My virtual TBR list is endless and all over the place. I have books I want to read saved on Goodreads, in a notes app on my phone, in my bullet journal, and in an Amazon list or two. Pretty much any book lover out there can tell you that their TBR list is out of control (though most are probably better organized than mine!). But here are the books I literally have in a TBR pile in our apartment.
This has been in my TBR pile for years. I’ve started it and stopped it multiple times. It’s such a great book on being an active reader and getting the most out of books. I can’t wait to dive into this soon.
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Any time I hear a discussion on having good boundaries, this book is suggested shortly after. This is THE manual on having healthy boundaries in your life.
The illustrations in this book are to die for. I’ve read a good chunk of the Sherlock Holmes stories but am looking forward to finishing all of them while looking at the original illustrations.
I’m currently about halfway through this book. I’ll be honest, this book is a hard read. I don’t love reading the stories of hardship and injustice. But I believe it’s important to be informed and that being informed helps you become a more empathetic person, so I’m going to push through those feelings of discomfort and finish this book soon. It doesn’t hurt that it’s really beautifully written.
This is a recent addition to my TBR pile as I just picked it up from the library a few weeks ago. I want to read it to motivate myself to eat less sugar, but I also don’t want to read it because I like sugar. It’s a tough world we live in.
This is also a recent addition to my TBR pile. There was one period of a couple months when I heard suggestions for this book several times. I took it as a sign and checked it out from the library.
I’m usually a couple years behind when it comes to reading trendy books. People have raved about this one and I’m looking forward to diving in! It recently came into my hands at a book exchange I attended. I have a month before I need to return it!
If memory serves me correctly, this book was suggested by the lovely Lisa Hensley. I first started listening to it on audiobook but there were so many things I wanted to underline and remember that I decided to buy a copy to keep.
I stumbled onto this book in a little free library while on a run. I know! What are the chances? I had to finish the rest of my run with a book in hand, but it was totally worth it. and we’ll just skip over the fact that I stopped running to take a peek into the Little Free Library ;). The first Rainbow Rowell book I read gave me mixed feelings, but she’s such a beloved author and I hope I’ll enjoy this one more.
I first heard about this book a couple of years ago when I heard the author talk on a podcast. She talks a lot about having a growth mindset, and I realized immediately that I do not have a growth mindset and it really holds me back. I’ve thought a lot about the concept since then and I’m looking forward to diving into the subject even more.
What’s on your TBR pile?
So there we have it, 10 physical books I actually have stacked into a TBR pile. I’d love to hear about yours! What’s on your TBR list?
Happy fall, friends! I’ve had the hardest time narrowing down the books I want to focus on this Fall. There are so many amazing ones that I would like to read. This time instead of breaking the list into sub-categories like I did this summer, I’m using three broad categories: fiction, non-fiction, and Christian non-fiction. As for the fiction titles, several of them you might recognize from my 17 Books to Read for a Cozy Fall post. Here’s my personal 2019 fall reading list.
*All links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may get a small percentage of the total price at no extra cost to you if you purchase your book through my link.
This book is a twelfth-century tale of the building of a gothic cathedral. It has been on my radar for a while now but after the fire at Notre Dame, I promised myself that this would be the year I read it. Some of Follett’s later novels are popular, such as his most recent — A Column of Fire.
Charles and I recently watched the 2017 movie adaptation and I enjoyed it. I typically will only watch adaptations after I’ve read the book, but I’m discovering that this particular method always results in me being disappointed because they took out some of my favorite scenes or even characters or whatever it is. It will be fun to try this the other way around.
I read this book the first time a little over a year ago, and the second time about six months ago. It’s unusual for me to re-read a book so quickly (and so frequently), but I enjoy the series, the cozy Three Pines atmosphere, and am thinking I might just read my way through the whole series again so I’m fully immersed in the world before I read her latest book. Also, last time I mostly listened to the audiobooks (which are phenomenal, by the way), but I take in much more when I read read, so I think I’m going to give that a go this time around.
I discovered Elise on Instagram about a year ago and find her so inspiring. I love seeing the things that she makes with her actual hands. It’s all so lovely, and she produces so much. If I can pick up even a portion of that from her book, I’m in. I already have this book on hold at the library, but it might just have to be one I purchase myself.
This book is a marriage of two beautiful concepts (I love cozy, I love minimalism!) with lots of pretty pictures. I’m picking this beauty up from the library today and can’t wait to dive in!
