Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog

Books

Top Books of 2018

Happy Wednesday, friends! Speaking of being behind, I feel like it’s a late to post my favorite books from 2018, but here we are: my top books of 2018. This list isn’t filled with only 2018 releases; they’re all just books I read for the first time and loved throughout the year. I split it up into three sections: 2018 Releases, Other YA I Loved, and Non-Fiction. Within each section they’re listed in the order I read them, not in order of how much I loved them. Without further ado, lets get into the books.

Note – Some of the links used in this post are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using them I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Some of these books may have been sent by the publisher for review. If so, I’ll designate that at the beginning of the review.

A round-up of the best books I read in 2018 (a mix of new releases & books from previous years), along with a guide to help decide if it's right for you.
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Books

Books Read in December (+ You Should Read Them If…)

Happy Friday! I read some books in December. 😳And I read some books that I really enjoyed, so I’m excited to share them with you! I actually read the first in November, but forgot to include it in my last wrap-up (🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️), so I’m sharing it with you now, even though it might be the most pointless review in the post. Enjoy! 😉

Let me know what you read in December! I’m always on the lookout for new books to add to my never-ending TBR.

Note: Some of the links used are affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a small percentage if you make a purchase using it, at no extra cost to you.

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Books I Read in Fall (+ You Should Read Them If…)

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. It was a quiet holiday for my family so I was able to get some rest and relax throughout the week, which is something I’ve lacked quite a bit in 2018 (rest). It felt so nice to unwind a bit! Part of rest and relaxation for me involves reading, so I decided it was time to share what I read in the fall so that December can stand on its own in book reviews when the month is officially over. Stay tuned for December reads and my favorite books from 2018 in the next week or so!

Until then, this is what I read from September through November. It’s organized by YA, thrillers/horror, and the one non-fiction that I read during this time period.

Here's a list of the books I read and a list to help you decide if it's the right book for you! What have you read? // dreams-etc.com
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Books

Book Review // The Scythian Trials by Elizabeth Isaacs

Note – I received a copy of this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. No affiliate links were used in this post.

About The Scythian Trials

Paperback: 372 pages
Publisher: Vesuvian Books (October 23, 2018)

For thousands of years, The Scythian Society has lived on the fringe of civilization, strengthening their race while protecting humanity. The last warriors of man, they live by one credo.

Strength through Equality. Power through Knowledge.

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Book Review // Lifesaving for Beginners by Anne Edelstein

Note – I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review through TLC Book Tours. All thoughts and opinions are my own. No affiliate links were used in this post.

About Lifesaving for Beginners

• Paperback: 225 pages
• Publisher: Red Hen Press (November 7, 2017)

When Anne Edelstein was forty-two, her mother, a capable swimmer in good health, drowned while snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. Caring for two small children of her own, Anne suddenly found herself grieving not only for her emotionally distant mother but also for her beloved younger brother Danny, who had killed himself violently over a decade before. She finds herself wrestling not only with the past and her family’s legacy of mental illness, but also with the emotional well-being of her children. Part memoir and part meditation on joy and grief, the book will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to come to terms with their parents, their siblings, their children, and their place in the world.

 

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Books I Read This Summer (+ You Should Read Them If…)

Happy Tuesday! It’s an especially happy Tuesday because I’m so excited to share these book reviews with you. Reading has been such a struggle for a few years now. I’ve had trouble getting into books and haven’t had the attention span to read them in a timely manner, but I think I finally broke free from both of those issues over the summer and I really hit my groove with reading again. I’m so thankful for that, since reading is one of my favorite things to do and I’ve missed it so much the last few years. I’m also glad I put off a lot of these books until now. I read (or listened to) so many great books this summer and I don’t think I would have enjoyed them as much if I read them while it was difficult to read. As usual, I have a short (and not-so-great, since I’m writing them) description of each book, followed by my thoughts, and each review ends with a “You Should Read It If…” section. A lot of the books in this post ended with the same recommendation: just read them.

