February Virtual Coffee Date

February 7, 2025 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 12 Comments

Happy first Friday in February! I’m joining several other bloggers today for a virtual coffee date, which is fun. If you know me, you know I don’t actually drink a lot of coffee in real life, or caffeine. But if you care to join me over a decaf latte, here’s what I’d share over coffee:

Note – there are some affiliate links below, so if you decide to buy my exercise bike, thanks in advance 🙂 But I really do love all these!

I’m over winter … but surviving! Okay, I hate to start with a grumble, but if we were actually meeting for coffee, I’m sure you’d say the same! We’ve had SO MUCH wintery weather this year, and many schools were closed near me yesterday for ice! Can’t it just be spring? Here is how I’m surviving this winter:

My treadmill – I’m LIVING on it.
My Merach exercise bike. I admit it’s no Peloton, but as someone who mostly works out on a treadmill or outside, it’s been nice to have an affordable bike for me to use as cross training when it’s too cold, icy, or my legs are sore.
Yaktracks. I bought these new ones a few weeks ago for running, and they seem to work well! I don’t love running on snow often because it impacts my gait, but if there’s a little snow and not much ice, these have been lifesavers.

What I’m reading lately. I am still in the middle of Onyx Storm and just got to some serious action and can’t put it down! I don’t want to finish it because I’ve heard it just ends (ugh!) and it will be some time before the author writes the next in the series. So I’m taking my time. I did just finish two good reads that I’d recommend:

If you like historical fiction with a little spice: The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr was enjoyable. It was like Evelyn Hugo meets World War II Nazi drama.
If you like sci-fi that takes place in modern times on Earth: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green was so good. I loved the way it was written and that it wasn’t too far out. We read it for book club and I’ve already read the second book because I couldn’t wait to hear what happened next!

What I’m excited for this weekend. Our weekends have been crazy lately – we typically have 2 basketball games, a soccer game, 1-2 futsal games, piano lessons and ice skating … and all that’s for the kids! Well, this weekend I’m taking time for ME and going to the Cleveland Marathon Kickoff Run! It is thanks to arranging for childcare, having my husband carry the load, and having FW get rides from other parents … but I’m going to make it happen and go run with the group on Saturday morning.

photo from last year’s kickoff run

As a reminder, I’m a Cleveland Marathon Ambassador, which means I also have discounted race admission should you want to sign up – you can use SAVE20MELCARN for 20% off your race entry into ANY of the races (including 5K, 10K, kids run!).

Thanks for joining me for my Ultimate Coffee Date!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Ultimate-Coffee-Date-1.jpg Ultimate Coffee Date is hosted by Coco and Deborah

Questions for you:

If you have crazy weekends, how do you fit in time for you?
Are you over winter yet, too?

What I Read in 2024: 60 Books

December 30, 2024January 3, 2025 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 1 Comment

Ahh, this year more than other years I truly felt that there are too many books out there – and not enough time to read! I had a great year in terms of reading, with a wide variety of books – nonfiction, fiction, romance, YA, thrillers, historical fiction, memoirs, etc. Thanks to Goodreads, I know that I read 22,619 pages this year and the average book length was 370 pages (down from last year’s average of 389 pages thanks to the epic ACOTAR – one of those books was 757 pages!).

Here’s a look at everything I read in 2024 – in order of most recently read to first read. And scroll down for some of my favorites:

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden
Replay by Ken Grimwood
Son Yet Sung by James McBride
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Fantasticland by Mike Bockroven
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J Maas
The House on the Cereulean Sea by TJ Kune
Educated by Tara Westover
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas
Half a Life by Jill Ciment
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
You’re Safe Here by Leslie Stephens
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Consent by Jill Ciment
An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Junstinian Huang
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
James by Percival Everett
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
Happy Place by Emily Henry
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher
The Longest Race by Kara Goucher
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer
North Woods by Daniel Mason
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The Maid by Nita Prose
The One by John Marrs
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai
Dear Girls by Ali Wong

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Here are some of my thoughts on the books:

Books that Left Me Feeling Warm and Cozy:

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna – This was cute and left me feeling warm inside. It’s about a young woman (a secret witch) who moves in with a few younger witches to help them learn how to use/control their powers.

