What Should We Read in 2015?!

[Lisamarie]

As you can see in our bookshelf, I've added our reads for the remainder of the year and January 2015. I thought this may be easier to give everyone plenty of time to get the books and perhaps put in one big book order! Or for your planning purposes in case you're an uber planner like myself.

Do you like the bulk approach better or would you prefer we pick books monthly?

Either way, I'd love to know what's at the top of your to-read list for 2015!

[Danielle]

The Best of Me.

The Fault in Our Stars.

[Lisamarie]

Thanks for the input! I read The Fault in Our Stars this summer and LOVED it. It's been years since I read Nicholas Sparks, love him, too!

[Danielle]

I'm excited to get started with the book club. I found this on YouTube so I will start with the November book. I hate that I middrf September and October!! I hope to read both of those one day. Maybe also read some of the other books by Gillian Flynn? I've heard the other ones are good too.

[Angela]

I'm in for November as well!! I'm really looking forward to this and love your apartment tours!

[Lisamarie]

Danielle wrote: "I'm excited to get started with the book club. I found this on YouTube so I will start with the November book. I hate that I middrf September and October!! I hope to read both of those one day. May..."

Hi Danielle, I'm so excited you're in! Gone Girl is excellent, I'm the filming video on it today and don't worry, I'll never include spoilers. ;) I've heard the other books by Gillian Flynn are good but much darker and creep over into scary, so I'm out for those two (this girl cannot do grossies or scaries) but if you read them let me know!

As you probably saw, the bookshelf lists the books we'll read through January and I'd love to hear what else you'd like to read in 2015!

Thanks for joining us,
Lisamarie

[Lisamarie]

Angela wrote: "I'm in for November as well!! I'm really looking forward to this and love your apartment tours!"

Hi Angela, that's great!! So farWild is very good, but I love a good memoir on finding ourselves. Thanks so much for watching my tours, glad you're enjoying them! Let me know if there's anything you'd like to read in 2015 or see in my apartment/on my channel.

Have a great day!
Lisamarie

[Jackie]

Hey!
So I've recently joined and started reading Wild (November book). I really like that we can see in advance the books we will be reading in the months to come, it gives me a chance to order them so thank you Lisamarie. I would like to make a few recommendation of books. I have not read any of these except for The Giver by Lois Lowry. I hope you find my list helpful.

-Jackie

Book Recommendations:

The History of Love By: Nicole Krauss
The Kite Runner: Khaled Hosseini
Paper Towns By: John Green
Sharp Objects By: Gillian Flynn
The Giver By: Lois Lowry
Heaven is for Real By: Todd Burpo

[Lisamarie]

Jackie wrote: "Hey!
So I've recently joined and started reading Wild (November book). I really like that we can see in advance the books we will be reading in the months to come, it gives me a chance to order th..."

Hi Jackie! Glad you liked seeing the books shelved in advance. I'll keep posting the next two following the current month. Thanks for chiming in on your picks for 2015. :) The History of Love and Paper Towns are two I've been wanting to read as well! This year I read most of the book-to-move flicks, so I read The Giver & Heaven is for Real. I was a little disappointed by both. I need to see the movies, perhaps that will redeem them!

[Katy]

Im so excited for the upcoming books! Two of the three are in my wish list, yay!
My recommendations are:
The Other Boelyn Girl
Whistling Past The Graveyard
All the Light We Cannot See
Big Little Lies

[Lisamarie]

Katy wrote: "Im so excited for the upcoming books! Two of the three are in my wish list, yay!
My recommendations are:
The Other Boelyn Girl
Whistling Past The Graveyard
All the Light We Cannot See
Big Little ..."

Hi Katy! Perfect :) Which two books were already on your wish list? Thanks for voting on some 2015 selections!! I've been wanting to read The Tudor Court series for the last decade lol. is on my short list for 2015. Loved What Alice Forgot and I've been wanting to read another Liane Moriarty book since reading it.

