The Books of 2021

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante was one of my favorite books I read in 2021.

So many books, so little time—part 15.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the 15th year we’ve done this.

2021 was another weird year (with f-ing COVID still raging) but I finally got my reading mojo back. Between long walks with audio books and nights that were once spent socializing with friends and colleagues now spent curling up with books, I definitely read even more than in previous years.

My favorite books of 2021 were The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante (the second book in her excellent My Brilliant Friend series), The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley and Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty (a return to top form after what I thought was a rare miss with Nine Perfect Strangers — though I still binged the whole series on Hulu).

I also really liked White Ivy by Susie Yang, The Turnout by Megan Abbott, Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau (I don’t know her personally but she grew up in Santa Barbara and is an excellent writer), Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave by Elena Ferrante (third in the series), The Huntress by Kate Quinn, Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman, The Midnight Library by Matt Haigh, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.

I’d love to hear what else people loved.

Here’s the 2021 list.

Rules for Being a Girl Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno
The First Mistake Sandie Jones
The Midnight Library Matt Haigh
Blackbird Fly (The Bennett Sisters Mysteries #1) Lise McClendon
Beach Read Emily Henry
The Dutch House Ann Patchett
Evidence of the Affair Taylor Jenkins Reid
Everyone’s a Critic Jennifer Weiner
The List Jade Chang
Face: A Memoir Marcia Meier
You Should See Me In A Crown Leah Johnson
Love and Death With the in Crowd Jessica Anya Blau
Self-Help Lorrie Moore
Members Only Sameer Pandya
Weightless Sarah Bannan
The Story of Arthur Truluv Elizabeth Berg
The People We Hate at the Wedding Grant Ginder
All We Can Save Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson
Just Like You Nick Hornby
The Other Woman Sandie Jones
The Half Sister Sandie Jones
Chances Are Richard Russo
Pretty Things Janelle Brown
Ready Player Two Ernest Cline
In a Holidaze Christina Lauren
The Hating Game Sally Thorne
Take a Hint, Dani Brown Talia Hibbert
White Fragility Robin DiAngelo
One True Loves Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid
All We Ever Wanted Was Everything Janelle Brown
Jane in Love Rachel Givney
I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are Rachel Bloom
The Five-Year Hitch Melissa De la Cruz
Separation Anxiety Laura Zigman
The Divines Ellie Eaton
Dick Pic Mary H.K. Choi
The Authenticity Project Clare Pooley
Uncanny Valley: A Memoir Anna Wiener
The End of Everything Megan Abbott
The Guest Book Sarah Blake
The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse Charlie Mackesy
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life Christie Tate
While Justice Sleeps Stacey Abrams
Milkman Anna Burns
The Soulmate Equation Christina Lauren
The Chicken Sisters KJ Dell’Antonia
Malibu Rising Taylor Jenkins Reid
Get a Life, Chloe Brown Talia Hibbert
The Singles Game Lauren Weisberger
The Wedding Gift Carolyn Brown
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating Christina Lauren
Neighbors Elizabeth La Ban and Melissa DePino
Adulting Liz Talley
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore Matthew J. Sullivan
Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures Emma Straub
Good Riddance Elinor Lipman
One to Watch Kate Stayman-London
Inclusive Conversations Mary-Frances Winters
Royal Holiday Jasmine Guillory
Everybody Loves Kamau W. Kamau Bell
Boyfriends of Dorothy Wednesday Martin
Everyone’s Happy Rufi Thorpe
The Edge of Falling Rebecca Serle
Act Your Age Eve Brown Talia Hibbert
Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty Lauren Weisberger
Astrid Sees All Natalie Standiford
A Promised Land Barack Obama
That Summer Jennifer Weiner
The Hunting Party Lucy Foley
The Story of a New Name Elena Ferrante
Unsheltered Barbara Kingsolver
The Last Thing He Told Me Laura Dave
Good Company Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Helen of Pasadena Lian Dolan
When Stars Collide Susan Elizabeth Phillips
White Ivy Susie Yang
Untamed Glennon Doyle
Apples Never Fall Liane Moriarty
It Had To Be You Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Nobody’s Baby But Mine Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Seven Days in June Tia Williams
Heaven, Texas Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Book of Lost and Found Lucy Foley
Match me if You Can Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Rose Code Kate Quinn
Girl, Woman, Other Bernardine Evaristo
The President’s Daughter Bill Clinton & James Patterson
The Heart Principle Helen Hoang
The Paper Palace Miranda Cowley Heller
The Huntress Kate Quinn
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay Ferrante Elena
This Heart of Mine Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Kiss Quotient Helen Hoang
Dream a Little Dream Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Beautiful World, Where are You Sally Rooney
No Judgements Meg Cabot
A Bookworm’s Guide to Faking It Emma Hart
This is Not the End Chandler Baker
No Offense Meg Cabot
Mary Jane Jessica Anya Blau
Bliss Shay Mitchell & Michaela Blaney
Shipped Angie Hockman
The Turnout Megan Abbott
Fake Accounts Lauren Oyler
If the Shoe Fits Julie Murphy
The Husbands Chandler Baker