This is a classic book about writing that I’ve been meaning to read for about a decade. I figured I should probably get to it before this decade is up 😉
You might recognize this title from my summer reading list. I got about 100 pages in and have been learning a lot about the great migration so far. I definitely want to finish this before the year is up. Since I own it and don’t have to return it to the library, there aren’t any external deadlines pushing me to hurry.
Here’s another book off my summer reading list that I’d like to finish. This book is looooonnnng. But I’ve been learning so much and I think it’s fascinating to get a peek into the beginning of our nation and the personality of such a celebrated person in our history.
The ‘gram has been singing high praises for this book since it came out. And since I’m a big fan of Jess Connolly myself anyways, I actually bought myself a copy. I’m expecting good things!
I just started following Phylicia on Instagram a few months ago and have been loving the content she puts out. So thoughtful, so well-researched, so helpful. When she just released a book I knew right away that it was worth throwing my $10 at, if not for anything else except to support the woman whose content I’ve learned so much from.
I started listening to the audiobook of this first because my library had it on Overdrive (but weirdly they did not have the ebook or book book). After one chapter I stopped listening because I could tell that it was going to be of huge value and something I wanted to dig into. Sooo I bought a physical copy. There aren’t a lot of great faith-based productivity books out there, so I’m really looking forward to this one. A huge thanks to Lisa Hensley for the recommendation.
This is an actual, physical book I own that’s been sitting on my literal TBR shelf for way too many years. I typically read Christian non-fiction books first thing in the morning but this is a little bit heavy morning reading. I definitely want to finish it so I might just need to crack it open on weekends instead.
I’m actually about halfway through this book and have really enjoyed Tish’s perspective. She comes from a much different denomination than I’ve ever been a part of, so I really enjoy reading about that difference in perspective too. So much great insight and such a practical little theological book.
What’s on your fall reading list?
In total, I have 19 books on my fall reading list. That’s a lot! I don’t know if I’ll get to them all, but I’ll sure have fun trying. It’ll also help keep my reading life fresh and focused. Happy reading, friends!
Update: I’ve now shared quick reviews for the majority of these books in this post. If you’re interested in any of these books, that’s the place to go to see what I thought of them!
This is the second year that I’ve created a summer reading list for myself. To be honest, it’s more like a summer reading wish list than an ‘I actually expect to read all these books’ list. But there’s something about taking the time to thoughtfully choose the books I want to read in an upcoming season that makes reading feel special and energizing. Last summer, I was able to get through a lot more books than I expected! And having the guideline of what to read next helped a TON.
This year, for the sake of being a well-rounded reader, I broke up my list into genres and selected three books for each. If the last day of summer ends on September 23 (it does, I checked), this gives me 15 weeks to read 15 books. I wish I could say I planned that, but I didn’t! How crazy is that? A book a week is an easy reading pace for me, but only if I’m not watching too much tv. This should be a good challenge for me! 🙂
A few quick tips for getting more reading in
Always have a book on hand. For me, this means having a book on my nightstand and a couple Kindle books I can read using the Kindle app on my phone. And also maybe an audiobook too.
Read more than one book at once. I read different types of books during different parts of the day. Mornings are for non-fiction. Evenings are usually for fiction. This is another reason why I chose multiple genres for my summer reading list!
For sure listen to audiobooks. They make commutes and chores so much better, plus you can cross more books off your list this way too!
Decide ahead of time how much of a book you have to read. When you reach that point, ditch it if you’re still not interested.
Don’t be afraid to read in bits and pieces. You don’t have to have large chunks of unoccupied time to make good progress in a book!
Know which book(s) you’re going to read next. You can create your own summer reading list.
Any tips I missed? Please share in the comments!
Without further ado, here’s my summer reading list:
This is one of the books recommended by Anne Bogel in her Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide. This book looks so different from anything I’ve ever read before. I’ve put myself on the hold list at my library already!
This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Womenintroduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
Yet another Anne Bogel recommendation. This one caught my eye because it’s a Jane Austen retelling and I love a good Jane story. It sounds fun and lighthearted, perfect for summer nights when heavy reading feels so wrong.
