Spring 2020 Reading Recommendations

I'm a mom. Enough said? Even during this pandemic, while we are all staying home, I am constantly busy. Yes, I have more time, but I also have a lot to take care of daily. So figuring out what to do with my time is a constant struggle.

One of my favorite ways to spend what little free time I have is to read. I absolutely adore getting into a new book, not being able to put it down. If the book is great, it leaves me emotional, exhausted and satisfied. I would not have it any other way.

I've read a lot of books this year, but not all were great. Actually, a couple were really tough to get through and dragged quite a bit. But a few, just a few, truly gripped me.

These are my favorite reads of the season.

The Whisper Man by Alex North

This is by far, my favorite read of 2020. It had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning and holding my breath all the way through the end. When I purchased it, I had no idea that it would strike such a nerve with regard to parenting, and I often sympathized with the main character. It's not often a novel helps you become a slightly better parent.

As a parent, there is so little time you have to yourself, but what little time I had, I used to read snippets from The Whisper Man. A paragraph here, a page there... It truly is that good.

It is also a book that stayed with me for weeks. For weeks after reading it, I held it in my mind, going over its various parts, thinking about it throughout my days. I highly recommend The Whisper Man.

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

Do not, I repeat, do NOT begin reading Imaginary Friend at night. If you are anything like me, it will scare the living day lights out of you... but in such a good way!

Imaginary Friend scared and intrigued me all at once. Here too, the parent child bond is an extremely vital part of the story. Again, I was not aware of this when I purchased this delicious read, but loved every minute of it.

One thing I have to admit is that I am not a fan of religious undertones, and Imaginary Friend is teaming with them, but in the best possible way. This, for me, did not make or break the book, and I enjoyed the adventure.

Lust: The Immortal Shadows Trilogy: Book 1, by Malia Jacobs

I am currently deep into the first book of The Immortal Shadows Trilogy, Lust, by Malia Jacobs, and I am having the time of my life. Now, I may be slightly bias, since Miss Malia is a childhood friend of mine. But I have to say, this light, yet complicated read is a page turner.

One of my favorite parts of Lust is the strength and fragility of the female lead. She is selfless, yet surprisingly selfish, she is fierce, yet delicate. As a matter of fact, most of Malia's characters have a wonderfully balanced duality, endearing to the reader. The story takes a few heart-stopping twists, and leaves you absolutely needing to find out more. For me, this translates to staying in my boy's room long after they've fallen asleep, reading and texting the author to get a little more insight into the story. Benefits of knowing the author.

A little insider information: Malia Jacobs, who you may know as the former Managing Member of the SD Mommy Blogger Tribe, is currently writing the third and final book of the trilogy.

---

You can find these, and my other book recommendations here.