Previous Book Lists

The Books of 2020

The Books of 2019

The Books of 2018

The Books of 2017

The Books of 2016

The Books of 2015

The Books of 2014

The Books of 2013

The Books of 2012

The Books of 2011

The Books of 2010

The Books of 2009

The Books of 2008

The Books of 2007

The Books of 2020

Writers & Lovers by Lily King, was one of my favorite books I read in 2020.

So many books, so little time—part 14.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the 14th year we’ve done this.

2020 was such a weird year for everything, including reading. I’m usually a very avid reader, but once the pandemic hit and everything shut down I really couldn’t concentrate on books for the first few months. I felt like I was reading the same line over and over again. It made me so sad that on top of everything else, losing one of my favorite leisure activities  was heartbreaking—especially when it was one of the few things we were still able to do.  I’m not really sure when I started being able to read again, but when it kicked back in I had more time to read than probably ever before. Thank goodness. Traveling with my favorite authors was the only way I could escape this year.

My favorite books of 2020 were Trust Exercise by Susan Choi, Writers & Lovers by Lily King, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, All Adults Here by Emma Straub, Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout, and The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I’d love to hear what else people loved.

Here’s the 2020 list.

The Female Persuasion Meg Wolitzer
Country Danielle Steel
Trust Exercise Susan Choi
The Liar Nora Roberts
Every Day David Levithan
Beyond Ever After Catherine A. Weissenberg & Jocelyn Montanaro
Ask Again, Yes Mary Beth Keane
Manhattan Beach Jennifer Egan
My Reading Life Pat Conroy
The Whisper Network Chandler Baker
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be
Your Own Person
Shonda Rimes
Saint Anything Sarah Dessen
My Ex-Life Stephen McCauley
Skeletons at the Feast Chris Bohjalian
Such a Fun Age Kiley Reid
The Proposal Jasmine Guillory
Delicate Edible Birds Lauren Groff
First Star I See Tonight Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Homegoing Yaa Gyasi
Food Whore: A Novel of Dining and Deceit Jessica Tom
Come Sundown Nora Roberts
Lost and Wanted Nell Freudenberger
Home Front Kristin Hannah
Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens
How Hard Can it Be Alison Pearson
Sophia of Silcon Valley Anna Yen
Three Women Lisa Taddeo
The Broom of the System David Foster Wallace
The Last Black Unicorn Tiffany Haddish
The Dinner List Rebecca Searle
The Perfectionists Sara Shepherd
Stranger in Paradise Eileen Goudge
Writers & Lovers Lily King
Station Eleven Emily St. John Mandel
Up and In Deborah Disney
Yes, And (The One) Kristi Coulter
Second Glance Jodi Picoult
All Adults Here Emma Straub
Secrets of Eden Chris Bojhalian
Sisters First Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush
Olive, Again Elizabeth Strout
Small Great Things Jodi Picoult
The Guest List Lucy Foley
Oona Out of Order Margarita Montimore
Under Currents Nora Roberts
The Bride Test Helen Hoang
Big Summer Jennifer Weiner
Celestial Bodies Jokha Alharthi
Stars of Fortune Nora Roberts
The Assistants Camille Perri
Bay of Sighs Nora Roberts
Island of Glass Nora Roberts
Good & Mad Rebecca Traister
Saving Grace Jane Green
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and our Lives Revealed Lori Gottlieb
This is Happiness Niall Williams
House Rules Jodi Picoult
Fame Adjacent Sarah Skilton
The Book With No Pictures BJ Novak
Wildflower Drew Barrymore
Vinegar Girl Anne Tyler
The Floating Feldmans Elyssa Friedland
Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing Allison Winn Scotch
I Almost Forgot About You Terry McMillan
Modern Romance Aziz Ansari
If You Were Here Jen Lancaster
Followers Megan Angelo
The Vanishing Half Britt Bennett
Nothing Like I Imagined Mindy Kaling
The Plus One Sarah Archer
The Complete Persepolis Marjane Satrapi
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett Annie Lyons
The Girl He Used to Know Tracey Garvis Graves
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill Abbi Waxman
An Anonymous Girl Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
The Identicals Elin Hilderbrand
American Dirt Jeanine Cummins
How to Walk Away Katherine Center
The Undoing Project Michael Lewis
The Honey Don’t List Christina Lauren
Island Visions Pedal Born Pictures
The Wedding Party Jasmine Guillory
The Editor Steven Rowley
Bridal Boot Camp Meg Cabot
Half-Truths and Semi-Miracles Anne Tyler

The Books of 2018

So many books, so little time—part 12.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the 12th year we’ve done this.

