One of my favorite end-of-the-year projects is going back through the books I read and compiling a list of my absolute favorites and a few of the ones that were a little more “meh” than I would have liked.

I typically read on average anywhere between 150-200 books in a year so this is definitely a process. My goal is to share the best of the best and so if it makes my favorites list it means that it’s a book I would 

1) totally read again or 

2) I wish I could read it again for the first time.

If it meets those criteria it makes the favorites list.

There aren’t too many books in my “meh” category, mostly because if I’m not feeling a book, I rarely finish it. I just can’t bear to waste time on a “meh” book when I could be discovering something so amazing on the pages of another piece of work. But I do have a few that I’ll share with you.

As always, take this entire list with a grain of salt. We all have different preferences and reading styles and so just cause something didn’t do it for me, doesn’t mean it won’t hit you in the ooey-gooey center. So it’s good to give everything a chance. 

Alright, fellow book nerd, let’s put on those glasses, grab that coffee and dive into your next book obsession.

The “OMG It Can’t Be Over” “Wow, That Was the Greatest Thing I’ve Ever Read” “I Will Cuddle This Book & Never Put It Down” List

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book is completely unexpected and not at all what you think, based on the title. It’s an absolute raw and beautiful love story and dives deeply into the human experience while exploring what it means to love, to be a woman, and what it’s like to exist in a world as we age and try to stay relevant. Seriously, such a good read.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

You have probably seen this book on social media, at this point – but truly this book delivers. It’s thrilling, surprising and honestly sometimes flat out disturbing. It’s the kind of book where you’ll be a little sick to your stomach and then question if you should actually be enjoying the book – but in a good way. This is the perfect book to read in a book club or with a friend, because trust me – you’re going to want to discuss this afterwards.

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover

This book is the perfect summer read and full of young adult angst with a lot of feel good undertones that will make you reminisce about being younger and the growing pains and hardships we have all faced along the way. It’s tender, it’s raw and it’s one of those you want to cuddle up with at night.

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Another win by Hoover, Hopeless is all about re-visiting the sweet tragedy of your first love. However, make no mistake, this isn’t just a predictable, regular teenage heartbreak drama. It’s relatable, it’s heartbreaking, it’s sweet, it’s frustrating, and it’s all the things you feel on the complicated journey of opening your heart to someone else. 

Good as Dead by Susan Walter

Another thriller on the list, this book is twisty, suspenseful and will have you asking yourself “WTF is going on” – all throughout the book. This book is written from several character’s point of view so you really get to dive deeply into each character, their story and their inner thoughts – which paints this web and weave of mystery and intrigue. This book is hard to put down and you’ll probably read it in just a few nights.

The Sixes by Kate White

This book is wild. It’s twisty and turny and makes you think about the weird and cult like clubs we’ve all heard rumors about on college campuses. This is another book that was a little unexpected from what I thought it was going to be but it kept me captivated the entire read until a shocking twist at the end. Another one I recommend reading with a friend or a book club cause you’ll end the book desperately wanting to talk about it. 

How Are You Really by Jenna Kutcher

I read a lot of nonfiction / personal development books and this one was my favorite from 2022. I’ve been following Jenna for years and was so happy when she finally wrote a book. It’s not your typical regurgitated informational “go fix yourself” PD book. Instead it’s full of good stories, honest revelations and an easy guide to achieving your goals, celebrating your baby steps and realizing that you’re perfect and wonderful as you are right now. It’s a refreshing read and a great way to start the new year.

The Gap & The Gain by Dan Sullivan

This book is a masterclass on positivity psychology but not in a toxic way. It’s literally the science behind how our brain works, how to build better habits and how you can master your experiences by hacking into the mechanics of your mind. It’s a fascinating read and gives such an incredible perspective and insight on how you can change your entire day to day life. I’ve taught this concept to my kids and spouse and it’s changed the entire mood of our home.

Happy Gut by Vincent Pedre

You can’t go anywhere without hearing about gut health, these days, but often it’s very confusing and hard to understand. I love this book because it explains the science but it’s simple to understand and the tips and suggestions are easy to apply to every day life without making you feel guilty or giving unrealistic expectations. I think everyone should read this book so you can have a base understanding of what it means to take care of your body and all the new discoveries centered around our gut health and microbiome.

Code Red by Lisa Lister

One of my favorite “health” books of all time and I recommend every woman on the planet pick up this book. This book de-mystifies your monthly periods, helps explain how we are more than just the few days of menstruation and how we can start to feel amazing when we understand and work WITH our entire cycle and not just when we are actively menstruating. It’s informative, chocked full of science and also the most empowering book you’ll ever read about your cycle.

The “Meh, I’ve Read Better” “Man, That Book Did Me Dirty” List

The Silent Woman by Minka Kent

Okay, so I didn’t hate this book but I read it after Verity and it felt like a carbon copy concept. So maybe that skewed my thinking of this book but while it wasn’t horrible, it just felt like a more tame version of Verity. This book seemed a little predictable and sometimes a little confusing (maybe that was the point) it just lacked the “holy crap what’s going to happen next” vibe that gets my heart racing and me unable to put a book down or engage in real life. If ya know, you know. 

If you haven’t read Verity, you could give this book a try and you might enjoy it. For me it was just okay.

Credence by Penelope Douglas

Alright, this book was really popular on TikTok and so of course I had to give it a try. To be honest, I was conflicted about where I should put this book because I loved parts of it but ultimately it ended with me feeling all sorts of weird. 

Without giving too much away, this book is basically like a quadruple (is that even a word) and while that can certainly be stimulating – these particular people are loosely related which makes, even someone like me, feel a little unsure.

Penelope Douglas is a messed up genius, and I say that with absolute love because her books push all the envelopes and totally “go there” which I love and adore about her but this book just left me feeling uncertain. Like I wasn’t sure if I could look at myself in the mirror the next day, which is why it ultimately made my list.

Layla by Colleen Hoover

Another book that was just okay for me. The concept is totally fine, it’s out there, but I’m okay with that. However, I read this book shortly after watching the Netflix series “Behind Her Eyes” and it also seemed like a complete carbon copy of that show so I could already predict what was going to happen. Therefore, it didn’t hold my interest as much as I had hoped it would. 

I you want an interesting read with an interesting concept than grab this book, or go watch the show, but for me it was kind of bla. 

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

Another thriller on the list. I wanted to love this book but it just wasn’t as thrilling as I like my thrillers to be. It had all the right ingredients but the final product seemed a little bit of a downer for me. Sadly, I can’t quite put my finger on why I felt like that at the end but I wasn’t really shocked at the ending or feeling like I was all twisted up – which is my preference for a good thriller. So for that reason it landed on my meh list. 

So there you have it. Again, I think all literary work is worth giving a chance, since we are all different. So take my suggestions with a grain of salt. 

No matter where you find yourself in the land of good reads, may you find something you love, that touches your heart and that keeps you up way past your bedtime.

**Full transparency, there are affiliate links included in this post. Meaning, if you click on my links, I will get a small compensation for the referral. However, this does not change your final price in any way at all. This is simply a way to support this blog. All opinions and recommendations are my own and I do not recommend anything I haven’t bought, used, and loved for myself.