ShawnLife Books

4 ⭐️

A dependable JR book with a fun countdown gimmick, which did add some heightened pressure, but I guessed the big plot twist early on.

3 ⭐️

Struggled to keep my attention at some points and the torture scenes were dark, but it was so relevant to today and that was hard to ignore.

4 ⭐️

A great dystopian/utopian novel where all white people die in one day. Explores black consciousness and generational/shared trauma.

4 ⭐️

Related to not being very handy, but learning through experience. Loved that the beauty of a cabin you love, comes from the imperfections.

3.5 ⭐️

“How difficult it is to love someone who was so wrong and who will never be right again”- Devastating quote about suicide. Floored me.

3 ⭐️

A very sweet story of two dear friends with a complicated relationship and in the background a bunch of great Star Trek lore.

5 ⭐️

Wow! Incredible twist and turns throughout the whole story. Really made you think and feel. I was blown away and still think about it.

4 ⭐️

Love this show, and this was such a fun way to hear all the behind-the-scenes stories and what inspired it. I recommend it for any fan!

4.5 ⭐️

A little bit slow in parts, but overall such a cool way to share this real life journey of giraffes across the U.S. in the 1930s. Thanks, Mom!

4 ⭐️

My least favorite of the series so far, but still so great! Love the mysteries that are unravelling here. I need a character guide though!

2 ⭐️

I really like Rainn Wilson, but this wasn’t it for me. Thought it could be a good opening back up to spirituality, but it failed for me.

5 ⭐️

Just a solid quality cop-drama mystery in a small town that deals with the darkness within and the racism surrounding the murders.

5 ⭐️

Love this beautiful story! I completely understand the self-destructiveness and it’s exploration of being white in this great city.

3.5 ⭐️

Read this because I want to read the new one and it was a good look into the power (good &bad) of small actions. Unmemorable though.

2.5 ⭐️

The concept was amazing, but the writing style and jumping around in place and time threw me for a loop. Loved the ending, though!

4 ⭐️

Love a book that makes you laugh audibly and then makes you ponder the broken systems. Also made me want to see all the nature!

4⭐️

The concept of Ubuntu is important to me and this did a great job exploring it within the contect of history and how it applies today.

3.5 ⭐️

Ever been keenly aware that a book wasn’t written for you? Fun writing style and an absolutely wild story. I get why so many loved it!

3 ⭐️

A cool concept that was a bit slow at times. All of the dishes sounded amazing (and a little snobby). The celeb cameos were fun!

4 ⭐️

This was great sci-fi, which feels like it might be powerfully allegorical, but packs its own power in the literal story on the page.

4 ⭐️

Very heavy but beautiful too! I really liked all the character perspectives and their web of stories coming together in a great tale of empathy.

4 ⭐️

I’ve read 5 of these this year and this one was even more meta than before and I loved it! A great simple murder series if you need one.

5 ⭐️

I was definitely a ‘Bernie Bro’ before this, but now I’m in love and if I ever run for office, this simple list of changes will be my manifesto.

4 ⭐️

Kind of randomly chose this, but was pleasantly surprised. Coming of age adventure within the context of a real life horror of Jim Crow.

3.5 ⭐️

Read because of CBS Morning interview controversy and I don’t think this book was controversial at all. A good read for authors!

3.5 ⭐️

Been obsessed with the Kennedys and thinking about this so much! Interesting perspective, but I wish it had gone longer beyond his terms.

3.5 ⭐️

Got the rec from TikTok, but had to push myself through it. Nothing much happens in Prof Stoner’s life, but it is somehow a beautiful book.

4 ⭐️

Shocked that this is only the 2nd Jack Reacher novel of the year! Honestly might be one of my favorites. Love the politics!

3 ⭐️

Been enjoying some writing books this year…stay tuned. The idea of flash stories (<1000 words) is so cool and a great challenge!

4 ⭐️

A kids book, but written by my favorite author. What more could you ask for from this sweet book? Fun hearing him do the voices too!

3.5 ⭐️

I really like Matt Haig’s allegorical books, sue me. They are a little bit magical in a way that makes you think it could be real.

4.5 ⭐️

Another creepy, fun, and provocative adventure from my favorite local SA author. The imagination is incredible!

4 ⭐️

Love Clint Smith. This was a great historical overview of the important settings of slavery in the US and abroad. Difficult, but important!

2.5 ⭐️

Read because of the movie but didn't realize it was short stories not related to the movie. Some were cool, but mostly very slow.

5 ⭐️

Peterpool (from Deadpool) lost his son to a brain tumor and wrote a beautiful, dark, and hilarious tribute to his way too short life.

3.5 ⭐️

I also really love a book that turned into a movie. This has fantastic British humor and zany adventures. The movie might even be better!

4.5 ⭐️

I'm learning that I really love a meta book. This was weird, and quirky, and made you ponder. The timelines did lose me a couple of times.

3 ⭐️

I want to write a book one day and I have an idea. This book will be helpful when I get into it, but right now it was a bit heady.

3.5 ⭐️

Didn't know what this was before and it's more of a collection of proverbs and short anecdotes. Good, but maybe not a listen.