Happy Reading,
Lisamarie

[Angela]

The giver movie was awesome. Loved it. The movie made me want to read the book but the book didnt really compare to the movie at all. Too bad

[Lisamarie]

Angela wrote: "The giver movie was awesome. Loved it. The movie made me want to read the book but the book didnt really compare to the movie at all. Too bad"

Really?! Ok this makes me excited to see The Giver in theaters. I still haven't seen that one or Heaven is For Real. I'm a huge nerd and read almost all the books that hit theaters this year. Thanks for sharing!

[Amarie]

Hi All, I'm new to the group starting with Wild. Just started the book last night and already enjoying it. I'd like to recommend The One and Only by Emily Griffin. Not sure if this is already on the list but looking forward to reading it anyway

[Lisamarie]

Amarie wrote: "Hi All, I'm new to the group starting with Wild. Just started the book last night and already enjoying it. I'd like to recommend The One and Only by Emily Griffin. Not sure if this is already on th..."

Hi Amarie!
GREAT SUGGESTION! I'm planning to binge read Emily Griffin's book this summer in preparation for her latest installment Borrowed & Blue releasing in May. I've added The One & Only to our menu for July. These titles are subject to change after February's read. I'm just getting a loose outline of recommendations up on the bookshelf for now. :)

[Kassidi.]

We should read "Paper Towns". The movie comes out in June.

[Brandi]

I've been hearing great things about The Book Thief lately! Seems like a hot item lately!!

[Angela]

The book thief is one of my favorite books of all time!

[Lisamarie]

Kassidi wrote: "We should read "Paper Towns". The movie comes out in June."

Kassidi! How did I not know Paper Towns is releasing June 19th?!?! We're reading it! It's our June book! Thanks so much for letting me know. Any other books to movies we should consider? I've got Inferno staged for December and scoured the internet for books releasing in theaters that are all audience appropriate. ;)

[Brandi]

Book Thief is also gonna be a movie but I'm not sure when!

[Kerri]

The Book Thief movie came out around this time last year. It was very well done.

[Lisamarie]

Kerri wrote: "The Book Thief movie came out around this time last year. It was very well done."

Kerri, Angela, and Brandi,

You were absolutely right, The Book Thief was huge this year. My book club read it as well as Marcus Zusak's other award-winning title I Am The Messenger.

[Kohinoor]

My suggestions:




I loved The Book Thief, that book broke my heart!

[Lisamarie]

Kohinoor wrote: "My suggestions:




I loved The Book Thief, that book broke my heart!"


Love that you included links to the books! You'll have to share the HTML.

I'd love to read another JoJo Moyes book, but wow did Me Before You break my heart this year!

My friends that read Goldfinch said it was very tough to get through and they are serious readers. What do yah think?

[Allyson]

I loved The Goldfinch, and it's not an easy read emotionally. It is also long, but since I love long novels, this was something I enjoyed. In a way, it's a modern telling of a Dickens' character set adrift. It seems to be a book that people either love or hate.

[Lisamarie]

Allyson Faith wrote: "I loved The Goldfinch, and it's not an easy read emotionally. It is also long, but since I love long novels, this was something I enjoyed. In a way, it's a modern telling of a Dickens' character se..."

Allyson, my literati! Just to set expectations, I want Bronte, Austen, and Alcott references in 2015 to go with this Dickens one. ;) Kidding, unless you're up for it lol. That's definitely the Goldfinch consensus. I read some long tough books early this year like Monuments Men & The Painted Girls and it kinda put a dent in my momentum so I'd like to keep things a little lighter for Book Club unless we're going classics.

Keep the suggestions coming! I've added six of the requests to our bookshelf so far.

[Kohinoor]

Right above the comment box there's a link that says add book/author. this gives you the option of providing a link to the book or a show the cover and provide a link at the same time. Hope this helped!

