Thursday, December 12, 2019

#StepUpYourReading The Best Books To Give And Receive

Hi, remember me? I’ve missed y’all this week even though it has only been two days without posts. My google calendar is looking CRAZY, and life at work has been busy while life outside of it has been social as it tends to be this time of year. That hasn’t left me a ton of time to work on posts even though there are so many that I want to share. I have a feeling that if between outings and parties this weekend I’m able to sit down with my computer for a little while there will be LOTS of content for y’all to enjoy next week. From the last of my gift guides to my winter bucket list and house decorated for Christmas, I am committing to fully share the excitement of the holiday season with y’all. On top of that, I’m headed home next week for an extended vacation and can not wait to slow down. I am fully prepared to drink too many cups of coffee while reading by our Christmas tree. 

It has been so much fun to share to have Phoebe share her reading recommendations on the blog this year, and I am thrilled to have her continue to do so into 2020. In today's post, she is sharing so many great book gift ideas! My dad is always really good at finding unique books that my brother and I may not have heard of and gifting them to us. That's how I discovered I'll Be There For You (a Friend's lover's dream) and Bitter Is The New Black (a snarky light fiction read that had me laughing all the way through). In case you may not be as lucky to have someone discover and gift you amazing reads go ahead and send this post there way as a suggestion list! 


Phoebe's Recommendations of The Best Books To Give And Receive:

How is it December, and we are almost starting a new decade? I can’t believe it. One of the highlights of my year has definitely been joining all you on Prep In Your Step to share books each month! I am incredibly grateful to Dorothy and can’t wait until we get to hang out IRL. 

My birthday is five days after Christmas, so I’ve always loved finding the perfect gift for my friends and family! I think I have a dash of elf blood or something. 

I think there is no greater gift than a book. Although it can be a lot of pressure, it’s also really personal, especially if it’s one you’ve read before. You are sharing more than an object, but words that stayed with you! It’s so special. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites from 2019, as well as a few I just love to give from years past. I’m also sharing a few kids’ books because they are just so.fun. If you have any nieces, nephews, godchildren, or cousins on your list, consider some of these! 

Becoming by Michelle Obama
One of my favorite things about this book is that Michelle really empowers women to stand up for themselves. It’s a fascinating look at their lives on the campaign trail and how she wanted to protect her daughters from the limelight. 

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
If you remember anything about the summer of 2016, when the victim statement from Jane Doe in the “Stanford Swimmer Rape case,” now you can meet the woman behind those powerful words! It’s incredibly inspiring and well written. Though do be wary who you gift it to, as it does deal with sensitive topics. 

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
The sequel to one of my FAVORITE books is finally being released this June! Until The Heir Affair comes out, share The Royal We with others who are royally obsessed! It’s a fun and dramatic romantic comedy that’s basically Royal Fan Fiction. And though it stars an American falling for the Prince of England, it was written three years before Harry and Meghan would meet!

My brother gifts me one of the illustrated editions each year, and they make me so happy! It’s such a beautiful gift and is great for any tween Potterheads on your list! 

American Royals by Katharine McGee
For any royally obsessed teens on your list, this book is SO fun. It’s a bit Gossip Girl, a bit The Crown, and a little Crazy Rich Asians, set in an alternate reality where George Washington became America’s first king! Now the current generation of young people are preparing to take the throne in 2019! 

A Woman Is No Man by Edif Piaf 
This is one of the BEST books of the year, in my opinion! It is emotional, informative, and written in a way that makes you just want to keep reading. It was Jenna Bush Hager’s book club pick earlier in the year as well! 

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi 
This book is BOLD and is perfect for any reader on your list who isn’t afraid to experiment with what they read. It’s about teens going to an elite drama school in the south in the 1980s and won the National Book Award for fiction this year! 

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren 
I think I’ve mentioned this book before to you all, but I think it’s the perfect gift for anyone getting ready to head on a tropical vacation or any engaged friends on your list! It’s sexy, funny, and totally romantic. 

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 
This is one of the most talked-about books of the year, and if you love psychological thrillers like Dorothy, this should be at the top of your list! It’s about a woman who has committed a shocking act of violence against her husband and refuses to speak after. Her criminal therapist becomes obsessed with uncovering her motive in an all-consuming, dangerous way. 

If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais 
This isn’t a light book at all, but it is simply beautiful. It’s about three women who come together in Post-Apartheid South Africa during the darkest moments of their lives, learning that love is capable of breaking the highest of walls. 

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand 
Elin’s Winter in Paradise series is what I like to call “Thriller Light,” so they are perfect for anyone on your list who loves a good beach read, but needs a little mystery and excitement mixed in. These are about Irene, a wife and mother from Iowa who learns her husband has been killed in a helicopter crash off St. John. She travels there to discover a whole other life he kept and is determined to find out how he was really killed. 

New: Meg & Jo by Greta Gerwig
If you didn’t know, Greta Gerwig’s new adaptation of Little Women releases Christmas Day! There are so many beautiful editions of this classic book that would make the perfect gift. If you have anyone who loves a modern retelling, Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra is the way to go!

Kids

A is for Audra by John Robert Allman
Remember, I’m an actor, so I LOVE the concept of this book! It’s the alphabet using the famous leading ladies of Broadway for each letter! 

Don’t Push the Button by Bill Cotter
Not a new book at all, but one that is so cute and funny! 

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
I love tacos, so I can’t blame dragons, except for the firey breath it causes them to have! DUCK!!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! I can’t wait to check back in in 2020 with some amazing new releases. If you’ve taken any of my recommendations, I’d love to hear which ones! You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and my blog! 



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