The House on the Cereulean Sea by TJ Kune – Ah, I really loved this book. It was also coincidentally about magical creatures/kids so maybe I have a thing for kids with magical powers? One of the kids is also named Lucy (his real name is Lucifer as he’s the son of the devil … because that’s what this book is like!).

Books That I Liked the Concept of More Than the Actual Book

I’m not saying these weren’t good books. They had good concepts and I know people who enjoyed each of them! But I think I loved the idea behind them too much to enjoy the book as much.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – I don’t want to give too much away, but the book involves a murder mystery, time travel/loop (or some term that I don’t know) and more. Loved the concept when I figured out what was going on, but it could’ve been done better in my opinion – some of it dragged on for me.

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica – I have a thing for post-apocalyptic/dystopian books, so when I heard about this from a friend I was intrigued. It is about a world where a virus has contaminated all animals, so humans are forced to eat other humans for protein, leading to essentially farms/slaughterhouses of humans that are bred purely for meat. It was too much and too detailed for me personally, but overall a read that made you think. I would’ve done without as much detail about cannibalism though 🙂

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley – The book is about a woman who works for a new government ministry in charge of helping expats from throughout history (yes there’s time travel) living in modern-day London. There’s aforementioned time travel, romance, spies – but I had a hard time getting through parts. I still enjoyed the overall book and themes, but the concept sounded more fascinating to me than the actual read was.

Books that Left Me Thinking (in a good way!)

We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai – We read this in my book club and I really enjoyed it. Each chapter is told from the different perspective of a refuge who has had to seek life in another country, often very far from home. It makes you look at immigration, refugees, etc. differently.

Educated by Tara Westover – I know this book isn’t new but I hadn’t read it years ago because I thought it was about something else. Tara tells the story of her growing up in a conservative religious household where she was homeschooled and barely exposed to the outside world; she later desires to go to college and the book tells of her journey to do this, as well as her complex feelings about leaving her family.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali – I haven’t read many (any?) books about Iran, and this book about two women growing up in 1950s Iran that goes through the 1980s really stuck with me.

Books That I Couldn’t Put Down

Note – I’m not saying these were the best books I read this year. They were books that yes I enjoyed, but also books that I found either the plot so gripping or books that left me on the edge of my seat so that I had to keep reading.

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden – What Frieda McFadden book isn’t hard to put down? My friend Emily dropped off the actual book after she read it and I read it in 3 days.

Replay by Ken Grimwood – My cousin recommended this older book at Thanksgiving and I’m glad I picked it up. It’s about a man who dies in his 40s – but then wakes up in college again, living his same life over and over again until he dies in his 40s and wakes up again. It made me think about what I would do differently if I could live my life again and it really makes you aware of all the possibilities there are in life based on one little moment.

Fantasticland by Mike Bockroven – What happens when a hurricane hits a Florida amusement park and the employees are left stranded in the park? This was a thriller that I would probably be too scared to watch on the screen but I LOVED it and couldn’t put it down. I don’t read gory thrillers often, but this was too good.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult – Sorry but I’m not usually a big Jodi Picoult fan. I find her books too emotionally draining and almost too intentionally sad/depressing .. but Mad Honey. Wow. I don’t want to give too much away but I really really loved this book and had to keep reading.

My favorite three I read this year (in no order)

Real Americans by Rachel Khong – This was a really interesting story about three generations of Chinese American women and their different experiences living in the U.S.

James by Percival Everett – this is a re-telling of the adventures of Huck Finn, told by the slave’s POV. I loved loved loved this book – possibly my favorite this year.

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride – I do love a good James McBride story and this one didn’t disappoint. I love his storytelling, the outrageous things that happen to his characters and the way his characters come to life.

Some questions for you:

What are you reading right now?
What book did you recently read that you recommend?

Five Friday Fitness-Related Favorites

March 15, 2024March 13, 2024 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

Happy Friday! I’m joining the Fit Friday Five linkup today to share Five Fitness-related Favorites. Say that five times fast amiright?

Now that my leg is nearly recovered, I’m feeling like I am finally getting back in the groove of my fitness routine. I’m back to running (somewhat) regularly, doing cross training, planking daily (up to 2:30!) and fitting in push ups and other exercises. So here are five things that I’m loving lately, related to fitness:

Note – there are some affiliate links below, but I really do love all these!