My favorite books of 2018 were probably Half a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; The Glitch by Elizabeth Cohen; A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles; Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin; and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (soon to be a series with Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, which will be awesome).

Anyway, I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

2018 Book List
title author first name
author last name
Persuading Austen Brigid Coady
The Mephisto Club Tess Gerritson
The Last Mrs. Parrish Liv Contantine
Girl on a Swing Bella Roccaforte
Fitness Junkie Lucy
Sykes and Jo Piazza
Ready Player One Ernest Cline
The Immortalists Chloe Benjamin
Silver Linings Debbie Macomber
Revenge Wears Prada Lauren Weisberger
Something in Between Melissa de la Cruz
Flirting with Felicity Gerri Russell
Love Muffin and Chai Latte Anya Wylde
Turtles All the Way Down John Green
Uncommon Type Tom Hanks
Coma Girl Stephanie Bond
Class Mom Laurie Gelman
Modern Lovers Emma Straub
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance Ruth Emmie Lang
The Cinderella Murder Mary Higgins Clark
The Rules Do Not Apply Ariel Levy
Mrs. Caitlin Macy
Montana Debbie Macomber
Most Wanted Lisa Scottoline
Infinite Home Kathleen Alcott
Half a Yellow Sun Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie
The Alice Network Kate Quinn
Still Me JoJo Moyes
The Light We Lost Jill Santopolo
What Remains of Me Alison Gaylin
How to Eat a Cupcake Meg Donohoe
Sometimes I Lie Alice Feeney
Sheltering Rain JoJo Moyes
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness Arundhati Roy
My Life in Middlemarch Rebecca Mead
This is Your Life Harriet Chance! Jonathan Evison
Into the Beautiful North Luis Alberto Urrea
Wrecked Elle Casey
Lone Wolf Jodi Picoult
The Coincidence Makers Yoav Blum
Suddenly Barbara Delinsky
The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder Caroline Fraser
Before I Fall Lauren Oliver
Sugar Daddy Lisa Kleypass
Summer Hideaway Susan Wiggs
The Favorite Sister Jessica Knoll
Surprise Me Sophie Kinsella
Summer Secrets Jane Green
The Gatekeepers Jen Lancaster
You Think It, I’ll Say It Curtis Sittenfeld
Matchmaking for Beginners Maddie Dawson
Swim Back to Me Ann Packer
How to Survive Your Sisters Ellie Campbell
A Dangerous Game Heather Graham
13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl Mona Awad
The Glitch Elisabeth Cohen
Beach Town Mary Kay Andrews
Behold the Dreamers Imbolo Mbue
Hungry Heart Jennifer Weiner
Party Girls Die in Pearls Plum Sykes
I See London Sarah Mlynowski
Bond Girl Erin Duffy
Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng
Baked with love Izzy Bayliss
The Girl I Was Before Izzy Bayliss
Never Change Elizabeth Berg
Not That I Could Tell Jessica Strawser
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed John Ronson
A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles
The Little Shop of Happy Ever After Jenny Colgan
Then She Was Gone Lisa Jewell
The Portable Veblen Elizabeth McKenzie
The Woman in the Window A.J. Finn
Dare Me Megan Abbott
Confessions of a Queen Bee Crista McHugh
Almost Sisters Joshilyn Jackson
Young Jane Young Gabrielle Zevin
The Scrapbook of Frankie Post Caroline Preston
Let Me Lie Clare Mackintosh
The Girls Emma Cline
The Intermission Elyssa Friedland
London is the Best City in America Laura Dave
Nine Perfect Strangers Liane Moriarty
Maine J. Courtney Sullivan
Friendship: A Novel Emily Gould
Maybe in Another Life Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fanny Bower Puts Herself Out There Julia Ariss
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties Camile Pagan
Give Me Your Hand Megan Abbott
The Bookshop of Yesterdays Amy Meyerson
All We Ever Wanted Emily Giffin
Ghosted Rosie Walsh

The Books of 2017

So many books, so little time—part 11.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the 11th year we’ve done this.

