My sister asked me the other day if I have any books to recommend & I got so excited to share the books below with her because these are all pretty great. I get asked quite frequently how I get through so many books. Well it’s a couple of things: I read whenever I’m on the train to and from work – it’s not a long commute but 30 minutes each way gives me a lot of reading time. I also read a few chapters before bed – it relaxes my mind. If I’m not taking a gym class, then I’m usually on the elliptical and reading – read on for how this proved to be problematic a few weeks ago! I get the books on loan from the library with a pretty strict deadline of returning I know that I have to get through the book or else I’ll be stuck halfway finished and dying to know what happened – so that’s a pretty great motivator!
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake: This was a really cute and light read, which everyone needs in my opinion. I think it’s really cool the author set this book in Milwaukee – most of the time you read books that take place in cities we’re all more familiar with, so it was nice that she threw in a lot of great eateries and local flare! Lou is the owner of a restaurant and is engaged to the snobby and uptight Devlin & Al is a British food critic passing through town until he gets a better offer from a bigger newspaper! That’s all I’ll say, but you probably know where it’s heading! Bonus: the recipe for coconut cake is at the end of the book! If you are a foodie – this book is for you.
The next four books are all thrillers! I honestly couldn’t get enough of this genre over the last few weeks and was really pulled into each and every book!
- The Good Girl: This was the first “thriller” I had read in a long time and it felt good to be so enthralled with a book that I needed to find out what happened. Each chapter gives the different point of views of the character’s- before Mia is kidnapped & after. Her mom, abductor & police detective are the one’s that you get to know and I can honestly tell you that I didn’t see the end coming! I’m usually really good about figuring things out, but this one was crazy twisted, but not in the gross kind of way – more so in the “I can’t believe that just happened” kind of way! If you liked Gone Girl &, Girl on the Train then you’ll really like this!
- Truly Madly Guilty: I have heard a lot about Liane Moriarty’s books & honestly the first one I tried to read was the Husband’s Secret and I just could not get into it. Everyone was raving about Truly Madly Guilty & after it finally became available at the library I was excited to read it. I’m finding more and more that I like books that alternate between characters in each chapter & this book was no exception. The characters were all really complicated – each one with a character flaw if you will. It alternated between “the day of the barbecue” and “before the barbecue” & I was flying through each chapter trying to find out what on earth happened at this barbecue. I’ll say that it kept me engaged the entire time & while I sort of suspected the ending, it wasn’t any easier to actually read it! I really did enjoy this book & highly recommend it!
- Don’t You Cry: This was the second book by Mary Kubica that I read and I immediately downloaded Pretty Baby right after. Reading this book really scared me, it was an actual thriller – just how scary was it – I was finishing the book up (had about 50 pages to go) and it was starting to really intensify, I was on the elliptical at the gym & someone coughed and I literally lost my balance because it scared me to where I thought someone was behind me! Yep that actually happened! While that doesn’t tell you anything about the book except that it was scary, I’ll say that I had no clue how it was going to turn out. I’ll leave you with this little bit about the book “In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate Quinn Collins to wonder where Esther is and whether or not sheβs the person Quinn thought she knew.” It’s hauntingly good.
- The Woman in Cabin 10: Have you ever seen a bug or spider that you know is in the room and when you went to go get something to kill it with, you come back and it’s gone, but you know it couldn’t have disappeared that fast and you wonder to yourself – did I just imagine that?! Well that’s exactly how Lo was feeling in The Woman in Cabin 10. If you’re not a fan of cruises, you really wont like them after this book! Imagine being stuck in international waters & you know you heard a body hit the water – only no one on the ship is missing and worse, there’s no evidence! Aside from it being a great read, I feel like this would be a really great movie too!
- Big Little Lies: Well after not liking the first Liane Moriarty book I read, I think she is my new favorite author. Big Little Lies is a take on three very different women whose children all attend the same elementary school. There is a tragic accident that takes place and the police question pretty much every parent at the school and the whole time you may think you know who died (not a spoiler it’s in the description of the book) and who caused the death, but I will tell you that it was a huge shock to me. This is currently a limited series on HBO starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman & Shailene Woodley and I really want to see how it was interpreted!! Of all the books I read in the last few months, I’d pick this one as my favorite!
