Here is everything I read at the end of last year. It was a good reading quarter – lots of great books! Even if you only have time to skim through it right now, you can always come back. I save all of my book recommendations on my homepage menu under “Lifestyle” and then “Book Recommendations”.
The books I read and loved in October, November & December last year
All Fours – by Miranda July
Everyone was talking about this book when it came out, so I almost felt obliged to read this one. I will say that it took me a while to get into it – but I think that says more about me than the book. This is a vulnerable, honest book about love and longing, one that is different to anything I’ve read lately. And while I don’t see myself as a prude, the sex scenes were explicit and plentiful, and that took me a while to adjust to.
The main character plans to drive across the country from LA to New York for work, leaving her husband and son at home. However, about half an hour from home, she exits the freeway and moves into a motel, deciding not to go to New York after all.
This book showcases a different kind of life than what’s normally expected from a woman and explores our feelings about what we believe and accept as a given or the norm. I laughed on more than one occasion and was, at times, blown away by Miranda July’s accurate descriptions of the middle-aged woman’s experience. It left me feeling a little sad but also empowered by a new way of thinking.
My rating is 3.5/5.
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Related: All the books I read and loved in the 3rd quarter of 2024
The Bookshop Ladies – by Faith Hogan
If you’ve been reading my book reviews for a while, you’ll know that I love books set in Ireland – and this is another one. This feel-good story, albeit with a shocking opening chapter, is delightful. Joy is on a mission to find out why her husband, a French art dealer, left a painting to a young woman living in Ballycove, Ireland. She sets off to find answers but then finds herself working at a bookshop and slowly becoming part of the small town. As the secret behind her husband’s painting becomes clearer, so do the challenges that it brings with it. This is a lovely, light read.
My rating is 3/5.
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Intermezzo – by Sally Rooney
This book follows the lives of two brothers after their father dies – Peter, a barrister living in Dublin and Ivan, who is 10 years younger, shy and a competitive chess player. The story tells of their previous bitterness towards each other and how it reaches a head during their mourning period. I found this a lovely read that covered interesting topics very thoughtfully. And it was refreshing to read a book from a vulnerable male perspective.
My rating is 4/5.
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James – by Percival Everett
This story is a reimagining of the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of the enslaved man called Jim. Percival Everett writes beautifully to illuminate Jim’s intelligence, compassion and determination. It is an important perspective and novel for our time and beyond. I highly recommend this one.
My rating is 5/5.
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Related: All the books I read and loved in the first quarter of 2024
The Kids Are All Right: Parenting with Confidence in an Uncertain World – by Gabrielle & Ben Blair
I’ve followed Gabrielle Blair’s Design Mom account for many years, so I snapped up this book when it came out. And although our youngest child is 20, I still found this book helpful. I love that Gabrielle and her husband, Ben, acknowledge that our role as parents does not end when our children become adults. Their tips and thoughts on parenting adult children are so welcome in a market that doesn’t have much on this topic. And I especially liked reading that letting go of certain expectations and being more accepting of how things develop is important. This quick read is worth it.
My rating is 4/5.
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Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir – by Ina Garten
Even though I hadn’t bought any of Ina Garten’s cooking books and didn’t know much about her, I heard good things about this memoir. And I couldn’t put it down. Suffice it to say that Ina Garten has had a fascinating life, and I learnt a lot about all sorts of things while reading this book. Yes, there are a couple of recipes, but mostly, you’ll read about her childhood, her parents, how she met her husband and how her career started.
My rating is 4/5.
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I’m Glad My Mom Died – by Jennette McCurdy
This is another book that I couldn’t put down. Well-written, this memoir is brutally honest, sometimes funny, and utterly heartbreaking. Jennette McCurdy, the star of iCarly and Sam & Cat, details her struggles as a child actor – her eating disorders, addiction and her complicated relationship with her domineering, controlling mother. This is not another book about a victim, though. Jennette is a strong, resilient woman, which is clear as you read this inspiring book. A real eye-opener.
My rating is 5/5.
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Life Styled – by Shira Gill
This is Shira Gill’s latest book – and the first of her books I’d read. I ended last year with this book in anticipation of welcoming a fresh, more organised new year. And this book did not disappoint. A guide to a more organised and intentional life, this book not only covers the decluttering of your home. But also has chapters about decluttering and organising your Health & Wellness, Relationships & Community, Career & Finance and Personal Development. I devoured every page, and I’m now a Shira Gill fan.
My rating is 5/5.
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