My favorite books of 2017 were probably The Mothers, by Britt Bennett; Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Commonwealth by Ann Patchett; Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman; The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty and Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Anyway, I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Jesse Andrews
Home Again Kristin Hannah
The Bookseller Cynthia Swanson
Leave Me Gayle Forman
Suite 606 J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Kay McComas
The Mothers Britt Bennett
Big Girl Panties Stephanie Evanovich
The Wangs Vs. the World Jade Chang
The Nest Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
The Housewife Assassin’s Deadly Dossier Josie Brown
I Was Here Gayle Forman
Scrappy Little Nobody Anna Kendrick
There Goes the Bride Holly McQueen
Ship of Brides Jojo Moyes
The Underground Railroad Colson Whitehead
Swift as Desire Laura Esquivel
Confetti Confidential Holly McQueen
The Weekenders Mary Kay Andrews
When I’m Gone Emily Bleeker
First Comes Love Emily Giffin
Three Wishes Liane Moriarty
Truly Madly Guilty Liane Moriarty
Save the Date Jen Doll
The Year of Voting Dangerously Maureen Dowd
Everybody’s Fool Richard Russo
Where She Went Gayle Forman
Two by Two Nicolas Sparks
Talking as Fast as I Can Lauren Graham
Unrivaled Alyson Noel
Nothing That is Ours DJ Palladino
Fangirl Rainbow Rowell
We are all Completely Beside Ourselves Karen Joy Fowler
What Light Jay Asher
If Not For You Debbie Macomber
Americanah Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Who Asked You? Terry McMillan
Connect the Stars Marisa de Los santos & David Teague
The Knockoff Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza
44 Cranberry Point Debbie Macomber
From Notting Hill to Love Actually Ali McNamara
The Postmistress Sarah Blake
You’ll Grow Out Of It Jesi Klein
The Awkward Age Francesca Segal
Queen Takes King Gigi Levangie Grazer
Into the Woods Tana French
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine Gail Honeyman
Bright Precious Days Jay McInerney
Being Mortal Atul Gawande
The Hynotist’s Love Story Liane Moriarty
Boys in the Trees Carly Simon
The Sun is Also a Star Nicola Yoon
American Housewife Helen Ellis
Prejudice & Pride Rachel Anderson
The Bookshop on the Corner Rebecca Raisin
All the Bright Places Jennifer Niven
A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend Felicity Huffman & Patricia Wolff
The Girlfriend Curse Valerie Frankel
The Divorce Papers Susan Rieger
The After Party Anton DiSclafani
The Worst Day of My Life So Far M.A. Harper
It’s Always the Husband Michele Campbell
The Girl in the Spider’s Web David Lagercrantz
Commonwealth Ann Patchett
Lincoln in the Bardo George Saunders
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Jenny Han
The Jane Austen Project Kathleen A. Flynn
The Great Escape Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Grown Up Gillian Flynn
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen Syrie James
We’ll Always Have Summer Jenny Han
The Sunshine Sisters Jane Green
The Time of My Life: A Novel Cecilia Ahern
The View From the Cheap Seats Neil Gaiman
What Happened Hillary Rodham Clinton
My Brilliant Friend Elena Ferrante
Winter Storms Elin Hilderbrand
Interpreter of Maladies Jhumpa Lahiri
What She Knew Gilly MacMillan
Irish Eyes Mary Kay Andrews
Carry On Rainbow Rowell

The Books of 2016

So many books, so little time—part ten.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the tenth year we’ve done this.

My favorite books of 2016 were probably You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott, a mystery-thriller set in the world of women’s gymnastics; Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave, set in the world of wine-making; Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, which is about the restaurant business; Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes, a terrific collection of shot stories; and The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, who also wrote Fates and Furies, one of my favorite books I read last year.  

As usual, I tend to find an author I like and then read anything I can get my hands on. I adored Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple so much that I also read her two other novels, Today Will be Different (in development as a TV series with Julia Roberts) and This One is Mine, both of which I liked but didn’t LOVE the way I did Bernadette.