[Allyson]

Lisamarie, you made me laugh. Thank you. ;-)

I wasn't necessarily suggesting "The Goldfinch"--just putting in my two cents since there was an interesting discussion going on. I'm a newbie, so I'm getting used to the vibes, as well, and eager to watch and learn.

I read all kinds of books (except no horror!) and so am open to light, heavy, new, old, etc.

I would be interested in reading some of the top picks on the 2014 Goodreads picks--many there that sounded good. Thoughts?

[Brandi]

I agree Lisamarie!! While I enjoy the long tough reads, I think book club wise it's better to keep things light & quick!
Also I think a classics book club would be fun too! My plan for 2015 is this book club, 1 classic book & 1 religious/self-help/perspective changing book each month!! Would love suggestions on classics & self-reflection books if you have them! I'm starting with Vanity Fair & 1000 Gifts in January for my two non-book club books :).

[Kerri]

Brandi,

I also have challenged myself to read a classic a month for 2015! I remember hearing a quote by Mark Twain I think, and I'm paraphrasing, that a classic is something everyone has an opinion on and no one has read- Hahahha. Also, I want to read a non-fiction a month as well. I have had a 52 books in a year challenge for myself for the past few years, and I haven't quite ever hit it; I am struggling this year to meet it yet again. There's always next year!

[Brandi]

Kerri,
Haha I love that quote! That's so awesome you have also challenged yourself to 1 classic & 1 non-fiction a month for 2015!! I figure with a classic, non-fiction & this book club, which has been current relevant books, we have all our bases covered!! I actually love classics but sadly haven't been reading them much in the past years! I'm building a home library & want to stock it with all books including classics and found Penguin decorative Hardcovers & love the look & selection of those classic books. So I plan to buy one a month to read and also decorate my library :). I think constantly challenging yourself with book goals is great and I look forward to reading with you!!
B

[Rhiannon]

I have just joined the group and I am very excited about the first book for January!

[Jessica]

I just joined the group as well and am VERY excited to start with the January book too Rhiannon!

[Lisamarie]

Kohinoor wrote: "Right above the comment box there's a link that says add book/author. this gives you the option of providing a link to the book or a show the cover and provide a link at the same time. Hope this he..."

Kohinoor, I LOVE it!!! That is so so cool, thank you for sharing! Never noticed that little button. Happy reading :)

[Lisamarie]

Brandi wrote: "Kerri,
Haha I love that quote! That's so awesome you have also challenged yourself to 1 classic & 1 non-fiction a month for 2015!! I figure with a classic, non-fiction & this book club, which has b..."

Allyson,
Me too, I read anything but horror! Thanks for chiming in on Goldfinch, we needed that perspective. I'd love to read some 2014 winners, especially THE winnerThe Opposite of Loneliness.

What else looks good?

Brandi,
Please tell me you're reading the beautiful baby blue Clothbound Classics Vanity Fair? Ahh I've been coveting her! It would be ideal for me to read one classic, one inspirational/non-fiction, and one fiction each month but I struggle to read more than two a month. Any suggestions for picking up the pace? Allyson? Kerri?

I've got friends who read 60+ books each year and that sounds delightful, just don't know how to get there.

Rhiannon and Jessica, welcome!!

A well-read woman is a dangerous woman and I love that we're building a community that agrees!

[Brandi]

Yes Lisamarie that is the EXACT Vanity Fair book I am starting in January!! I'm obsessed with the gorgeous cloth bound classics and have to have them in my library!!
I'm dying to start it now but I've got 4 final exams in the next two weeks & holidays to prepare for so January it will be in my hands! December I'm just focusing on Unbroken!