A good pair of shoe inserts. These are my go-to orthotic inserts for my running shoes. They are (relatively) cheap (compared to prescription ones) and they last me a while. Each time I buy a new pair of running shoes, I remove the inserts that come with them and add these instead. They’re so easy to use and keep me feeling supported when running!

From their website (but I’ve also bought at Amazon and from Fleet Feet)

PowerStep Pinnacle Insoles | Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Relief Orthotic

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My massage gun. I was gifted with the Bob and Brad C2 Pro Massage Gun and it has become part of my routine. I use it weekly on my legs and lower back to help loosen up sore areas or places that I’m tight at. It comes with different tips, and you’re able to use it as a hot OR cold massager, which I LOVE. I’m always cold in the winter and love the heat option. I haven’t used it in the summer, but I know the cold will be lovely in summertime. It also comes with a carrying case, which makes it easy for when I bring it from the basement (where I work out) to other areas of the house. Note — if you want to try out this massage gun for yourself, here is a 10% off discount code: PRC2PRO10. I don’t personally benefit from this code, but you do get a good deal, thanks to the Bob and Brad team.

carrying

A variety of core workouts. I have been trying to do a plank every day, and am doing 2-2:30 minutes ata time most days, which is great for me! I also like to switch it up and try different online core workouts. One of my favorite fitness influencers who has a variety of core workouts that I’m loving these days is Pamela Reif. She has a ton of pilates, yoga, aerobics and core/ab workouts, which I have been trying out. And best of all – they’re all free and online for anyone!

My running vest. In Cleveland, it’s the season of in between weather. And on those days where it’s not quite cold enough for a jacket, but it’s too cold for just a shirt (or when I just want some extra pockets), I THRIVE in my running vest. I had a Nike one for years, which I have loved, but as it got older and more worn, I was looking for a new option. I found this affordable one (more affordable than some major running brands) on Amazon which has been perfect for me! In the winter I was wearing it over my running layers for extra heat. This week, one morning it was in the 40s and I wore shorts, a long sleeve and this vest. It’s perfect if you’re looking for something with pockets, that’s affordable and less frills.

(Yes, the brand name is “Little Donkey,” which is hilarious)

I’m wearing it in this photo – I brought it to Thanksgiving for their turkey trot!

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Local raw honey. What does honey have to do with fitness you ask? Plenty! Well for me, at least. I LOVE honey for my fuel for long runs. I have honey packets for carrying with me during long runs. And because I’ve been fighting a cold, I’ve been having a teaspoon (err..or a few teaspoons) of the raw honey that we bought at Pancake Town a few times a day – before my run, and later in the day as well. It not only gives me energy, but I truly believe in its healing powers. Oh and it tastes delicous!

fawhoney

Shoe inserts, a massage gun, online core workouts, my running vest and raw honey – those are what’s keeping me fitness-happy lately. What about you?

Fit Five Friday is hosted by My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher

Questions for you:

Do you like honey? I admit I’m kind of a honey fanatic.
Do you wear a running vest often?

Friday Favorites and a Virtual Coffee Date

March 1, 2024March 1, 2024 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 14 Comments

Happy first day of March! I’m joining several other bloggers today for a virtual coffee date, which is fun. I can’t remember the last time I did an actual real-life coffee date with someone (it’s been some time), so it’s fun to share with you instead some things I’ve been enjoying lately.

Over coffee, I would tell you that these are five things I’ve been grateful for lately:

Note – there are some affiliate links below, so if you decide to buy my bike, thanks in advance 🙂 But I really do love all these!

This tea. Okay, I don’t actually drink caffeine regularly, so if we were having a coffee date, I’d probably be sipping on some delicious tea – Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice. And this tea has been giving me life lately. If I do need a little jolt of energy, this is what I’m brewing these days. If you like cinnamon, I highly recommend it!

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My exercise bike. I have been getting over a running injury (ugh!) and I’ve been so grateful to have my Merach exercise bike to get me through the past few weeks. It has kept me sane when I can’t run, and also given me a way to sweat and work some new muscles that I don’t focus on when running. It’s no Peloton, but I does it’s purpose and is a great bike for when cycling is your cross-training and not your primary workout. Oh, and it’s a great tool to have when your toddler is waking up at 6 am on weekends and wants to watch Daniel Tiger …

This nail polish. I go through phases with my nails, but I have always loved a good painted nail. This Esse Gel Couture is a polish I use at home (thanks to my friend Emily for introducing me to it!) and it lasts longer than my traditional home “manicure.” I’ve done my nails on a Friday or Saturday and gone to work most of the following week with it still looking good, and that says something! Best of all – it’s regular nail polish. No need for any UV light or do anything special to take it off. I use regular polish remover with acetone and a cotton ball and it comes right off. I have this bright red color and the below pink, which is an amazing nude color.

