books to read Archives - My Inner Shakti

2021 Books To Date

I set a reading goal of 21 minutes in 2021, and while I haven’t ticked it off every single day, I have gotten through some really good books. I’m now also lowering the bar to ‘however many minutes in 2021.’ HA!

With that, here are my 2021 books to date…with my personal rating (as you can see, I’ve made some good selections so far)!

A Promised Land – Barack Obama – 10/10
Untamed – Glennon Doyle – 10/10
The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah – 9/10
Untold – Brown Girl Magazine and Modern Marigold Press – 10/10
Anxious People – Frederik Backman – 9/10
The Four Winds – Kristin Hannah – 8/10
Life’s Too Short – Abby Jimenez – 8/10
One to Watch – Kate Stayman-London – 7/10
Professional Troublemaker – Luvie Ajayi Jones – currently reading
People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry – reading next
What a Happy Family – Saumya Dave – reading next

Now tell me – what do I need to add to the list for the second half of the year?

2019 Reading List + 2020 Reading Goal

written by Parita 4 Comments

I’ve always loved to read. Ask my mom. My obsession was so intense that I used to try and read in the dark when I was supposed to be sleeping. Of course, back then, my books of choice were everything The Baby Sitters Club…man those were the days!

Over the years, I’ve evolved in my reading preferences. Now, I love everything from self-help/personal development to suspense to romance to historical fiction…and the list goes on. If my 2019 reading list reveals anything at all, it’s that my book choices don’t follow any real pattern. I just go by what I’m feeling at the time and try to find something that fits my mood and needs (re: toddler development books. HAHA!).

With that being said, let’s talk about 2019. I set a goal back in January to read 12 books over the course of the year, and I’m happy to report that I met it! No more, no less. And while I’m happy with how much and what I read, I know I can do better. That crazy, read-in-the-dark Par is still inside of me wanting to devour books left and right. And she’s making a comeback in 2020.

Soooo…in 2020, I plan to read 20 BOOKS! That’s eight more than this year, but it’s still not a ton. Little by little, people!

And I’m officially a City of Chicago public library card holder, so hopefully the means I’ll be able to access more great books! SO EXCITED!

Here’s my 2019 list of what I read…

Clickable links for easy access

*personal favorites

And as always, I’ll continue to share book reviews over on my Instagram page. Follow me! And don’t forget to share your favorite reads with me at any time. I’m always looking for suggestions from fellow book worms!

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

29 Fiction Books to Add to Your Reading List

written by Parita 4 Comments

I put a call out to my followers on Instagram the other day for their favorite fiction books. I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction lately and just want a good book or two that I can get lost in – good story line, great character development, etc. I said I have no preferences for genre…any and all recommendations are welcome!

And boy did people deliver (THANK YOU)! I got so many great recommendations that there was no way I couldn’t share the list via a dedicated blog post. So if you’re like me and just looking for a good book, I think you’ll find at least one below. Happy reading!

Pachinko

The Last Mrs. Parrish

The Hate U Give

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

Beartown

Us Against You

Little Fires Everywhere

This Must Be the Place

This is How It Always Is

The Handmaid’s Tale

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

The Almost Sisters

Crazy Rich Asians*

China Rich Girlfriend*

Rich People Problems*

I Like My Life

Small Great Things

The Woman in Cabin 10

The Nightingale

The Night Circus

A Place For Us

When Katie Met Cassidy

The Sympathizer

Great Kitchens of the Midwest

Elegance of the Hedgehog

A Visit from the Goon Squad

Emma Ever After

Eligible

The Kite Runner*

*Books I’ve read. Clearly, I have some work to do!

7 Books I Recently Read and Loved

written by Parita 16 Comments

I’ve been reading like a maniac lately! Which let’s be honest, for someone my age, that means I’m reading before bed. Ha!

I considered sharing a post like this in December but was consumed with lots of other “life” things. So instead, I’m sharing seven of my most recent reads and a [very] short reason why they need to be on your list as well.

Let’s get started (in no real order)!

#1 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Why you need to read this book – heart-wrenchingly powerful/beautiful

#2 It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell

Why you need to read this book – relatable (in so many ways), real, raw

#3 Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Why you need to read this book – hilarious, fun, entertaining

#4 China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan (a sequel to Crazy Rich Asians)

Why you need to read this book – it’s just as fun as the first book if not even more so!

#5 Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Why you need to read this book – simple, smart, super funny (I literally LOLed a few times!)

#6 Rising Strong by Brene Brown

Why you need to read this book – it’s a catalyst for personal growth and more importantly…REAL CHANGE

#7 The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Why you need to read this book – the book may possibly change your life! A MUST READ!

So there you go, my seven most recent reads! And guys, if you own a Kindle but have yet to check out Overdrive, GET ON IT! It’s a game changer for people who want to READ ALL THE BOOKS!

Happy Friday, my friends!

What have you been reading lately?

FYI – there are Amazon affiliate links included in this post. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!