2017 was the year that I really got back into reading regularly. When you get to university, I feel like a lot of times it can take a backseat, but I made it a resolution to read more last year and managed to stick to it. Here is a list of some of my favourite reads throughout the year!
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1. Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty
I received this book last Christmas, and as such it was the first book I read in 2017. I had thought I was in for an easy read and a little drama, but I had no idea what I was in for. I honestly think it took me less than 48 hours to read to whole book, I could not put it down! There is a plot twist after every flip of a page in this book, so I highly recommend it for anyone who likes fiction but wants something a little less predictable. If you have already read Big Little Lies, I recommend reading Three Wishes, which is also by Lianne Moriarty. I had picked this one up to read on a vacation last summer, and read it before I even got to my destination!
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2. Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes
This book is perfect for anyone who loves beauty or likes to do keep up with their beauty research as much as I do. I loved this book for all the little tips and tricks that were very helpful and informative. Sali Huges has over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, and you can see her wisdom unfold as you read through this book. I actually read it twice last year, the first time it was my go-to bubble bath book, and then I had gone through it again and put sticky notes that I could refer back to the second time around. I would consider myself an intermediate level beauty lover, but my younger sister who is just getting into makeup also read it and loved it. I even caught my mom flipping through a few times! It’s definitely a great book for anyone who likes makeup and skincare.
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3. Oh She Glows Everyday by Angela Liddon
This choice might be cheating, since it is a cookbook and not something you are likely to read through in one sitting. Nonetheless it is a book I referred to a lot over the past year. I’m not a vegan, but both my family and I love the recipes from this book. They are all pretty easy to make, and don’t take a lot of time. The recipes are easy to follow if you are a beginner cook, and just as easy to switch up to your own preferences if you are more experienced. I found the book most useful for when I make the dishes in big batches for my meal prep. My absolute favourite dish is the garlic pesto potatoes with arugula, they’re definitely a crowd pleaser! This book is especially perfect for those of you who have made your new year’s resolution to eat healthier or put together nicer dishes. It’s also great for beginner vegetarians or vegans.
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4. Freakonomics by Steven Levitt
Every time I have told someone that my major is in economics, the first thing they say is usually, “Oh, I read Freakonomics!” This book is heavily raved about, and with good cause. It’s a great book to read if you like an intellectual challenge that gets you thinking, I certainly had my fair share of “Aha!” moments reading through it. It does a great job of taking concepts in economics and applying them to real life scenarios, making the subject easer to understand and apply. It shows you how economics can be found in our daily lives. Even if you hated your intro to econ courses (didn’t we all), I would give this book a shot because it really is a great read.
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5. I am That Girl by Alexis Jones
This is such an underrated “girl boss” book that I think that so many more women need to read. I read this at the end of the year and it really fired me up to start 2018 on the right foot. It helps you find your inner voice, listen to it, and act on whatever it’s telling you. As someone approaching the end of my undergraduate career, there is so much pressure and different voices trying to tell me what I should be doing next, but this book helped me learn to shut all that out and figure out what I really want. As many others share this experience, I found this book especially to be one that hits home.  If you’re looking for that new-year-new-me motivation, this is the book for you!