Last year I challenged myself to read 24 books. I started off strong, real strong–but as we neared the year, and I had a newborn and was a tad bit sleep deprived—I couldn’t quite reach my goal. I’m starting this year with a new goal—23 books in 12 months (because its 2023 and 24 just seems like too many). Who knows if we will make it, I sure hope I do. I have a pile of like 7 books sitting on my nightstand. I also have a ton of books I bought at a conference last summer that I haven’t read yet. I have high hopes. I also have high hopes of spending less time on my phone. So hopefully those two will go hand in hand.

It’s funny—I go through different seasons, some seasons where I read a lot, and others where I go weeks or months without picking up a book. With making goals, I tend to view things as an obligation, and I have to remind myself frequently why I want to challenge myself to read more books. It is not because I want to check off something from my list, and it goes deeper than wanting to post a cool post on instagram of my favorite books (although I do really really enjoy reading others posts). Reading is a form of relaxation, entertainment and also a way (in supplementation to reading the Bible) to grow closer to the Lord, to learn, and to strengthen my faith.

I never look at an hour spent reading and think “wow, I really wasted that time”. However, the amount of times that I look at an hour of watching TV, or scrolling through social media constantly leaves me with a void of wanting more. SO, here’s to 2023 and to reading 23 books! If you have book recommendations PLEASE leave them in the comments, or better yet, add me as a friend on Goodreads (because I love that app and I want more friends).

Here is my list of 2022 books:

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian

Nathan gifted me this book for Christmas, and he told me he picked it on whim—because the cover looked cool. It was good, I liked it! Good job Nathan.

The Forever Bridge by T. Greenwood

I’m not going to lie, I had to read the summary of this book on Goodreads to remember what it was about… BUT after reading the summary, I remembered that I did, infact, really enjoy this book.

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Good, easy, entertaining book to read. Nothing too special, but it was a good read.

Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office by Brian Baumgartner

This was a fun, quick read. If you like the office, this book goes into detail about how it started, and shares some funny stories that I would not have known otherwise.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling

FIVE STARS

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling

FIVE STARS

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

FIVE STARS

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling

FIVE STARS

Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist

THREE STARS (sorry Shauna). I liked the book, I really liked the recipes in the book, but I got a little tired of reading her stories. Maybe I would have liked it more if it was just a cookbook?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

FIVE STARS

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling

FIVE STARS

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

I don’t know why I like sad memoirs so much, especially about religious cults (lol), but this one was so entertaining.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

FIVE STARS!!!!!!

*Insert a long pause where I mourned the fact that I was done reading Harry Potter and struggled, I mean STRUGGLED to find another book to read*

Spilled Milk by KL Randis

Eh, it was okay.

A Curious Faith by Lore Ferguson Wilbert

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. I have followed Lore for a while on instagram after a friend shared a post she wrote on shame. I enjoy her authenticity and truth telling. This book was a breath of fresh air. It deflated the balloon I had pumped up inside of me of trying to pretend I had no doubts and no questions about God. She made space for me to be honest with myself, and remind myself of the truth, I recommend for anyone who has struggled with doubt.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This one was also so good! Funny how the books that people say are good, are actually good! I also had never seen the movie, and I really enjoy reading books and then watching their movies (hence ALL of the Harry Potters).

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Another one that I couldn’t remember🙃. But after reading the summary, I again remembered that I liked this easy, thriller, mystery read.

The Inmate by Freida McFadden

I forgot this one too! Could it be that these were the books I read during my third trimester? Probably, ha.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

My mom gave me this book, and I enjoyed it—especially the second half. Wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was enjoyable.

ALRIGHTY FRIENDS, that’s it. CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR!