Good morning, Ladies!

With Summer just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to make a little Summer Reading List.  With this Summer being my last one before College and the “real world”, I really want to read a lot and dive into all things learning!  This little list might as well keep me accountable to that list in my mind.

Many of these books come highly recommended and I cannot wait to dig in.  And others I have already started and loved.  So, hopefully this little list will inspire you to start a reading list of your own and get to it!!  I just bought two more books today and I have definitely caught the reading bug!  LOL.

Not Nice | Dr. Aziz Gazipura

When I started to realize that I am a pretty unapologetic people pleaser, it seemed like a good idea to read up on the topic.  Enter Not Nice.  A 500+ page book on Kindle Unlimited that just called my name!  This almost workbook-style book is challenging so many of the things that I have taught myself over the years.  And, while it is a tough read due to length and sheer depth of conversation, I think it is really important to better understand our subconscious decisions and personalities!  And when it’s free, why not!

The Name of God is Mercy | Pope Francis

I have been seeing this book floating around the internet and my library for months.  And wouldn’t you know that the day I actually check it out, one of my sweet Instagram friends posts a video praising it (thanks, Valerie)!  Mercy is such a big part of our beautiful Church culture and Pope Francis is the man to talk about it, without a doubt!  I am so excited to read this little gem!

The Sweet Life | Dulce Candy Ruiz

I have been hearing about this little beaut for so long and am just now realizing how intriguing it sounds!  Before becoming fairly successful on YouTube and in media at large, Dulce was a struggling immigrant teen who thought her life was a dead end.  She fought depression and low self-esteem and even enlisted in the army in the hope of “finding herself”.  And wouldn’t you guess that being on the field in Iraq was what she needed.  Through this inspiring story, Dulce shares how anyone can find success and happiness in life, no matter what their background may be.

On the Other Side of Fear | Hallie Lord

I always find it interesting to see how people conquer fear in their lives.  Hallie went from being a strong-willed adventurer and traveler to someone crippled by fear.  She could not trust God and was constantly consumed by uncertainty.  Wow, right!  But there is hope for Hallie and there is hope for every one of us who deals with the same things.  This beautiful book, one that I’ve been looking forward to reading for some time, recounts her touching journey to a life following God’s will, without fear.

Something Other Than God | Jennifer Fulwiler

I love Jen.  She is literally one of the funniest people in Catholic media and is super smart.  And, while listening to her radio show or hearing her talk, you might never guess that she is a fairly recent convert from radical Atheism.  Yes, you heard right.  This book recounts her journey to faith, how she “passionately sought happiness and accidentally found it” (taken from subtitle).  What I have already heard of Jen’s story is so inspiring and I can’t wait to read the whole memoir.

Cultivate | Lara Casey

Do you ever feel like you have to be perfect?  Have it all together, all the time?  Know your day plan, month plan, year plan, 5-year plan, life plan?  **dramatically raises the hand emoji of my brain** Yes, I think we have all felt like that before.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.  But this book is here to teach us that it’s okay to not have it all together.  It’s about embracing imperfection and cultivating a life of grace and joy.  So, sign me up!!

Hello Mornings | Kat Lee

I love mornings.  I love waking up before the rest of my family and getting important stuff done.  But it is so easy to just hit snooze a few too many times and forget to pray or work out.  Kat realizes that struggle and wrote this beautiful little book to help us out! In Hello Mornings, Kat introduces that reader to a simple set of three minute routines that can easily be integrated into any morning.  It’s about baby steps, my friends.   I certainly know I can find three minutes, and you can too!!

She Means Business | Carrie Green

As a creator and someone who really just wants to learn all the things, this book stands out to me.  Carrie Green is a now successful owner of two businesses.  She is completely self-made and literally built these companies from the bottom up.  But, with resilience and her own personal drive to succeed, she has learned a lot of lessons about being a woman entrepreneur and getting things done.  I cannot wait to learn from all she has done and become better equip for all the future has in store for me.

Wonder Girl | Don Van Natta Jr.

For someone who hates playing sports, I absolutely LOVE inspiring sports memoirs.  Very weird, but true.  Sooo, when I saw a book called Wonder Girl on the Life of Babe Didrikson, the famous A-list female golf champ, on a resale shelf, I had to pick it up.  Knowing literally nothing about this author or Babe right now, I am very excited to read this book and tell you guys more later!!  Keep your fingers crossed that I’m not leading you astray!!

 

Well, that’s my reading list for the next three months!!  I am so excited to read these amazing books and hear these amazing stories!!  We have the ability to learn so much, my friends, by simply listening to what other people have to say!!  So, I hope you will compile your own learning list and get to it!!  Good luck!!

Maddy