I love to read and I only want to read good books. Actually make that great books.
Who has time to read a bad book?!
As family caregivers who juggle many responsibilities, reading can be a great escape from a life that can just feel a bit too real at times.
Back in 2014, when I took on the primary caregiving responsibilities for my mom on top of work and raising kids…there was little to no time for reading. Or, so I thought.
Explore the World of Audiobooks
As I started to realize that I needed to find a way to live my own life while caring for others, I discovered audio books. I found I actually did have time to escape into a different world through reading. First, I found time during my commute to and from work. Then, I realized I had other time when I was alone in the car after dropping my kids somewhere, while walking and waiting for them at practice, walking the dog, on the way home from visiting mom, waiting at appointments, etc.
When I first started with audio books, I had an Audible membership. Now, I use my Libby app to check out audio books for free from my local library. Just keep in mind that you only have so many weeks to read the book – so if you don’t want this pressure, stick with Audible. To use the library system, I just had to renew my library card and pay my $0.22 late fee for a book I probably checked out a half dozen years ago. Going into the library branch was super nostalgic for me. You just don’t know that the last time you take your kids to the library is the last time you take your kids to the library.
Speaking of kids…my kids joke with me that listening to books is not actually ‘reading’. I disagree and turns out others feel there shouldn’t be rules about this. But, to be honest, I did miss the feeling of actually holding a real book and imagining what the characters looked and sounded like.
Develop a Nightly Reading Habit
‘They’ say that blue screens before bed are bad (here’s why) and I have been working to improve the overall length and quality of my sleep. So, I ditched the smartphone for a paperback. Some nights I may read a chapter and some nights I may read a couple pages but I always try to read at least something (usually while sniffing some of my essential oils and after completing my journaling prompt in my Just for You: a Daily Self-Care Journal). A few nights a week, I strive to do a personal bible study. I really look forward to my nightly bedtime ritual.
10 Fiction Book Recommendations
So now that you have a few examples of where you can put some reading or audio books into your day and since I believe you want to avoid a bad read, I thought I’d share 10 fiction recommendations I believe you’ll enjoy reading this summer.
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – If you like historical southern fiction, great characters and a bit of mystery, you’ll love this book. It’s a Reese Witherspoon Hello Sunshine bookclub pick and the audio narration is GREAT!
- Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate – I wasn’t expecting this one to be historical fiction, the author did great research to string a realistic story together. There is even a bit of caregiving in this one. I’m also a sucker for any fabulous story about strong female characters, especially sisters. Another great audiobook narration, as well.
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – Speaking of strong women and sisters…here’s another book that has stuck with me. I also love books that take place during WWII and books that take place in France. i can see this book as an epic movie. My bookclub loved it and I think you will, too. The audio is great on this one, too. You’ll actually enjoy running errands and folding laundry!
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult – This one is soon to be a motion picture so read it first (at least that’s the order I like…read then watch). This book made me open my eyes to basic things I take for granted and made me more racially aware. The book is told from different perspectives. It took the author years to write – I can appreciate why. This book received an ‘audie award’ for its audio narration.
- The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh – We all know that a red rose means something different than a yellow rose but this books takes it steps further to help bring people together. This story has secrets, romance, and will make you appreciate that there are good people in our world.
- The Passions of Emma by Penelope Williamson – It was actually mom mom who turned me on to this romance author. My mom loves a good love story that has more to offer than just pages of s-e-x. Emma leads a sheltered life until she meets Irish revolutionary Shay McKenna.
- The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy – I read this when backpacking in Europe with two girlfriends after we graduated from college. Since we carried little, we all read and enjoyed this book and it led me to read more from this author. It probably wouldn’t have been a book I would have normally picked up. Guys will like this book, too! Just saw this has a Prime series as well that I need to watch!
- The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher – You were looking for the summer beach read, right? Here it is. It’s told from a woman who is perceived as an ‘elder’ but in actuality is only in here 60’s. It was written years ago before the sixties became the new fifties. It’s an old fashioned family saga that may make you want to move to Cornwall, England.
- Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris – I felt like the list needed a good psychological thriller. This one is a page turner. If something looks too good to be true it probably is.
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah – I debated about putting two books from the same author on this list but this one is also worthy! It’s a coming of age story about a teenage girl who lives off the grid in Alaska and just wants to fit in. There is love, loss, mental illness, and above all resilience. Another great audio book narrator! It’s a long book but worth it!
Share Your Love of Books
I enjoy tracking what I have read and what I want to read on Goodreads. I’m pretty stingy with my five stars! I do have a shelf called ‘My Five Stars’ and have 40 books on there so if you’ve read the ones above – I’m sure there is one on this list that is new to you.
I look forward to connecting on Goodreads so I can see what great books you are reading.
Also, if you need permission to not read a bad book. Permission is granted. This is not quitting! It’s simply recognizing people have different types of tastes. I have adopted a ’50 page rule’. If a book doesn’t grab me in 50 pages, I surrender it for a new one.
Life is too short to read bad books.
Happy reading!
Some of the product links above are affiliate links, which means that they are products similar to what I use and personally recommend. In exchange for my recommendation, I receive a commission when the item is purchased using my link, at no additional cost to you.
