Last year, for the first time, I pre-planned 24 books to read throughout the year – one fiction and one non-fiction each month – for my own personal book club. I was very skeptical about the whole idea (would I hate being constrained? would I lose interest a few months in?), but I agreed – with myself – to hold the plan with loose hands. Turns out, I loved everything about this project – turns out, it was one of my favorite things about 2020! I did, indeed, hold the plan loosely, especially when libraries closed for several months, and ended up reading 17 of my planned 24 books. Because of it, I was much more thoughtful about the mix of books I read – dipping into a wider variety of authors, subjects, depths, and modes than I would have had I just been at the whim of my library requested-books queue. That’s what most excites me for my 2021 list. I have spent much time (kind of an embarrassing amount of time, actually) finalizing it. In the process, I referenced trusted friends (many of whom you’ll see sprinkled throughout this post), considered the events of my year, and mined my own extensive TBR iPhone note. I’m excited to read each one of these books, and if you’d like me to join me for any of them, I’d love to have you! Like last year, I’m planning to share a few brief thoughts on Instagram along the way, as well as in my monthly goal posts. Many of these picks line up with my 2021 goals, which I’ve finalized and am planning to share later this week! Without further ado… January:Such a Fun Age | This is by far the number one recommended book that I have not yet read, so

One of the activities at our book swap party was a simple jar where gals could drop in their favorite books of all time – the ones they think everyone should read! I was SO intrigued to read the picks, and I thought you might be, too… All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren An American Marriage by Tayari Jones Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane Bad Blood by John Carreyrou The Book Thief by Markus Zusak* The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt* The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Defending Jacob by William Landay East of Eden by John Steinbeck Educated by Tara Westover* Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine* Field Notes on Love by Jennifer Smith A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Limelight by Amy Poeppel The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah* The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett* The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner The Stand by Stephen King To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han When I Pray For You by Matthew Paul Turner Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker …and Pressley suggested we all just follow Annie B. Jones for the best book recommendations! I’ve cosigned with an * the ones I’ve read above, but consider this your end-of-summer reading list from a whole gaggle of smart, fun, well-read friends!