There is nothing like curling up with a good book on a cold winter night. Or sitting on the beach with a great novel, feeling the sun on your skin. Reading has always been one of my favorite activities, and I am always looking for new recommendations.

That is why I decided to put together this comprehensive list of the best books I’ve read recently that I’ve enjoyed. I’ve rated them all, with 5/5 being the best! 

Books on My Shelf That I’ve Loved

The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Book Blurb: 

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They share nothing. She is a wild child and wears khakis. She is a wanderlust-driven girl, he prefers to read a book at home. They have been best friends ever since they shared a car ride home from college years ago.

They live apart most of the time–she is in New York City and he is in his small hometown. But every summer for a decade they have shared one wonderful week of vacation. Until, they destroyed everything two years ago. Since then, they haven’t spoken.

Poppy is content with all she has, but stuck in a rut. If someone asks Poppy when she was most happy, she will tell them that it was during her last, trip with Alex. So, she convinces her best friend to go on one more vacation. He agrees, and it is a miracle.

Poppy now has one week to fix everything. Only if she can overcome the one truth that has stood silently in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could go wrong?

My Rating: 5/5

Emily Henry is an amazing writer! I love how she builds her characters! The People We Meet on Vacation is the perfect novel for anyone who’s ever struggled to find themselves amid change, or for anyone who just wants to laugh and feel nostalgic. I read this book a couple weeks before my first trip to Palm Springs.

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Beach Read by Emily Henry

Book Blurb: 

Augustus Everett is a renowned author of literary fiction and January Andrews is a bestselling author of romance. He kills his entire cast, while she writes a happy ending. They are polar opposites. They have nothing in common except that they will be living in nearby beach houses for the next three month, broke and suffering from writer’s block.

They meet up and one thing leads to the other. Augustus will write something happy while January will be writing the next Great American Novel. He’ll accompany her on field trips that are worthy of any romantic montage and she’ll interview the surviving members of a backwoods cult. No one will fall in love, and everyone will finish a book. Right?

My Rating: 4.5/5

Emily Henry does it again! I finished this book in less than two weeks and I read it right after finishing People We Meet On Vacation. Emily Henry does it again!

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Back in the Burbs – Collaboration between Tracy Wolff and Avery Flynn

Book Blurb: 

Currently going through a divorce after witnessing her ex-husband cheating on her, Mallory is 35 years old, lost her apartment, her job, and her dignity.

But the final heartache in the suck sandwich of her life? Her great-aunt Maggie died. The only family member who’s ever gotten her. She’s willed her the keys to a house in the burbs and dared her to build herself a new life. Upon arriving to the old home she realizes there are over 40 separate HOA violations and a lot of work to be done.

Mallory soon meets her grumpy (but hot) neighbor, finds a young contractor to help with the labor, and all of the wine her dear sweet Aunt Maggie has stowed away.

My Rating: 4/5

I listened to this book on Audible and was completely sucked in by chapter 2. I loved the humor, felt the sadness, and cried happy tears during the epilogue.

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The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Book Blurb: 

Soon to be a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell, USA Today bestselling author Sally Thorne’s hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

My Rating: 4/5

I am really excited to see the movie! I didn’t realize they were making one until months after I listened to the Audible version of this book. Although I was slightly annoyed by the reader’s voice and delivery of some parts of the book, the book itself was great. It was slow to get into the excitement, but once it started I really enjoyed it. Yes, there is such thing as too much of a slow burn.

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Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely

Book Blurb: 

Kristen Leonard is done with setups. She’s not interested in your son or your nephew or your butcher or the guy who mows your lawn, thank you very much, grandma! After all, she’s a modern woman – she’ll take her chances on the algorithms of online dating to find her ideal man. Before long, she meets a man who might just be the one – he’s hilarious, quick-witted, and full of heart. And when she meets up with Cameron in real life, he certainly looks exactly like his profile picture…but something’s not quite right.

There’s really no telling what brought them together, and all bets are off as to whether or not they can trust their hearts over their heads. After all, can you fall in love with someone you’re not sure you really even know?

My Rating: 3.5/5

The audio book of Lucky Suit came free with my Audible account, so I gave it a go. If you want something easy and silly to listen to, this is a great one. Parts of it were really lame, but I’m glad I stuck through those parts and finished it.

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Let It Be Easy: Simple Ways to Stop Stressing & Start Living by Susie Moore

Book Blurb:

Susie Moore knows that all too often stress is self-created and bogs us down, and she knows that we can just as easily create peace and power. Susie doesn’t deny the reality of suffering but instead shows how to pivot toward a life-changing way of processing pain, grief, loss, and anxiety. Her poignant stories and wise and witty words deliver nuggets of real-life wisdom to help you defuse reactive triggers and recast failures into successes with simple-yet-powerful changes.

My Rating:  5/5

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Susie Moore and spending ample time with her at 3 events. She is just as good on paper as she is in real life! This is her second book and it is just as brilliant as her first. I highly recommend her first book (which I’ve read on paperback and listened to the audible version) Stop Checking Your Likes.