National Book Month – Best Reads of 2019 for Moms

It’s autumn, which means the kids are back in school and moms across the country have a few moments of precious free time in between helping with homework, volunteering at school, and chauffeuring the kids back and forth to activities.

But in those few moments of solitude, many of us try to take an opportunity to catch up on some of the books that have been stacking up on our “Want to Read” shelf on Goodreads. With that in mind, let’s do a run through with our pick for the best reads of 2019 for moms:

• The Testaments by Margaret Atwood – This is probably the most anticipated book of the fall, if not the entire year. This book, a sequel to 1985’s dystopian classic The Handmaid’s Tale, is perfect for those who can’t get enough of the original book or the TV show it inspired. The Testaments focuses on three different narrators—Aunt Lydia, Agnes, and Daisy—as they explain their roles in the fictional nation of Gilead. For moms on the go, check out the audiobook which is narrated by Mae Whitman, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Ann Dowd (the actress who plays Aunt Lydia on the Hulu show.)
• The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger – For fans of dark thrillers, look no further than this story of a woman dealing with the abduction of her two friends as pre-teens. Now an adult with survivor’s guilt, she is thrust back into the case when the kidnapper is murdered, and a vigilante is on the loose targeting other criminals who “got away with murder.”
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – This book has gotten a lot of attention thanks to Reese Witherspoon, who has made it a selection for her book club and is developing it into a feature film. This beautiful story follows the “Marsh Girl,” a local legend who lives by herself in the North Carolina wilderness until she is thrust into modern society by two men from town. Check it out before the movie hits so you can say that the book was better.
• If Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of “The View” by Ramin Setoodeh – If you prefer non-fiction with all the juicy details, check out this inside look at the TV show The View. One of the fascinating aspects of this seems to be the political backstage wrangling from hosts (both current and former) Star Jones, Rosie O’Donnell, and Whoopi Goldberg as they try to wrangle control of the show from creator Barbara Walters.
• If Lock Every Door by Riley Sager – If you’ve got room for one more thriller, check out this one from the author of Final Girls. In this novel, a young apartment sitter winds up in a New York apartment building with some seriously dark secrets. Instead of just staying in and locking the doors, she investigates the disappearance of another young woman and facing down a killer in the building. Very intense and a great read if you want vicarious thrills.

Every minute for moms is precious. But this year, for National Book Month, spend some time with one (or all) of these great books. You will definitely appreciate the opportunity to recharge your batteries and enjoy some “me time.”

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