What I Read this Spring | April – June Reading List + Recaps

July 9, 2018

Y’all, where did the second quarter of the year go? I feel like it was just April but here we are already knee-deep in July, slowly recovering from Fourth of July sunburns and vowing to eat more salads to make up for all the hamburgers and hot dogs we consumed just a week ago! On top of that, it’s been a busy quarter around these parts with the Brand Strategy Bundle launch, a few brand launches for my sweet clients, and more. But in the midst of plenty of busy weeks and long to-do lists, I’ve been slowly chipping away at the reading list I created earlier this year. And today I’m sharing a full recap of what I read in April, May, and June, along with my thoughts on each book!

A full recap of every book I read during Q2 | From thriller novels to political memoirs, I'm sharing a fun reading list over on the blog | b is for bonnie design

What Happened

A gave me Hillary Clinton’s most recent memoir for Christmas last year, and a book this hefty takes more than a few weeks to work through. I started reading this book at the end of March and only finished it towards the end of April/beginning of May, and I consider myself a pretty speedy reader! Although it’s not what I’d classify as “light reading,” this book delves into everything from what it was like on the campaign trail to more of the intricacies of Clinton’s platform to how she handled the loss of the election.

But what I resonated with most was her vulnerability and openness in sharing the pain, shock, and raw emotion that she experienced after losing the presidential race in 2016. On top of that, she goes into detail about what it’s like to be a woman in politics, her journey from bright-eyed college student to First Lady to beyond, and more. I felt like this book went deeper than just politics and, although her emotion does shine through at different points, it doesn’t read as an angry or vindictive account to me. I’m glad I took the time to dive into this book, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about Clinton’s journey leading up to and during the 2016 election!

The Last Equation of Isaac Severy

The description on this book’s dust jacket reads like something straight out of a movie–a brilliant old man mysteriously passes away (is it murder?) and leaves an equally mysterious and incredibly valuable mathematical equation to his granddaughter. Only, she has to follow clues to find it and there are other agencies and individuals who are racing her to find it.

I dove into this book one weekend where A and I packed up the car and went to a little Airbnb on the lake with Boone! And this book felt like the perfect playful read for a weekend by the water. It was a fun storyline that kept me turning the page every time. I wouldn’t describe this one as suspenseful or overly dramatic, but it’s certainly not a plot that I could have guessed on my own! Definitely a playful book with interesting characters, ideal for your next weekend in or a quick vacation.

Little Fires Everywhere

After hearing so much about this book, I could not wait to start reading it! I’ll admit that it starts with a quick snippet of what’s to come but it sparks so many questions that you won’t be able to answer until the very end. I didn’t expect to like the characters as much as I did, and the writing made it difficult for me to put it down!

I’ve heard that it’s being made into either a Lifetime special or a movie which is absolutely amazing. But I think this is one story that will be better in print than on the screen, and I highly recommend it for your next book club read or a summertime page turner.

Final Girls

As soon as I finished reading The Woman in the Window earlier this spring, I was immediately on the hunt for another thriller that could offer an engaging plot, clever details, and intriguing characters! The Final Girls was one that was well reviewed online and the storyline really drew me in. It’s about a woman who was the only survivor of a weekend camping trip gone horribly awry that left all her friends dead. Naturally, she’s got all the emotional baggage and could probably benefit from an ongoing appointment with a local counselor. But as the lone survivor of that unfortunate weekend trip, she’s labeled as one of the “Final Girls,” a small group of women with similarly horrible stories that left them as the sole survivors of mass murders, by the media. When one of the Final Girls winds up dead, the protagonist has to revisit her haunted past in order to get to the bottom of things.

Sounds like a pretty good read, right? I’ll admit I did not see the twist at the end coming and the story was enjoyable. I don’t think this will be my next favorite thriller or the one suspense novel I’ll recommend to all my friends, but if this type of genre is up your alley then it’s worth a read. I think I read the bulk of this book during one rainy weekend in Waco which was the perfect backdrop to a story like this!

Braving the Wilderness

My family and I have sort of a running joke that’s based around the fact that if Brene Brown has written a book, I will be hopping on Amazon ASAP to order a copy. And then everyone can expect to receive a copy of their own for the next gift giving holiday.

Brown’s research into vulnerability and authenticity have been transformational in my own personal journey, so when I heard that her newest book was diving into the concept of true belonging I was totally hooked. Braving the Wilderness broaches a subject that I don’t think many of us truly grasp–the idea of true belonging and what it means to maintain your deepest sense of authenticity even in the face of not fitting in or finding acceptance within the familial, social, political, or even religious groups closest to us.

I know I’m not the only one who feels that divisiveness is permeating the very air in the States these days. It seems easier now than ever to draw lines in the sand over concepts of identify, beliefs, political ideology, and more! But Brown brings a truly refreshing and honest conversation to the table that shows it’s possible to honor your deepest sense of self, your authenticity, while finding mutual respect and commonality with those around us. Which in an age of Facebook rants and internet anonymity has felt like a bit of a unicorn to me.

This book brought me to tears more than a few times, opened my eyes to areas for growth within my own life, and sparked some deep, rich conversations between A and I along the way. I’d highly recommend this one, friends.

What books have you been reading lately? I’m always looking to add new novels or amazing business books to my list, so feel free to share in the comments below!

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My name is Bonnie – I’m a brand designer, strategist, and writer which all adds up to one eclectic conglomeration of qualities that enables me to serve you well! Past clients have dubbed me "the Joanna Gaines of brand design," and I've had more than a few call me a dream maker, a game changer, and a design wizard (my Harry Potter-loving heart didn't hate that one, let me tell you!). At the end of the day, I'm a big-hearted creative who will get teary-eyed as you share the heart behind your business; who will lose sleep over the perfect font pairings and color selections to bring your brand to life visually; and who will work tirelessly to empower, encourage, and equip you to share your work with the world intentionally. 

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