me.
The Little Perfume Shop Off the Champs-Elysees by Rebecca Raisin. “When Del leaves small town America to compete in a perfume competition in Paris, she thinks it is just the next step on her five-year-plan. It’s an exciting opportunity. What started out as just a dream for Del and her twin sister is nearly in her grasp. If she wins this competition, they are on their way to opening their very own perfume boutique!…” — This sounds like a light, yet fun read, and they are always appreciated.
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. “Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.” — and we all know what they say about things that are too good to be true… This book left me shaken, and I devoured it!
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover. Currently reading this sequel to the previous book, and I can’t wait to get sucked back in, hopefully, into a happier story this time…
The Maid by Nita Prose. This book is making the rounds among book lovers, and I can’t wait to read it.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. “NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER •WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD • Sam and Sadie—two college friends, often in love, but never lovers—become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. It is a love story, but not one you have read before.”. Everyone seems to be obsessed with this book currently, so I’m patiently waiting my turn, haha.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. “Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less-than-ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.” — Another book that I’ve been frequently seeing mentioned lately.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. “The instant #1 New York Times bestselling mystery and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick that’s captivated more than two million readers about a woman searching for the truth about her husband’s disappearance…at any cost.” — good enough description to make me curious about it.