15 Books to Read While You’re at Home

A question I am always asking everyone is “What’s a good book to read?” or “What are you reading right now?”. I thought it was a good idea to give my answer to those questions in a blog post so you can always refer back to it.

These are a list of books I think you should read in 2020, compiled from all the books I read this past year. Some of them were quick reads, memoirs and some were business or parenting books. But I think there is a book for just about anyone in their early 20’s to late ’30s who are looking for a book to read at home. It’s always been a good distraction for me and great way to escape the current events that are happening in the world.

What to read in 2020

I’ve always loved reading and I’ve always admired writers who wrote stories of the places and things they’ve never seen. Somedays I’d visit Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, someday’s it was the streets of New York City with Serena and Blair and other days I’d be hanging out with vampires and werewolves. When I was in elementary school and even high school I would spend hours and hours reading. Then I grew up, things changed, responsibilities ensued and I lost the excitement to visit new worlds. I still read but it was textbooks about developmental differences and the psychology of learning that took their place. It wasn’t until a stay at home order was placed on the entire country and world for that matter, that I found myself needing an escape. I needed a distraction, and since it wasn’t safe to travel anymore and any hopes for a girl’s night was clearly out of the question, I picked up an old book on my shelf and started reading. 

Quick books to read

Bliss – Shay Mitchell & Michaela Blaney

I love Shay Mitchell and I’m pretty sure the 27.7 Million followers she has on Instagram does too. This was her first book and what drew me to it was about three Canadian girls who followed their dreams, which lead them to different paths, relationships, jobs and everything else that comes with growing up. The characters were relatable early 20 somethings but their world in Hollywood was anything but normal. Its a good quick YA novel and I really enjoyed it.

Crazy Rich Asians – Kevin Kwan

The book I could not put down and read at the cottage last summer in a few days. I still haven’t watched the movie because I want to read the other two books in the series. This book gives a look into the life of some super-rich Chinese families living in Singapore and my favorite way to describe it is “dynastic splendor”. Rachel Chu is dating Nicholas Young who isn’t exactly who she thinks her New York boyfriend is. This is a fast-paced story of private planes, eligible bachelors and families who have more money than god. It’s great and I can’t wait to get Rich People Problems and China Rich Girlfriend.

How Could She – Lauren Mechling 

I recently read this while I was on vacation in Florida. Its a book of three friends in very different stages of their life, and is a relatable depiction of female friendship. When Geraldine two friends left for New York she felt left behind in Toronto at a job she no longer enjoys and an apartment with her roommate that wants her to move out. Geraldine jumps at the chance to start a new career in the cut throat world of New York media, where she makes a rocky transition from print to media. We also learn about Rachel who is a new mom, a writer and also a wife in New York. Sunny an It Girl water-colourist who’s life isn’t as glamorous and perfect as everyone assumed. How could she is another quick read and interesting characters I still think about.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

This book is one of the BEST books I have ever read! It’s about two people who meet in college and share a moment they will never forget. The story you realize is Lucy telling her life story to Gabe as they orbit in and out of each other’s lives. The story and the characters are hard to forget, and I found myself reading it until the early mornings until the book was done. I loved it so much I just gifted it to a few friends.

Memoirs to read

Everything is perfect when you’re a Liar – Kelly Oxford

I’m really into reading Canadian authors lately, and Kelly Oxford is one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter. She has a witty sense of human and her writing is just as sarcastic and ironic. It’s a book of essays at the beginning of her hilarious life, and her coming of age story that most young girls could relate to. She tells it like it is and I enjoyed her fast-paced essays.

Books to read for Parents

Mind in the Making – Ellen Galinsky

I highly recommend reading this to any parent, as Ellen provides fresh research to explain what we should be teaching our children. I like the advice on ways to encourage the mind and development of children so they can grow up and be successful. It shares research that I was personally able to utilize in teaching my daughter when she was 18 months, and I do think it’s a good read for most parents who want to encourage creativity and intelligence with different personalities in mind.

Braided Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants

I got this book as part of a book club I was in at the time, but I ended up really loving it. As a person of aboriginal descent, I related to a lot of the teachings in this book and was familiar with the connections between animals and plants. Robin Wall Kimmer is a botanist and from the Potawatomi Nation, and shes the awakening of ecological consciousness of the reciprocal relationship with the living world. We need to understand the generosity of the Earth and how to give our own gifts in return. There are so many good bits of knowledge here and I’ve highlighted pretty much the whole book. I often refer back to it when I need to and I think everyone needs this in their home library.

Books to read for entrepreneurs

Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert 

I often pick this book back up when I feel like I’m in a creative rut. Its an inspiring and motivating book. Elizabeth Gilbert is one of my favourite authors and she shares her wisdom and unique perspective on how to tackle what we love the most. She tells us of the best approach and attitude we need in order to live our most creative life. So whether your looking to write a blog, a book, make films or photography this is a great book to explore the mindfulness and passion associated with following our creativity.

Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 days – Chris Gullebeau 

Chris Gullebeau has started over a dozen side hustles over the span of his career and he’s created a step-by-step guide to launching your own side hustle in 27 days. I enjoyed this book because it walked me through the process of launching this blog and taught me how to not only pursue my passion but find something that was viable. This is a perfect book for anyone who is facing job insecurity at the moment and is looking to prepare another source of income in the months ahead.

Crushing It! by Gary Vaynerchuck – I finished this in less than a day and it was so educational for me, as a business owner. He walks you through how you should be using social media and taking advantage of the platforms available today. “Gary dissects every current major social media platform so that anyone, from a plumber to a professional ice skater, will know exactly how to amplify his or her personal brand on each.” and goes over just about every platform there is at the moment.

A full list of blogging books I recommend.

Books I plan on reading

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I’ve been told this is a very good book and I can’t wait to read it.

Audio Books I’m currently listening to

Educated by Tara Westover – I just stared this book and so far it’s amazing!

Becoming by Michelle Obama – I haven’t started this one yet but I will soon I hear it’s really good.

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis – I just got this and I will let you know what I think when I finish it.