WHAT I READ: Spring 2018 + Book Challenge by Erin 8.0

Last year was not a great reading year for me. I'm so thankful that now that I'm not consumed with sleep deprivation and keeping two under two alive, I have more time to devote to my beloved books.

This was the first book challenge I did in over a year, and I had so much fun with it. Book Challenge by Erin 8.0 ran from January 1-April 30, 2018 and this is what I checked off my list:

What I Read: Spring 2018

      

5 points: Freebie – Read a book that is at least 200 pages (February 9, 2018) | THE ACTOR'S LIFE by Jenna Fischer (★★★★)

10 points: Read a book that starts with the letter “L” (January 6, 2018) | LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS by Hazel Gaynor (★★★)

10 points: Read a book that has a (mostly) red cover | SHRILL by Lindy West (different cover)

15 points: Read a book with a character’s name in the title (March 12, 2018) | Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by JK Rowling (★★★★★)

I don't feel like I really need to review Harry Potter at this point, right?

20 points: Read a book from this list: BOOK RIOT’S 100 MUST-READ BOOKS WITH PLOT TWISTS | CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein

20 points: Read a book with the words “house” or “home” in the title | HAPPIER AT HOME by Gretchen Rubin (In progress)

25 points: Read a book by an author whose first and last name begins with the same letter (February 22, 2018) | THE DIRTY LIFE by Kristin Kimball (★★★★★)

30 points: Read a book that was originally published in a different language than your own | A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman

30 points: Read a book where most of the action takes place on a form of transportation (February 10, 2018) | PAPER TOWNS by John Green (★★★)

35 points: Read a book with a character that suffers from a debilitating physical illness (March 9, 2018) | Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (★★★★)

This is one of those books that I likely wouldn't have read if not for this challenge and I'm so thankful for that. Morrie is the kind of person we should all be so lucky to know. In light of my Dad's health condition, I felt like this book came into my life at the perfect time. Morrie had some incredible insights about death and I felt so fortunate that they were recorded before his own passing for us all to meditate on.

PREVIOUS POINTS: 70
TOTAL POINTS: 120

I'm mildly disappointed that I didn't complete my book challenge, but I read a lot of really great non-challenge books and at the end of the day, that's what matters to me!

  

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter (★★★★) I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is a genre that I normally don't go for, but I love Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones on Netflix and I was excited to see whether she could actually write, too. It turns out she can, and it's completely unfair that one person should have so much talent. This felt like a much more sinister Erin Brockovich-type story. I felt that the ending was a little sloppy, but overall, I loved the suspense and couldn't put it down.

The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen (★★★) I needed another light fluffy read to fill my Taylor Jenkins Reid void, so someone recommended this author to me on Instagram. It wasn't the best thing I've ever read or the worst. I enjoyed it and it was the chick lit read I wanted it to be, so no complaints.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (★★★★★) After I finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I really wanted to keep my Harry Potter run going. Since I had already started reading them out of order, I decided I would forego reading them chronologically and just read whichever one spoke to me. I forgot a lot of the minor details in Book 6, so I decided to read this and GAH! I just love picking up something new every time I read these books.

  

Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff by Chip Gaines (★★) I received an ARC from NetGalley. I was on a big Fixer Upper binge last month, so I decided to read Chip's recent book. I wasn't expecting a great work of literature, but I also wasn't expecting essentially a re-branding of The Magnolia Story. Sorry Chip, not impressed.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin (★★★) I received an ARC from NetGalley. There was a time when Emily Giffin was my go-to chick lit author, but I've been so disappointed by her most recent books. This one was no exception. I literally had to go back and read my own review because I couldn't even remember what the book was about and I read it about three weeks ago. 

Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey (★★★★★) I bought this book when there was a Kindle sale a couple years ago. For whatever reason, I just never felt in the mood to read it until recently. As religiousy as this sounds (and I do not consider myself religious), I genuinely think it was divine timing that led me to read it in the last month when I did. Sarah Bessey's writing resonated with me so deeply in this season of motherhood, life, and lukewarm faith. I would implore all my Christian friends (especially Mom friends!) to read this book. It was fantastic.

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Now that we're moving into summertime, I have to know- who is your favorite "beach read" author?