January 2019 Reading List

Hey y'all! How is everyone doing today? I tell you what, I am really over this cold weather! Now I know that it is way, way colder up North but I am so used to the warm southern weather that my body is not built for the cold. With it being so cold outside I have been spending a lot of time cozying up with books and really reading so many different genres of books. I have always been a huge reader and am picking it back up and really reading a lot more and have for had my favorites to read. So without further ado, here is my January 2019 Reading List!

~HINDSIGHT BY JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE | Justin discusses many aspects of his childhood, including his very early love of music and the inspiration behind many of his hit songs and albums.He talks about his songwriting process, offering the back story to many of his hits. He muses on his collaborations with other artists and directors, sharing the details of many performances in concert, TV comedy, and film. He also reflects on who he is, examining what makes him tick, speaking candidly about fatherhood, family, close relationships, struggles, and his search to find an inner calm and strength. I immediately knew that I had to read this when it came out because Justin Timberlake is by far my favorite musician in the entire world. This book was one of the coolest things to read because of the combination of pictures from his life and his words that let you be apart of his life but also get into his mind and see how he works and thinks.

~THE NEW FASHION RULES BY VICTORIA MAGRATH | An engaging and informative take on the fashion industry through the digital lense while looking into all of the most popular brands and where they were and where they are today. You also get to read a bit about Victoria's childhood and how she came to be one of the biggest bloggers and influencers in the UK. I was really excited to read this book because of where I am at today and the things i am doing with my blog and where I want to be in the future. But also because I have been following Victoria's blog, In The Frow, and YouTube channel for a while now and she has such a fresh take on today's fashion industry and really gives us a peek into her fashion experience and what she knows about todays biggest brands.

~AFTER BY ANNA TODD | Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way.But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, and tattoos, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to. But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before. He'll call her beautiful, then insist he isn’t the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper. Let me tell you this is my newest obsession book series and in my mind I really related it to Fifty Shades of Grey just a college version and a little bit more dysfunctional. But it is so compelling and is one of those books that once you pick it up you can't put it down. It is for sure a love story but a really messed up one that you will be like I have to continue reading the rest of the series because I have to find out how it ends. (P.S. The movie is coming out April 2019)

~AMERICAN ASSASSIN BY VINCE FLYNN | Two decades after the Cold War, Islamic terrorism is on the rise, and CIA Operations Director Thomas Stansfield forms a new group of clandestine operatives—men who do not exist—to meet this burgeoning threat abroad, before it reaches America’s shores. Stansfield’s protégé, Irene Kennedy, finds the ideal candidate in the wake of the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack. Among the thousands grieving the victims is Mitch Rapp, a gifted college athlete, who wants only one thing: retribution. Six months of intense training prepare him to devastate the enemy with brutal efficiency, leaving a trail of bodies from Istanbul and across Europe, to Beirut. But there, the American assassin will need every ounce of skill and cunning to survive the war-ravaged city and its deadly terrorist factions. Now I will start out by saying that I have seen the movie before reading this but the good news is that they are really big differences between the book and the movie which makes it so much more compelling to read. This book pulls you and feels really relevant to what is happening today in our world and how our government works. I am a huge fan of these types of books because they make you think and continue to make you guess what is going to happen next and are so intriguing. I highly suggest reading the book and seeing the movie because you will definitely spot differences.

~DUMPLIN' BY JULIE MURPHY | Dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom, Willowdean has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked...until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all. Let me tell you I was so happy to read this because I felt like I really related to this on a high level and was even happier when Netflix made a movie based on this book that is truly beautiful to watch. It is a really great story filled with heartbreak and confidence and really makes you look at yourself.

~YOU ARE A BADASS EVERYDAY BY JEN SINCERO | For anyone who has ever had trouble staying motivated while trailblazing towards badassery, You Are a Badass Every Day is the companion to keep you fresh, grateful, mighty, and driven. In one hundred exercises, reflections, and cues that you can use to immediately realign your mind and keep your focus unwavering. I fell in love with Jen Sincero's first You Are A Badass book and it has truly changed how I have looked at things and keeping a positive outlook on life. If you feel like you are stuck in a rut in life this is definitely the book for you to read and change your life. Now this book is a smaller book and is filled with positive messages, everyday readings, and exercises that you can just pick any page and read everyday.

I hope y'all enjoyed this and may even go get yourself one of these books to snuggle up with on the couch! I am gonna start sharing my monthly reading list with y'all because I have so many other books ready to go next to my bed to read.

As always thank you for stopping by and reading and I will see y'all back here next time!

Love, D