3 ⭐️

I'm seeing a trend now cause I also saw this on a podcast. It's good and helpful, but he meanders. There are bits I'm still thinking about though!

5 ⭐️

It doesn't get better than a Green brother. I've wanted to read this since I listened to the podcast. Podcast to book is a cool journey!

3.5 ⭐️

Love Justin's podcast of the same name, so I thought I'd give the book a try. He is a great guy and I really appreciated many of his takes.

4 ⭐️

I'm 4 books into the series and I still love it. Each one is so meta, but doesn't rely on that as a crutch. The stories work on their own.

4 ⭐️

Enjoyed reading it but left pretty confused. Weirdly, watching the movie (even though it was cheesy) made me like the book more!

3 ⭐️

Very long and difficult to read as someone with undiagnosed ADHD, but I found so many of the strategies enlightening and helpful.

3.5 ⭐️

I really wanted to rate this better because the middle was so good, but the beginning and especially the end story were not good.

4 ⭐️

This is the 3rd in the series and it’s just a solid set of mystery stories with some quirky characters who can’t relate to each other at all.

5 ⭐️

Found a new South African author that I love He’s dark and funny, and doing things I’ve never seen that make the story so fun to read.

4 ⭐️

Seems like a divisive book, but I recently bought the sequel and had only seen the movie. I really enjoyed the nerdiness and the puzzle!

3.5 ⭐️

If you want an overview of fashion sustainability and its intersection of climate change and colonialism, this is the book! So relevant.

5 ⭐️

Haven’t actually watched much Cranston stuff, but he seems like a wonderful guy. He is definitely passionate, but a great storyteller.

3.5 ⭐️

Another quality Jack Reacher book, but this one seemed to go on a little too long for me. The intrigue in the beginning didn’t pay off.

4 ⭐️

This connected me with emotions buried deep inside me. Carvel brings thoughtfulness and care for his reader and his own story.

2.5 ⭐️

Felt like I should read a Hemingway book and this was cool, but I just couldn’t really get into it. I feel like a movie would be interesting!

3 ⭐️

Yet another memoir, but this one was by accident. Andrew is a fun time and the stories were great. Wanted more uncle content though!

2.5 ⭐️

I loved a previous book of R. Eric Thomas’ book and this wasn’t bad, but it didn’t hit the same level of hilarity as the first one.

4 ⭐️

In a nostalgic mood, so reading some childhood favorites. What I didn’t plan was to ugly cry at the tremendously tragic end.

4.5 ⭐️

One I couldn’t stop talking about to friends. This is a great piece of true crime and Italian history combined. Made me miss Florence a ton.

4.5 ⭐️

Read this as a kid, but learned there was a sequel so I wanted to reread it. A cool science fiction story of cloning, drugs, & free will.

3.5 ⭐️

It’s got some good romance and some good self-discovery. This is a hard listen at times, but overall the story is really wonderful.

4.5 ⭐️

African history books not written by white people are hard to find, but this hilarious and in-depth overview of the continent is incredible!

5 ⭐️

I loved this story as a kid, so it was so cool to hear it from a different perspective with more dignity and thought behind this character.

4 ⭐️

I went straight into the 2nd book! The author is a character in a murder mystery as he follows a true crime story with a detective. Woah!

4 ⭐️

This was a great start to this series. Horowitz wrote awesome kids’ books and this adult series is a great addition. Very cool concept!

4 ⭐️

Henry seems like the most humble man ever, but he also wrestles with insecurity. I loved hearing his wife telling her side of their life together.

4 ⭐️

Loving a good memoir this year, especially of some legends of the entertainment business. DvD is such a wholesome man. I love him!

3 ⭐️

Love this movie, so had to check out the book! It was all over the place, but still a fun adventure. Had some slow parts though.

4 ⭐️

This took me a long time to read because it was incredibly heavy, but it was so good to get an inside perspective of SA/apartheid history.

5 ⭐️

This is the kind of book I want to read one day. This collection of hilarious and wacky stories is perfection and James is a king!

4.5 ⭐️

Kenan was my whole childhood, from All That to SNL. He’s a lovable and corny guy, and it was cool to hear his up and down journey.

5 ⭐️

This one was so up my alley! There were spies, heists, double-crosses, and loads of drama. I would read Second Lie Wins in a heart beat.

3.5 ⭐️

One of my favorite series of all time, so it was great to hear some behind the scenes info and understand the gravity of the impact of this show.

4 ⭐️

Some easily digestible astrophysics is always a good time! NdGT is a legend and this book blows your mind. The universe is crazy!

3.5 ⭐️

I wanted to watch Treasure Planet, but felt like I should read the source material first. This was a fun adventure and there were pirates!

3.5 ⭐️

Who doesn’t love Uncle Jesse? This is a fun look at an interesting career that ranges from bad boy to America’s favorite uncle.

4 ⭐️

Love learning more in the sustainability area and this came from a great interview on Armchair Expert. Heavy, but consumable.

4 ⭐️

After reading a Malfoy fanfiction, it felt right to read the actor’s memoir. This is a sweet boy! He is incredibly thoughtful and kind.

4.5 ⭐️

I love enjoying Harry Potter fan fiction in December/January and this didn’t disappoint! A dark but incredibly creative story.

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”.