10 Rave-Worthy Reads
Happy springtime, you guys!!! Even though summer is still technically one month away, I am embracing it early! The days are long, the weather is dreamy, and I can see the end of the school year. And what on earth pairs just perfectly with afternoons by the pool, long lazy evenings, and sunny, swoontastic getaways?
Obviously: GREAT BOOKS!!!!
In keeping with my pattern of falling behind on my book reviews (ha!) but never forgetting completely (promise!)—I’ve been read-read-reading my way through 2022 and finally have some treasures to share with you! I’ve read some duds, too. Yikes. It’s just part of being a reader. I’ll cover those in my Instagram stories, along with some other super-good books that didn’t quite make this cut!
But here, I’ve gathered a list of my recent favorites! These ten reads were total standouts for me. Just W-O-W in some way or other. Almost all rated five solid, sparkly stars, with a few fours I adored, too. I’ve already mentioned many of these books on social media, so I’m thrilled to follow up with my full-throttle, raving reviews!
As always, there’s a sampling of genres right here, ranging from the best spiritual deep-dive nonfiction book that I have encountered in years, to the most disturbing thriller (no, really, this time) that I have ever inhaled. OM to the G. It’s all here, my dear folks! The good, the bad, the completely insane!
Without further delay, here you go! If you’ve read any of these, of course I need to know, and as always, I want your recs, too!
Big hugs from my bookshelf to yours!!!!!!
If you read one book on this list, my friends, let it be The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. I don’t even know how to write a review that can possibly do right by the holy, inspiring, transformative, God-breathed experience that is this book. I could just share my favorite quotes with you. “Hurry kills relationships. Love takes time; hurry doesn’t have it.” “A ‘successful’ life has become a violent enterprise.” (Wayne Muller) “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” (Mary Oliver) “Because what you give your attention to is the person you become.” I could tell you that John Mark Comer is the Christian voice my soul has been craving in our current world: a beacon, a bastion. I could tell you that this book has shifted pillars in my heart, wrecked long-held patterns, and permanently altered my view of the Sabbath. That it’s given me practical tools, and so much gracious permission to breathe. Or I could just tell you the most important thing, which is that this book points straight, right, and true to the person of Jesus. He’s all we need, guys. His ways are it. Every believer needs the words inked within these pages. My copy is tattered with highlights and underlines. I cannot wait to work through the rest of John Mark Comer’s books. Thank you to every friend who insisted I read this! It’s gold.
For several years now, I’ve seen Atomic Habits popping like it’s hot around my social media feeds, almost always from friends and leaders I really admire. Next year I’ll read it. Next January, maybe. Or… next decade. Whatever. I mean, how great can a book about habits honestly be? Um, guys, color me hardcore corrected because this book is a MOOD and a game-changer!!!!! I listened to the audio, like, super-fast because I was so engrossed—but quickly ordered and reread the hardback so I could underline pretty much everything. I am so big on habits. I couldn’t write or run without some sort of structure and set of building blocks. I’m always making lists and trying new things and tweaking my approach to big goals I have. I love how this book shifted my perspective away from those “big goals” and fixed my focus instead on the joy and fulfillment of the habits that make those goals possible. The tiny million actions essential to living the lives of our dreams! This book gave me SO MANY TOOLS and mindsets for strengthening the simple tenets of daily life. It’s so basic and revolutionary at the same time. I can all but guarantee this book will motivate, affirm, and ignite something in you, no matter your job or calling. “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” I’ll be thinking about that… forever. All of the stars!
I read The Love of My Life on the recommendation of my trusty co-book-club host, Allison, who never, ever disappoints me! Thanks for another smash hit, Al! I will likely suggest this to anyone who asks me for a mystery/thriller beach read this summer. It’s just that perfect blend of domestic suspense, slow-burn mystery, and multi-dimensional, heart-wrenching love story. Emma is living a lie, unbeknownst (naturally) to her adoring husband, Leo, and their sweet daughter, Ruby. Do you need to know more, reader? No, not really. Going in blind is better with this one, I think! Sit back and enjoy as obituary writer Leo uncovers secret after secret about the—gasp—love of his life. There’s so much more to the plot, though, that you will never see coming! I enjoyed everything about this book, from beginning to end, and couldn’t seem to read fast enough. Whole-heartedly recommend! Additionally, now I will absolutely and finally be reading Ghosted by Rosie Walsh, which I can’t believe remains in my TBR. Has there ever been a book you just KNOW you’re going to love so much that you just can’t make yourself start it? I know. READERS. So weird. I’ll let you know what I think!
