I freaking killed it on the shelves this year. I hope the library employees are proud of me. It all happened because in the spring/summer I decided to take my self care seriously and the consistent progress and mental escape of daily reading was IT. Next thing I knew I had read 60 books.

Weirdly I got some snide and judgy remarks like “Wow I *wish* I had time to read that much but I work/have kids/am discovering a cure for cancer” or “How do you find the time? I’m just way too busy” that I wasn’t prepared for. Isn’t that weird? Being weird about someone’s hobby/values, especially when it’s a pretty tame and beneficial hobby?

“IDK Karen how did you find all that time to judge your daughter’s friend’s modesty choices?!!! BECAUSE IT’S CLEARLY IMPORTANT TO YOU SO YOU MAKE IT A PRIORITY RIGHT?!!!!”

Sorry. I’ll calm down. I just get really passionate about reading. And people judging modesty. But I really do prioritize and value reading, so I make time for it. Not only does it keep me sane, but it also makes me smarter, brings light and truth into my life, AND sets a good example for my girls. And do people think I’m just never doing laundry, completely ignoring my girls? I do ~some laundry.

Here are, in no particular order, my favorite reads from this year which I can recommend to you! I’ll be posting my 2019 reading lineup next week but don’t wait around – grab one of these titles and get reading now!

Fave 2018 Reads

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Start with Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, which is the first in the series. It’s amazing. This is the closest you can get to Harry Potter while still having a fun, original, exciting time. It’s just so great; I cannot say enough.

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown

This book really helped me kick off my year of SECURE. I love her and everything she shares. I loved the message of getting down to our common humanity, away from politics and religion. The idea of belonging to yourself helped shape my 2018.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

I know, I know. I was late to the game with this spectacular read. BUT I LOVED IT. I haven’t been this absorbed in a story in years. I read it in 48 hours on vacation and laughed and cried and screamed and loved every word, every page. UGH it’s just so good.

Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works by Evelyn Tribole

This book resonated with me on the deepest level and I cannot say how happy I am to never have to diet again. No complex feelings about food or rules or killing myself at the gym. Just happy and healthy and free. I’m not kidding when I say it has changed my life!

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Beautiful, inspiring, spiritual middle-grades fiction that is all about girl power and family connection and love and doing the right thing. Just a treat.

That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith & Family by Tom Christofferson

Y’all already know how I feel about this one. Please read it. Please.

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This said everything I wanted to say about modern feminism but didn’t know how. And it showed me some new facets to feminism I hadn’t yet considered. Her style and brevity make this an easy and quick must-read.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

This book had me SHOOK when I finally finished it at like 3 am and had to fight waking up Ryan to talk about it. It’s somethin’ else. Teen fiction at its very best.

Educated by Tara Westover

You’ll see this on everyone’s 2018 book lists and it deserves to be there. It’s stunning. Her powerful writing tells sad, funny, shocking, horrifying, and heartwarming stories that you won’t believe. The power of education and a listening ear will have you spellbound.

Being Enough by Chieko Okazaki

She is a freaking queen. If you’re looking for a book to make you feel like you are enough and you can conquer the world and that God loves you so so so so much – this is it. It strengthened my understanding and testimony of the Atonement and helped my relationships with the Gospel vs. Culture become much healthier.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This book is all of the things. It’s drama, comedy, thriller, horror, inspiration, and even romantic. And it does it all so well. This is a great book club read too because there is so much to discuss.

Mother’s Milk: Poems in Search of Heavenly Mother by Rachel Hunt-Steenblik

I don’t read much poetry, but this one was just beautiful. It helped me consider my own divinity and my Heavenly Parents in new and powerful ways. I cried multiple times and smiled throughout.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson

I think about this book almost every day. As a non-confrontational perfectionist people-pleaser I have never really learned conflict resolution skills. This book is such a clear and concise guide to having tough conversations at work, in your marriage, your family, your calling, everywhere.

Letters to a Young Mormon by Adam Miller

I wanted to go slow and process each line. This book is written in a language only your heart understands and it’s just so so good. He breaks down culture, conflicting doctrine, perfectionism, common Mormon myths, and more in a way that helps you want to grow closer to God and care about little else.

What an incredible year of reading. I am so glad I took the time and made the commitment because I’m a better person on this side of 2018 mostly due to the reading and studying I did.

Read, you guys. It’s worth every page.