Charming romantic comedy perfect for fans of Meg Cabot and Sophie Kinsella. Charlotte Gorman loves her job as an elementary school librarian, which couldn’t be more opposite from her identical twin sister. Ginny, an Instagram-famous beauty pageant contestant, but the winning plan quickly goes awry when Ginny has a terrible, face-altering allergic reaction the night before the pageant, and Charlotte suddenly finds herself in a switcheroo the twins haven’t successfully pulled off in decades. But as she discovers there’s more to her fellow contestants than just wanting a sparkly crown, Charlotte realizes she has a whole new motivation for winning.
I stumbled across Whitney’s blog the other day and thought her style was so charming. While our condo here in Arlington (589 square feet) isn’t that small for the two of us, I still feel like I could use all the small space living tips I can get. I’ve put myself on the library hold list for this one and am looking forward to flipping through the pretty pictures.
Interior design maven Whitney Leigh Morris makes living in under 400 square feet look elegant and effortless—even with a husband, baby, and two Beagles in the mix. In her debut book, Whitney shares her ideas and practices for making any tiny space efficient and stylish—whether it’s a rustic A-frame in the woods or a chic microapartment in the city.
I’ve had this book on my shelf for approximately 5 gazillion years, and have even started reading it several times. I always end up putting it aside for something lighter (literally. this book is a long’un!). I’d love to finish up this book this summer.
In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life.
Now that we live in the nation’s capital, I thought it would be really fun to read a book about each of the United States presidents. I’m not positive that I want to 100% commit myself to this long of a project yet. Reading about the 1st president seems like a good place to find out though. I picked this one because a quick google search informed me that it’s the most interesting biography about George Washington.
Celebrated biographer Ron Chernow provides a richly nuanced portrait of the father of our nation and the first president of the United States. With a breadth and depth matched by no other one volume biography of George Washington, this crisply paced narrative carries the reader through his adventurous early years, his heroic exploits with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, his presiding over the Constitutional Convention, and his magnificent performance as America’s first president. In this groundbreaking work, based on massive research, Chernow shatters forever the stereotype of George Washington as a stolid, unemotional figure and brings to vivid life a dashing, passionate man of fiery opinions and many moods.
If reading a biography about the first president goes well, it only makes sense to read one about the second! I’ve heard about this author a lot but have never read any of his books myself. Also, I just saw someone reading it on the metro. That feels like a sign.
In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as “out of his senses”; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the moving love stories in American history.
I’ve been following Jon Acuff on Instagram for yeeeeaars. His are probably the posts I share with my husband most just because they’re so funny. But I’ve also learned a lot about business and personal development from him too. I’ve been wanting to read one of his books for a while now. Since I’m really good at starting things and really bad at finishing them, this feels like a great place to start 😉
According to studies, 92 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail. You’ve practically got a better shot at getting into Juilliard to become a ballerina than you do at finishing your goals.
If you’re tired of being a chronic starter and want to become a consistent finisher, you have two options: You can continue to beat yourself up and try harder, since this time that will work. Or you can give yourself the gift of done.
I don’t know a whole lot about this book or its author, but I DO know that it’s one of my favorite subjects. I have heard quite a few recommendations for this particular book!
Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.
To be honest, this book sort of intimidates me. It sounds way too academic or expert for me. But it’s about money and the way that people actually behave with it, which also sounds fascinating, so I’m going to give it a try!
Nobel laureate Richard H. Thaler has spent his career studying the radical notion that the central agents in the economy are humans―predictable, error-prone individuals. Misbehaving is his arresting, frequently hilarious account of the struggle to bring an academic discipline back down to earth―and change the way we think about economics, ourselves, and our world.
This book is such a personal finance classic that I’ve been meaning to read. (noticing a theme with my summer reading list?). I hadn’t considered reading it when I first heard about it because I thought it was for dads. Crazy assumption, huh? But it’s about a lot more, including challenging the assumptions and mindsets we have when it comes to money that aren’t doing us any favors.
In Rich Dad Poor Dad, the #1 Personal Finance book of all time, Robert Kiyosaki shares the story of his two dad: his real father, whom he calls his ‘poor dad,’ and the father of his best friend, the man who became his mentor and his ‘rich dad.’ One man was well educated and an employee all his life, the other’s education was “street smarts” over traditional classroom education and he took the path of entrepreneurship…a road that led him to become one of the wealthiest men in Hawaii. Robert’s poor dad struggled financially all his life, and these two dads—these very different points of view of money, investing, and employment—shaped Robert’s thinking about money.