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What I’m reading lately. After reading Killers of the Flower Moon, I wanted to find an easy, short book and this was everything I was looking for. Sourdough was a light, fast read. It wasn’t my favorite book of the year but it was quick and easy. It also made me think about getting into the sourdough baking cult (yes, I know I’m 4 years too late).

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Morning walks. As the weather starts to get warmer, I’m so glad to be able to get in a short morning walk with GM after the big kids go to school. The bus picks them up around 7:15, and if I’m working from home, I have a 45 minutes or so to kill before starting my day. While it was chilly some mornings this week, we had some beautiful 50-60 degree days with a gorgeous sunrise and I was able to get GM out for a few miles. These walks have also been key to my sanity while I’m not running – getting in any movement has been a blessing!

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Hope you liked my first Ultimate Coffee Date/Fit Five Friday linkup!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Ultimate-Coffee-Date-1.jpg Ultimate Coffee Date is hosted by Coco and Deborah
Fit Five Friday is hosted by My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher

Questions for you:

Do you drink coffee or tea regularly?
How often do you paint your nails or get them done?

What I Read in 2023: 55 Books

January 1, 2024 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

I am so glad that I’ve gotten back into reading. I used to love reading as a child, but slowed down my reading after college (stressful job where I worked too much) and then when I gave birth to my oldest son. But somehow, reading found me again after I gave birth to GM, and in 2021 I renewed my reading journey. In 2021, I read 36 books, and in 2022 I read 43 (see here for my list of books I read in 2021 and here for my 2022 reading list). This year, my book club reunited and with that plus my own reading, I breezed through 55 books!

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This year’s list is relatively diverse – I read some memoirs, YA, historical fiction, romance, thrillers, fantasy and more.

Here’s a look at everything I read in 2023 – in order of most recently read to first read. And scroll down for some of my favorites:

It Starts With Us – Colleen Hoover
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
Chain-Gang All-Stars – Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Watership Down – Richard Adams
The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams
Iron Flame – Rebecca Yarros
It Ends with Us – Colleen Hoover
The Woman in Me – Britney Spears
Tom Lake – Ann Patchett
The Things We Leave Unfinished – Rebecca Yarros
The Many Lives of Mama Love – Lara Love Hardin
Misfit – Gary Gulman
Mrs. Nashes’ Ashes – Sarah Adler
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry – Fredrik Backman
You, Again – Kate Goldbeck
Yellowface – R. F. Kuang
Fourth Wing – Rebecca Yarros
Time Shelter – Georgi Gospodinov
Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt
The Humans – Matt Haig
Hello Beautiful – Ann Napolitano
The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese
Ninth House – Leigh Bardugo
Black Cake – Charmaine Wilkerson
Horse Barbie – Geena Rocero
Between Two Moons – Aisha Abdel Gawad
Hang the Moon – Jeannette Walls
Romantic Comedy – Curtis Sittenfeld
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver
Same Time Next Summer – Annabel Monaghan
Fairy Tale – Stephen King
Young Jane Young – Gabrielle Sevin
The Sentence – Louise Erdrich
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason – India Holton
The Measure – Nikki Erlick
Signal Fires – Dani Shapiro
The Paris Architect – Charles Belfoure
Babel – R. F. Kuang
The Great Believers – Rebecca Makkai
The League of Gentlewomen Witches – India Holton
Spare – Prince Harry
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Sáenz
I Have Some Questions for You – Rebecca Makkai
Pineapple Street – Jenny Jackson
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
Peace Like a River – Leif Enger
Beautiful World, Where Are You – Sally Rooney
A Court of Silver Flames – Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Frost and Starlight – Sarah J. Maas
Nightbitch – Rachel Yoder
Assembly – Natasha Brown
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels – India Holton
Less is Lost – Andrew Sean Greer
A Court of Wings and Run – Sarah J. Maas

book1 book2 book3

Here are some of my thoughts on the books:

The sequels that were (dare I say) better than the first?

