I was just telling a friend yesterday how I have such a hard time giving books a bad rating. It's kinda comical, but I have such a hard time saying that a book was a “bad book”. Maybe because I'm married to someone who creates stuff for a living, or I dream of writing a book one day, but I just feel as though if someone put in so much time and heart and soul to a project, then who am I to say it's bad. So, you will hardly ever hear me say a book is bad. I mean what if I write that and then I meet them, I would be mortified. Right?

Is this just me, or anyone else struggle with this as well.

The problem with confessing this to you, is that you might begin to question my recommendations for you. I'm sorry if that's true, but I can't help it. I'm sorrry.

All that to say, I read some GREAT books this month. Seriously though. Loved them all! Well, there was one that wasn't my favorite. Not that it was bad, but it just wasn't my favorite. See, I even have a hard time typing that! I know, I'm a dork.

First up, was this one:

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I actually really liked this one. It was a super easy read, and kept me wanting to read just one more chapter each night. It was a mystery and one that I honestly didn't figure out until it was revealed to me.

Next up was this book and let me tell you I loved it. I think I read it at just the right time. I had just spent a week with several friends from our church that now serve overseas, and so this book was perfect.

Ten Who Changed the World by Daniel Akin

This book tells the stories of ten people who were passionate about Jesus and telling those around them about him. They experienced more hardships in life than many of us ever will, and they truly consider the momentary struggles  as nothing compared to the eternal glory that awaits them. I was challenged, encouraged, and proud as I read this book.

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Read this with the kids and liked it. It was our first Roald Dahl book and from what I hear it's not one of his best, so I can't wait to dive into another one!

The Rosie Project by Greame Simsion
This is the book that was just okay to me. I honestly almost put it down at the beginning because I couldn't get into it. I told myself I'd get to 100 pages and decide then. Obviously I stuck it out, and it's not like it was a bad book per se, just wasn't one that I loved. I was ready for this one to be over.

The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner

I read this in preparation for the podcast interview that I did with Jessica and I enjoyed it. It goes along with the books I went through last year (168 hours & The Best Yes) about how to use your time and gifts the best way that you can. Jessica encourages women throughout the book, and lays out practical ways of how you can use those fringe hours to the best of your ability. {Book releases on Feb 17th, and I'll have a podcast interview up that week with her!} Jessica knows the value in taking care of yourself so that you can then take care of those around you, and that is evident in the way she encourages her readers to do just that.

Rare Bird by Anna Whiston-Donaldson

Oh my gracious this book. Oh my gracious. This book is about Anna's grief after he son was tragically killed (no spoiler, you can read that on the back) and the two years that followed. My first night I bawled myself to sleep, and then didn't cry again until the last two pages, where the tears spilled over my eyelids, I shut the book, and bawled. Not in a sad way, but in a hopeful way. The way she writes is laced with her grief and hope in a way that I haven't read in a long time. She doesn't shy away from expressing the hell she went through, but it always circles back around to the hope that we have in God.

Rare Bird is by far the best book I read this month. Yes it's sad, but it's real life and so full of love and hope.

There's my January reading list. I have a few half read books that I'm thinking about finishing up in February and a book all about mommy relationships that I want to dive into as well.

What did you read this month?