Favorite Books – Spring 2020

After a full month in social isolation, we have read a few new books. It hasn’t been as easy to concentrate as we would have liked, but there are still some good ones we wanted to recommend. Hopefully you are finding some quiet time in your day to read a little bit. If you want more books, check out our friend Steph’s post today with tons and tons of recommendations. You can also find our other favorites from the past on this page.

Additionally, if you are looking to purchase these books, I included links to Indiebound books which helps your local bookstores. If you use these links, we will get a tiny commission and there’s no extra cost to you so it helps us during this time of job searching.

Steph’s Picks

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

A few months ago, we got pretty into The Dropout podcast. If you don’t know the story about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, you should definitely do some digging. I initially wasn’t interested because I don’t know much about medical technology and didn’t think it would be very compelling for me. After a few friends recommended it, we gave it a listen and I was hooked immediately. Once the podcast was over, I knew I needed to learn more, so I immediately put this book on hold at the library. It was a deeper dive into some of the background and details, although I would recommend the book first and the podcast second if you haven’t done either. I’m definitely going to watch the special on HBO sometime during this quarantine as well.

Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow

Another crazy, messed up story, but I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I thought I knew a lot about the Harvey Weinstein case from what I’ve seen on television, but it is so much deeper than I realized. Ronan Farrow did some incredible work uncovering the details behind this case and helping to take down this very powerful dirtbag. The hold list at the library was long for this one, but this one is worth buying in my opinion.

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong

I was reading this right when the pandemic started to change our society and I found that it was just the laughter I needed. Even though I do not have children, I still found myself laughing out loud at her commentary on parenthood. I’m not a fan of stand up comedy, but I have turned on Ali Wong a few times since finishing this book because she’s hilarious.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

This story was wonderful. I saw it featured as the Tonight Show book of the summer last year, but it took me a while to get my hands on it. It tells a story of two families twisted together in strange ways. I loved her storytelling and would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

I just finished this one and it was nothing like I expected. For months, I’ve been wanting to read more about life behind the Iron Curtain. This book provided a glimpse with references to the way that writers and creatives were treated in Communist Russia. It wasn’t the spy thriller that I thought it might be, but I loved the story and was happy to read something different. I wish the ending would have tied together a little more, but it was still a four star book.

Watching You by Lisa Jewell

While I didn’t love this book, I wanted to share it. I have been having a hard time in the last two weeks getting into a book. This one changed that for me and I read it in 24 hours. If you are looking for something that reads quickly and easily, this was definitely a winner for me.

Justin’s Picks

The Institute by Stephen King

This is my top novel pick for spring. I know many who are unwilling to give Stephen King a try because his books are “too scary” or “gruesome” or whatever generic term people have for not liking the horror genre. The thing is, this book isn’t any of that. Above all else, Stephen King is an incredible writer and wordsmith. He paints such an elaborate picture and tells his stories at a pace that works.

I won’t give away any plot points here because why ruin the surprise? In this book, he gives you an initial setup and gets you invested in a story and then spins you in a totally different direction. This leaves you wondering how the two plot lines will interweave and puts you, as the reader, in a position of not wanting to put the book down. This book is full of suspense but I assure you it that it will not take you down a hole of terror. If you want to see why King has remained a respected author for so long but don’t want any fright, this is the one to read.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

It sounds like I enjoyed this sequel to The Handmaids Tale a little more than quite a few others. I am a huge fan of the first book and consider it a masterpiece on multiple levels. However, don’t get into this one thinking that it’s going to pick up where the other leaves off.

Atwood brilliantly doesn’t try to make a stale copy of the first book and instead tells this story in a completely different format. She bounces between characters to give multiple perspectives surrounding events. Although set in the same world as Handmaid, this is a broader view of the universe Atwood created and, in my opinion, paints a picture of where we could head in the real world if powers are not checked regularly. I loved this one and appreciate the different story here rather than a follow up to the first.

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

This was just a really great read. Trevor Noah is such a positive light and knowing how dark his past was it is remarkable that he radiates such brightness. If you don’t watch his show then you probably won’t pick this one up and that’s a sad reality for you. However, if you’re a fan then definitely scoop this one up and enjoy his thoughtful words and fun (and funny) way of telling stories.

Educated by Tara Westover

OK, I know I am a little late to the party with this one but if you’re in the small group of people left that haven’t read this then you’re in luck. The reason? Well, now you shouldn’t have to wait 200 days at the library for it. This deeply revealing true story of a woman’s upbringing in a background most of us cannot relate to is both disturbing and hope-inducing. If she can crack out of the hellhole situation she was brought up in, then it leaves me full of optimism that, with education and exposure, the world can be a better place.

Tell us what books you’re reading during your stay at home time.

Now that we are back in our reading groove, we are excited to get through a few books that we have been carrying with us for the last few months.