Tell Me What to Read: Spring 2019 Edition
Tell Me What to Read is basically my favorite thing ever.
Many series on my blog have come and gone over the past 12 years, but Tell Me What to Read is now going on Year 9 (which completely blows my mind).
I’ve gotten more good book recommendations than I know what to do with and I’ve read so many amazing new-to-me authors and titles in that nine years.
I did the last round of Tell Me What to Read in the summer, so it’s clearly time for a new round!
You know the drill – suggest something fun (although that doesn’t need to mean chick-lit – I’m up for non-fiction, memoirs, young adult, middle grade, AND chick-lit), and I’ll pick three to read in March, April, and May.
Or if you’ve been around a while, you know that there is actually no way on earth I’ll finish them in those three months, but I’ll make a (somewhat) valiant effort.
Your job: Comment with the title of a book you think I should read.
My job: Choose three from the suggestions and announce which ones I’ll be reading.
I’ll read one a month (ish) between now and the end of May (hopefully). Feel free to read along and check back every month for my reviews.
And, as always, even if I hate the book, I will not hate you.
And go!
Belonging by Nora Krug. It’s a memoir in graphic novel format told with lots of photos and family history documents. Really interesting and moving!
I just read “The Miracle Morning” and it was great! Changed up my morning routine to be ahead of the game instead of always being behind.
Thanks always for all your suggestions, your posts are always the first place I got to look for new book ideas for me and my girls!
Radium Girls!!! I loved that book so much – even if you’re not a scientist, this book is for you. The story of these young women is truly terrible but their quest for justice is so inspiring.
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
I highly recommend “Zillow Talk” (by Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humphries)! It’s written in a Malcom Gladwell-type style about buying and selling homes. I picked it up on a whim at the library. It sounds dry, but it was so fascinating. I read so much of it out loud to my husband. I think you’d enjoy it, too!
You may have heard of this because it won a bunch of awards, but I have to recommend City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty.
I think you’ve said before that fantasy isn’t your favorite genre, but the magic elements of this book take a backseat to the plot and characters, which are extremely well-written and relatable. It also brings in elements of Middle Eastern culture and religion so it’s not in a totally made up world and has just a touch of YA-style romance. I really think you’d like it!
A few books I’ve enjoyed over the past six months or so:
– The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
– Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
– One Day in December by Josie Silver
I’m also not sure if you’ve read Jandy Nelson’s books, The Sky Is Everywhere and I’ll Give You the Sun, but they are both FANTASTIC!
I love keeping up on your blog for book recommendations. I just wish there were more hours in the day for reading.
Two middle grade books I have loved recently are The Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras and Front Desk by Kelly Yang – SO GOOD!
The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Bedani https://www.amazon.com/Storytellers-Secret-Novel-Sejal-Badani/dp/1542048273/ref=asc_df_1542048273/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312014159271&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16250999898778352597&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002180&hvtargid=pla-523898252145&psc=1
I got it on Prime reads and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I was bummed when it was over!!!
Here are a few of my favorites, that are maybe “lesser known,” that you might not have read yet…
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
***Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley*** (this one blew me away, it’s like nothing I’ve ever read before)
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Ok this one is popular, but it’s SO GOOD!)
The Silo series by Hugh Howey
The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire
Ok, I think that’s more than enough suggestions for now, although I could certainly keep going! I love recommending books!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens! Amazing!
So good!! I loved it
Also Rush by Lisa Patten has been another favorite. Had a similar feeling to The Help. I alternated between reading and listening to it which was a fantastic combo!
I loved Rush and it’s set in Oxford, MS just north of me. You’re right it had a similar vibe to The Help. I think you would enjoy it and it would be a quick read.
Before We We’re Yours was one of the best books I read at the end of last year. Highly recommend
Ditto! An all-time favorite.
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
Currently reading Harry’s Trees and I love it so far!
Okay, I know I have already left two above, but after seeing your insta stories today and remembering your love for YA and romance, I have to recommend The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. I heard about it from Anne Bogel a long time ago, and LOVED it.
Love this one, too!
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro. I just read it (it’s Gretchen Rubin’s first book club choice) and it was VERY interesting. Not too long either. Crazy to think this was going on back in the early 1960’s.
Have you read The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman?? I’m reading it now. So good!
I still want to know what you think of Elizabeth Acevedo’s every-award-winning book, The Poet X. Listen to the audiobook. She reads it herself. Also, it’s a verse novel and so short (3 parts I think), so you really have no excuse. 😉
Or, for something totally different, read Diane Setterfield’s new book Once Upon a River. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but I think the fact that you like Kate Morton makes this book a good choice. Again, listen to the audio. It’s narrated by Juliet Stevenson, and it’s so transporting.
The Lincoln Hypothesis by Timothy Ballard. It is so interesting and super believable because he’s spent so much time researching.