2023 Q1 Top Books that I Read and Loved
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Oh hello there! This post came early this year and for good reason. Instead of writing up book reviews biyearly, which I’ve done for the past few years, I want to switch to a quarterly review format this year. The biggest reason is I tend to read a lot of books and sometimes, it’s hard to pick the ones I like without having it as a long list. Here’s to experimentation and trying new things. Feel free to let me know in the comments at the end what are your thoughts on this format.
The first quarter of the year flew by, just like Thanos and his snap (if you don’t understand that reference…we need to talk). It was mixed with a bit of chaos and stress. One of the biggest positive achievements I’ve done so far though is getting myself back to the gym on a consistent basis with a detailed plan. For the longest time, I was just listening to my body and doing a split of low-intensive cardio and mat pilates, but I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted. I knew I needed structure and some form of progress tracking to up my game. This resulted in me getting an online personal trainer through Caliber, which I’m happy to recommend (as of when this post was published, I switched to a group training plan due to cost). I love the flexibility, structure, and progress tracking the app has. The app itself is decent, with room to improve, but overall usable. What I like about Caliber is how responsive the team is on email or even Reddit, which the founder is active on. It’s been incredibly exciting to see and feel myself getting stronger with progressive overload as the weeks went by. Some of the workouts I’m already using more than 50 pounds!
I’ve been reading a bit slower than my usual pace this quarter with 20 books read to date. It’s been a mix of chic-lit, self-help, fantasy, fiction, and nonfiction. True to my word for my previous post, I’m currently rereading The Daily Stoic, which has been an unexpected comfort as each day’s entry lined up to something I needed to hear that day. The joys of the unexpected.
As the weather warms up heading into spring to summer, you can find me, specifically the introvert me, here:
Feel free to share your thoughts about this format and if you have any book recommendations as well. Happy reading all!
A great fiction read
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
I kept on seeing this book front and center of bookstores whenever I went in so my curiosity finally got to me and I bought it. This book has a very distinct witty tone that requires you to focus to enjoy the story that’s unfolding. Taking place in the 1960s, a Californian female chemist Elizabeth Zott embarks on this journey to break barriers in a male-dominated world of science and domestic life. Of course not everyone is happy and would gladly maintain the status quo. Even though this book takes place then, a lot of it still resonates with present day female choices that we’re faced with on a personal and societal level. It’s a refreshing read and a great reminder that shaking things up is not always a bad thing.
Self-Help
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forelo
At the end of the day, self-help books have a similar schtick they’re preaching and motivating readers to do. This book follows that structure; however, it’s the way that Forelo packaged the content that really resonated with me. Stories about her persevering and finding ways to solve situations out of her control was incredibly inspiring. The book’s title has become one of my motto’s to say when things get tough because everything is truly figureoutable; whether we just need to be patient and let the solution fall into our laps or take a breather before our anxiety gets the best of us.
Grit by Angela Duckworth
Speaking of pushing through tough times, this book is literally all about that. Growing up, I’ve always absorbed from the outside—specifically in the sports setting—that talent only gets you so far; it’s all about the hard work you put in to be great. I think that’s one of my biggest strengths I have especially when I want something bad. I’m willing to put in the time, effort, and consistency it needs for me to get what I want (even though BTS, I’m probably having doubts on whether it’s all worth it…and it is at the end). Reading this book helped validate in me ideas and saying that I grew up with and brought in new ideas as well. Duckworth does a great job in explaining how grit can be applied to multiple roles, like students to parents, so that way we can continue to raise generations of gritty people.
Given I’ve read my fair share of ok to bad books, I wanted to share my list for those as well so you can just be aware.
Easy Predictable Reads
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
Just My Type by Falon Ballard
Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
Wow…what did I just read and waste my time on?
A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand. I loved her 28 Summers book, but this was a snoooozefest.
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair. It’s trying to be A Court of Thrones and Roses, but it’s far from there. Book 2 of this series has been getting horrendous reviews so I’m not even bothering.
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. The movie is a classic; still so many iconic lines and scenes referenced today (Florals. For spring? Groundbreaking #yawn). It was my first time reading book after watching the movie throughout the years. Wow, this was really bad. This book made me realize how much progress chic-lit book has gone through since then. Props to the script writers on adapting this and the other creatives bringing this book to life.