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12 Books You Must Read

By Jessica

I always read a ton over Christmas break. I’m not sure if it’s because we have extra free time or if my unrealistic Goodreads goal is to blame. A few weeks ago I was three books short of my goal for the year. Five quick reads and 20 put off tasks later, I’m well on my way to creating an unrealistic goal for 2015.

If you’re looking for a few great reads to add to your list for 2015, here are my favorites. And if you want to see my book suggestions from last year you can find them here. (The list below contains affiliate links.)

12 books you must read this year

**Click on the books for links to purchase if you are like me and need to go straight to Amazon and buy all the books as soon as they are recommended.**

Yellow Crocus– This was an excellent read I finished in a day. It is the story of a privileged white girl growing up in the south, her wet nurse and the bond they form. I wanted to hug this book when I was finished.

Attachments- I’ve found so few books set in the quirky early ’90s so this one was perfect. It brought back hilarious memories of Y2K and bad clothing choices while delivering a page-turning storyline. I love Rainbow Rowell and this quick, light read did not disappoint.

Station Eleven– If this book had not come highly recommended I probably wouldn’t have read it based on description alone because it’s not my typical genre but I’m so glad I took a chance. Station Eleven flashes back and forth between the current day and a post-apocolyptic type world so believable I had to keep reminding myself this wasn’t really happening.

13 Reasons Why– Another one I couldn’t put down. This book deals with teen suicide and, to me, is a book we should all read as our kids approach high school age. It was riveting and real and a reminder to stay vigilant with our own actions as well as with our children.

Things We Set On Fire– I started reading this because it was a special deal on Kindle and then fell in love with it. It’s one of those explorations of the mother-daughter relationship with quirky characters woven in who you will root for until the end.

Wonder– Everyone should read this book. You, your kids, everyone. Just read it.

All the Light We Cannot See– This was a beautifully written story of a boy in Nazi Germany and a young Jewish girl and how their lives intersect. The tales are woven together beautifully and there are sentences so perfect I read them over and over again.

Carry Yourself Back to Me– I read this after being so surprised by “Things We Set On Fire” and was again not disappointed. Another emotional, entertaining page-turner full of rich characters from Deborah Reed.

The Perfume Collector– A beautifully told story that was just so unique. The further I got the more I did not want it to end. A young woman inherits a large sum from someone she doesn’t know and takes you on her journey to find out why.

Looking for Alaska– John Green’s books are excellent and this was no exception. Read this story of a boy finding his way as he heads off to boarding school and falls in love with a troubled girl then read all of John Green’s other books and tell me which one is your favorite.

The Rosie Project– I love the main character in this book so much. He is a quirky, Asperger’s-ish guy and you can’t help but root for him as he searches for the love of his life. I just found out there is a sequel and I can’t wait to read!

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry– Oh this book, it will remind you of why you love books in the first place while sending you on such a sweet journey with its characters. Now I want to read it again…

What was your favorite book this year? Have you read everything on my list?

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  1. Azra says

    January 3, 2015 at 3:58 am

    Omg, Thirteen Reasons Why and Wonder have been on my to be read list for ages now. (; I loved Looking For Alaska, and I’ve read Paper Towns and The Fault in Our Stars too.
    I think I like Paper Towns the best. (:
    Not sure why, it isn’t as exciting as Looking for Alaska, but I just love it.

  2. Charlotte says

    December 29, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    Thank you so much for this list (I just added a ton of your picks to my Goodreads “Must read” list) 🙂 I’m always looking for some good recommendations and a lot of these sound interesting. Also Rosie Project keeps coming up everywhere lately.

    I did read Attachments recently and LOOOOVED it so much. I think Rainbow Rowell is one of my new favorites 🙂 I just love the way she writes.

  3. Lanie says

    December 29, 2014 at 12:28 pm

    I just finished Rare Bird and loved it (it took be a little while to get up the courage to read it but I am so glad that I did).

    I will save your list of books – I haven’t read any of them – and when I find myself with unexpected time to read I will find these. Thanks so much & happy holidays. xo

  4. Courtney says

    December 29, 2014 at 11:26 am

    Thank you for this list! I will share it with my book club!

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About me

Jessica Watson

I'm Jessica, 40-something mom to five, four in my arms and one in my heart.

On any given day you will find me taxi-ing teenagers, mopping up our latest "art project" and trying to remember when I turned the crock pot on… all the while, looking for the closest Starbucks drive thru.

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