Top 5 Reads of 2022

Considering the year is a few weeks shy of being over, this is the longest it’s taken me to get a top reads post out! I got several requests for last year’s top books. Turns out with a newborn AND a toddler around and basically attached to you 24/7, typing out blog posts (let alone planning them) can be trying! I’m not the hustling kind, it turns out.

I’m already excited to share my top 2023 books - though I ended up listening to the majority of them, there were some really great ones that stood out. Let’s knock last year out first though!

(By the way, you can find even more of my favorites on my Amazon page here!)

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1. The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

Truly the best non-fiction book I’ve read in a while. Reframed my thinking around gatherings of all sorts and helped me start thinking about how to make gatherings more intentional and meaningful. Highly recommend!

2. The Truth About Ben and June by Alex Kiester

Great fiction. The writing style was A++ as I’ve not encountered a book from two perspectives written as well as this was. Excellent writing aside, the story itself was gripping and heartbreaking and I was very satisfied with the ending.

3. The Great Sex Rescue: The LIes You’ve Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended by Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, Joanna Sawatsky

Finally, a Christian book that offers a healthy perspective on marriage and helps reframe unhealthy ways one may have been raised believing.

4. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

A fun historical fiction about five women running the traveling library in small-town Kentucky. An easy read and very interesting!

5. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Fun read of therapy from a therapist’s point of view. Strong language warning, but still a fascinating book.



I decided not to do a complete 2022 list this year, as these were my favorites anyway! You can check out my past book lists for favorites and I keep my Amazon storefront updated with favorite books as well.

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What were some of the best books you read in 2022? Were any of these on your list?

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Top 5 Reads of 2021

This is the longest it’s taken me to get a top reads post out! I got several requests for last year’s top books. Turns out with a newborn around and basically attached to you 24/7, typing out blog posts can be trying! If you checked out my complete reading list for 2021, you saw all the books I read. I enjoyed most of them, but these stood out. And if you were curious about what I didn’t like, I would not recommend the Baxter series if you aren’t willing to devote yourselves to the fictional family. I felt like I had to read them just because I needed closure - not because I particularly enjoyed them. I saw that a new Baxter book is coming out, but I will not be reading it, in case you were wondering. 

I’m already excited to share my top 2022 books - the year has started out great in terms of books! But first, 2021…

(By the way, you can find even more of my favorites on my Amazon page here!)

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1. Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette (Out from Egypt #1)

This was great, though I did feel that some of the storylines should have been more complete. I loved the idea behind this book. If you like Biblical fiction, you’ll enjoy it too. Also, the cover art is just *chef’s kiss*

Get your copy here on Amazon.

2. Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette (Cities of Refuge #3)

This entire series is fantastic. I would suggest starting with the first book and making your way through, but I can’t *technically* choose number one to go on this list since I read it in 2020.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

3. Building a Story Brand: Clarify your message so that customers will listen by Donald Miller

An awesome business book that highlights the power of storytelling. Storytelling is near and dear to my heart. I also read Business made Simple by him and it was great. If you are starting a business, both of these books are very practical, helpful, and easy to implement!

Get your copy here on Amazon.

4. Boundaries in Marriage by Dr. Henry Cloud

A branch of the original Boundaries book (you can read my review of it here), but so worth the read. Super practical and offered a lot of food for thought.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

5. Dream Big by Bob Goff

It’s Bob Goff. It’s all good. No more to say other than he always makes my top lists when I read him in a year.

Get your copy here on Amazon.



If you want to see the complete list, check out this blog post here. I’ve enjoyed doing these book posts every year for the past couple of years.

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What were some of the best books you read in 2021? I'd love some recommendations for 2022!

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Top 6 Reads of 2020

2020 was the year that offered me more time, and in that time, my 24 book goal turned into 75, and I even exceeded that. Since I read so many good books this year, it was EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to narrow it down to the favorites I wanted to share with you. Since I’ve done top 6 reads for the last few years, I’ll take it as a personal challenge to continue the trend.

I’m currently taking suggestions for the reads to start with for this year! In case you are interested in seeing the complete list of books I read this year, I’ve linked the two posts (Part 1 and Part 2) below!

(By the way, you can find even more of my favorites on my Amazon page here!)

