Before 2018, I think I’d read about five books in the last five years (basically since having kids). I listened to A LOT of podcasts, watched too many netflix shows, read blogs and articles, but hardly ever read a full book.

And then I discovered audiobooks. In March or April of 2018 I started listening throughout the day (at the gym, during the kid’s nap time, while straightening the house after they’d gone to bed) and loved all the new ideas I was thinking about, along with the thrill of crossing another book of the list.

I was short of my (revised) goal of 75 books in 2018 by 2 but instead of cramming a last one the last few days, I lined up my reading list for 2019.

I grouped the books I’m starting with in 2019 by category but they’re in no particular order. Some of them are book club reads and most others are just books I’ve put on hold over the last few months that I’m still waiting on. They’ve been recommended by friends or podcasts or maybe just my Libby account.

I’m trying to read less fiction in 2019 than I did this year and hold myself more accountable for what I read. I think this will look like a notebook of takeaways (or a google doc) or maybe more regular blog posts of “the last 5 books I’ve read” with summaries.

I’d love to hear what’s on your reading list for 2019! Or if you have any favorites I should add to my list!

2019 Reading List

Nonfiction

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown (recommended so many times I can’t ignore it anymore)
• Motherhood by Sheila Heti
• Like a Mother by Angela Garbes
• The Soul of America by Jon Meacham (Ben read it in 2018 and liked it)
• Becoming by Michelle Obama (everyone seems to be reading this – I never voted for her husband but I am halfway through and loving this so far. whatever your politics, this is a great read)
• Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole (another one with lots of recommendations)
• The Five Languages of Apology by Jennifer Thomas
• There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk (I’ve heard this is a must if you live somewhere with cold winters)
• Expecting Adam by Martha Beck (for book club this month)

Parenting

• Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham (started this one and excited to get further in – LOVED her book on siblings, reviewed here)
• Positive Discipline: The First Three Years by Jane Nelsen (heard great things about this)
• Loving Your Child is Not Enough by Nancy Samalin
• 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do by Amy Morin
• Secrets of the Baby Whisperer For Toddlers by Tracy Hogg
• Toddlers are A**holes by Bunmi Laditan (started this and only got 5 minutes in before taking this off my list)
• The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
• The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel (*reread)
• Brainstorm by Daniel J. Siegel (my favorite parenting author – this one is about adolescents)

Fiction

• A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult (her newest book and I’ve really enjoyed most of her others)
• The Reckoning by John Grisham (the newest from my favorite legal thrillers author)
• Fight or Flight by Samantha Young (got an hour or so into this one and returned it – a little too much of someone else’s sex life for me)
• The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay (loved the descriptions of Paris but didn’t love this book- especially the abrupt ending)
• Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (really enjoy her other books for fun reads). Another fun one from Liane Moriarty. I liked it but maybe not quite as much as some of her other books.
• The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
• The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (added this classic after our trip to Paris). I really disliked this one. I was convinced Hemingway would be a good way to mix up my modern fiction choices. I tried to focus on appreciating the writing itself because the story can be boiled down to miserable humans trying to solve for their misery by drinking excessively (with one female character who is either married to, engaged to, in love with, or sleeping with every male character).
• The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle: This was an engaging read one evening but not particularly memorable. If you’re looking for a love story without a particular happy ending, this is an option.
• New York by Edward Rutherford (I read his Paris and London books before traveling there this year and while they’re LONG books, Rutherford does a wonderful job of giving a history lesson through engaging characters and historical fiction stories)

Business + Personal Development

• Mindsight by Daniel J. Siegel (favorite parenting author but this one isn’t on parenting)
• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg: I finished this one with lots of ideas about changing keystone habits and feeling in charge of my life. Definitely ccheck this one out.
• How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen (this has been on my list for years and I’ve heard nothing but great things)
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod (this has been on my list forever – excited to revamp my mornings)
• Influencer by Brittany Hennessy