Anyway, I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake Anna Quindlen
Why Not Me? Mindy Kaling
Boys & Girls Together William Goldman
Fun Home Allison Bechdel
Precious Gifts Danielle Steel
23 Degrees South Neal Rabin
Last One Home Debbie Macomber
Feel This Ben Stiller & Janeane Garofalo
A Whole New Light Sandra Brown
All Fall Down Jennifer Weiner
The Children Act Ian McEwan
Purity Jonathan Franzen
Crooked Little Lies Barbara Taylor Sissel
The Rumor Elin Hildebrand
The Truth About Alice Jennifer Mathieu
Girl Tripping Gina Iamanna
Everything’s Relative Jenna McCarthy
The Clasp Sloane Crosley
The Guestbook Andrea Hurst
The Art of Peeling an Orange Victoria Avilan
What Alice Forgot Liane Moriarty
Bettyville George Hodgman
Between the Lines Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer
Miss Adventure Geralyn Corcillo
Who Do You Love? Jennifer Weiner
Girl Waits With Gun Amy Stewart
The Tender Bar J.R. Moehringer
The Monsters of Templeton Lauren Groff
Connect the Stars Marisa de los Santos and David Teague
Barbara the Slut and Other People Lauren Holmes
The Moon and More Sarah Dessen
The Apartment Danielle Steel
Dead of Night J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan and Mary Kay McComas
The Swans of Fifth Avenue Melanie Benjamin
Lizzie Bennett Diaries Bernie Su and Kate Noble
The List Siobhan Vivan
One Plus One JoJo Moyes
Nora Roberts Land Miles Ava
Windfallen JoJo Moyes
Dear Mr. You Mary Louise Parker
The Sleuth Sisters Maggie Pill
Fireside Susan Wiggs
Sweetbitter Stephanie Danler
Tiny Pretty Things Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
My Favorite Husband Pam McCutcheon
The Fixer Upper Mary Kay Andrews
The Inn at Rose Harbor Debbie Macomber
I Was Told There Would be Cake Sloane Crosley
A Girl’s Guide to Moving on Debbie Macomber
Drinking Closer to Home Jessica Anya Blau
Identical Scott Turrow
If I Stay Gayle Forman
Euphoria Lily King
Eight Hundred Grapes Laura Dave
In the Unlikely Event Judy Blume
Remembrance Meg Cabot
Innocents & Others: A Novel Dana Spiotta
Calling Invisible Women Jeanne Ray
Royal Wedding Meg Cabot
Eligible Curtis Sittenfeld
The Man of the House Stephen McCauley
Be Frank With Me Julia Claiborne Johnson
Fallen in Love Lauren Kate
Four of a Kind Valerie Frankel
The Bridge Ladies Betsy Lerner
The Goodbye Quilt Susan Wiggs
French Roast Ava Miles
Behind Closed Doors B.A. Paris
Heat & Light Jennifer Haigh
The Grand Opening Ava Miles
Paris for One & Other Stories JoJo Moyes
My Kind of Perfect Hannah Ellis
Heroes Have Always Been My Weakness Susan Elizabeth Phillips
You Will Know Me Megan Abbott
The History of Love Nicole Krauss
Today Will Be Different Maria Semple
This One is Mine Maria Semple

The Books of 2014

The InterestingsSo many books, so little time—part eight.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the eighth year we’ve done this.

My favorite books of 2014 were probably One More Thing by B.J. Novak, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, and My Latest Grievance by Eleanor Lipman. All are fiction but otherwise they have very little in common other than sharp writing. 