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1. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life By Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

This book opened my eyes to all of the ways I am not setting good boundaries in my life, even though I thought I was pretty good at boundaries! It gave me the confidence to set better lines and non-negotiables, and my favorite part about this book was that it was backed up with Scripture. After the first page, I was totally hooked and resonated deeply with it. I would definitely recommend it because even if you don’t think you struggle with boundaries, you likely do. Hehe.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

2. Living for God: Reclaiming the Joy of Christian Virtue by Frank M. Hasel

 I loved how simple and practical this book was. If someone were to talk to me about “Christian virtue” on the street before I read this book, I would have had a completely different idea as to what that meant. My favorite part of this book were the stories that beautifully illustrated each point in a practical and relatable way.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

3. The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton

Wow. After I finished this book, I put it down with reverence, relief, anger, and with a burning desire for justice all at once. The amazing true story about Anthony Ray Hinton, and just the raw thoughts he faced while on death row for 30 years - for a crime he did not commit. This book, by the way, was a great follow up to “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson, Mr. Hinton’s lawyer. Honorable mention for that book, by the way, because when I finished it, I wanted to quit my job and go to law school so I could help the falsely accused.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

4. Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst

This book definitely touched me and even though I didn’t agree with absolutely everything in it, it stands out as a top book this year. As someone who has felt rejected, less than, lonely, left out, purposeless, and blinded to the beauty of Christ’s love, this book was such an encouragement. I will likely be re-reading this one.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

5. Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport

Absolutely a top read and one I recommend having a physical copy of, as it is a great one to refer back to later on. I enjoy practical books, which is why I liked this one so much. As a minimal-ish person, I appreciated the approach to minimalism when it comes to technology and our devices that play such a huge role in our lives.

Get your copy here on Amazon.

6. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Okay, so I honestly did not think I was going to like this one as much as I did but I could not put it down! I don’t generally gravitate toward this time period or even this genre of fiction, but the guy at the book store couldn’t stop raving at it. I picked it up out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it - well, clearly, I enjoyed it because it made my top 6 this year!

Get your copy here on Amazon.

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What were some of the best books you read in 2020? I'd love some recommendations for 2021!

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Top 6 Reads of 2019

2019 was the year I rekindled my love of reading. I have the feeling I read more in 2019 than I have in a long time - even more than in 2017, which was the last time I did a top reads post. With everything that has been going on in our lives, I had to make an intentional decision to read more. Most every evening, when 7pm comes around, my devices go away, and a book comes out. Of course, if I’m reading on my iPad or Kindle, that stays out, but the point is that I read. No Instagram scrolling. No Facebook messages. No Netflix or Hulu. I read. And I’ve loved it. I’ve devoured books. I’ve put books back that I wasn’t feeling (I feel life is too short to read a book for fun that isn’t interesting to you…). I’ve listened to books on commutes. Books. Books are great - I’ve always thought so.

I know you want to get to my top reads, but I totally have to share this story: when I was young, I was an avid reader. I’d even read in the car - in the dark! I’d wait until we were under street lamps to get the next sentence in. My parents swear to this day that it’s the reason I had to get glasses. If it was - it was worth it (but let’s be honest, that was not the reason. Haha!)

I only chose 6 books again, even though I read a lot more than 6. Actually, my book reading goal for 2020 is at least 24 books, so maybe I’ll have a larger list for you next year. Ready?
(By the way, you can find even more of my favorites on my Amazon page here!)

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1. The Mark of the Lion Series By Francine Rivers

Okay, so I suppose this is technically three books, not just one, but this series was so hard to put down! I was gifted the first in the series for my birthday. It was so good that once I was done, I was seriously tempted to pick them right back up and start again. I figured I should let some time go by before doing that though. Francine Rivers is one of my favorite authors and I know I’m behind to the party, but this series was fantastic. It challenged my faith in such a positive way, and I’ll definitely be revisiting this series. (I bought these one at a time, but you can even get a boxed set!)

2. Pax By Sara PennyPacker

Even though I don’t teach language arts anymore, I couldn’t resist checking this book out. I love a good middle school book. A sweet story of a fox and his boy that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend - especially if you love a good tear jerker. I also learned a lot about foxes! (Get your copy here)

3. Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People By Bob Goff

Wow wow wow. Such. A. Good. Book. This book moved me to tears, and it was so hard to put down! It challenged me, it entertained me, and it really made me think twice about how to love others. And really desire to do so. A definite must-read. (PS: I read the first book from Bob Goff, Love Does, and talked about it in my 2017 reads! Get your copy of Everybody Always here!)

4. Capital Gaines: Smart things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff by Chip Gaines

Going off my theme of continuing books from 2017, since I read the Magnolia Story then, I read Capital Gaines now. As expected, I finished the book wanting to quit everything and follow my dreams. I guess I don’t have to quit everything to follow my dreams, but you know what I mean. Worth the read - and it’s a quick one! (Get your copy here)

5. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

I actually started this last summer, and finally finished it this year - took a while, but not because it was not interesting! This is an older book from 2007 and it talks about the possible complications (and solutions to them) that can arise when children are alienated from nature due to several reasons. As someone who works with children, and someone who wants some one day, this was definitely an interesting read and I could totally resonate with it. (Get your copy here)

6. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believe the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis

I didn’t want to read this book just based on the reviews I read on it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the content! The author told stories from her life connected to lies she believed in her past and how she overcame them. It was full of tough love, which we all need sometimes. I can’t wait to read the sequel. (Get your copy here)

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What were some of the best books you read in 2019? I'd love some recommendations for 2020!

