3 ⭐️

There were some interesting parts, but was hard to get into to. Loved the stories and case studies he used and have talked about it since.

3.5 ⭐️

Had to finish the trilogy, and it didn’t disappoint. The best stories were in this one, canon-changing stories with major characters.

4 ⭐️

Helpful to learn more about ADHD and the different methods for working with it. I recommend it to anybody who wants to learn more.

3.5 ⭐️

A really tough book to get through, but it was extremely helpful to learn more about the history in, around, and outside Palestine.

4 ⭐️

Pirates were already interesting, but this book made them 1000x more. I haven’t stopped bringing it up. The motivational bit wasn’t my favorite.

4.5 ⭐️

Crime mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I kept going back and forth on what I thought was true. Wild!

5 ⭐️

The sequel continued the adventure in the best way! So many good Potter parallels without feeling like it’s copying. Love this series!

3.5 ⭐️

Read it because it was based in a small town I’ve been to before. Didn’t love it, but the historical context was interesting.

3 ⭐️

A short one, but it still took me a moment to get into it. Once I did, I liked the concept. Reminded me of The Screwtape Letters.

5 ⭐️

Different than the first in the series, but Hank Green still delivers another book to make you ponder about the world we’ve created.

3.5 ⭐️

The original was just as good! I love this idea and all of the cool characters it creates within the Star Wars universe.

3.5 ⭐️

Such a great idea for a project from an author I really like! The musings were a little all over the place, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

4 ⭐️

I’ve been obsessed with the Kennedy family lately and this was a great overview in a gripping and engaging writing style.

3.5 ⭐️

A fascinating way to explore the Star Wars universe in a deeper way. So many incredible characters, authors, and readers involved.

4 ⭐️

Big fan of Hunger Games series and connecting to villains, so this was great. Snow & Lucy Gray are such fascinating characters!

5 ⭐️

Surprised by how much I loved this! I audibly gasped, belly-laughed, & felt the sense of losing yourself to something beyond you.

4 ⭐️

Beautiful random musings about conservation and the simple things in life by one of the funniest and most poignant people out there.

4.5 ⭐️

A fun but intense thriller with loads of great twists and turns. My mind was racing the entire time and I could barely put it down.

2 ⭐️

An interesting take on race relations, but the delivery of the characters and their development felt drier than I wanted.

4 ⭐️

If it weren’t for a slow and rocky start, I would have given this character-driven story about movie-making five stars!

5 ⭐️

This reflection on grieving across cultures, during COVID-19, and separate from others helps grief feel relatable and comforting.

4 ⭐️

I learned so much and laughed out loud while doing it. What more could you want? For all the moral philosophy comedians out there.

3 ⭐️

Didn’t like it as much as the first in the series. It was a little hard to follow, but I like the characters, so I’ll definitely read the next one.

5 ⭐️

One of the best books of the year! Reminded me of a more adult Potter-type fantasy with lots of great twists. Also, very steamy!

4 ⭐️

Looking at how US systems that benefit some keep many others in poverty. This book does a great job reviewing some simple solutions.

3 ⭐️

I’ve been enjoying some celebrity memoirs this year! Very short, but cool to hear the interviews with Steve and his own banjo music.

4 ⭐️

It’s a poignant way to illustrate the insanity of the US prison system. A thought-provoking, action-filled, and emotionally-educational book.

4 ⭐️

I was wary of this book, but it was so captivating. It had everything you could want from a war, survival, and controversy story.

3.5 ⭐️

I don’t think I’ve seen a Paul Newman movie, but I know he was a great philanthropist. It was very cool to learn more about him!

4 ⭐️

First book of the King Oliver series, and I really enjoy this character. He’s complicated and explores the moral grey area of life.

4 ⭐️

I learned so much about Korean culture, history, and food, schizophrenia, and the immigrant experience because of this book.

5 ⭐️

If you saw me ugly crying on the beach while listening to this, no you didn’t! Such a heartfelt story about the different types of love.

4 ⭐️

My first J.R. book of the year, and they always hit so good. An excellent action/adventure series, and this one was no different.

3.5 ⭐️

I saw the movie was coming out, so I wanted to read it. I loved the book's spiritual discovery, and Judy Blume always cracks me up.

4 ⭐️

I love how he makes hilarious and preposterous stories seem plausible with incredibly relatable characters. Kevin is amazing!

4.5 ⭐️

A book loan from Sarah Prince that I read in 48 hours! I love a book that challenges you to not always root for the main character.

3 ⭐️

This was good, but it got slow in parts and took me 2.5 months to read. It was a great example of an unreliable narrator (and editor).

3.5 ⭐️

Not as good as the original, but still a fun outdoor adventure story. Makes me believe I could actually survive in the wild (not true at all).

4.5 ⭐️

A great writer who shares terrible stories of being exploited. She makes you deal with the lack of agency many women experience.

2 ⭐️

It just wasn't for me. Too much introspection and not enough story movement. Haven't seen the movie yet, but maybe it’s better.

5 ⭐️

A classic from my childhood, and I needed to reread it for nostalgia's sake. BRB while I disappear into the woods for a year.

4.5 ⭐️

A bit of mystery, a bit of ethics, and a bit of a book-writing commentary. Such an interesting way to craft a story!

5 ⭐️

This was so weird and hilarious, and the audiobook had me absolutely cracking up. Kevin Wilson is a new favorite author.

3.5 ⭐️

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Iceland helped discover America, write Lord of the Rings, and land on the moon.

4 ⭐️

A fascinating look at the younger generation of males’ views on sex and related topics. It gave me insights and, honestly, hope.

3 ⭐️

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. The history of the Vanderbilts was somewhat interesting, but the bit about his mother was beautiful.

1.5 ⭐️

I couldn’t get into this story at all. A little funny, but overall missed the mark for me. Very confused about how it won a Pulitzer!

5 ⭐️

A classic James Bond adventure that serves as an origin story pre-Casino Royale. The author also wrote the Alex Rider YA series.

3 ⭐️

Wasn’t what I thought it was going to be and was a little confusing, but it was an interesting look into interconnectedness.

4 ⭐️

I loved all these quirky stories from such a legend, and that he wrote them on a typewriter and each story involves a typewriter.

5 ⭐️

She is a great writer, and I loved the first-person present writing style. Reading this is like being there in her very chaotic life.

4 ⭐️

Love a philosophical sci-fi story that makes you think about life. The story reminded me of “The Five People You Meet In Heaven”.