Anyway, I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

2014 Book List
title author last author first
Whiskey Beach Roberts Nora
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming Jackson Joshilyn
Don’t Go Scottoline Lisa
A Playdate With Death Waldman Ayelet
Elsewhere Russo Richard
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage Patchett Ann
What My Mother Gave Me: 31 Women on the Gifts That Mattered Benedict Elizabeth
Fast Women Crusie Jennifer
Eleanor & Park Rowell Rainbow
Winners Steel Danielle
The Big Burn Egan Timothy
Until the End of Time Steel Danielle
The Tenth of December Saunders George
The Replacement Wife Gouge Ellen
Divergent Roth Veronica
The Island Hildenbrand Elin
My Latest Grievance Lipman Elinor
That Summer Dessen Sarah
The Magician’s Assistant Patchett Ann
Girlchild Hassman Tupelo
Summer at Willow Lake Wiggs Susan
Irresistable Forces Jackson Brenda
The Patron Saint of Liars Patchett Ann
The Sixes White Kate
Empty Mansions Dedman Bill and Paul Clark Newell Jr.
The Good Luck of Right Now Quick Matthew
The Smart One Close Jennifer
Tempting Fate Green Jane
Slim to None Gardiner Jenny
The Madwoman in the Volvo Tsing Loh Sandra
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Miller Rebecca
The Gap Year Bird Sarah
Tempted Cast P.C. & Kristen
Goodbye for Now Frankel Laurie
Crow Planet Haupt Lyanda Lynn
Diary of a Mad Fat Girl McAfee Stephanie
The Day I Ate Whatever I wanted Berg Elizabeth
Cinderella Ate My Daughter Orenstein Peggy
The Renaissance Soul Lobenstine Margaret
The Big Short Lewis Michael
One More Thing Novak B.J.
San Miguel Boyle T.C.
The Signature of All Things Gilbert Elizabeth
Wedding Night Kinsella Sophie
The Interestings Wolitzer Meg
Traveling With Pomegranites Monk Kidd Sue & Ann Kidd Taylor
A Foolish Consistency Weir Andrea
Tiny Beautiful Things Strayed Cheryl
Truth and Beauty Patchett Ann
You Can Date Boys When You’re Forty Barry Dave
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Alexie Sherman
When I Found You Ryan Hyde Catherine
I’ve Still Got It … I Just Can’t Remember Where I Put It McCarthy Jenna
Famous Baby Rizzo Karen
Blossom Street Brides Macomber Debbie
Prospect Park West Sohn Amy
And the Heart Says Whatever Gould Emily
The Chaperone Moriarty Laura
Astonish Me Shipstead Maggie
My Reading Life Conroy Pat
Backseat Saints Jackson Joshilyn
The Apple Orchard Wiggs Susan
The Picture of Dorian Gray Wilde Oscar
The Wonder Bread Summer Blau Jessica Anya
Summerland Hildenbrand Elin
The Buddha in the Attic Otsuka Julie
Gratitude & Trust Jackson Tracey & Paul Williams
The Here and Now Brashears Ann
The One and Only Griffin Emily
100 Names Ahern Cecilia
Love Letters Macomber Debbie
The Girls of August Siddons Anne Rivers
Beautiful Ruins Walter Jess
The Engagements Sullivan J. Courtney
Vintage Gloss Susan
Not That Kind of Girl Dunham Lena
The Half Life Weiner Jennifer
Before We Kiss Mallery Susan
Choose Your Own Autobiography Harris Neil Patrick
You Should Have Known Korelitz Jean Hanff
Save the Date Andrews Mary Kay

Click to read The Books of 2013.

Click to read The Books of 2012.

Click to read The Books of 2011.

Click to read The Books of 2010.

Click to read The Books of 2009.

Click to read The Books of 2008.

Click to read The Books of 2007.

The Books of 2013

Where'd You Go BernadetteSo many books, so little time—part seven.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the seventh year we’ve done this.

My favorite book of 2013 was probably Where’d You Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple. I’m not sure how much that had to do with the book itself and how much had to do with my reading it during a lovely spa getaway with my mom at Ojai Valley Inn, but either way I loved it!

Anyway, I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

Local Girls Hoffman Alice
Curable Romantic Skibell Joseph
The Casual Vacancy Rowling J.K.
Happily Ever Madder McAfee Stephanie
Moonwalking With Einstein Foer Joshua
The Future of Us Asher Jay & Carolyn Mackler
Escape Delinsky Barbara
Where We Belong Giffin Emily
Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim Scottoline Lisa & Francesca Serritella
40 Love Wickham Madeleine
Hannah’s List Macomber Debbie
Perfected by Girls Martino Alfred C.
Happy Birthday Steel Danielle
Grace (Eventually) Thoughts on Faith Lamott Anne
Interpreter of Maladies Lahiri Jumpa
Helen Keller in Love Sultan Rosie
Still Alice Genova Lisa
The Fault in Our Stars Green John
Friendship Bread Gee Darien
Everything We Ever Wanted Shepard Sara
Craft Activism Tapper Joan
The Art of Fielding Harbach Chad
The Ice Queen Hoffman Alice
Firefly Lane Hannah Kristin
Guilt By Association Clark Marcia
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West Wickenden Dorothy
The Newlyweds Freudenberger Nell
The House in Amalfi Adler Elizabeth
What Happened to Goodbye Dessen Sarah
Name Dropping Heller Jane
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street Birdsong Jeanne
The Summer of Naked Swim Parties Blau Jessica Anya
The Things We Do For Love Hannah Kristin
More Baths: Less Talking Hornby Nick
This Lullaby Dessen Sarah
Wild Strayed Cheryl
Uncommon Crimminals Carter Ally
Home Again Hannah Kristin
Chocolate Chocolate Moons Kingon Jackie
Gone Girl Flynn Gillian
A Half Life Weiner Jennifer
Recalculating Weiner Jennifer
The Family Tree Cadwalladr Carole
The Blossom Sisters Michaels Fern
Getting the Pretty Back Ringwald Molly
Some Assembly Required Lamott Anne
The Gilly Salt Sisters Baker Tiffany
Life on Hold McQuestion Karen
Summer House Thayer Nancy
Come Home Scottoline Lisa
A Visit From the Goon Squad Egan Jennifer
Pictures of You Leavitt Caroline
Watermelon Keyes Marian
The Obituary Writer Hood Ann
Silver Girl Hilderbrand Elin
The Round House Erdrich Louise
The Princesses of Iowa Backes M. Molly
Where’d You Go Bernadette Semple Maria
The Language of Flowers Diffenbaugh Vanessa
The Castaways Hilderbrand Elin
True Colors Hannah Kristin
Growing Up Amish Wagler Ira
Watch Me Barnholdt Lauren
Help Thanks Wow Lamott Anne
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt Hoffman Beth
The Grace of Crows Shawn Tracy
Sharp Objects Flynn Gillian
Scrap City Gambino Paul
Will Grayson, Will Grayson Green John and David Levithan
Because I Said So Peri Camille and Kate Moses
Fly Away Hannah Kristin
An Abundance of Katherines Green John
Behind the Beautiful Forevers Boo Katherine
The Family Man Lipman Elinor
How To Love Cotugno Kate
Starry Night Macomber Debbie
Dark Witch Roberts Nora
Anastasia Krupnik Lowry Lois
A Summer Affair Hilderbrand Elin
Mrs. Kimble Haigh Jennifer
Christmas Bliss Andrews Mary Kay
Anybody Out There Keyes Marian
Waking Up in the Land of Glitter Cano-Murillo Kathy
Does this church make me look fat? Jantzen Rhoda
Intoxerated: The Definitive Drinker’s Dictionary Dickson Paul

