#MacysMustReads Winter 2020
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.
With everything going on in our country during election season, I decided to dive into some books written by former first family members, as well as read some fiction books about our government. If you’re new, I a started #MacysMustReads during the summer of 2019 and it has quickly become a blog favorite. Each season I share my favorite books, along with a quick synopsis and rating. You can find my previous lists here:
Summer 2019 Fall 2019 Winter 2019 Spring 2020 Summer 2020 Fall 2020
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill - Abbi Waxman
This book piqued my interest because I am a self proclaimed bookworm. It’s about Nina Hill, an introverted book lover, and her journey to step outside her comfort zone and share herself with those around her. It’s a light, sweet, easy read and left me feeling a bit jealous of a woman who gets to live out her days reading and working at a bookstore.
7.5/10 stars
Fear Gone Wild - Kayla Stoecklein
Family friends of mine attend the church that Kayla’s husband, Andrew, pastored. Kayla lost her husband and the father of their three children to suicide in 2018. This memoir explores the events that led up to Andrew’s death, as well as provides personal insight into mental health and the stigma surrounding suicide. *Trigger Warning* - suicide, mental illness, anxiety, depression
8.5/10 stars
One Day in December - Josie Silver
This is the perfect Christmas read, so add it to next year’s holiday list! Laurie sees the love of her life, Jack, from a bus stop and spends a year looking for him only for him to show up with her best friend, Sarah, at a Christmas party. Jack, Sarah and Laurie’s lives continue to intertwine in this witty story that screams holiday romance!
8/10 stars
Forward - Abby Wambach
I’ve been a women’s soccer fan ever since I can remember and Abby Wambach is without question the best women’s soccer player to have ever lived. She is the highest goal scorer - both male or female) in the history of soccer, as well as a World Champion. Last year I read Abby’s wife, Glennon Doyle’s book, Untamed (Audio, Hardcover, eBook), and knew I needed to read Abby’s next. Forward follows Abby from her days of youth soccer in Rochester, NY to her success in the World Cup and is a must read for any sport’s fan.
8.5/10 stars
Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid
This is Kiley Reid’s debut novel and it was an instant NY Times Bestseller - for good reason, too! It’s about a young black woman, Emira Tucker, who nannies for a white family, the Chamberlains. One night, while Emira is at the grocery store with the Chamberlains’ young daughter, Briar, when the security guard accuses her of kidnapping. This book explores race and privilege in a well written and empathetic way and gave me such great perspective!
9/10 stars
Me Without You - Kelly Rimmer
Y’all know I loved The Things We Cannot Say and it easily and quickly became the best book I’ve ever read….but then I read Me Without You. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to finish because I knew I would never find another like it. Coincidentally, I looked up Kelly Rimmer, the author, only to find that she is the same author that wrote The Things We Cannot Say. I paid absolutely no attention to the author when I started the book and couldn’t believe that she has now written BOTH of my favorite books!
11/10 stars
There are several other books I read this winter, including I’m Fine and Neither are You, High Achiever, Hillbilly Elegy (which is now on Netflix) and The Midnight Library. I just started on my spring list with Live in Love by Lauren Akins, the wife of famous country singer Thomas Rhett. I have a couple more books by my favorite author, Kelly Rimmer, as well as some memoirs that you suggested on the top of my Spring 2021 list!