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Fun and Creative Ways to Learn New Things (Without Going Back to School!)

My mom is the best (hey mom!). She texted me the other day and asked if I liked my Audible subscription. Of course, I LOVE my audible subscription and asked her why she was even asking. She told me that she decided that she needed to learn more and that audiobooks was the way she was going to be starting.

Her initiative got me thinking: what are some ways to learn without going back to school? I’ve spent my whole life in school, and now that I’m a teacher, I’m still really there! As a teacher though, I believe in lifelong learning and inspiring others to do the same. So, with that in mind, I decided to come up with a list of creative ways to learn without going back to school. The world is full of things to learn and all sorts of opportunities! Take them!

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Listen to a podcast - there are so many podcasts out there on all different things! Explore to find one you love!

Take an online course or certificate - There are tons of courses and certificates you can take online. You could go the informal route and pick a creative online course from a place like Skill Share (try it for two months free using this link!), or even get your first aid/CPR training from Red Cross.

Sign up for a webinar - There are so many webinars on so many different topics! I’ve taken webinars on a wide variety of subjects. It’s fun to sit in front of the computer with a notebook to take notes on the new things you’re learning!

Embrace Audible - I love audible. It’s helped me “read” more since I have a long daily commute. If you're not sure about it, you can try it for 30 days free! (Use this link to try Audible for free and get TWO free audiobooks!) 

Learn a new language - Must I say any more? There are tons of free podcasts and apps (like duolingo) to brush up on or learn a new language. If you want to pull out the big bucks, I hear Rosetta Stone is pretty amazing!

Volunteer - find a new place to volunteer and learn new skills while at it! Think soup kitchens or animal shelters, or anywhere, really!

Take a class - many local spots offer classes for the community. Check the community college for a list! Try out your community centres and churches for classes as well - sometimes they will offer them for free!

Read the news - make an effort to read the news! A great resource I use is theSkimm - it’s a short daily email (it comes every morning) that gives you the days headlines in an easy-to-understand way! It has seriously helped me keep up with what is going on and people are impressed when you are informed ;-)

Travel the World - and don’t just stick to tourist areas. Do your research about the customs and language and history of the places you are going to! Connect with locals, try their food, and learn some phrases! You will love it.

Watch documentaries - skip the mind-numbing entertainment and watch a documentary. I like to watch a wide variety of topics. A few of my favourites are: Tapped, Minimalism, What the Health, Planet Earth, and Blackfish. 

Follow NASA on Instagram - Seriously, go do it. You’ll learn something new when you scroll through your feed! While you're at it, follow me too ;-)

Watch National Geographic on Snapchat - I’ll be the first to admit that I am horrible at Snapchat. I’m too old for it I think. But if you are on there, National Geographic has an awesome snap story each day! You can learn about unique animals and such!

Talk to People You Meet - I meet fun people all of the time! And listening to their stories teaches me a lot! I usually have the best conversations in coffee shops and hear the best life stories.

Join Facebook Groups - there are a ton of Facebook groups out there that act as a fun forum. Pick a topic you are interested in learning more about and learn from a ton of people!

Watch a Ted Talk - Skip Netflix. Watch a Ted Talk instead. Be inspired to do something new and learn something new as well.

Read Something You Wouldn’t Naturally go to - I’ve branched out and read books on all different topics in the last few years. From the keto diet to theology books, I’ve been consuming books on topics I wouldn’t naturally choose to read. And I’ve been loving it. It expands your brain and opens the world to you! Here's a list of my favourites!

Take up a new hobby - We started painting recently. Nothing fancy, since we aren’t artists, but watching tutorials and learning new techniques has been really fun. I’d love to try pottery next!

Listen to NPR - Switch on NPR in the car from time to time and learn some new facts!

Start a new exercise program - shake up your exercise program by trying something new! Add a spin class to your weight training, or amp up your strength training by adding a pilates class! Meet new people and learn new ways of moving!

Subscribe to an Educational Magazine - National Geographic or Time are good ones to start with. I subscribe to The Magnolia Journal and learn something new and inspiring every quarter.

Look Up the Back Stories to Songs - Look up some background info on certain songs or songwriters and blow your friends minds with the trivia. Fun fact: on some Spotify songs, you automatically see the lyrics and back stories!

Spend time with someone who knows something you don’t - Take a friend out and over lunch, listen all about their expertise. Or, just talk to a random person and listen to their stories. You’d be amazed at what you learn!

Try a new recipe - or two or three. Buy some exotic ingredients and experience your world widen through your tastebuds!

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What are some ways and resources you use to keep learning?

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