We’re halfway through 2021 and I’m reading a book a month (!), which, for some is slow and not a lot. For others, this is an exciting pace and lots of books! In life right now, I’m the second. I genuinely enjoyed each book I’ve read so far this year, which is why I’m sharing all six(6) for my mid-year recommended reading list.

A mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and a wide variety of subject matter, each book on this list has deep, rich content to offer. I loved and appreciated each of the books in different ways.

Without further ado, here are the books you need to add to your To Read Lists!

Throughout reading Untamed, and especially after finishing, I could not say enough about the book and how much I think every woman should read it. I felt so passionately about this book, so many lines and passages to underline and want to share with anyone and everyone.

Thus, I wrote a blog detailing more about my love for this book and highly recommend it. Please read this book! Six months later it holds up and I still urge anyone who hasn’t read it yet to dive in and prepare to go deep. Glennon Doyle has since released a podcast she hosts, We Can Do Hard Things.

When a family moves to Alaska for a fresh start, without running water or electricity, they must learn how to live off the land and survive the dangers amidst the wild beauty both outside, and inside, their new home. The Great Alone is full of adventure, survival, and love.

This was the second book of Hannah’s I read, after The Nightingale, solidifying my love for her writing. I highly recommend this one, especially for a Winter read. A movie adaptation of The Nightingale is set to release December 2022.

A love triangle. An innocent Black man incarcerated. A struggle between love and loyalty, in marriage and to oneself. An American Marriage is perfect present day novel about real love. It also takes a look at the American justice system and the life-altering consequences of false accusations. You will empathize and root for these characters, while sadly recognizing the hard realities of our society.

I love when a story is told through multiple points of view, especially when it’s done well. Jones does this seamlessly, rotating the narrator between the characters with each chapter. I highly recommend this love story!

From Scratch is a memoir that deeply touched me as it chronicles love, loss and moving forward. An extremely well written work of non-fiction, Locke (an American actress) shares her unique story as a young Black woman from Texas falling in love with a Sicilian chef while studying abroad. She chronicles the heartbreaking trials of losing her beloved, her return to Italy, grieving, and moving forward. I wrote more about this one in another blog post as it hit close to home with my own family’s loss to cancer.

A Netflix original series is currently in production with Locke and her sister, writer Attica Locke, at the helm along with Reese Witherspoon; also notable is Zoe Saldana starring as the lead “Amy”.

My choice to read this next one was inspired by the Netflix series release, based on the novel by Kristin Hannah. When I saw the series promo I was determined to read it before watching the show and did just that. Yet another one of hers I truly loved. Firefly Lane follows the lifelong friendship between two very different characters. I loved how Hannah titled the sections based on applicable song lyrics from that decade.

While the novel centers on friendship, it also follows and speaks a lot to family and romantic love, diving deep into all of those interpersonal relationships and how they’re connected. Without giving too much away, there are some major difference between the book and show – and I’m only three episodes in. Grab your tissues for the emotional roller-coaster that is life. Even if you’ve already watched the show, I still highly recommend reading, as I said, the book is definitely different!

My most recent read, Open Book, was an extremely good auto-biography by Jessica Simpson. Having been a fan of hers for years I was very interested, and so intrigued, by all the details and ‘behind the scenes’ stories of her upbringing, journey in the music industry, Nick Lachey, TV/movies, and building her own empire. I personally love and own many things from her clothing and shoe lines so it was interesting to learn the inspiration and process behind her wildly successful brand.

But the book was so much more than pop culture and fashion. Simpson reveals and discusses abuse, both physical and emotional. She talks about addiction, body image, faith, marriage, divorce, and a lot about John Mayer. There is a lot to take away from her story. Through unfiltered sharing, she reveals the kinds of struggles that aren’t always apparent, but are relatable for so many.

I highly recommend this whether you are/were a fan or not. I’m rooting for her in this next chapter and look forward to hearing new music and supporting her brand more moving forward.