I always get a lot of reading done in the end of December and early January. With my break from classes, I have a lot more free time, and I love using it to catch up on reading. I can only binge so many episodes in a row on Netflix before I need to do something else. You can see what I read below, and let me know if you have any good recommendations for me.

Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy by Kevin Kwan
I saw the movie when it came out over the summer, and I finally had time to read the books that the movie was based on. I was happy to find that the the movie had stayed pretty true to the book. Of course, there was more detail/character development in the books – plus, it’s a trilogy, so the books continue past where the movie ended. They’re a fun, light read.

Becoming by Michelle Obama
I loved reading about Michelle’s take on her time in the White House (and leading up to it). Her story focused on the personal details, which are, in my opinion, the most interesting to read. She’s a great author, and it was fascinating to learn about how her history led up to her being the First Lady.

A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
 This book is historical fiction about Alva Vanderbilt. I basically knew nothing about the Vanderbilt family, other than the fact that they are incredibly wealthy (and that Anderson Cooper is related to the family). But apparently, Alva did a lot to support women’s equality work – it was fitting to read this right after Becoming.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton
This may have been my favorite of the bunch. It focuses on a few different main characters, spanning decades, but is so satisfying when everything comes together. It’s a bit of a mystery, but not in a typical way – it’s hard to explain without giving too much away, but I highly recommend it!

One Day in December by Josie Silver
I decided to read this one after seeing it on Instagram, and I’m really glad that I did. It’s another quick read with a love triangle of sorts. It’s the perfect book to read on a cozy day in in January.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I loved reading Circe by the same author, so I was incredibly excited to start this one. Most of my knowledge of Achilles and Odysseus comes from Wishbone, so maybe not the most accurate but I did at least recognize the names of most of the characters. The plot was so moving, and the ending will stick with me for a very long time.

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
I picked this one up after seeing it on Carly’s blog, and it was a great choice. It’s a love story, but there are so many twists and turns – many times, my guesses about what was happening were completely wrong. I could not stop reading – I finished it in one day because I couldn’t put it down.