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Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Bookshelf: The ULTIMATE Guide to What You Should Read Next

The Ultimate Bookshelf - Must Read Books in 2018

Hi, my name is Kristy and I am a MAJOR bookworm.... but if you've been reading Southern In Law for a while or following me on Instagram, you'd already know that because you've seen my book photos and heard about what I've been reading.

As I'm always being asked for book recommendations, I thought I'd put together what I'm calling My Bookshelf. The ULTIMATE Book Recommendation Guide with what you should read next, what you should avoid and what I've loved. This isn't ALL the books I've read (because the post would go on forever) but instead the books I've read lately.

Instead of book reviews, I've kept this REALLY simple and placed each book into one of the following categories; 
  • Must Read
    These are my all time favourite books. They're the ones I am constantly thrusting into friends' hands, urging them to read just so I have someone to talk about. If you're not sure where to start, click on these ones first.
  • Loved It! 
    These are the books I personally loved and would recommend to my friends. They're the ones that stay on my bookshelves to lend to friends again and again because they're so good. 
  • So-So
    These are the books I'm on the fence about. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. It might be because it wasn't my style of book - or maybe it was a little drawn out. On these ones, click on the book to read the blurb and reviews for yourself. 
  • Not a Fan
    These are the ones I just didn't like. Whether I couldn't get into them or they bored me beyond belief. I finished them - but they went straight to the donate pile because I wouldn't recommend them to friends.
All of these books are clickable links so you can click over to read the blurbs/check out the reviews/purchase them for yourself. They will open in a new window so you can keep on clicking! They ARE affiliate links so I get a teeny tiny percentage - but that's what I use to buy more books so I can update this post 🤣


I'll be updating this post regularly - so be sure to pin it or bookmark it to come back to later. I am a FAST reader so you'll usually see new books added weekly. Also be sure to follow me on Instagram where I'm always sharing book photos.


Must Read Book Recommendations for Adults Women Men Teens Young Adults

If you're looking for a new book to read, START HERE! These are my all time favourite books. Click the image to find out more, read the blurbs or purchase.

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe Book Review Recommendation - Lauren James - Sci Fi Thriller Book Recommendations for Young Adults The Five People You Meet in Heaven Book Review Recommendation -Mitch Albom - Book Recommendations for Women Men Young Adults Thornwood House Book Review Recommendation - Anna Romer- Thriller Book Recommendations fo Women 
War Flower Book Review Recommendation -Mary Anne O'Connor - Romance Book Recommendations for Women Lineage of Grace Book Review Recommendation - Francine Rivers- Book Recommendations for Christian Women Men Young Adults Tuesdays with Morrie Book Review Recommendation -Mitch Albom - Book Recommendations for Women Men Young Adults
 The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes Book Review Recommendation -Diane Chamberlain - Womens Fiction Book Recommendations for Women The Help Review Recommendation - Kathryn Stockett - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations The Memories That Make Us Book Review Recommendation - Vanessa Carnevale - Romance and Women's Fiction Book Recommendations for Women
The Right Girl Must Read Book Review Recommendation - Ellie O'Neill - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations for Women Water Under the Bridge Must Read Book Review Recommendation -  Lily Malone- Women's Fiction Book Recommendations for Women

Looking for other great reads? I always find Amazon's Best Sellers List really good for ideas!


ook Recommendations for Adults Women Men Teens Young Adults
These are books I've read, loved and share with my friends. They're the ones I keep on my "borrowing bookshelf" because they are totally worth reading and sharing.
To make it easier - I've separated these books into genres - but some may fit in other genres too.
True Stories/Biographies/Memoirs
Click the books to read more/purchase.
Have a Little Faith Book Review Recommendation -Mitch Albom - Book Recommendations for Women Men Young Adults All of Me Book Review Recommendation -Kim Noble - Book Recommendations for Women Men Young Adults Breakfast School Run Chemo Review Recommendation -Julia Watson - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations
Furiously Happy Review Recommendation - Jenny Lawson - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations

