20 Books To Read This Spring

I LOVE books! I love to read, I love to hold the book in my hands, I love to smell the pages, I love to dog-ear pages, I LOVE books! But I am super crappy about actually sitting down to read them and finish them. There are so many books I want to read and so little time to squeeze them in. So I've marked my planner with reading times and I'm trying my best to stick to them.

I just finished reading The Husband's Secret. I pretty much love anything by Liane Moriarty. I read What Alice Forgot first. It was definitely my favorite of her books that I've read. It really made me think about the decisions I've made in my life and if I would be happy with who I am if I woke up and thought I was 10 years younger. I love the way Liane writes and intertwines social issues that most of us face but don't talk about. I really do feel like I know the characters in her books. Big Little Lies was great as well. Seriously. These books are keepers in my opinion and I'll probably read them again... if I finish my other list ;)

20 Books to Read This Spring

Now, on to what's on my current list. This might just be the most random book list you've seen but I really want a variety of books that are going to help me grow as a person and business owner plus I want some non-fiction in there because I love it and I think it's good for my brain. These are listed in no particular order except for this first one because it's the one I'm currently reading. I haven't decided what will be next and I will likely be reading two at a time. One fiction and one non-fiction. Also, if you have any book recommendations, let me know!!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I just started this one and I'm already sucked in. It's about to come out as a major motion picture and if you watch the trailer be sure to grab a box of tissues. As soon as I saw it, I knew I'd need to read the book because we all know the book is always better than the movie.

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

A Love Story for this generation and perfect for fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

People Over Profit by Dale Partridge

The title pretty much speaks for itself. This is something that I really want to be the core of my business. Always about God and others over the profit.

Sevenly founder Dale Partridge uncovers the seven core beliefs shared by consumers, starters, and leaders behind this transformation. These beliefs have enabled Dale to build a multimillion-dollar company that is revolutionizing the marketplace. He believes they are the secret to creating a sustainable world that values honesty over deception, transparency over secrecy, authenticity over hype, and ultimately, people over profit.

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

This book has actually been on my list for a while now and has been recommended by several people that I highly respect. It also sounds like it's aligned perfectly with what I'm all about. A life of more may actually be a life of less.

The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s about getting only the right things done.  It is not  a time management strategy, or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution towards the things that really matter.

The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

This book was actually sent to me by a friend. I hadn't heard of it before but I'm excited to learn from it!

Michael Gerber dispels the myths surrounding starting your own business and shows how commonplace assumptions can get in the way of running a business. He walks you through the steps in the life of a business from entrepreneurial infancy, through adolescent growing pains, to the mature entrepreneurial perspective, the guiding light of all businesses that succeed.

The Dip by Seth Godin

I actually wish I would have read this book a couple of years ago. I've pushed through some big dips and feel like I've gained a lot of momentum now but man, this would have been helpful in the past.

The old saying is wrong—winners do quit, and quitters do win.

Every new project (or job, or hobby, or company) starts out exciting and fun. Then it gets harder and less fun, until it hits a low point—really hard, and not much fun at all.

And then you find yourself asking if the goal is even worth the hassle. Maybe you’re in a Dip—a temporary setback that will get better if you keep pushing. But maybe it’s really a Cul-de-Sac, which will never get better, no matter how hard you try.

Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey

Aaaaahh! I'm dying to dive into this one! I have friends that were on Sarah's launch team for this book and they LOVED it! If you haven't read Sarah's blog, I highly recommend it. She's just the real deal and I love that about her.

As she candidly shares her wrestlings with core issues—such as who Jesus is, what place the Church has in our lives, how to disagree yet remain within a community, and how to love the Bible for what it is rather than what we want it to be—she teaches us how to walk courageously through our own tough questions.

In the process of gently helping us sort things out, Bessey teaches us how to be as comfortable with uncertainty as we are with solid answers. And as we learn to hold questions in one hand and answers in the other, we discover new depths of faith that will remain secure even through the storms of life.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I've always been a C.S. Lewis fan but I've only read a few books from The Chronicles of Narnia series and never anything else. I know. I'm a little late to this game but oh well, right?

The Screwtape Letters by C.S.  Lewis is a classic masterpiece of religious satire that entertains readers with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging account of temptation—and triumph over it—ever written.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Another I'm late to the game to...

In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. Bringing together Lewis’ legendary broadcast talks during World War Two from his three previous books The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

This is on the list based on recommendations from several of my girlfriends. I'm excited to get lost in this one.

