I am so excited to say this new post is a collaboration with Caroline from @the.carolife. We wanted to round up some of our favorite life-changing books to share with you! Because we both have different tastes in reading there is for sure something for everyone here. So check out why you should pick up these books and get reading!

Caroline’s Picks! 

I Have the Right To by Chessy Prout

This is a beautiful and honest memoir told by a sexual assault survivor, Chessy Prout. She details her life before and after the assault, how she became a survivor and not a victim, and what it was like to go through the legal process as a plaintiff. Her story changed my awareness and perspective on our culture and gave me hope that we can change it together.

 

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

 

Sequel Girl, Wash Your Face

Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley

Both of these books are just amazing, period! Jordan and Rachel are so incredibly personal, relatable, and human. They inspired me to live boldly and fiercely and to stop letting things get in the way of achieving or being myself. Their stories are told through a Christian lens, but it is not overwhelming or their primary outlet: their goal was to make their advice accessible to non-christian women and introduce Christianity in a non-threatening way–and they did a fabulous job. You will learn some awesome advice that will make you think “how did I live without knowing this?”

 

Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult

Oh. my. Gosh. So many incredible things to say about this beautifully written, intriguing, well told, eye-opening book!! This book is about the life of a black L&D nurse who treated a baby whose parents are white supremacists, and you won’t believe the incredible story that ensues. This is my all-time favorite book, and I can’t recommend it enough.

 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

This is an awesome quick read told through the eyes of a teen boy with autism. I love the funny and real way this book is told, and I was gripped into the storyline the entire way through. You will love this story; it offers a unique perspective that will change yours. 

 

She felt like feeling nothing by r.h. Sin

(One of his other poetry books: she just wants to forget)

Sin has a way of making poetry simple but soul-feeding and deep. His writing is so genuine and relatable, yet artful, that I can promise you will want him to be your best friend after reading his collections. His poetry is pure gold. For an idea on his poetry style and for some encouragement, follow his Instagram.

 

My Picks!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

  After FINALLY getting around to picking this book up, I totally fell head over heels for it. It took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I even just did a presentation for my acting class using Matthew Macfadyen’s version of Mr. Darcy. The characters are all filled with so many character traits, not all good, but they make the story fun to read and I think everyone should read some Jane Austen in their lifetime.

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

        If I had to choose just one book as my favorite of all time, this novel may actually be it. I can’t say enough good things about The Giver. Ever since I first read it in eighth grade I have been enamored by it. I may or may not have taken a literature class last semester specifically because I saw this was on the reading list… This book has so much to offer it’s readers: an enticing story, an interesting world, and a lot to think about. This is one book that I recommend everyone should read at least once or 10 times… I’m not judging! You will absolutely find yourself still thinking about it long after you have put it down.

 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

        This is another book that will make you think. The Book Thief’s best quality, in my opinion, is the fact that the narrator of the book is Death, and Zusak writes it in a way that you end feeling sad for Death… It is just stunningly written. I have talked about Zusak and some of his other novels on the blog before because his writing style just gets me every time. Be warned though, this book is a tear-jerker so have some tissues in arm’s reach and be ready to get your heartstrings pulled.

 

Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

        This series deserves to be read all the way through. Yes, it is technically a children’s series, but hear me out. Lemony Snicket has one of my favorite writing styles ever, and this series is perfectly done. My favorite one of the series is book 12, the novel before the end called The Penultimate Peril, and if you want to know why you will just have to read the entire series. I mean how can you go wrong with this series when some of the lines include:

“Wicked people never have time for reading. It’s one of the reasons for their wickedness.”

“It is one of life’s bitterest truths that bedtime so often arrives just when things are really getting interesting.” 

And “Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don’t always like.”

 

The Magician’s Nephew by C. S Lewis

        Last, but certainly not least, is the underrated ‘one book’ to the Chronicles of Narnia series. Technically it was the sixth book published, but the events happen before “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.” The book is all about how the ‘comings and goings’ to Narnia came to happen and how Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy’s Uncle Digory comes to have the wardrobe.

 Many have read part of the series but never this one. I, on the other hand, have not read the series but only read this one… Anyway, I think this book deserves a lot more love. Seriously, go read it and then message me so we can chat about how good this book is.

 

We hope you found something that piqued your interest. If you read any of them be sure to give us your review. Leave us your own favorite books in the comments below so we can check them out!

 

Please be sure to go and check out Caroline’s blog and Instagram and give her some love links below. She talks about all things life from fashion to health with some great sustainability posts too. 

 

See Caroline’s Blog here >  https://carolineclaire239.wixsite.com/thecarolife

 

And go follow her on Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/the.carolife/