Happy Monday friends!
Today’s Four Points Mom & Books post is going to be a bit unusual because I’m not only reviewing five books from last month but I’m also going to … drumroll please … announce my favorite book of 2017.
Let’s jump right in with reviews of my December reads.
December 2017 Books
After last month’s so-so selection, I really needed needed a few great books and I got what I wanted. Woohoo!
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Lisa Wingate tells the heart-wrenching tale of a family of four siblings that was torn apart by a scandalous corrupt officials and a horrific children’s home director. The story, although fiction, was based on a real-life scandal from the 1930s in which poor children were kidnapped and sold to wealthy families. Yep, you read that right. This happened! The book is told from the perspective of the children at the time and a present-day woman who is uncovering some of the covered past.
I couldn’t put this book down. I read it during the last two days of our trip to Mexico last month and couldn’t wait to get home to pull my two children in for a giant hug when we returned home. I highly recommend it even if you might need a few tissues nearby.
Food by Jim Gaffigan
Just seeing the cover of this book makes me smile. Jim Gaffigan is a refreshing comedian in that he can make anyone laugh without being overly vulgar. This book is his homage to food and will make you laugh out loud many times. Specifically, I really loved how he talks about food from different regions of the country. It’s always funny to hear someone else’s perspective on how Texans are and I loved his take on us. 🙂
Class Mom by Laurie Gelman
This book will crack you up. Guaranteed! Jen Dixon is a class mom who decides to tell it like it is and not sugar-coat her expectations of fellow parents. She has already done the whole class mom thing many years ago when her (now college-aged) daughters were in school, so she decides to add some humor to her emails to the other parents. The completely-relatable story touches on every type of parent you’ve likely come across. I was borderline cringing at times by her rudeness, but I mostly just LOVED living through her lack of filter.
Read this book! You’ll thank me later.
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Wow. Just wow. I loved Little Fires Everywhere! Loved it! The book takes place in the nineties in a Pleasantville-esque town in Ohio. An artist and her teenage daughter move to town and become intertwined with the Richardsons, an upper-class family with four teenagers.
Celeste Ng masterfully tells the story from the various characters’ perspectives, unfolding many layers and mysteries. A few years ago, her Everything I Never Told You received amazing reviews and now I’m adding that to my list.
Okay, that’s it for December’s books. But, get excited because now we’re highlighting my favorites from 2017!
Four Points Mom’s Favorites from 2017
I’ve mentioned before how much I love reading, and I’ve truly enjoyed recapping all of the books I’ve read here on the blog. Let’s quickly list off the 24 books I’ve read since the first Four Points Mom & Books post in August.
Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
My (Not So) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella
Crimes Against a Book Club by Kathy Cooperman
All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir by Alan Cumming
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
December 2017 (recapping November 2017 books)
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
January 2018 (recapping December 2017 books)
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Wow, I’ve read a ton of books over the past few months! There were a few bad ones, several so-so ones, and a handful of really good ones. After much thought and deliberation (okay, it was really easy if I’m honest), I’ve narrowed my favorites down to a list of five. Let’s start with my four Honorable Mentions …
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
I know many of you agree with me on this choice. This is an epic book and a must-read.
Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult
Oh how conflicted this book caused me to be. But, we sometimes need those moments to reflect on how we were raised and how that affects who we are. And how we can strive to be the best version of ourselves.
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
I just reviewed this one for you, so you get it. It’s awesome.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
See above … this book is great.
And my absolute favorite book of 2017 is …
Kristin Hannah has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I think I’ve read four or five of her books by now and I have one currently waiting to be read in my Overdrive app on my phone. Yay!
Okay, that’s it for me today. Don’t forget to check out my Goodreads account to see other books I’ve read and connect with me there so I can get great ideas from you too.
Have a wonderful week!