This books comes highly recommended from Liz over at the Frugalwoods blog. Some of the things it covers I know well, like how to avoid debt and what to do if you have it. But there are a lot of topics that I don’t know much about and would love to learn about like
understanding the stock market
figuring out the world of saving for retirement
whether we’ll ever need an investment advise
Fun stuff, no?
“In the dark, bewildering, trap-infested jungle of misinformation and opaque riddles that is the world of investment, JL Collins is the fatherly wizard on the side of the path, offering a simple map, warm words of encouragement and the tools to forge your way through with confidence. You’ll never find a wiser advisor with a bigger heart.” — Malachi Rempen: Filmmaker, cartoonist, author and self-described ruffian
Here’s another classic personal finance book I’d love to have under my belt. I love the idea of people building wealth not to live super flashy lives but to love their families well and give generously.
The bestselling The Millionaire Next Door identifies seven common traits that show up again and again among those who have accumulated wealth. Most of the truly wealthy in this country don’t live in Beverly Hills or on Park Avenue-they live next door.
Confession. I’ve been intending to re-read this book since the movie came out. In 2014. Has it really been that long? Did you see the movie and was it any good?
The Giver, the 1994 Newbery Medal winner, has become one of the most influential novels of our time. The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Lois Lowry has written three companion novels to The Giver, including Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.
I’ve heard such great things about John Steinbeck but I’ve never read any of his works. I’m really looking forward to this one.
They are an unlikely pair: George is “small and quick and dark of face”; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a “family,” clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation.
Laborers in California’s dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations of a flirtatious woman, nor predict the consequences of Lennie’s unswerving obedience to the things George taught him.
This classic sounds like a fun summer read. I can’t believe I made it through so many years of schooling without this one being on the required reading!
At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate. This far from civilization they can do anything they want. Anything. But as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far removed from reality as the hope of being rescued.
Bonus Fun Books
I realized that many of my books on my Summer Reading List are non-fiction and not exactly lighthearted. Here are four more bonus books, all ideas from Anne Bogel. I put myself on the hold list at my local library for each of them. Fingers crossed one or two of them will become available this summer!
Do you have any of the same books on your summer reading list? Which of these books is a must-read and, more importantly, are there any that you would recommend I take off my summer reading list?
Fall always feels like the perfect season to turn serious. To get ready for a winter of hunkering down and spending a bit more time indoors than out. It’s less summer pool party vibes and more hot apple cider and a good, long book vibes. Of course, in Oklahoma, that weather doesn’t actually turn until late October. I’ve planned out my reading list accordingly, starting with subjects that feel more like summer and ending with the fallest books that I could find. Because reading moods are important.
Confession: another goal in my fall reading list is to also finally finally finish books I already own. Nineteen of these 25 books are already patiently waiting on my shelf. I’m so excited to see how many of these books I can get to! Without further ado, here’s what’s on my fall reading list.
I remember wanting to read this in 5th grade. That’s how long I’ve been waiting to get around to this charming-sounding book with mice and other woodland creatures. Can’t wait to finally dive in!
This is one of those books that I never had to read in school but wish I had. But just because I don’t have an English teacher threatening me with a pop quiz doesn’t mean I can’t read it.
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan but never read this, which makes me sort of question my own identity. I was somewhat discouraged by the bad reviews when it first came out, but I’d still like to check it out for myself.
I’ve been hesitant to read this because I hear everyone dies, good old George might not actually finish the series, and it’s really violent. But I’ve been curious about it for a while so I’m going to give it a shot.
I have been hearing about this book everywhere. Carol Dweck teaches about having a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset. I definitely have a fixed mindset in a lot of ways and it’s something that I’d like to look on.
I feel like I have to work really hard for structure and organization. Anything that helps with those is definitely something I’d be interested in reading.
I had the pleasure of meeting Professor Granger at my university when he came and spoke. He has a lot of insight into literature and brought out so many things in Harry Potter that I never noticed.
With only a year of marriage under my belt, I know I still have a lot to learn. This felt like a good place to start. Also, can you tell I’m trying to work on my prayer life?
What are you reading?
My reading list feels like a lot, but I can’t wait to dive in and see what happens! What are you reading this fall?
