New year, new habits! I’m starting the year off my improving mind, body, and soul. I don’t have a lot of quiet time to sit and read, but I do have access to tons of books on my phone! And did you know that a fantastic way to trick yourself into liking exercising is by working out to audiobooks? No matter how tired I am of going nowhere while climbing stairs, I’ll keep climbing until I’m at the end of the chapter of a good book. At the end of this post I’ll share with you how I get audiobooks for free, but first here is my 2019 must-read book list:
2019 Must-Read Book List
When I say “read”, I really mean listen. This mama doesn’t have time to enjoy a book, I listen while on the go! Or washing dishes, or vacuuming, or running errands… You get it.
These books were recommended to me by other moms, so I haven’t actually read any of them yet. Horror and Sci-Fi aren’t really my jam, so you won’t see a lot of those on my list, but feel free to add your favorites from any genre in the comments in case another reader shares your interests!
The Art of Racing in the Rain This looks like a totally heartwarming story. The synopsis describes it as “A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope–a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.” This one is at the top of my 2019 must-read book list!
The Kitchen House I’m a little nervous about this one because I heard it will make me cry like a baby. But it sounds like a good read just the same!
Girl, Wash Your Face This is one of the highest-recommended books of 2018. I love Rachel Hollis’s podcast, Rise, so I’m pretty sure I’ll love her book too.
The Nightingale A historical fiction, this one comes highly recommended by several of my mom friends. “When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.”
Uninvited Not gonna lie, I need to read this one. A friend went through this with a book club, and she has great things to say about this book. I can’t wait for this one!
The Woman in Cabin 10 This mystery novel is “reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works”. I’m sure you haven’t heard of Dame Agatha Christie before, but she is one of my all-time favorite authors. I love a good mystery thriller, as long as it doesn’t leave me too afraid to be home alone!
What Alice Forgot I like the way Marie Claire UK summarizes this novel-”The gripping story of a woman who wakes up with a bump on her head and no knowledge of the past ten years…an acutely observed romantic comedy that is both thought-provoking and funny.”—Marie Claire (UK)”
Tuesdays with Morrie This almost 40-year-old bestseller is something I’ve heard about but never read.
Artemis Fowl I definitely want to read this book before the Disney movie comes out in August!
The Year of Magical Thinking I don’t know much about this book except that it comes highly recommended. Amazon describes it as “a portrait of a marriage–and a life, in good times and bad–that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or wife or child.” Sounds good to me!
My husband and I use Audible to listen to audio books, and it’s definitely the best option. It can get pricey though, so thankfully there is a free alternative. Many local libraries, like ours in San Diego, offer audiobooks! All I had to do was download the app, type in my library card number, and start borrowing my favorite books. The downside is, unlike Audible, you can’t keep the books forever. They have to be returned in 2 weeks, just like any other library loan. So I guess I better start working on my book list, right?
Please leave your favorite books in the comments so I can keep my audio library stocked, and thank you!