What I’ve Been Reading

This year I have really wanted to prioritize reading.  Something about it is just so relaxing.  With this resolution in mind I set a goal for myself to read 5 books.  I set the bar low, since last summer I read way more than that, just in case I got busy with school but as soon as I picked up the first book I felt like I wanted to devour all the ones I had set aside.  Now I\’m finally read to share my thoughts on the first few here!  These are all perfect to grab and enjoy in quarantine or during any future summer travels! 

I started with Shopgirl by Steve Martin.  I was intrigued by this because who would’ve thought Steve Martin was an author??  It was definitely a quick read, but I was a little disappointed overall.  It’s about a girl that works at a department store and meets a man who helps her grow up, that’s really the best way I can describe it without explaining it all.  The story was okay to follow but the ending was a weird bummer, it didn’t really tie anything up and went a completely different direction than I expected.  If you’re looking for something quick that you don’t care to get very invested in, then go ahead and read this, otherwise I’d skip it.  

We\’ll Always Have Paris by Jenifer Coburn was next.  It took me a little longer to get through than I had planned, but it was a fun read.  I started it on the plane to Paris which was really cool because I got to read about the places I was about to see!  Since I travel a lot with my mom, reading about the mother and daughter in the book traveling together from Paris to Rome to Amsterdam and many other stops in between was very sweet.  If you have an interest in seeing Europe this book would be a great gateway for you to feel as though you\’re there with them!  It definitely made me want to add Amsterdam to my bucket list.


This book I picked up on a whim in the Boston airport after having it saved on my Pinterest board for years.  I am SO glad I grabbed it because it was a fantastic read!  I have been trying to clear out my book shelves, but this one will definitely be making the cut to be kept and reread.  I’m talking about 10% Happier by Dan Harris.  You may know him as a national news anchor, or like me prior to reading, have no clue who he is.  Either way, I think anyone who currently is working towards furthering their career, anyone going into a competitive field, or anyone who ever just feels stressed and out of control can benefit from reading this book.  It’s about meditation and taking control of your mind, and hold on before you roll your eyes because this is geared for all us skeptics out there.  I have heard a lot about meditation, but much like how Dan described his feelings in the beginning, I too felt it wasn’t something I could handle doing.  By the end of this book I had taken photos of at least 10 passages (I’m too much of a chicken to write in my books) and immediately felt like I wanted to put into practice the starter meditations he offered.  There was so much I related to right now as I am going through school and into a competitive, high stress field and so many times I was nodding as I read because I had those same questions or feelings.  It was a very quick read and gave me a lot of insight, I highly recommend it.  


Alex Dotson: secrets of a Small Town by Alexis Bloomer had been on my list for awhile.  It is her first novel and I was shocked by how quickly I finished it!  I read it in one day while waiting in the airport Admirals Club.  It is a mystery centered around a young reporter who has returned to her home town and got drawn into investigating the biggest case the area has ever seen.  It hooks you from the start and even when I thought I had it figured out, the ending was far more unique than I expected and had a great message!  I\’ll be here patiently waiting for the release of the sequel now.  

The last book I\’m sharing for now is Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris.  Get ready to see more from B.A. Paris because I loved this one and immediately checked out her other books from the public library (a great resource when you\’re going through books in one day and don\’t want to buy them for such a short period of time)!  This is a thriller and while I wouldn\’t say it\’s scary, it does get a little freaky at times.  This was another book I finished in one single day!  That just goes to show how good it is.  It follows a married couple through what seems to some as a perfect life, yet not everything is as it seems.  It\’ll keep you hooked for sure and you won\’t want to put it down until you finally get to the ending!  I will warn that it could be triggering to some due to domestic violence and psychological abuse being themes throughout.


Check back soon for the next 5 books I read!
XOXO, Cierra

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