Oh, hi! Welcome to the now apparently biannual book list post!
Sheesh.
Y’all. What a year. I’ve been saying that over and over every quarter for the last two-ish years, I know. And still, I mean it more than ever – particularly in the last six months.
I also keep saying I’m going to actually write something about it for you one day. And I will. One day. Soon? Ish? Hopefully?
If I’m honest, writing for fun, for me, for you, has been something I’ve missed a lot in recent months. It’s also something I know I just don’t have the capacity for, and I’m trying to respect my own boundaries and not force it.
At the same time, it’s also probably time I push myself along with it, because everything I’ve been going through and the lessons coming out of it is likely pretty relevant for more than just me.
Like…being so stressed at work you can’t quite get yourself to ever calm down? Getting the promotion(s) you wanted and then dealing with crippling imposter syndrome? Trying to figure out money in this economy? Fitting in the gym and meal planning and self-caring and still feeling like you’re not doing enough? Doing whatever you can to keep your friendships alive when everyone is going through all of the above too? Making sure to put the appropriate amount of effort into your relationship so you can continue to grow together? Endeavoring to have care and compassion for yourself and support your needs and wants and identity and values so you can flourish?
Yeahhhh, so you can probably see why I haven’t dived into that wellspring just yet. I’ll keep working on it.
But in the meantime, one thing I can take as a win is achieving my yearly reading goal, and more! And while I completely missed sending you a Q3 list, I guess the good news is you get a bigger bunch here at the end of the year to start building your own 2025 book list.
I read some good bangers (yes, books can totally be bangers) in the last six months, and I definitely think there’s a little something for everyone. Enjoy!
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto (I just love this series. It’s just so off the wall, every single time. Like, not realistic at all, of course, but that’s kind of the point, I think. Can’t help but laugh and love this wacky family! If you haven’t started or continued the series yet, you definitely should.)
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (I liked this, interesting, but it was pretty wild. Big surprises for sure, a bit of a sci-fi/post-apocalyptic vibe, if you’re looking for a new take in that genre.)
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James (Incredible. Nominated for a bunch of awards, and deservedly so. Wonderful historical fiction taking place in Mexico and the South Texas border with an element of magical realism, which we all know I love. Highly recommend.)
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Also nominated for a bunch of awards, also pretty solid. Super interesting concept for sure, particularly if you like time travel.)
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio (This one I really enjoyed. Lived up to the hype for me. I would not exactly call it a comedy, but I definitely laughed out loud at some of the dark comedy bits. Good commentary on modern dating, great ending too. Easy read, and I recommend it.)
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren (You can never go wrong with Christina Lauren, and they delivered again this year! It was just really, really sweet all around. Do it.)
The Seven Pillars of Customer Success: A Proven Framework to Drive Impactful Client Outcomes for Your Company by Wayne McCulloch (OK, here’s the nerdy business book, so I’ll keep it short. But honestly, for a CS leader, it’s an awesome book. I ripped through it, dogeared a ton, and constantly reference it in my daily work.)
The Measure by Nikki Erlick (This was a book club book someone else picked, and I really liked it! Didn’t think I would, but it was a great read. Concept that really makes you think, and an excellent, fitting for the story ending. If you’re looking for something really human, this is a good option.)
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (I love Matt Haig books. This one was a little more out there than some of the others, but the message was really lovely. If you’re feeling stuck, maybe looking for a little hope or inspiration, this is the pick for you.)
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (I have been waiting for another Rufi Thorpe book since The Knockout Queen in 2020, which was one of my top books then. This latest? Incredible. I ate it up. One of the quickest reads of the year for me. So, so good, every little storyline. If I had one critique, I’d say the ending felt rushed, but it didn’t take anything away for me. Five full stars. Read it – especially if you ever watched wrestling in the 90s or early 00s.)
Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang (Another one nominated for a bunch of awards. Another one I’m glad I went ahead and read. The jacket summary is a little floofy, but don’t let that turn you off. I liked the main story here, but especially liked the surprising ending. I will say, the style leans poetic, so if that’s not your thing, it might not be your favorite.)
And, so since it’s the end of the year, you also get a bonus mini “best of” list.
I couldn’t narrow it down to three, but I can do five. Here you go, in no particular order:
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club: A Novel by J. Ryan Stradal
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
And now, Matt’s Books!
I read 4 books this half, which is less than previous but 3 out of 4 of these were over 600 pages each, so it slowed down my book count.
Iron Gold (Red Rising Series #4) by Pierce Brown – This book introduces a new way of writing for the author in this series. Instead of the series solely focusing on Darrow, like in the previous 3 books, this one focuses on 3 additional characters all revolving around the same culmination event. It introduces new view points to build the characters more cohesively, although I will say this book overall was a lot more grim and there are not many happy “we win” moments like in the previous 3.
Ikigai and Kaizen: The Japanese Strategy to Achieve Personal Happiness and Professional Success by Anthony Raymond – I recommend this book for literally everyone. Ikigai meaning “It’s a philosophy that encourages people to find what’s important to them and to live a life that’s joyful and purposeful” and Kaizen meaning “continuous improvement.” I have read an Ikigai book before and I love this way of thinking. Try to find something that brings you joy and continually try to be better. Things I think everyone can do.
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio – If you are on Tik Tok, you should check out Book Tok, as it has introduced me to many new authors and books, this one being one of them. I just finished on 12/31 in the nick of the time for to count towards 2024 books. This story is HEAVY on world and character building and out of the 700 pages in this book, the action doesn’t really start until after page 550. I will say the author paints a very good picture of human drama in the first 550 pages, but once the main underlying action started at the end, it was hard to put down!
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky – This was a very unique book on world building. Highly recommend but if you hate the idea of giant spiders and ants, you miiiight have an issue with this book. This was also a Book Tok find!
My book of the year was The Will of the Many by James Islington. LOVED this book and it is getting a sequel in 2025 called The Strength of the Few. Eff Yeah!
Woo, books! Both our lists are getting long, so watch out for more reading goodness in 2025.
And really, more general goodness too. I’m scared for a lot this year. But one thing I believe in is at least some people and their general goodness. I’m hopeful to be able to surround myself with those people I already know, and to find even more along the way. Because the good ones do seem to find each other, and more general goodness follows. We’re lucky that way.
Thanks for being my good people.
If you’re interested in chatting about coaching and flourishing among general work/life chaos, contact me anytime and let’s talk.
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