What I Read in April 2019

It’s time for one of my favorite posts to do each month! I’m linking up with Steph and Jana for “Show Us Your Books”.

This month I read a lot, both nonfiction and fiction. I can’t remember the last time I read about the same number of non-fiction books as fiction books. I’m going to start with the non-fiction books because there were a couple of good ones this month!

Nonfiction Reads

Check out this post where I reviewed this book already.

Own Your Everyday – Jordan Lee Dooley

I’ve been following Jordan Dooley for a few years now and have really enjoyed her authenticity and her heart for helping women. When I found out she had a book coming out and I had a chance to be apart of her launch team, I knew wanted to read it.

I thought that maybe the book would be geared more to younger women (either single or newly married without kids), but I found plenty of of things that really applied to me…married in my 30’s, with 2 kids, and a full-time job.

The author writes in such a down-to-earth manner and her words are encouraging to women in all different stages of life. My main take-away from the book was that we all have a purpose and we just need to find it and start living and loving the life we’ve been given. Stop trying to be perfect and stop comparing ourselves to one another, just go out there and be who God wants/calls you to be. There were a few quotes that stayed with me and here are a couple I want to share:

“You cannot live your purpose if you are so preoccupied with trying to make it look like someone else’s.”

“You won’t even be happy when you get to where you’re going if you don’t learn to love your imperfect, everyday life right now.”

These two quotes have really resonated with me and I really need to take them to heart and learn to love my everyday…the here and now.

This book was so good and I wish I would’ve read something like this in college/or right out of college. I think it would have saved me a lost of stress and heartache if I would have stopped trying to be perfect and stopped trying to compare my life with other people’s lives.

E-book – I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook and Multmomah for the purpose of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Women of the Word – Jen Wilkin

This book is one of my all-time favorites. I remember reading it years ago and liking it then and I always told myself I wanted to come back and read it again and take my time with it….well, I finally did. I read it in person, but also listened on audio. It is so good! I really like Jen Wilkin and her heart and passion for equipping women on how to study the Bible. At this time in my life and with all the things going on in the world, I am seeing that I need/want to study the Bible for myself and dig out truths for myself. The author lays out how you can do this step-by-step in an easy to read and follow format. It has made me very excited to open my Bible and start studying for myself! 5/5 stars

E-book – Apple iBooks and Audiobook through Hoopla

Finding Beautiful – Rebecca Friedlander

When I received this book in the mail and opened it, I was surprised at how beautiful the front cover was! Once I started reading it, I found out that it wasn’t just the cover that was beautiful, but the inside photos and writing was beautiful as well!The author tells the personal stories of twelve women and how they overcame lies of doubt, low self-esteem, rejection, etc…She uses before and after photos to capture the transformation of each of these ladies, as well as utilizes Biblical truths and asks questions for personal reflection. The author does an excellent job of showing us the difference between how the world views beauty versus how God views/defines beauty. 4/5 stars

Hardcover – I received a free copy of this book from Baker Books for the purpose of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Fiction Reads

The Wedding Date – Jasmine Guillory

This was a cute/fun read! There wasn’t anything in it that stands out to make it remarkable and also you knew how the story would end, but it was one of those books that would be a good vacation/beach read. The story line of getting stuck in an elevator together and then ending up being a plus one to a wedding was a cute start to the book. I think this book would be a good one to turn into a romantic movie of some sort. 3/5 stars

Kindle – Overdrive

Rise & Shine Benedict Stone – Phaedra Patrick

I enjoyed listening “The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper” so much last month, that I couldn’t wait to listen to this one next. It did not disappoint. This book was about a man whose wife had separated from him and he was at a loss and didn’t know what to do with himself/his life now. Then his niece suddenly appears on his doorstep and shakes up his “quiet” life. This book was all about “family” and what that truly means. I enjoyed the definitions behind different gemstones and what they represent and how they fit into the overall story. This book was a refreshing read and I’m looking forward to reading/listening to more books from this author! 4/5 stars

Audiobook – Hoopla

Daisy Jones & the Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid

I was a little disappointed in this book. I had heard so many people loved this book and said it was their favorite read so far for 2019, but it was just okay for me. I didn’t think it was spectacular or anything to write home about. I really enjoyed “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by this author so I was expecting to really like this book, but it fell a little flat for me. I did enjoy the style it was written in because it was just different and it was neat having a backstage pass to what it is like to be a part of a band. I’m glad I read it, but it’s not a book that I’m raving to my friends about. 3/5 stars

Kindle – Overdrive

Good Riddance – Elinor Lipman

When I read the description of this book, I was excited to read it because it intrigued me and I enjoyed “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by this author. A daughter inherits her mom’s treasured high school yearbook full of notes and observations that she discards and a busybody neighbor picks up and a series of events follows. Sounds somewhat intriguing, right? I just thought this book was a mashup of random things and found it somewhat hard to follow. There were several times I almost abandoned this one, but was still hopeful it would take a turn and become more interesting. Spoiler – it never did. 2/5 stars

Kindle – Overdrive

The Proposal – Jasmin Guillory

This was another dud for me this month. After enjoying “The Wedding Date” by this author I was really looking forward to this book. Well, it fell flat for me. It didn’t seem to flow well for me and felt forced at times. The premise of it about the main character being proposed to at a baseball game and not answering and then being saved from having to talk to the media about it by another guy was cute, but beyond that it just didn’t work for me. I finished it, but almost gave up on it a couple of times. 2/5 stars

Kindle – Overdrive

As you can tell, April was a pretty good reading month for me. Have you read any of these and if so, what are your thoughts? Do you have any recommendations for me to add to my TBR list for this year?

Until next time…keep it simple

Lindsey