I’m currently reading this, but after all of these intense reads, I’m ready for a little more lighthearted reading!! Any suggestions!?
I just finished reading a Liane Moriarty book! I really love her books and The Husband's Secret was the first one I read by her and it hooked me! Coming Home was a book I picked up at Target off of their book club bookshelf and it was great! I highly recommend it!
Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
Big Little Lies was so good!! And if you liked that one, I would say to read Behind Closed Doors. I recently finished, The Things We Wish Were True and The Life We Bury, both good and quick reads!
My husband got me The a Good Girl for Christmas. I love a good thriller, can't wait to dig into it. Great list!
Thanks for the reviews π I just finished "cancel the wedding" and it may be in my top 5 favorite books ever!!! I think you'd love it! It's a mystery and a romance and is written so well!
Ohh a lot of these sound really good. I loved The Woman in Cabin 10, so I will have to get the others a try! I am reading Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks right now and am really enjoying it!
The last one has been on my bookshelf since May! I want to read it before starting the series on HBO!
I felt the same way about the Good Girl, and I could not believe the ending! I am definitely going to grab that first one. I feel like I have been tackling some hefty ones lately so a light one is greatly needed! Thanks for sharing these!
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
I'm always more attracted to the light reads that are fun and happy but some of these thrillers sound really good! I will have to add Good Girl to my list! Thanks for the suggestion, Biana!
xo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
I felt the same about Truly Madly Guilty….it was a jumpy! Haha! I will say that I was impressed with Moriarty's research about classical music world and the orchestra audition circuit! You know how we always get upset and annoyed when books and tv shows get our profession wrong? Ha… Like if an actual doctor were to watch Gray's Anatomy, she's probably be rolling her eyes the whole time! And Mozart in the Jungle drives us classical musicians crazy! (So pretentious, I know…. π But TMG is actually spot on with how the orchestra world works, and she uses actual audition excerpts in the book….so I liked it for that π
If you like mystery and crime, try "Before the Fall." I seriously couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting during Christmas break!!!
I love Thrillers and will for sure check out The Good Girl – also I had no idea the new show Big Little Lies was based off a book! Good to know!
I love thrillers and these sound like great reads! I did read Big Little Lies last year but didn't realize there was a show based off of it! I'll have to check it out!
Jill
Doused In Pink
I wanted to like Truly Madly Guilty more than I actually did. I was just kind of underwhelmed once I finished it, but I loved Big Little Lies! The Woman in Cabin 10 is on my list and I can't wait to pick it up!
Liane Moriarty is definitely one of my favorite authors. You're actually one of the first people who told me that Truly Madly Guilty was good. Given, that's from people who have read all of her books and maybe had different expectations, but I heard that there was a TON of lead up and then it wasn't that exciting, so I've been putting off reading it because of all the mixed/negative reviews. Maybe I'll get to it soon though since you liked it.
I thought The Good Girl was really interesting too!
Big Little Lies is next on my list and The Good Girl is one of my FAVORITES! You know I LOVE your book review posts! My best friends and I are starting a book club so I'm totally just sending them your post and we can check these all off the list!!
rosyoutlookblog.com
Love these recommendations! I need to snag one (or all) of these – I'm in dire need of some reading time!
Zelle
Southern Style
I always love this post for the solid reason you make me want to go out and purchase books and read read read! I heard so many good things about The Good Girl! I need to start reading!
xoxo,Victoria
coffeeandablonde.blogpsot.com
The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Good Girl are definitely on my must read list! I read both of those Liane Moriarty books but I don't really remember either of these, I'm going to have to re-read them! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
oh good list! i have heard big little lies is good. i just started reading some carrie fisher books bc yes. and i started with postcards from the edge. it's very good so far! (like halfway). she was such a good writer. plus it's an easy read. i have been making time before bed (when i can) to read and it's def a nice new routine!
xoxo cheshire kat
Uh oh— hope the elliptical didn't cause too much damage! I'm sure no one saw! π The Coconut Cake book sounds intriguing. Or maybe I just want coconut cake! π XOXO, R
I've gotten Truly Madly Guilty on audiobook & CANT HANDLE IT… just reading the word Bar-B-Que gives me cringes. The accent on the audiobook just makes me CRINGGGEEEEEEE….
so I just bought the book to read in my own voice. Though now, I'm afraid I'm going to always see that word & hear that HORRID voice on the audiobook.
