Book Club: Best of 2017

there are two times a year that provide the perfect opportunity to bury your face in a good book; while basking in the sun as your skin turns into bottega veneta leather, and when it's so cold outside that your only motivation to descend your front steps are prepaid soulcycle classes. my friends, we are officially in the latter. since it has been a shamefully long time since our last installment of book club, i thought it was the opportune time to revisit some of my favorite books of 2017 (and early 2018) and pass along a few tips of how i maximize my reading time.

tips and tricks:

goodreads: aside from instagram and twitter, this has to be my favorite app. i used to have a running hodgepodge list on my iphone of books that had been recommended to me but this provides a space to categorize books that may be of interest to you. not only does it suggest other books based on what you have read, you can follow along with what friends have dug into. it also holds me accountable. there have been more than a few times where i stall in the middle of a book, which causes me to break my reading routine and makes it that much more difficult to get back into it later. i try to type my in progress, no matter how small, daily. i also set a yearly goal to keep me motivated to power through those books that begin to drag.

double time: a few years ago i read an article that suggested reading multiple works simultaneously. at the time, i thought that sounded way too confusing but recently i've been attempting it with much success. the key is to tackle different genres, and to read them in different platforms. usually i will download a book of fiction on my ipad, listen to a biography or memoir on audible, and read a tangible self improvement/ career oriented book.

carve out time: just like with exercise, when it's important to you, you find time. i try to work small, found moments into my day, like 15-30 minutes in the morning while i have my coffee, or a 20 minute commute on the subway. it may seem insignificant but it ultimately keeps me engaged in my books and makes me that much more excited to return to them at the end of the day. and finally, before bed each night, i try to decompress for about an hour by reading. it's the perfect time to wind 

down after the day.

recommendations:

the last mrs. parrish by liv constantine: it's rare to read a book that completely captivates you and leaves you compelled to tell even your starbucks barista that she needs to read it immediately. so often i read recommendations with the phrases "in the vein of gone girl" and "if you liked girl on a train, you'll love this book" but they usually feel like cheap imitations of their hugely successful predecessors. this book makes no such promise, but i am willing to say that it is the closest in feeling to gone girl that i have ever read. this thriller is full of interesting, complex characters, perspective altering plot twists and fast paced storytelling. if you only manage to get through one book this year, let it be this one. trust me.

sisters first by barbara bush and jenna bush hager: few are provided entree into the private life of the white house, however this book provides a glimpse into what it's like to be two of the most famous adolescents in the world. i never really knew too much about the bush girls, except for what jenna bush hager volunteers on the today show, so it was interesting to hear their perspectives on some of the most influential moments of the past two decades. but beyond the glamour of being a member of the first family, the story tells of the great bond of sisterhood and how they faced all the adversity together. regardless of your political affiliation, you'll enjoy this book.

crazy rich asians by kevin kwan: i'm always interested in a story that revolves around opulence and boy did this book deliver. rachel is an asian american who is invited by her boyfriend to join him on a summer long trip to his home in singapore. what follows is a crazy, ostentatious, back stabbing, witty, wild ride that culminates with the wedding of the century. (don't worry that's not a spoiler). there are two sequels to the book, not to mention it was optioned into a movie that is set to be released later this year!

warning: i follow reese witherspoon's book club religiously and have never been disappointed in her selections, until recently. everyone and their mother were recommending little fires everywhere by celeste ng and i must tell you it is terrible. there is very little plot, it is extremely slow moving, and the ending provides little resolution. i found myself struggling to get through it. i would advise saving yourself the headache.

coming attractions: in the next installment of book club i'll be discussing the wife between us by greer hendricks, jacqueline bouvier kennedy onassis: the untold story by barbara leaming, and the assistants by camille perri. stay tuned!