Hey guys, I know this doesn’t have anything to do with small businesses, jewelry, or pretty much anything truly related to Jasper & Elm BUT I wanted to share these books with you all.
I love to read, and if I am not listening to a podcast while working, I am listening to an audiobook.
The Books
These are in no particular order, as it was incredibly difficult to pick only ten.
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt has a huge secret: she is a successful author of Christmas romance novels. The problem? She’s Jewish. When her publisher asks her to write a Hanukkah romance or forfeit her contract, Rachel has to team up with her summer camp arch-nemesis or risk her family finding out her secret career!
A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, Book 2) by Sarah J. Maas
High fantasy! Fae! Magic! Flying! One of my favorite fantasy tropes ever! Read the first book in the series, and I dare you to not get addicted instantly. Maas is an incredible world-builder in this series. So much so that I read books 1-3 TWICE in 2021!
The Heart Principle (The Kiss Quotient, Book 3) by Helen Hoang
An internet-famous violinist struggles with burnout…and is diagnosed with autism. Hoang was also diagnosed as an adult, and this book explores the complexity of being neurodivergent in a culture that requires self-sacrifice and perfection. Add to that a relationship that is being shaken to the core and you’ve got yourself a romance novel with a fabulous plot and incredible message.
The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
I adore Turton’s writing. He is able to write gripping, dynamic characters involved in complicated plots that are constantly twisting and turning without losing the thread. A truly masterful work of historical fiction.
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
Friedland can do no wrong, as far as her writing goes! A delightful family comedy set in the Catskills. Secrets and lies swirl as two families try to cover up their failings and decide whether or not to sell their beloved resort.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Henry’s writing style makes me laugh out loud - I just love her style! A quick romcom that will leave you feeling content. The characters are quirky and memorable, and actually talk like real people (something you don't often find in romcoms!)
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
This book is based on the sex lives of three different women and is absolutely gripping. This is a close look at three different stories of desire - some juicy and scandalous, some heartbreaking and traumatic. Trigger warning: rape and abuse.
Her Dark Lies by JT Ellison
Romantic wedding on an italian island…secrets…a murder. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version, as it adds to the suspense and fear aspect. An entertaining thriller that kept me reading past my bedtime!
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Another thriller, this one about the intertwining lives of women in one town. Multiple disappearances, a mysterious return, and a cold case. Ditto about listening to the audiobook. There are some heavy subjects dealt with in this book, so be aware going into it.
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig
Lauren Willig has been one of my favorite authors for over a decade, and I devoured this book over the course of two days. It’s about an amazing group of women from Smith College (based on true events and people, but a fictionalized telling of their stories) who went to France during WWI to help French citizens wrecked by the German war effort. I cried at the bravery of these women and the remarkable heroism they showed, especially during a time when women were rarely encouraged to seek a college education.
What are your favorites?
Let me know here or on Instagram - I love to hear from you all!