Women's Fiction and Romance
Click the books to read more/purchase.
A Walk in the Park Review Recommendation - Jill Mansell - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Before We Were Yours Review Recommendation - Lisa Wingate - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Big Little Lies Review Recommendation -Liane Moriarty - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations
Confessions of a Shopaholic Review Recommendation - Sophie Kinsella - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Dinner at Roses Review Recommendation -Danielle Hawkins - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Head Over Heels Review Recommendation -Jill Mansell - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations
House Rules Review Recommendation  Jodi Picoult - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Me Without You Review Recommendation -Kelly Rimmer - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Operation Sunshine Review Recommendation -Jenny Colgan - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations
Remember Me Review Recommendation - Sophie Kinsella - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Still Alice Book Review Recommendation -Lisa Genova - Womens Fiction Book Recommendations for Women The Boy Next Door Review Recommendation - Meg Cabot - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations
 The Midwife's Confession Book Review Recommendation -Diane Chamberlain - Womens Fiction Book Recommendations for Women The Nanny Diaries Review Recommendation - Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations The Only Way is Up Book Review Recommendation - Carole Matthews - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations
Three Wishes Review Recommendation -Liane Moriarty - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations Who's that Girl Book Review Recommendation - Alexandra Potter - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations The Shoe Princess's Guide to the Galaxy Review Recommendation -Emma Bowd - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations
The Dirty Book Club Review Recommendation - Lisi Harrison - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations The Mummy Bloggers Must Read Book Review Recommendation - Holly Wainright- Women's Fiction Book Recommendations for Women The Kookaburra Creek Cafe Book Review Recommendation - Sandie Docker - Romance and Women's Fiction Book Recommendations for Women
  
General Fiction
Click the books to read more/purchase.
For One More Day Book Review Recommendation -Mitch Albom - Book Recommendations for Women Men Young Adults  The Time Keeper Book Review Recommendation -Mitch Albom - Book Recommendations for Women Men Young AdultsRoom Review Recommendation -Emma Donoghue - Book Recommendations
A Man Called Ove Book Review Recommendation -Fredrik Backman - Book Recommendations for Women Men Young Adults

   
Young Adult Fiction
Click the books to read more/purchase.

The Hate U Give Book Review Recommendation - Angie Thomas - Book Recommendations for Young AdultsThe Radical Element Book Review Recommendation - Jessica Spotswood - Book Recommendations for Young Adults

Thrillers & Suspense
Click the books to read more/purchase.
Little Secrets Review Recommendation -Anna Snoekstra - Drama Thriller Book Recommendations for Adults Men Women Young Adults The French Girl Review Recommendation - Lexie Elliott - Drama Thriller Book Recommendations for Adults Men Women Young Adults Mine Book Review Recommendation - Susi Fox- Psychological Thriller Book Recommendations fo Women
Don't Believe It Review Recommendation -Charlie Donlea- Crime and Psychological Thriller Book Recommendations fo Women



Sci Fi and Fantasy
Click the books to read more/purchase.
Apocalypsis Book Review Recommendation - Elle Casey - Sci Fi Thriller Book Recommendations for Young Adults As Dead As It Gets Book Review Recommendation - Katie Alender - Sci Fi Thriller Book Recommendations for Young Adults Bad Girl's Don't Die Book Review Recommendation - Katie Alender - Sci Fi Thriller Book Recommendations for Young Adults
From Bad to Cursed Book Review Recommendation - Katie Alender - Sci Fi Thriller Book Recommendations for Young Adults The Price Guide to the Occult Book Review Recommendation - Leslye Walton - Sci Fi Thriller Book Recommendations for Young Adults 


You could also say these are books I'm on the fence about. I didn't hate them, but I didn't love them - and they probably ended up in the donate pile (because this girl has too many books to keep the not-so-great ones!)

Click the books to read more/purchase.

The Dilemmas of Harriet Carew Review Recommendation -Cristina Odone - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations The Greatest Gift Review Recommendation -Rachael Johns - Women's Fiction Book Recommendations



These books I just didn't like - or couldn't get into. I have read them all the way to the end (because I can't quit on a book - even if it's woeful) and probably threw them straight in the donate pile after turning the last page. 

Some of these books may be crowd favourites - but I just wasn't a fan.

Click the books to read more/purchase.


  

Want to know more about one of the books on the list? 
Ask me!
I haven't shared full reviews here to keep things simple - but I am ALWAYS happy to chat books - so be sure to leave a comment or send me an email if you want to know more.

I'll be updating this list regularly with new books - but if you want to find out what I'm reading sooner, be sure to follow me on Instagram where I'm often sharing book flat lays and talking about what I'm reading in my Instagram stories.

But tell me, 
Do you have a favourite book?
What kind of genres do you usually read?
And do you have any book recommendations for me?!

    
   
This post may contain affiliate links.

3 comments:

  1. Turtles All the Way Down is an incredible books. I like many of the same ones you have mentioned in your top two categories. The Husband's Secret was great! The Art of Racing in the Wind, Where'd You Go Bernadette, Tattooist of Auschwitz, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley, The Weight of Lies! All of these are very good. I, too, read like a fiend!

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