If you love to read but haven’t given the classics a chance, now’s the time to change that. Even as a person who got a degree in English, I sometimes find it difficult to pick up a classic. It’s hard to get away from the stigma that they’re boring and hard to read. But fear not, readers. Here’s a list of classic American literature that’s definitely worth reading.
I loved this Southern gothic novel so much more than I expected to. It was one of those rare books assigned to me for school that I actually finished because it was fun. It’s disturbing and thought-provoking, which is not always my taste in literature. I found myself somewhat confused from the stream of consciousness narrative throughout, but it was fun puzzling together what was actually happening. I have a feeling this is a book I could read again and again.
This is one of the first American books written throughout in vernacular English. I’ve heard people criticize the book as coming across as racist. Keep in mind, however, that it’s satire that was really against the grain during the time it was written and caused a lot of people to think in ways they hadn’t been forced to before.
This is certainly a well-beloved book that you’ve surely heard of. If you haven’t read it by now, here’s a gentle nudge to give it a shot. There’s a reason so many people love it.
I got so much more into this book than I expected to. Fair warning: it may make you want to adopt a dog into your life. I’ve banned my dog-obsessed husband from reading it until we have the space to keep a puppy happy.
To be honest, I remember almost none of the details of this book, even though I’m pretty sure I read it twice in high school. It’ll all come back to me when I start re-reading it. I do remember loving the story. This book certainly has stellar reviews.
I listened to the audiobook, read by Maya Angelou herself. It’s a heartbreaking and inspiring story certainly worth reading at least once. The Audible version is phenomenal. There’s something extra special about hearing a work read by the author, especially such a poetic work.
This is another one of those books I was assigned in school but completely enjoyed reading. It’s about the Dresden bombings during World War II, with science fiction and dark humor woven throughout. It has a strong commentary on war which I don’t 100% agree with, but it’s thought-provoking and brilliantly written. I wrote a paper about how Vonnegut wrote this book as a commentary on the Vietnam War as much as it is a commentary on World War II.
This autobiography is also heartbreaking and inspiring. Harriet Jacobs lived from 1813 – 1897 and tells the story of being born into servitude in the south and eventually finding freedom and family in the north.
Don’t let the glamour fool you. This book is chock full of deep thoughts and darkness barely kept at bay. The symbolism and character development is any literature lover’s dream come true.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot, despite my dissatisfaction with the ending. The prose is beautiful and the critique of the human condition excellent. If nothing else, this classic is certainly worth reading for understanding the cultural references alone. The book certainly takes you back to a fascinating era of American history.
This is one of those books that I thought was sweet and light-hearted when I read it as a child and then found all the deeper meanings as an adult. The writing is simple but Louisa May Alcott raises some serious questions and bucks the status quo in this book. Jo has long been a beloved character for her spunk and ability to forge her own path.
Books on my TBR
These are books that I’ve heard so much about but haven’t had a chance to read myself yet. I can’t personally vouch for them, but they’re well-beloved books by people in general (not just boring English professors).
“This is the story of two sisters—one a missionary in Africa and the other a child wife living in the South—who sustain their loyalty to and trust in each other across time, distance, and silence. Beautifully imagined and deeply compassionate, this classic novel of American literature is rich with passion, pain, inspiration, and an indomitable love of life.”
“From the moment she entered the world, Francie needed to be made of stern stuff, for the often harsh life of Williamsburg demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Often scorned by neighbors for her family’s erratic and eccentric behavior—such as her father Johnny’s taste for alcohol and Aunt Sissy’s habit of marrying serially without the formality of divorce—no one, least of all Francie, could say that the Nolans’ life lacked drama.”
“Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.”
“Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden.”
“Aldous Huxley’s profoundly important classic of world literature, Brave New World is a searching vision of an unequal, technologically-advanced future where humans are genetically bred, socially indoctrinated, and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order–all at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls.”
“The nameless narrator of the novel describes growing up in a black community in the South, attending a Negro college from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of “the Brotherhood”, and retreating amid violence and confusion to the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be.”
“The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days.”
Leave a comment and let me know what books stood out to you? Are any of these your absolute faves already? Least favorites? Tell me all the things.
Hi, I’m Kelsey! I live in the DC area with my husband and two cats. I currently spend my days working from home, reading all the books, and enjoying home life in our new-to-us 1940s condo. Read more about me here.
, so I think I’m going to give that a go this time around.
This is one of the books recommended by 
East of Eden