So, without further ado, here are the books I read this summer (and you should them if…)

Note – some of these links contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using them I’ll make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Here's a list of the books I read this summer and a list to help you decide if it's the right book for you! What did you read this summer? // dreams-etc.com

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Books

9 Books to Add to Your Fall TBR

Happy Friday, friends! Fall always feels like a great season to read. The air turns crisp and you can go outside to find a nice pile of crunchy leaves to read next to without worrying about overheating. 🎉 Here are a few of the books I’ve read so far this year that would be great additions to your TBR list, pile, or shelf(ves) this fall!

Note – Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you purchase anything using one of the links I’ll make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Looking for some books to add to your fall TBR? Here are 9 books I read this year that are worth a spot! // dreams-etc.com

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Books

Book Review // The Mindful Day by Laurie Cameron

I had a guest post go up over on Jasmine Maria this week, with 7 tips for solo travel. If you’ve had an interest in solo travel, but are a little apprehensive, I totally get where you’re coming from! I was to. So I compiled some of the things I learned through my first solo travel experience to share! I plan to have more posts ready to go here next week. I needed a little bit of time to work on some projects and get some breathing room in my schedule. And it was unintentional, but that’s the perfect segue into my book review for today!

Note – I received a copy of the book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About The Mindful Day

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: National Geographic (March 27, 2018)

For overscheduled professionals looking to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives, this step-by-step guide draws on contemplative traditions, modern neuroscience, and leading psychology to bring peace and focus to the home, in the workplace, and beyond.

At the pinnacle of the digital age, it’s hard to imagine packing one more thing into our overwhelmed lives. But new research shows that simple daily exercises can change the way our brain works, improve focus, lift our mood, create stronger connections, and help us develop greater resilience. In this enriching book, noted teacher and mindfulness expert Laurie Cameron provides an everyday road map to cultivate inner peace and navigate any situation with control and clarity. Timeless teachings and straightforward practices designed for busy schedules–from the morning commute to back-to-back meetings to family dinners–show how mindfulness can transform life at home, in the workplace, and beyond. A personal guide for women who have leaned in, men who want to be more effective, and professionals looking to optimize their lives, this book will help readers lead their lives with intention and purpose.

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Book Tour // The Wild Inside by Jamey Bradbury

Note – I received a copy of this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About The Wild Inside

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (March 20, 2018)

“The Wild Inside is an unusual love story and a creepy horror novel – think of the Brontë sisters and Stephen King.” – John Irving

A promising talent makes her electrifying debut with this unforgettable novel, set in the Alaskan wilderness, that is a fusion of psychological thriller and coming-of-age tale in the vein of Jennifer McMahon, Chris Bohjalian, and Mary Kubica.

A natural born trapper and hunter raised in the Alaskan wilderness, Tracy Petrikoff spends her days tracking animals and running with her dogs in the remote forests surrounding her family’s home. Though she feels safe in this untamed land, Tracy still follows her late mother’s rules: Never Lose Sight of the House. Never Come Home with Dirty Hands. And, above all else, Never Make a Person Bleed.

But these precautions aren’t enough to protect Tracy when a stranger attacks her in the woods and knocks her unconscious. The next day, she glimpses an eerily familiar man emerge from the tree line, gravely injured from a vicious knife wound – a wound from a hunting knife similar to the one she carries in her pocket. Was this the man who attacked her and did she almost kill him? With her memories of the events jumbled, Tracy can’t be sure.

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Book Review // Love Unleashed by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Note –  I received a copy of the book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About Love Unleashed

Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: National Geographic (March 6, 2018)

A book for dog lovers everywhere. Celebrating the amazing relationships shared with our four-legged friends, each story recounts the love of dogs and the powerful ways dogs impact our lives.

In this heartwarming collection of stories, readers meet 38 incredible dogs who have gone above and beyond the job description of best friend. Each uplifting story provides an inspiring look at the animals who change our lives. Meet rescue dogs who learn to serve others, working dogs who go beyond the call of duty, and underdogs who surmount extraordinary challenges on the road to finding their forever home. This treasury of man’s best friend features photographs and personal anecdotes from those who have been touched by the selfless love of a beloved pet.

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