The author of A Fall of Marigolds journeys from the present day to World War II England, as two sisters are separated by the chaos of wartime ...

She stood at a crossroads, half-aware that her choice would send her down a path from which there could be no turning back. But instead of two choices, she saw only one—because it was all she really wanted to see…

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

I think I actually pre-ordered this book before it came out a year ago and it has just sat on the shelf! I'm horrible, I tell ya! I'm so excited to dig into this one because I think it will help me both personally and in my business.

Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable or to dare greatly. Based on twelve years of pioneering research, Dr. Brené Brown dispels the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness and argues that it is, in truth, our most accurate measure of courage.

Brown explains how vulnerability is both the core of difficult emotions like fear, grief, and disappointment, and the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, empathy, innovation, and creativity. She writes: “When we shut ourselves off from vulnerability, we distance ourselves from the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives.”

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

Surprise surprise! Another C.S. Lewis goody!

C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce is a classic Christian allegorical tale about a bus ride from hell to heaven. An extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment, Lewis’s revolutionary idea in the The Great Divorce is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside. Using his extraordinary descriptive powers, Lewis’ The Great Divorce will change the way we think about good and evil.

Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World by Rich Wilkerson Jr.

I'm actually super excited to read this one and it might just move up my list to one of my next reads. Rich spoke at our church about a year ago and was amazing. He pastors a church in Miami, Florida and his wife is an amazing preacher as well.

In Sandcastle Kings, Rich Wilkerson, Jr. (star of the new Oxygen series Rich in Faith) uses four powerful stories from the seventh chapter of Luke to explain why spiritual fulfillment cannot be found in ourselves, in other people, in material things, or even in religion. By studying the stories of the centurion’s faith, the resurrection of the widow’s son, Jesus’ message about John the Baptist, and the anointing by the woman with the alabaster jar, you will be able to face your doubts and insecurities and overcome your anxiety, discontentment, and depression. Wilkerson wants you to understand that the only answer for your spiritual bankruptcy is Jesus and that until you turn to him you will never experience the lasting peace and joy you so desperately crave.

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This book has been recommended by many business people that I highly respect. I love that it was actually written almost 80 years ago and the principles taught still hold true today.

This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated.

For more than sixty years the rock-solid, time-tested advice in this book has carried thousands of now famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.

Now this previously revised and updated bestseller is available in trade paperback for the first time to help you achieve your maximum potential throughout the next century! Learn:

• Three fundamental techniques in handling people
•  The six ways to make people like you
•  The twelve ways to win people to you way of thinking
•  The nine ways to change people without arousing resentment

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

I'm guessing you know exactly why I want to read this book! I'm a #girlboss and I love other #girlbosses so of course I'm going to read this and see what I can learn from her!
#GIRLBOSS proves that being successful isn’t about where you went to college or how popular you were in high school. It’s about trusting your instincts and following your gut; knowing which rules to follow and which to break; when to button up and when to let your freak flag fly.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The title basically speaks for itself. I've been a big fan of Stephen Covey for a while and just have never gotten around to reading this book. My kids are actually going through the 7 habits at school this year so I guess I better get on board quick!

One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has captivated readers for 25 years. It has transformed the lives of Presidents and CEOs, educators and parents— in short, millions of people of all ages and occupations.

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

This was another recommendation from several friends and has over 10,000 amazon reviews giving it 4.5 stars so I'm guessing it'll be a winner for me as well!

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.

The Happy Intercessor by Beni Johnson

I've always been an intercessor and really want to dig deep into the gifts God has given me. My dear friend, Sophie recommended this book to me and I'm excited to see where it leads me in my faith and in the places God is taking me.

Intercession With Joy!! Beni Johnson's personal journey to becoming The Happy Intercessor takes you on an exciting adventure to capture the heartbeat of Heaven. From her violent shaking experience to the 'thin place' between Heaven and earth where supernatural spirituality is commonplace, you will be amazed and empowered with the joy she shares. Being addicted to God's presence brings comfort and peace to all believers-becoming a happy intercessor is within your reach. You can make a difference in your family, workplace, community, nation, and world.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Another recommendation from several friends. I always love a good novel and this one has reviews saying "You'll get sucked in!" So that sounds good to me :)

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

All the Light We Cannon See by Anthony Doerr

And last but not least this was based on many recommendations as well. I'm guessing if you're a big reader you've already read most of my list!

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Now you tell me! What are some books I should be reading?? I'd love to start releasing book lists every few months so I'll need more recommendations.

xox