The grocery store down the street is now preparing for Halloween, which can only mean one thing–we are halfway through the year. (Okay, halfway through the year is technically July 2nd, but I lost track of time, and now we are almost August, and here we are.)

This is the time of year I have to start fighting back the panic of everything I had expected this year to be versus everything it is not. It doesn't matter if I've had the best year of my life or a rather terrible one. The same familiar edging of comparison slips in. Maybe this is something you've felt, too. Or maybe you have the superpower of being able to live fully in the moment and not worry about everything you've left to accomplish.
My reading life is no exception. Staring at my overflowing TBR pile, I don't even want to count how many books I had planned on reading that I have not yet. Too often, I focus on everything I have not read instead of remembering the wonderful books that have filled my days this year. (Maybe this applies to more than just books, but let's stick to books; books are a more digestible bit of life.)
So far I've read 69 books, 30 as audiobooks and 39 as physical copies. 22 of those books were nonfiction, and 47 fiction (Thank you to Storygraph for keeping my reading life organized.
Cheers to the 2024 mid-point! It has been beautiful and messy and so worth celebrating. Since it is too hard for me to pick my favorite reads of the year, here are some mid-year superlatives!
Most Surprising: Run Towards the Danger
As someone with scoliosis who also lost their mom at a young age, I am so happy I found this book (a pairing I didn't know I needed!). This is such a beautiful and profound celebrity memoir. If you enjoy memoirs in the vein of I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED, and EDUCATED, I highly recommend this book.
Most Page Turn-y: The God of the Woods
This book has gotten a lot of summer buzz, which always makes me apprehensive that it won't live up to the hype. I also didn't realize that it was almost 500 pages when I ordered it. But it didn't matter. If I had a free weekend, I could have finished this book in one sitting. Believe the hype. I loved this book. This book is great if you like fast-paced thrillers but don't actually want to be scared (me!).
Best Audiobook: Mostly What God Does
As a longtime lover of The Today Show, even I didn't have a new favorite book by Savanah Guthrie on my 2024 Bingo card. This book feels like a breath of fresh air. Each chapter of the audiobook ends with thirty seconds of calming music, where listeners are invited to reflect on what they've just heard. I now believe that all audiobooks should include this.
Best Beach Read: The Second Ending
I firmly believe that a book doesn't need to be a romcom to be a beach read. This book, while lighthearted, still has a lot of depth. I absolutely loved the tenderness extended to each character. This book is so sweet and, I think, appeals to a wide range of beach readers.
Most Under Rated: Grown Women
I was sent an advanced copy of this book and devoured it. It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, but I haven't seen anyone talk about it. If you like messy family sagas, this book is stunning.
A Book I Should Have Read Years Ago: The Culture Map
Okay, that is not so much a superlative, but I couldn't leave this book off my list. I wish I had read it before moving abroad, but I am so glad I did now. I highly recommend it to anyone who works on a cross- or multi-cultural team.
Top Non-Fiction: Love Across Borders
This book is powerful and written in such a clever way. I absolutely loved the tenderness with which this topic was handled. I have read a lot of books about the refugee crisis, and this one might have been my favorite. The love stories in this book will stay with me for a long time. This book does a beautiful job of reminding readers that love truly does stretch across borders.
Top Fiction: Real Americans
I love a multi-generational family saga. This book seamlessly weaves together three generations, and I could not put it down. This book is profound, and the writing is beautiful. If you liked TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW, I think you will love this book.
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