As I mentioned in my 2018 goals post, I’ve always been an avid reader. As a kid, my parents used to have to come in and tell me to go to bed because I’d be up until midnight reading.
As I move into this new year and make an effort to read more often, I wanted to share some of the books that I’ve read over the last year or so. If you’re interested in keeping up with what I’m reading, since I go through books pretty quickly, follow me on Good Reads. I’m also excited to hear if there are any books that you’ve read or are looking to read that I can add to my list for this year, so leave any of your suggestions in the comments at the bottom of this post!
Primates of Park Avenue – I LOVED this book so much because it’s an easy read but also gives a great glimpse into the lives of Upper East Side mothers. Having lived in NYC, the Upper East Side can feel like another world. Add the layer of wealthy mothers to that, and this book was like peeping through a keyhole into a world that was right around the corner, but I knew nothing about. Wednesday Martin uses her background in anthropology and primatology to assess the lives of these UES mothers, and she comes to some smart and hilarious conclusions. I was a particular fan of the fact that UES mothers will walk towards each other down the sidewalk in a game of chicken, and the more superior woman will ‘bump’ the other with her Hermes Birkin as they pass. This is a great, easy and entertaining read, especially if you love all the different sides of NYC like I do.
Sweetbitter – This book follows, Tess, a young girl who moves to NYC and lands herself a job at a famous Union Square restaurant. The book follows her through her experiences as a backwaiter, learning the ins-and-outs of the high-class restaurant world and finding her appetite for good wine and good food. It also follows her through her relationships with the staff of the restaurant, some who have been working at the restaurant for over 20 years. This is another book that was made more interesting for me by its setting in NY. Union Square was only a few blocks from my office, so while I was reading this book, I would walk down the streets where the restaurant and the bars Tess frequented were set.
Crazy Rich Asians series – Obviously by now you can see that I love easy, chick books. Crazy Rich Asians is a series by Kevin Kwan that follows the lives of three outrageously rich Chinese families and their scheming, gossip, and backstabbing. These books are both ridiculous and incredibly enjoyable. It can be a little difficult to follow who’s who and how they’re related, since there are so many characters in the book, but if you don’t let yourself get hung up on that, it’s a fun read. I just finished the third book in the series, Rich People Problems.
The Girls – This book is immensely intriguing. As a teenager in the 60s, Evie Boyd gets caught up with a group of carefree girls and ends up tangled up in a cult. This book is gripping and entralling and one of the few books I’d read twice. In fact, after reading the synopsis online, I’m thinking of adding this to my list for 2018.
The Handmaid’s Tale – On a more serious note than the above, The Handmaid’s Tale is a must-read, especially for any woman living in America right now. It’s definitely a feminist dystopian book, but it gives a really poignant and chilling look at a world where fundamentalist beliefs could be taken to the extreme. This book is particularly thought-provoking and one I absolutely suggest reading.
Off Balance: A Memoir – This book is a memoir about Olympic gold medalist, Dominique Moceanu, who reveals the dark underside of Olympic level gymnastics. This book was published in 2012, where Dominique talks about all of the abuse she endured while working with the Karolyi’s, something that gymnasts are beginning to come out about now. It’s a fantastic book about the struggles of a young gymnast who is on top of the world in terms of her athletic achievements, but if far from it in her personal and training life.
I’d love to review more books for you, as these six barely scratch the surface of my list from last year. Let me know if you’re interested in hearing more about what I’m reading, and don’t forget to share what you’re reading in the comments.
Xx, Kelsey
always love to hear about other books….thank you.
Of course! Love sharing what I’m reading 🙂