I present to you another dime-piece thriller to enjoy in the golden sun! 10/10 for me, guys! Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are such an unstoppable author duo. Everything they pen turns to gold, in my opinion. And I wish I thought of this plot! Rogue therapist who lost her license but continues to practice using her unconventional methods? Hi! YES. Throw in the seemingly perfect couple with cracks in their glossy veneer, a setup I just never tire of? I don’t have to tell you I’m in! Wealthy Washington couple Marissa and Matthew possess all the makings of a couple I must understand. Who is lying, and tell me whyyyy, in a Backstreet Boys whine. I raced through all the frolicking fun and did not predict the twists.
See, the thing is—when you gobble down thrillers like I do, they become more and more predictable; less and less fresh. The bar is increasingly high for me. Ugh, that sounds so annoying and snobbish. But it’s true! The genre has become crowded; it is what it is. That’s why I loved this one. The Golden Couple was neither stale nor yawningly just like every other domestic-drama-with-a-slice-of-murder in town. It reminded me a bit of the book A Good Marriage from a few years back. Ooooh, I loved that one, too!!!! Add it to your list, also, if you haven’t read it. Anyhoo. This one’s a romp! I really adored it and think you will, too!
I first heard about Kelly LeVeque from my USC bestie-sorority-sisters on our annual vacation this year. We saw this book in the cutest Seattle boutique, and I was alone in having never heard of her! I’m not sure how, either, because it turns out we have tons of mutual friends. She went to USC around the time we did, and now is best-known as a holistic nutritionist and celebrity health coach to A-listers like Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, and Emmy Rossum.
I have so much to say about how much I love Kelly’s approach to wellness and health. Her foundational theory is that every meal we consume should ideally include the Fab 4—protein, fat, fiber, and greens—which I’ve found to be enormously helpful and clarifying for both my body and mind. But hear me when I say that you should GET THIS BOOK FOR THE SMOOTHIES alone! My naturopathic doctor (I know that sounds woo-woo, but that’s OK because she’s the angel who helped me get pregnant with Reese!) has been telling me for a while that I should start each day with a smoothie. Eh, I reply. I don’t really like smoothies. They don’t fill me up. Plus, no offense, but: Eh. Well, turns out I just hadn’t met Kelly’s smoothies yet! I have one almost every day for either breakfast or lunch, even dinner occasionally. They are so yummy, creamy, and filling, packing everything you need into one single cup and keeping me satiated for HOURS. Oatmeal Cookie, Salted Caramel, and the original Green Smoothie are my personal favorites, but I love every one that I’ve tried Best enjoyed in this Instagram-famous Simple Modern cup in the 28-ounce size, after you whip it up in your nutribullet. You’re welcome. Happy strong girl summer to YOU, boo!
The thing about Abby Jimenez—as my dear Devon Daniels says—is that she knows how tell a story. Holy charming alert. This book is a rom-com darling! I drank it down like a Body Love smoothie and savored it just as much. Plus, the leads gave me all the Virgin River vibes, which certainly didn’t hurt. Fancy big-city doctor girl meets small-town smoldering carpenter guy. Need I say more?! Once Alex Montgomery and Daniel Grant sucked me into their world, like, immediately, I never wanted to leave. Yes, it’s a story we’ve all heard ten thousand times—hi, Hallmark!—but this rendition is full of fresh humor, relatable conflict, and warmth-but-like-in-a-hot-way. On that note, FYI, holy steam level! In that regard, there is nothing Hallmark about this one. Rated R for Real, and throughout. A bit much on the graphic for me personally, but still a five-star homerun in my book. A total modern-day fairy tale!
Bookish love, snappy banter, and super-hot chemistry bubble in this ridiculously endearing romantic comedy! I just want to cuddle this one! ENAMOURED! When I saw the cover and title, to be honest, I was like, well, I’ve read (and enjoyed!) Emily Henry’s two other books, but this literally looks exactly like her book, Beach Read. Wait, is this the same book?! No, friends, it is not! Book Lovers is just a big ole feel-good blanket of smart wit, cozy charm, and, yes, like Part of Your World, more of that big-city-hometown-mashup-greatness we love.
They call her the shark: formidable blonde force and literary agent Nora. They call him the storm cloud: annoyingly handsome, obviously brilliant, email-flirt-master and remarkable book editor Charlie. When Nora and Charlie both find themselves in quaint Sunshine Falls—yep, the actual name of the town—the enemies tumble predictably but oh-so-deliciously into lovers. Oh, I just cherished every moment of reading this one! Any book with a sister storyline also just gets me. Nora’s pregnant supermom little sister, Libby, is another real star of the show here. Not to mention the embracement of tropes and the book biz. Pretty sure Book Lovers is now my favorite Emily Henry book! It is pretty darn steamy though. Rated R for that and for language. This is me warning you with a smiley face!
