My 2023 Summer Reading List
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. Being an affiliate does not impact my suggestions or opinions - I will only recommend products that I love or am going to try myself.Hey, y’all!
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE to read…so much so, there was a time early in my marriage when the Twilight Saga was all the rage and my husband asked if everything was okay between us because my nose was always in a book - don’t worry, all was fine in the marriage-hood - I just couldn’t get enough of Edward and Bella’s love story.
#TeamEdwardForever
Fast forward a decade and a kid later, these days are much more difficult to get swept away in a book. In 2022, one of my goals was to read 12 books and I was successful, surprisingly surpassing the minimum. This year…not so much.
Now that it’s summer, I’m trying to be more intentional with my extra time (less scrolling) and read actual books - not just Facebook. I figured the best way would be to select books that have been on my to-read list for a while and some by my go-to authors. I’m going to try to get in a few different categories so I don’t end up binging only beach-reads…but let’s be real, there is NOTHING wrong with only reading beach-reads.
Self Improvement
So, you may have figured out that I’m a sensitive soul. My dad has told me since I was a child that I am an empath. Not long ago, I stumbled upon the book, The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People written by Judith Orloff. I recently started reading this book, took the quiz, and am apparently a full-blown empath: physical and emotional (sounds peachy, huh?!). So far, it’s been a great read. If you are an empath, you will definitely feel seen and validated in your daily experiences and emotions. I’m eager to dive in so I can learn and utilize the strategies offered in this book.
I may be being un-realistic by having so many books on my list, but I really want to read The Mountain Is You, written by Brianna West. I remember a few years ago during my small-group, one of the questions asked to the group was something like, “What stands in your way of your goals?” and my response was “myself.” I have a few different goals I have set for myself this year and realized that it’s June - I’m 6 months in and haven’t made a whole lot of progress. I’m hoping this book is just the push I need to make some lasting changes. One description I read states, “This book is about self-sabotage. Why we do it, when we do it, and how to stop doing it - for good.”
Christian & Faith
I am always looking for Christian books that can strengthen my walk and relationship with Christ. My goal is to read two different books. The first is Woven by Angie Smith. Her Bible study, Seamless, was a huge part of my gaining knowledge of the Bible. This year, I am (slowly) working my way through a chronological study-plan. Her book, Woven, may be the perfect companion. The purpose of this book is to tie all of the stories together into one story, much like Seamless, but in a book format, not a study format.
The second book is Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer, written by Tyler Staton and Tim Mackie. One thing I have heard throughout my time as a Christian is if your relationship with God feels stale or stagnant, how is your “quiet time” and “prayer life?” Well, this is definitely an area that I could improve upon and make stronger. The description of this book reports it as an invitation to trade your conceptions and misconceptions about prayer for prayer in it’s purest form: a vital, sustaining, powerful connection with God that is more real and alive than you could ever imagine.
Fiction
I discovered Colleen Hoover in 2022 and her books were over half of the books I read in 2022. I read It Ends With Us, (watch for the book-to-movie adaptation that Blake Lively is starring in soon!) a story of a young woman named Lily navigating her way through a volatile relationship when a blast from the past pushes her to come to terms with her reality. The sequel, It Starts With Us, picks up where the first book leaves off. I cannot wait to check this one off of my list! If you are new to Colleen Hoover, I would also suggest reading Verity and November 9 - both are fantastic!
Non-Fiction
I was listening to Candace Cameron-Bure’s podcast and heard about Man’s Search for Meaning. The author, Viktor E. Frankl, was a victim of the Nazi concentration camps. He was able to find purpose in a time of desperation by documenting and studying human behavior displayed before him. New York Time’s described the book as, “An enduring work of survival literature.” I’m sure this book will be gut-wrenching, eye opening, and an honest depiction of survival amidst the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Links
If you want to join me in reading some of these books, here are the links. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think of each one!
Heck, maybe one day we can start a book-club. :)
Happy summer reading, my friends!