Click to read The Books of 2012.

Click to read The Books of 2011.

Click to read The Books of 2010.

Click to read The Books of 2009.

Click to read The Books of 2008.

Click to read The Books of 2007.

The Books of 2011

Let the Great World SpinSo many books, so little time—part five.

This was the year I embraced technology in earnest and had a number of different books going on various devices. I also experimented with going back and forth between reading and audio books, and found I liked it with some books, particularly nonfiction when the author read their own work.

I loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann, both of which were book club picks. Henrietta Lacks was also the Santa Barbara Reads pick this year, and Skloot was an amazing speaker at UCSB’s free event. This started a book club tradition that we continue to try to follow by reading the SB Reads books and attending the author talks.

Ironically before I read Let the Great World Spin,  I read a bit of it aloud at the Read-a-thon for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (a great nonprofit that no longer exists). It peaked my interest and that was part of why I picked it up after that and recommended to our book club.

Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials Wiseman Rosalind
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress Janzen Rhoda
Committed Gilbert Elizabeth
Crazy for You Cruisie Julie
Before I Fall Oliver Lauren
Girl 15, Charming But Insane Limb Sue
Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog Scottoline Lisa
Freedom Franzen Jonathan
Dirty Sugar Cookies Halliday Ayun
I Remember Nothing Ephron Nora
Lipstick Jungle Bushnell Candice
Confessions of a Shoe Addict Harbison Beth
Between a Rock and a Hot Place Jackson Tracey
There Will Never Be Another You See Carolyn
Let the Great World Spin McCann Colum
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Skloot  Rebecca
Making Toast Rosenblatt Roger
Smooth Talking Stranger Kleypass Lisa
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Meyer Stephenie
The Middle Place Corrigan Kelly
Devil’s Corner Scottoline Lisa
Stones Into Schools Mortensen Greg
Batlle Hymn of the Tiger Mother Chua Amy
Perfect Timing Mansell Jill
Lifeguard Patterson James
The Camelot Conspiracy Vincent E. Duke
Insatiable Cabot Meg
Self-Help Moore Lorrie
Courting Trouble Scottoline Lisa
Too Big to Miss Jafarian Sue Ann
As Husbands Go Isaacs Susan
I Love You More Gardner Lisa
Call Me Irresistable Philips Susan Elizabeth
Family Affair Macomber Debbie
Fly Away Home Weiner Jennifer
My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space Scottoline Lisa
Dead Ringer Scottoline Lisa
Bossy Pants Fey Tina
The Book Thief Zusak Markus
Daddy’s Little Helper Macomber Debbie
If Looks Could Kill White Kate
Think Twice Scottoline Lisa
Orchard Valley Grooms Macomber Debbie
Steps to the Altar Fowler Earlene
Deep Dish Andrews Mary Kay
The Elegance of the Hedgehog Barbery Muriel
The Paris Wife McLain Paula
The Fixer Upper Andrews Mary Kay
Still Life Fielding Joy
Ocotillo Dreams Palacio Melinda
I Think I Love You Pearson Allison
13 Reasons Why Asher Jay
16 Lighthouse Road Macomber Debbie
Run Patchett Ann
The Card Turner Sachar Louis
92 Pacific Boulevard Macomber Debbie
Sisterhood Everlasting Brashears Ann
Indulgence in Death Robb J.D.
Vendetta Defense Scottoline Lisa
Not My Daughter Delinsky Barbara
Durable Goods Berg Elizabeth
Say When Berg Elizabeth
The Other Side Robb J.D.
Savannah Breeze Andrews Mary Kay
Home Safe Berg Elizabeth
Loop Group McMurtry Larry
The Art of Mending Berg Elizabeth
If It Was Easy, They’d Call the Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon McCarthy Jenna
Sing You Home Piccoult Jodi
Promises to Keep Green Jane
Everywhere That Mary Went Scottoline Lisa
The Post-Birthday World Shriver Lionel
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Kaling Mindy
Flirting With Pete Delinsky Barbara
The Next Always Roberts Nora
A Christmas Carol Dickens Charles
The Year of Pleasures Berg Elizabeth
While My Sister Sleeps Delinsky Barbara