Who watched Inventing Anna on Netflix and hated to see it end? Well, no worries, you guys! Now you can relive it all in the dazzling form of a fictional book! I read this one in a day. It is so fast, fun, and furious. Goes down like the sweetest bubble gum laced with (probably poisonous) pop rocks. I gulped it down in between errands, but this book would be oh-so-perfect stashed in your beach bag for a girly weekend or day at the beach! This is a novel—pure fiction fun—but feels highly inspired by the one and only Anna Delvey and her shenanigans.
Young, ambitious, NYC-based writer Lora Ricci lands the internship of her dreams at Elle magazine. While grasping to find her way in the publication and the world, she meets ultra-glamorous, shadily mysterious, impossibly wealthy heiress and editor at Elle, Cat Wolff. Something about Cat doesn’t sit quite right with Lora, but—you know. Who doesn’t want an ultra-posh new BFF and a chance to live at the Plaza hotel?! As their friendship blossoms, though, so do more questions, red flags, and deceptions. Hold onto your Louboutins, guys, because this here’s a wild ride! OMG, I loved it SO much! I especially enjoyed the creative use of diary entries, emails, and various written reports to tell this twisty, sparkly whopper. Read it. You won’t regret it!!!!!!!
Here’s the part where I remind you how little historical fiction I read, you guys. Ha! It’s never my #1 go-to, and yet, I force myself to read at least three every year to push the limits of my taste and prompt myself to learn something new. And you’d better believe I make them count! The Personal Librarian was recommended to me by a dear, brilliant friend whom I trust impeccably. She knows how much I love books, but she didn’t know how much I loved The Vanishing Half in 2020. It was one of my favorites that year! Similar at the core, The Personal Librarian tracks the story of a light-skinned black woman who chose to pass as a white woman. Winningly, the novel also gives a big ole nod to the greatness of books. The engrossing, beautiful story recounts the life and work of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian. Belle is stunning, witty, charming, shrewd, stylish, and highly respected—nothing short of extraordinary. However, in racist white America circa 1905, Belle must fight to guard her real identity at all costs. Soon a power-player among the New York glitterati, Belle continues to strike unbelievable deals and forge incredible ties across art, literature, and society. I couldn’t get enough of this portrait of such a captivating, determined, and remarkable woman of American history. Her achievements, her relationships, her family of origin, her desires. Her fascinating perspective. I swoon over this book and wholeheartedly recommend!
I saved Pretty Girls for last because I know it will appeal to the narrowest slice of thrill-seeking babes among you. This book is three things: 1.) A glinting masterpiece, clean as a blade, 2.) Wildly unputdownable and absorbing, and 3.) The most disturbing thing I have ever read (probably), up there with Verity, If You Tell, and Still Missing. Chilling. Upsetting. G-N-A-R-L-Y. I don’t want anyone to say that I didn’t warn you! Did you hear that, y’all?! Big warning done, but then insert all the triggers. This one is decidedly not for the faint of heart.
Okay. I know a special few of you are still reading, soooo now I can safely rave. Baha! Karin Slaughter, my queen. How have I never read your work until now?! Every paragraph, every page of this book, is a marvel of literature and universe of its own. The character development is unbelievable. The twists, wholly unexpected. Even the most grotesque scenes—while hard to read—are both impressively tasteful and beautifully told.
The shocking back-alley murder of a man and vanishing of a pretty, young woman sparks the plot of this crazy maze of a story. Reunited sisters Claire and Lydia take the lead, almost 25 years after the disappearance of their third sister, Julia. Secrets. Siblings. Forgiveness. Revenge. I can’t say more without spilling too much—which reminds me that there is so much blood spilled in this book. And yet. This will be one of my top books of the year, for sure. I was obsessed. Engulfed. Okay. I’ll stop. Read only if you dare!
The end, friends!!!! Until next time!!!!
Based in Orange County, California, Stephanie Mack is a longtime writer, wife to one, and mom of three little girls. She has been blogging at MOMentary Insanity® since 2014. Her work has also been featured on Scary Mommy, Faithit, Coffee + Crumbs, and more. She holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from USC. When We Blinked is her debut novel.
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In 2024, one specific piece of writing advice has persisted in reaching my ears. Through the Booked Solid podcast, landing my dream agent, and my ever-trustworthy author friends, the message echoes: Get out of the slush pile.