The following books are some of my very favorites. You will fall in love with the characters and mourn them when the story ends. They are all beautifully written and worth sharing! Happy reading.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
If you have never read Kristin Hannah you will want to binge read all of her books once you finish this one! This book follows a Vietnam Vet and his family as they move to Alaska desperate for a new life. However, the weather and terrain do not improve his emotional and mental state. A survival story that will make you truly fall in love with the sweet daughter Leni.
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Rill and her four younger siblings are river rats living aboard a rundown boat on the Mississippi River. When their father leaves to go to the hospital with their mother, the children are whisked away into an orphanage. The story flashes forward to current day in Aiken, South Carolina following a character named Avery. She returns home to care for her father and begins a journey to discover her true family history.
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
I admit that I am not usually a memoir reader, but I am so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone for this one. Tara tells her story in such a entrancing way it is almost impossible to put down. I laughed, I cried, I sat in pure disbelief. As a teacher, I was of course drawn to the fact that education changed her life. This is definitely worth the read.
The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton
Sara’s grandmother owns a B&B in a quaint small town. Sara owns a bustling antique store in New Orleans. When Sara discovers her grandmother has passed away she returns home to settle the estate. When she arrives she learns that her grandmother has willed her the task of fixing up the B&B. This is a beautiful story that will tug your heartstrings and make you smile.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Alice marries a handsome, wealthy man and moves from England to Kentucky to be his bride. Feeling outcast and bored, she volunteers to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library initiative. This story follows the journey of three women and the men they love. It’s based on a true story. This book empowers women and shows the lengths we will go to protect those we love.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Ove is one of my favorite characters! He is grouchy, antisocial, just an overall sourpuss. His neighbors call him the “bitter neighbor from hell.” A new family moves into the neighborhood with two small girls. One accident leads to more interactions and eventually you learn Ove’s true story. Read this book and you too will fall in love with Ove.
If the Creek Don’t Rise by Leah Weiss
Set in Appalachia, Sadie marries a man mean as a rattle snake and quickly realizes she made a mistake. This southern fiction stories is stocked full of colorful characters who will keep you on your toes. Will Sadie be able to find her way out of her situation?