Iron Flame – Rebecca Yarros: After being surprised about how much I enjoyed the ACOTAR series, (I’ve never been a fantasy reader) I had to get onto the next fantasy trend and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed reading Fourth Wing, but LOVED Iron Flame (Book #2 of the Empyrean series) and could not put it down. I can’t wait for the next book and have so many questions, theories, and more that I guess will have to wait.

Less is Lost – Andrew Sean Greer: My brother introduced me to Less and I enjoyed reading his story. But the second book was even more entertaining for me. It was a good read, and the characters are so well done that you can just imagine them being your friends.

Surprising reads:

Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt: Oh, I loved this book. Is it strange to talk about reading a book that has parts written from the POV of an octopus? Maybe. But I truly enjoyed this book and the way the characters’ stories come together. I never would’ve thought I’d be so emotionally invested in the life of an octopus!

Better as an audiobook:

Spare – Prince Harry: Having Prince Harry read his own account of his life growing up as a Prince is a no brainer. Listen to this – don’t read it.

Tom Lake – Ann Patchett: I love me some Ann Patchett (if you haven’t read Bel Canto, go read it ASAP), but this book was made for audiobook. It’s read by the amazing Meryl Streep and she truly IS the main character (she even has three daughters in real life!). The story itself was just okay in my opinion, but if you want to feel like Meryl Streep is your mom telling you a story of her life, try the audiobook.

My favorite four I read this year (in no order)

I know not everyone will like these books. Some of my friends thought the Covenant of Water was too long, but I thought it was beautifully written and I loved the interweaving of all the stories (but yes, it’s LONG!). Some people I know didn’t care for Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and I didn’t anticipate loving a “book about video games” so much (it’s about so much more!) but I teared up when it was finished because I loved it so much. And The Great Believers and Demon Copperhead. Both were hard for me to read but I loved them both so much! Demon Copperhead took me a little while to get into and some thought it was longer than it should be, but I truly loved the story. If you only read a few books from my list, these are the ones I recommend.

The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin

The Great Believers – Rebecca Makkai

Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver

Some questions for you:

What are you reading right now?
What book did you recently read that you recommend?

What I Read in 2022: 43 Books

January 2, 2023January 1, 2023 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

When I set out to ready 36 books again this year, I had no idea that I would blow through that goal. With a new job, three kids and who knows what else going on, I just assumed that I would barely make it to where I had been the year before (see here for my list of books I read in 2021).

Well, I ended up reading 40+ books in 2022, trying some new genres (YA and fantasy), new authors, and found some new favorites. Here is a look at every book I read this year: (Note – when I say “read” I do about half audiobook half actual reading typically – I like to read on my kindle or phone, and then pick up the audio when I’m driving or running)

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Golden Girl – Elin Hilderbrand
The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah
Evvie Drake Starts Over – Linda Holmes
A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara
Three Sisters – Heather Morris
The Overstory – Richard Powers
Circling the Sun – Paula McLain
Intimations – Zadie Smith
The Anomaly – Herve Le Tellier
The Sixth Wedding – Elin Hilderbrand
Fool Me Once – Ashley Winstead
28 Summers – Elin Hilderbrand
The Book of Two Ways – Jodi Picoult
Book Lovers – Emily Henry
The Rose Code – Kate Quinn
Later – Stephen King
Verity – Colleen Hoover
The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles
The Monsters of Templeton – Lauren Groff
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Meant to Be – Emily Giffin
After I Do – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Maybe in Another Life – Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
Sea of Tranquility – Emily St John Mandel
One True Loves – Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa
Upgrade – Blake Crouch
Chilean Poet – Alejandro Zambra
Forever, Interrupted – Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Last Housewife – Ashley Winstead
This Time Tomorrow – Emma Straub
The Book of Lost Names – Kristin Harmel
Carrie Soto is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid
The German Midwife – Mandy Robotham
Nora Goes Off Script – Annabel Monaghan
All Adults Here – Emma Straub
Our Missing Hearts – Celeste Ng
The Guncle – Steven Rowley
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of Life Interrupted – Suleika Jaouad
A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J Maas
Horse – Geraldine Brooks

Looking for new reads for 2023? Here are some of my thoughts on the books:

Most surprising books I read:

A Court of Thorns and Roses (the series, especially book #2) – Sarah J Maas: One of my best friends suggested I read this, and when I read the description of the book and series, I was skeptical. I don’t typically do YA books or fantasy/mythology type of reads (Sorry to say, but I never got into Harry Potter, LOTR, etc.). But then two more friends separately recommended these and I decided to give it a try. And now I’m hooked! I’m on book 3 of the series and can’t wait to keep reading.

