I’m so proud of not only how much I read, but the diverse things I read this year.  I’m publishing this in mid-December, as I’m about to leave on a vacation.  I know I will read more at the end of the month, and those books will appear on my “What I Read in 2019” post that will come out in early 2020 (as I’m fighting jetlag after my return!). In the beginning of December I read:

• Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane – This was another book recommended by Laura Tremaine, of 10 Things to Tell You podcast. I like her recommendations, but I didn’t know what to expect from this one. It’s a story about two families across four decades, and multiple generations. There is love, loss, tragedy, and hope. I enjoyed Francis, Lena, and Kate, and I was annoyed by Anne, Brian, and Peter. These were very real people, with significant flaws and deep love. It was an interesting family saga.
• Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro – I LOVED this memoir!  As with the previous book, it was a recommendation from my favorite podcast, and so worth the read. Dani completes one of the ancestry tests and sends it in, and slowly her entire life changes.  Through the testing, she learns that her father was not her biological father. As she explores family connections, and artificial insemination research from decades ago, she also explores her own place in the world. I loved reading her reflections throughout the journey, and the sweet way her biological father learned to embrace this shock.
• Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again by Andrea Barber [audiobook] – It feels like it’s been forever since I listened to a celebrity-read memoir. I loved the show Full House and enjoy the reboot, Fuller House, and this actress.  I love that her favorite band is my favorite band (The New Kids on the Block!). I appreciated her honesty about her mental health struggles, her divorce, and the love her TV show family has for one another.  This was a short, sweet story by a genuine, down-to-earth person.
• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb – I’ve had a hold on this book through my library app for months, after hearing about it on, you guessed it, my favorite podcast! It’s a fascinating look into therapy and the connections we need as humans to survive and thrive. I loved as Lori got to know herself through her own therapy and through her being a therapist for such a wide cast of characters. It’s always nice to read about other people’s problems to help bring gratitude into your own life.