Sounds like you know your way around the thriller-verse! I love Sci-fi novels the most, but after reading Girl on the Train, I realized how much I really love to be scared. lol Saved at least two of these and ordered "Don't you Cry."
Ohhhh I didn't know that new show with Reese was based on a book! I definitely want to read it!
Ok I'm pumped – thriller is basically my only category I read (I know, I'm weird) and don't you cry is now on my list and also big little lies! Yesss I'm so glad you shared these reviews!
I'll have to read the coincidence of coconut cake- thanks for the recommendation!
I've read most of the books you listed and I loved all of them, especially The Girl in Cabin 10! I love a good mystery/thriller and I'm also a big fan of listening to audiobooks at the gym!
thecourtneydiaries.com
I am SO glad to hear that you could NOT get into The Husband's Secret because I couldn't either! I loved Big Little Lies so I figured THS would be no different, but boy…was I wrong! I finally gave in an read the synopsis online. Haha!
I'm adding the other thrillers on my to read list on Goodreads!
Kinda wishing we had HBO right now…I'd like to see that show too!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lilyο»Ώ
I am currently listening to the Magnolia Story and I love that the audio book is read by Chip & Joanna. I have mostly been reading quick romances and then on my commutes been listening to nonfiction like Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton.
i really liked big little lies! im so excited to see the mini series on HBO! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
I really need to read The Good Girl, as my last books were "It's Not Okay" by Andi Dorfman and Teresa Guidice's book about being in prison and missing her family. Time to switch it up! <3
Green Fashionista
I really liked Big Little Lies too!! Just picked up "The Hypnotist Love Story" by her!!
I think I would love The Coincidence of Coconut Cake since it's set in my backyard of Milwaukee – thanks for sharing that! I think The Good Girl is on my reading list. I'm currently reading The Obsession by Nora Roberts – definitely another twisted type story!
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake was so adorable. I really liked it, and of course, wanted cake afterwards. I had to laugh at you almost falling off the elliptical – that's happened to me before after someone has startled me while reading/listening to an audiobook. I LOVED Big Little Lies, can't wait to see the tv series!
Looks like we have the same taste in books lady! I'm reading The Woman in Cabin 10 right now and love it. I've made note of all these other ones you suggest to read next!! xx
I've heard of a couple of these books, but haven't yet read them. I love that you get your books from the library, you've inspired me to go, perhaps this weekend! I haven't gotten my books from once since college, but it's better than purchasing sometimes, especially if you're just delving into a different genre. Thanks so much for sharing, beauty, and I hope you're having a great day so far!
Xo,
Jalisa
thestylecontour.com
Well I haven't read any of these! I'm heading over to Amazon to add them all to my wish list! I always love hearing about new book recs!
Great list – I've been wanting to get a good list, and this is it. Plus I just saw a promo for the Big Little Lies.
My rec – Talking as Fast as I can by Lauren Graham – definitely lighthearted it talks about her experience on Gilmore Girls – just had the reboot and her life on Parenthood, her boyfriend Peter Krause and her background. As I'm a HUGE fan LOVED IT plus she went and watched the entire original GG series and made comments that I'm not going back and referencing.
Also just started the Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher… guess this is the year for Autobiographies for me.
Re: reading so much – I too read all of the time. Before I get up and before I go to sleep. It does have a way of de-stressing for me as well – well at least when the book isn't too tramatic!I have been known to stay up until the wee hours when I couldn't put one down. (e.g. Harlan Coben's books). Great post.
I must get this coconut cake book, I love Milwaukee and am a foodie so perfect! I love the good girl too, such a good ending. I loved getting to know the characters too. I had no idea what big little lies was about and that it was a book, just saw the commercial on HBO this weekend and I really cannot wait! Thanks for these reviews, excellent list!
These are great! I LOVE big little lies!
I read the Good Girl and loved it too. And I have read Pretty Baby (just finished and loved it). Now I want to read Don't You Cry and Big Little Lies. Thanks for the recommendations!!!
