Five Books I’ve Been Reading (And Loving!) This Year
As we pass the halfway mark of 2024, it seems like a good time to go back over some really good reads I’ve discovered (or rediscovered!) since January.
It feels like 2024 has been a good year for books so far—but that may be just because I’m now getting the most out of the Libby and Hoopla subscriptions I can access free through my public library. (Seriously—check out what your local library is offering in terms of digital services and unique opportunities! There’s some pretty cool stuff available these days.)
I absolutely can’t (and don’t want to!) rank these books from favourite to less favourite because they were all so good, and they were also very different books and I hate comparing apples to pears, you know? So I’m going to take the easy route and list them alphabetically. Just know that these were all five-star, A+ books by my ranking!
The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick
Okay, so this isn’t a BOOK but a series, and it’s also a re-read (don’t ask me how many times I’ve read it in the last two years), but I did just finish a revisit of this fun series and I decided to include it here.
The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott is a series of spy novellas involving an Arizona barista who has a talent for ending up in the middle of undercover operations—especially after she becomes friends with a super spy she meets on her first adventure.
I really love the combination of fun and suspense, with just a touch of romance woven in. Even on the fourth or fifth time through, I still find myself wanting to read just one more chapter! The series is super-clean and very low on the violence, which I very much appreciate. Engaging and suspenseful without relying on too much darkness and violence, it was a perfect combination for me.
My favourite part of the series has to be the character dynamics between Brent and Emily—their relationship is just so fun! The balance between suspense and humour is absolutely perfect, with just the odd touch of sweeter moments to round out the story. Emily Abbott is a comfort food series for me—one that I’ll definitely come back to over and over again!
The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi
So when I looked back at my records, it appears this book was actually a late 2023 read for me—but who’s counting? I waited a long time on hold from the library for this book, after a recommendation from a friend, and it definitely did not disappoint!
The Lazy Genius Way is a new approach to the feeling of overwhelm that we pretty much take for granted as adults in 21st Century Western culture. Instead of trying harder at everything, why not pick the things that really matter and let go of the rest?
I love reading self-help books, but some of them leave me feeling overwhelmed and guilty because I can’t possibly put all the exercises, tips and lifestyle changes into practice while continuing to live my busy life. This book, however, left me feeling empowered, knowing that imperfection is normal and to be expected, and the important part is finding out the things that really matter to me and doing them well. The concepts were simple, memorable and easy to implement, and Kendra Adachi’s fun, conversational style made it a pleasure to read. I also really enjoyed hearing the audiobook in the author’s own voice!
I often deal with guilt for all the things I’m not doing or not doing well, and this book felt like a kind, helpful reminder that it’s okay to be imperfect, and to do what matters for you and the life God is calling you to lead, instead of comparing to other people.
The Lazy Genius Way is a fantastic book for anyone dealing with overwhelm, and a thoroughly enjoyable read! I’m also very excited for the release of her new book, The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius, coming this October! (I already have it on pre-order hold from the library!)
Safe All Along by Katie Davis Majors
When I heard late in 2022 that Katie Davis Majors was releasing a new book, I pre-ordered it immediately with Audible credits because Katie has been an auto-buy author for me ever since Kisses From Katie changed my life in 2018. I love her beautiful ability to weave spiritual truths and deep lessons into the fabric of everyday anecdotes from her unique-yet-ordinary life. I gobbled up the audiobook more than a year ago, and now I’m rereading it in hardcover.
While Safe All Along had less of Katie’s personal story than her two previous books, it was still an amazing read and hit me in exactly the places I needed. Anxiety is something I’ve experienced since childhood, and Katie’s realistic but hope-filled perspective on the topic was well worth reading. Her faith in God, coupled with her willingness to be real about the struggles we face as humans, are a constant inspiration to me.
I absolutely love her writing style and the way she brings Biblical truths alive in a simple yet powerful way. Reading Safe All Along was like drinking in life—real and raw but full of hope and healing. God sees, He cares, and He is keeping us safe even when we feel like we’re drowning in danger and uncertainty.
If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety or felt like you needed to control outcomes because that was the only way to keep yourself safe, I would definitely recommend giving this book a try (oh, and her other two, while you’re at it!).
Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes
Amanda Dykes has been an exciting and perfectly-timed discovery for me this year! I read Yours Is the Night around Christmastime 2023 and have been devouring her books ever since. Who knew the world had an author like her? The combination of lyrical prose, expert storytelling and innovative techniques makes her stories breathtaking adventures that feed the mind and the soul.
I picked Set the Stars Alight for this spotlight because I had to pick one and it might just be my favourite of hers yet, but I really don’t know if I can choose between it and Whose Waves These Are. Both are intricate and beautiful stories of struggle, heartache and hope, woven through with deep themes, beautiful imagery and masterful storytelling.
One thing that I love about Amanda Dykes’ writing is the captivating and skillful use of dual timelines to tell one cohesive story, and this is perhaps my favourite part of Set the Stars Alight in particular. As a writer myself, I watched in awe as she unfolded one story in two eras, carefully and precisely choosing which pieces of information to release in which timeline. I would love to hear her explain in detail how she does it!
As much as I am in awe of her as a reader, I’m also tremendously inspired by her as a writer. In a time of struggling to figure out where I fit in the modern literary world, Amanda Dykes showed me that there is a place for people who write beautiful stories full of emotion and a thread of hope and faith. If you’ve never read any of her books (or you still have some of them waiting on your TBR list) this is your little nudge not to miss out on her treasure-trove of titles. Oh, and I’m also eagerly awaiting her new release, Born of Gilded Mountains, coming out tomorrow!
Untangle Your Emotions by Jennie Allen
This book, people! Another perfect-time-and-place read for me. Having loved Jennie Allen’s writing in the past (shout out to Get Out of Your Head), when I saw she had written a book on emotions, I knew I needed to read it. That being said, I tend to think of myself as a fairly emotionally literate person, so I was curious if there would be anything new for me or if it would just be an encouraging reminder to be real with my emotions.
Well—I was blown away by this book. Written in Jennie’s signature engaging, light-hearted-but-serious style, Untangle Your Emotions took a MUCH deeper dive into the world of naming and feeling your emotions than I was prepared for. I’ve sometimes heard people complain that Jennie Allen’s books are too light and fluffy, but I’ve honestly struggled to understand where that criticism came from. This book took me further than I expected, and uncovered areas of my life where I was selectively numbing the emotions I didn’t like. Full of practical advice, helpful anecdotes and relevant Scriptural truths, I would recommend this book for anyone who feels worn-out from trying to feel the way they “should.”
Perhaps the most powerful thing I took away from the book was the concept of just allowing yourself to feel and name the emotions that come—no judgment, no attempt to control, just letting the feeling come, exist and release. It’s truly been life-changing, and honestly has allowed those emotions to pass a lot faster than when I stuffed them and numbed away the “bad” feelings I wasn’t willing to face. I am definitely going to be an emotionally healthier person because of reading this book!
So there you are! Five favourite reads from the last half-year. I hope you’ve found some new books/authors to check out, or remembered some favourite books to revisit. I’d love to hear recommendations in the comment section below!
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