I love that we are becoming a strong community of women reading together!! As far as reading more, I'm working on that too. For me with kids, I don't have hours to read so I sneak it in when I can. I read waiting for my Prek son's bus in the morning & afternoon, read before bed, doctors offices, mornings before kids get up, naptime, breastfeeding, etc. haha. Just gotta fit it in! :)

[Pam]

Hi!! I love your videos and decided to join the book club ;).
I am not sure if I will be able to start with November book (though I really want to read Unbroken) but I am a 100% sure I will be starting in January. Cant wait!!
What book we'll be reading in January and February? I am not sure if it is my Iphone App or what but I am not able to see the groups "to read" shelf :(, I can only see the "currently reading" one...
I loved to read Paper Towns (I think it is already on the list), All the light we cannot see, Yes please and GI Brides, those are some of the books I am looking forward to reading in 2015!;)

[Brandi]

Hey Pam!! Welcome to the book club!! My advice if you want to read Unbroken is to sneak it in while traveling! My December is crazy busy but with a 5 hour drive to my parents one-way, I plan on using that time to read Unbroken! Just an idea!!
The phone app doesn't show the reading schedule! Struggled with that too as I couldn't find it either!! Here's what's on the website:
January- #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
February- Not that kind of girl by Lena Dunham
March- The husband's secret by Liane Moriarty
April- Yes please by Amy Poehler
May- I am that girl by Alexis Jones
June- Paper Towns by John Green
July- The One & Only by Emily Griffin
August- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

[Allyson]

Yesterday's New York Times book review section is the holiday issue--with the best books of 2014, and many wonderful recommendations. I am rather overwhelmed! But it's a great resource, and I will be looking at it with this book group in mind. In the meantime, question: what date do we need to have the January book read by in order to be ready for discussion? Thank you!

[Pam]

Hi Brandi!! Thanks for the warm welcome!
And thanks so much for taking the time to write down the 2015 schedule so far! I really appreciate it! And wow most of those books I have been wanting to read, so yay!
I think I might follow your advice and try to read Unbroken this month, since I already have it in my Ipad and I really want to read it! ;). So we'll see how that goes!!
Thanks again!!!

[Tanya]

Hello everyone. I just joined this book club and I am so excited. I am waiting for my book to come in, but I'm going to try to complete the December book by the end of the month. Have a great week everyone.

[Kacee]

Welcome Tanya!

I am starting in January as well. I am so excited!

[Tanya]

Thanks Kacee! Welcome to you as well. I'm super excited!!! LOL

[Allyson]

Hi again- My question is: for the January book, when do we need to have it read by? Thank you!

[Lisamarie]

Welcome Pam and Tanya!!

Brandi,
HUGE thank you, thank you for helping my moderate while I was traveling for work :) You are just amazing!

Allyson,
The idea is to get the book read by the end of the month so we can start discussing it the first week of the new month. So January's read #Girlboss we'd want to shoot for the first week of Feb. Of course, everyone can read at their own pace. I'd love to find a way to make our discussions collaborative in an online environment, so let me know if you have ideas! Just curious, why do you ask?

Love that you're keeping your eyes on the NYT Booklists, I try to peek, too! Let me know if you see anything we've gotta get on the list! I know I've gotta add All The Light We Cannot See since we've gotten quite a few requests for that one.

[Brandi]

Lisamarie,
You are very welcome!!! :). What about a private Facebook group to post & discuss the current books? We can maybe have weekly page or chapter suggestions and discuss what we think so far and how we are enjoying it. Just an idea!

[Lisamarie]

Brandi,

I LOVE that idea! I'm wondering if there is a way to do something like that on GoodReads to keep things consolidated to one site. If so, what do you think about moderating? Maybe you and Allyson could switch off? Allyson, are you interested?

[Brandi]

I would love to moderate! We could create posts like this one for each section (like split the book into 4 sections for each week) and then comment when you have read it! That way people can be included even if behind or ahead and you don't have to read them unless you want (so no spoilers) because these comments on the posts don't show on the group page unless you click on them. Just thinking...

[Lisamarie]

Loves it, loves it! Want to start with Unbroken?! I'm curious, can members start a Discussion now? Or am I the only one with that ability?

[Kerri]

I read unbroken a couple months ago. I'm ready to discuss but may be a bit rusty on the details.