The Books Our Team is Reading in Isolation

I know a lot of people are currently in the boat of wanting to read something happy and uplifting, and I personally could not be more opposite. I want to be reading things that are scary and distracting and that suck me in from the second I open it—and this book did just that. It has so many twists and turns and is the perfect page-turning thriller without being too deeply scary. This author has a new book coming out soon, and I already have it on pre-order on my Kindle!

I put off reading this book for quite a while because, to be frank, the description makes it sound like it might be a little cheesy. Let me assure you, cheesy it is not. As you can probably tell, I read a lot of thrillers, and this is hands-down in the top three I've read in the past year. I truly couldn't have expected the twists that happened less, and it was one of those that I had to finish in a couple of days so that I knew what happened. If you like psychological thrillers, this baby is for you.

I am a huge Ruth Ware fan, but this one took me a quarantine to read because it seemed paranormal, and I usually don't love paranormal content (I prefer my murderers to be living, thank you). But in an odd twist, I found myself absolutely terrified of this book. I live alone, and I couldn't read it at night because it genuinely scared me through so many parts (which I can't really say about any other books). This is another winner, proving Ruth Ware can truly do no wrong.

I do occasionally stray from murder and thrillers, but it has to be for something really enticing. This memoir is truly incredible. It is such a unique account of a life in the United States and gives incredible perspective and insight into things that normally don't occur to me. This is a best-seller for a reason—do yourself a favor and check it out.

This book is straight-up delightful. Reading it is like stepping into the coziest corner cheesemonger and tasting a wafer thin, delicate, salty-sweet slice of prosciutto. It's written by the former EIC of "Gourmet Magazine" and follows a similar yet fictitious magazine called Delicious! which is about to fold. Listen, I am not in any way a cook nor have I ever had much success in the kitchen, but this book made me want to whip, sear, braise, taste. It reminded me a bit of Sweetbitter, just less jaded and more foodie. Highly recommended.

I am a sucker for literally everything going on in this book. The "we-have-to-fake-a-relationship-for-reasons" trope. A lead character who feels real, lived in, and intelligent. An OFFICE ROMANCE. Gimme. A sweet, witty, slow burn type of book that will transport you for a while.

Full disclosure: I have read this book before, and I will no doubt read it again sometime in the future. It’s one of those books you leave by your bed and open to a random page to read through when you’re feeling stressed, down, or anxious. However, I’ve decided to read the book from front to back during a time when I definitely need a little extra Oprah in my life. I don’t want to be dramatic and say it’s totally changed my perspective and outlook, but like, it has. This book is a collection of the most meaningful interviews Oprah has done, AKA it’s basically the best advice from all the coolest people in the world, rolled into one. At best, this book will take you on a transformative spiritual journey, and at worse, you’ll learn a few concrete skills to deal with reality and feel happier.

I cannot recommend this book enough!! Although you may be turned off by the name, let me assure you: it’s not about giving ZERO f*cks, but about learning how to let go of the things that aren’t important or that you can’t control, and instead focusing on the things you can. It’s funny, anxiety-reducing (for me), and somehow both entertaining and informative. You can read it all in one weekend, tops. If you’re on the fence, READ IT.

What’s this? Three books in one? Yes, it is! You HAVE to buy all three of the TATB books together, because once you finish one, you won’t be able to wait to read the next. As an avid viewer of the TATB movies, I wasn’t sure if I needed to read the books, but they’re delightfully charming, adorably witty, and just as swoon-worthy as their Netflix counterparts. This series is the PERFECT thing to read right now—the books will take you back to the highs and lows of high school (without actually having to GO back, thankfully) and will truly help remind you that there is good in the world.

OK, I just started this, but I’ve already spoken at length about the only other two books I’ve read while I’ve been at home, so I’m shooting for a little variety here. I’ve been religiously tuning in for “Little Fires Everywhere” every week on Hulu, so I started listening to this audiobook just last night, and it’s very good so far! This book has thousands of ratings and positive reviews. It’s set in Ohio and kind of a murder mystery—what more could a girl want?

In an effort to order as little as possible right now (which was going well until like a few days ago when I stress bought two concealers—both the wrong shade), I’m rereading what’s on my bookshelves at home. High school Beth was a huge fan of this classic, and I wanted to see how it would hold up now that I’m not obsessed because Lana Del Rey’s song was in the movie. I am here to say I loved it even more! The book is much more relatable as an adult and was the perfect escape after my family insists on watching every press briefing. PSA: the audiobook is narrated by none other than Jake Gyllenhaal, so TBH, I’m putting a hold on this for my library as we speak to listen again for sweet Jake’s voice.

I just finished up the third book in this series. It’s by Nora Roberts, but it’s not like her usual romance novels. Although there are still plenty of great love stories throughout the series, it’s actually a dystopian story about life after the majority of the world has been wiped out by a disease (so if you’re one of those people watching all the pandemic-themed movies, you might love this one!), and many of those who have survived develop magical powers. I know it sounds far-fetched, but if you were a fan of series like "Twilight," "The Hunger Games," "Divergent," and "Harry Potter," you’ll love this one--it’s the perfect mix of dystopian and magical, and it’s a little bit darker and more mature for our full-grown adult brains.

I recently finished binge-watching all seven seasons of "Mad Men" and was feeling the withdrawal hard. As I went down the rabbit hole of watching interviews about the show, I ran into a cute little lady named Jane Maas, who talked about going through this time IRL and working as a copywriter in an ad agency in NYC back in the ‘60s and ‘70s—she was basically the real life Peggy Olson! Maas wrote this autobiographical book about life as a woman in an alpha male-dominated industry and world, overcoming sexism, and advancing in her role in advertising. Her writing voice makes you feel like you’re sipping gin and tonics with your favorite witty elderly neighbor who lives down the street, and spends entire afternoons telling you all the ~wild stories~ of her youth. If you’re a fan of the show and wondering if all the casual office sex, three martini lunches, and insane double lifestyles were actually real, the answer is ohhh yes.

This book has been on my must-read list for a long time, and luckily, I'm self-isolating with family who had a copy! I just started it over the weekend, so I'm not very far yet, but I love the short-story style of the chapters and getting to know the different characters.

When I really feel the cabin fever coming on, this book is incredibly calming and so fun to flip through. I love Gray Malin's photography and the gorgeous color palettes. I can get completely lost in the photos of the water and start thinking about my next adventures.

I had no idea this was missing from my life! Any fan of "The Office" will love this book. It offers a full history of the origins of the show, gives an in-depth look at what went into the casting and scripts, and made me an even bigger fan of Steve Carrell and Mindy Kaling than I was before.