AHHH there is nothing better than a good thriller where you're so excited to see what's going to happen. Just wrote all these books on a sticky note at my desk to order them from the library π Especially the one where you almost feel off the elliptical! See you tonight, lady <3
xx Tess | Sequins are the New Black
I haven't read any of these books so you've just helped me add a few more to my audible list. Truly Madly Guilty sounds good!
I'm a huge fan of thrillers too! That's how I read a lot, too. π I love reading a few chapters before bed to relax my mind. π
I am about 30% through Truly Madly Guilty and it's killing me. I'm like what on earth happened at this barbecue???? I'll have to check out Big Little Lies too. Thanks for sharing!
All of these sound really good! I needed some good recommendations so thanks for sharing!
This is awesome and perfect timing! I needed a new read!
Heidi || Wishes & Reality
You really did go on a thriller kick recently! I still haven't read The Good Girl, but I'm hoping that I'll have the opportunity soon! I'm so glad that you liked Big Little Lies, and like you I'm very excited to see how the HBO series turns out!
Loved this post!! When I was reading what you wrote about Truly Madly Guilty I was going to comment "No! Read Big Little Lies and you will like her!" so I was SO happy that you did and liked it!! I have the Good Girl ready and waiting for me (I Really need to get a library card because I keep spending 15 a book at Amazon and its so silly). Don't you cry sounds like it would scare the daylights out of me – glad you didn't hurt yourself at the gym!
The Sarcastic Blonde
When I saw the Big Little Lies title I was going to ask if that's what Reese & Nicole keep promoting then I read down and saw! I need to pickup that book before getting onto the series!
I just read The Good Girl & Don't You Cry and loved them! I need to add Pretty Baby to my list now too. I actually liked The Good Girl more than the other one and yes, I did not see that ending at all!
I definitely need to read the good girl! Thrillers are my jam!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
I love a good thriller book so I'll have to check out The Good Girl. The train was my reading spot too and now that I don't really commute much anymore my reading has been limited. I'm a library girl too π Beautifully Candid
I got part way through Truly, Madly Guilty before it expired with the library, so I'm in queue for it again so I can finish it. Adding Big Little Lies to my queue now!
These all sound good, but especially the Woman in Cabin 10 and Don't You Cry. Adding those to my library list!!
Great post, these all sound really good. Gemma x
jacquardflower.uk
These all sound like great reads! If I ever get some time, I will check some of them out π
~Samantha
goldcoastgirlblog.com
Gotta bookmark this for later- I've been meaning to pick up a good book lately! Thanks for rec's, girlfriend!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
I loved "Truly, Madly, Guilty" too! I had JUST come back from Sydney, which made me love this even more. I just finished "The Nest" and "Here's To Us". Both were awesome! "Here's To Us" is set in Nantucket, so you know I loved that for us Boston girls π I am currently reading "Present over Perfect", it's good, but I haven't had a ton of time to get into it. Hoping to carve out some time over the weekend.
Good for you for fitting in so much reading! Thanks for the list.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
I'm reading Truly, Madly, Guilty right now! I love Liane Moriarty books and so far, I'm still enjoying this one too. I'm adding The Coconut Cake book & Don't You Cry to my lists right now! I really like Mary Kubica & with only what you've written, I've decided to read that entire book in the daylight hours only. Lol! xo
champagne wedding dress
mother of the groom dresses canada
flower girl dresses canada
if you pick up dresses, clavonna.com gives you amazing choices
more and more pls view on clavonna.com
i just finished the Red Rising series and holy cow, I'm suffering from severe book hangover….nothing i have right now even compares to Red Rising!
The Good Girl was SUCH a good book! I'll have to check these others out! xx, I'm Fixin' To
I can't decide if I want to read Good Girl because stuff about people being kidnapped freaks me out, but everyone keeps saying how good it is. I'm so excited for Big Little Lies– I can't decide if I should reread it before it comes on because I don't remember most of it.
The Women in Cabin 10 is totally on my 2017 list..glad to hear you liked it! I just finished It Ends With Us..highly recommend it.
Just put the Women in Cabin 10 on reserve at the library! I loved Big little Lies! I also just reserved the husbands secret so I'm hopeful it's not too bad. If not, I'll be referencing back here to get another suggestion off your list!
I read Truly Madly Guilty and Big Little Lies and loved them both so much!! I've read all of her books, the twists she puts in them always get me!
Brooke
Pumps and Push-Ups