Horse – Geraldine Brooks: My mom suggested this book, and when I looked up what it was about (a horse), I wasn’t realllly interested. But if you like stories that go from generation to generation or through different timelines of people whose stories are all connected, you’ll like this one. I found the horse part interesting and education since I know nothing about riding or racing horses, and the fact that it’s based on a few true stories woven together made it one of my favorites this year.

Books I want to be made into movies stat:

The Guncle – Steven Rowley: You know those books that you just smile while reading because there’s something just so fun about the characters? This was that book. I loved this! I would love this to be made into a movie, because it would be one where I’d laugh and cry and laugh again.

Nora Goes Off Script – Annabel Monaghan: I need to see this come to the big screen or at least to Netflix. It would make for a great rom com and I have some clear pictures in my mind of the characters, so I need to see how they would portray it.

Best beach reads I read this year:

Golden Girl – Elin Hildebrand: This book takes place on Nantucket, so naturally it would make for a great beach read. It made me want to get back to Nantucket – or really anywhere on the Cape – asap!

Carrie Soto is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid: This isn’t a true beach read, but it was a fun, fast read, and would have ben a perfect rad for any vacation. I read quite a few TJR books this year and this was hands down my favorite that I read this year.

My top 3 of 2022 (in no order)

These books are all so different from one another. One is a bazillion pages and emotional and even though I read it in the first part of the year, I still think about it. One is a history fiction/female empowerment story. One is a time travel-esque/pandemic story. Another is a story of friends and the trials that shape them throughout the years. If you only read a few books from my list, these are the ones I recommend.

A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus

Sea of Tranquility – Emily St John Mandel

Some questions for you:

What are you reading? Anything I should add to my next-read list?
How do you consume books – reading on an e-reader? Listening to an audio book? Real hard copy?

What I Read In 2021

December 30, 2021January 1, 2022 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

At the beginning of 2021, I set out to read 36 books. Easy, I thought, 3 books a month. (Note: When I say “read” I mean a combination of listening to audiobooks and reading. I do about 50/50, depending on the week and what I have planned.)

As the year went on, I realized 3 books a month would be a challenge. I decided to change the goal to 32 (because 2 2/3 books is that much easier), and spoiler alert — I ended up getting to 32, then reading 4 more to get to my original goal of 36!

36 books wasn’t easy. But, I rediscovered my love for reading and found myself hungry for new books and new genres and new authors as the year went on. I’m so glad I set the goal, and I’m excited to see what 2022 holds.

Here are the books I read this year, in the order that I read them in. If you scroll down, I’ve also included some info about which books I recommend, the fastest read, etc.

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Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Luster by Raven Leilani
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Faye Faraway by Helen Fisher
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Severance by Ling Ma
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
The Four Winds by Kirstin Hannah
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
The Color of Water by James McBride
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

Want to add some of these to your list for 2022? Here are my thoughts:

My top 5 books of 2021

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Deacon King Kong
The Color of Water
The Midnight Library
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
Honorable mentions: Less, What Alice Forgot

The hardest to read (But still good)

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: My coworker called this “raw” and that’s a great description. It’s a beautiful book, but man, some parts were hard to read for me.

The fastest reads/page-turners

Someone We Know: Not the best-written book, but I read it in less than 3 days. I had to hear what happened next!

The Last Thing He Told Me: I had to keep reading – it starts out somewhat confusing, but in a way that made me eager to find out what was going on.

American Dirt: I know there has been controversy behind this book, but I found the story truly riveting. So, now I’ve added all these books to my list for 2022: 8 books by Latin American authors to read instead of, or in addition to, ‘American Dirt’.

Leave The World Behind: I stayed up late one night reading this and couldn’t put it down. I just HAD to find out what was going to happen! (And if you’ve read this, please PM me about the ending)

The best audiobook

Daisy Jones & The Six: It has an amazing cast (Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, Pablo Schreiber) and honestly was easier to listen to than read because there are so many different characters. The audiobook has each person read their own section and it felt like I was listening to a series of interviews.

Best “beach reads”