Originally posted January 4, 2012.

Click to read The Books of 2010.

Click to read The Books of 2009.

Click to read The Books of 2008.

Click to read The Books of 2007.

The Books of 2008

The Comfort of StrangersSo many books, so little time-part two

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the second year we’ve done this. Last year I set a goal to read better books but this year I actually read MORE books that weren’t necessarily of the highest quality. I’m finding that more and more I lean to read to escape, rather than be challenged, which is kind of sad.

My favorite book of 2008 was probably The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan, he also wrote Atonement, which I loved. I have a few more of his books on my night table so I’m looking forward to those. Other favorites were The End of the Affair, by Graham Greene, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

  1. 19 Minutes – Jodi Picoult
  2. Blood Brothers – Nora Roberts
  3. Bookends-Jane Green
  4. The Breakdown Lane-Jacquelyn Mitchard
  5. A Thousand Splendid Suns-Khaled Hossseini
  6. Eat, Pray, Love-Elizabeth Gilbert
  7. The Year of Magical Thinking-Joan Didion
  8. Garlic and Sapphires-Ruth Reichel
  9. Boy-Roald Dahl
  10. Creation in Death-J.D. Robb
  11. The Last Beach Bungalow-Jennie Nash
  12. Three Cups of Tea-Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
  13. Paris to the Moon-Adam Gopnik
  14. Suburban Diva-Tracy Henry
  15. The Not-So-Perfect Man-Valerie Frankel
  16. The Hollow-Nora Roberts
  17. The End of the Affair-Graham Greene
  18. Summerland-Michael Chabon
  19. There’s No Place Like Here-Cecelia Ahern
  20. Bridge of Sighs-Richard Russo
  21. Tribute-Nora Roberts
  22. Outside Providence-Peter Farrelly
  23. The Pact-Jodi Picoult
  24. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict-Larie Viera Rigler
  25. Remember Me? – Sophie Kinsella
  26. The Sweet Potato Queens Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit-Jill Conner
  27. Jinx-Meg Cabot
  28. The Writing Class-Jincy Willett
  29. Kabul Beauty School-Deborah Rodriguez
  30. Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen
  31. Married Lovers-Jackie Collins
  32. Talk Talk-T.C. Boyle
  33. Twilight-Stephenie Meyer
  34. Certain Girls-Jennifer Weiner
  35. Hometown Santa Barbara-Nancy Ransohoff, Zak Klobucher, Starshine Roshell, Cheryl Crabtree, Leslie Dinaberg (yes, I wrote some of it, but I read all of it and really liked the history chapters, Cheryl!)
  36. Are you there Vodka, it’s me Chelsea? – Chelsea Handler
  37. Size 12 is not Fat-Meg Cabot
  38. The Last Lecture-Randy Pfausch
  39. Strangers in Death-J.D. Robb
  40. Expensive People-Joyce Carol Oates
  41. Candy Girl-Diablo Cody
  42. The Comfort of Strangers-Ian McEwan
  43. New Moon-Stephanie Meyer
  44. All American Girl-Meg Cabot
  45. Ready or Not-Meg Cabot
  46. I Just Want my Children to be Happy-Aaron Cooper
  47. Queen of Babble-Meg Cabot
  48. House of Testosterone-Sharon O’Donnell
  49. Keep Your Skirt On-Starshine Roshell
  50. My Antonia-Willa Cather

Originally posted on January 2, 2009.

Click to read The Books of 2007.