I definitely wouldn’t call myself a book connoisseur. Nor am I a fast reader who can devour a new book each week.
I’m simply a mom who loves to relax on the couch each night, going on a little journey through the soft pages of a newly checked out library book.
Here are eight of my recent reads. Find one, or a few, to check out this summer!
Summer Reading
Easily Likable Fiction Picks:
Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens
This book spoke to me as a nature lover. The author immerses us in main character Kya’s inner thoughts, allowing us to feel her immense love of the earth and its beings.
Then mix that with a story of love, murder, female strength, and survival in the marsh lands of the South and this book will keep you turning page after page never wanting it to end.
Read it before the movie adaptation is released this summer!
The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes
I love historical fiction and rooting for a strong, independent female protagonist. This story brought both subjects together.
The Giver of Stars seamlessly mixes multiple story lines and creates unique depth of characters.
You might find yourself identifying with Alice, the woman who wants to change the life she is “supposed to live,” or Margery, the woman living the life completely outside societal norms… or maybe both.
Based on the often unheard true story of Eleanor Roosevelt’s rural traveling library and the women who ran it, you’ll learn, you’ll be surprised, you’ll be entertained, and likely be unable to put it down.
If you’ve read other books by JoJo Moyes, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this one. To me, her writing has definitely evolved. Overall, I feel it has become so much deeper and more developed in this book than her previous novels.
Personal Development Picks:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 
Short, engaging, and read by millions around the world, this book is must-read modern classic.
This fictional story of a man on a journey of omens helps us learn to uncover signs in our own lives. Signs that can lead us toward our dreams and goals.
It’s not often that a fiction book can lead to greater personal development, but The Alchemist does just that.
Even though this book is a super quick read, it holds such a powerful message and will hold your interest all the way through.
Silence in the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge
Chimes and notifications surround us daily bringing constant streams of data often disguised as work (emails) or entertainment (social media). Our brains are in such a constant state of navigating interference that we have very little time to rest and just be.
Explorer and author Erling Kagge takes the reader through his unique stories of expeditions. And also shares how finding silence in these far off places can be beneficial.
This book helped me see not only the value of silence, but the power it can unlock to help me find more creativity, productivity, self-awareness, and joy.
To read this book you have to be brave enough to take a good hard look into your life and how you’re leading it. If you’re willing to seek this challenge of pursuing silence, this book will guide you in changing your life for the better.
Less Traditional Fiction Picks:
August by Callan Wink
I never thought I would be engaged in a story about a teenage boy navigating his way into adulthood. But, August gave me a new perspective into another person’s journey.
This book doesn’t have the heartwarming, everything works out in the end storyline though. It often left me feeling sad and a bit dark. But, sometimes that’s how life is. And I found this book to be relatable and captivating.
Give this interesting book a try. It might be for you, it might not, but either way it likely will take you out of your reading comfort zone.
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
A quiet, underlying suspense will never leave you as you read this book. It keeps you questioning, guessing, and slightly anxious the entire time.
The premise is a middle class family vacations to a quiet, secluded rental house for a week when something unsettling begins to happen. Your mind will take its own journey trying to figure out just what is going on.
Honestly, when I finished the last page this book left me yearning for answers. I was almost upset for not getting everything perfectly wrapped up in a nice final package. But isn’t that what a good book does… stirs such strong emotions in you that you put the book down needing to process? This one will do that to you.
My Pick for Parents:
Raising Worry-Free Girls by Sissy Goff
This book nearly leapt into my hands from the library shelf. It was as if the universe knew I needed it. My daughter was struggling with some anxiety as we began going back to school from virtual learning in 2021.
Raising Worry-Free Girls gave me more insight into WHY anxiety happens in kids and HOW they process it. And most importantly, taught me how to help.
I appreciated the practical approach with tips and to-dos mixed in with teaching the reasoning behind them.
This book helped me guide my daughter through a challenging time. I highly recommend it to any parent of daughters or sons who are struggling with anxiety.
Faith-Based Pick:
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
I’ve always had trouble sticking to a daily devotional until I found Jesus Calling. These short daily devotionals are written as if you’re sitting on your couch across from Jesus. It’s almost as if He reaches over, touches your hand, and gives you a piece of advice just as a loving friend would.
Each daily devotional is short and poignant. And it reads from a modern, conversational voice that is easy to understand. One to three bible verses then follow to dive deeper into the message.
I now look forward to reading my daily page and finding the peace it has to offer.
Other Places to Find Books for Summer Reading
I often find some of my favorite books through the Today Show’s Read with Jenna, Oprah’s Book Club, and Reese’s Book Club.
I also recommend downloading the Goodreads app. This app allows you to read thousands of reviews and see what your personal friends are reading and recommending. You can search all sorts of genres and even create a list of all the books you’ve been wanting to read.
A Fun Idea 
Find a little notebook and every time you finish reading a book, write the title and author in the book. I like to put a little star by my favorites.
It is fun to look back at the end of each year and remember what you read. Also, how cool for my kids to stumble upon this notebook when they are adults and read some of the books their mom read.
Bonus, when someone asks me for a book recommendation, I know just where to look!
If you have a favorite book for Fargo Moms to read this summer, share it in the comments! Let’s spread the reading love!
And if you’re looking for summer reading recommendations, see Books that Make Great Gifts for Moms!
