I love a good book. I always ask myself why in the world has it taken me so long to start another book. Books are like investing in people. They either hook you in the beginning or bore you from the get-go. And in the end they leave you thinking about the pages that have past or closing the two covers together and letting it go.

As Christmas break approaches us, one of my favorite things is to lose time in a great book. Here is a list of my favorite reads:

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. This book was given to me when I was in the midst of a horrible break-up. It is the story of a girl lost in transition. We all find ourselves where she is at some point. So relatable and so easy to read. Trust me on this one!

Flat Water Tuesday by Ron Irwin. This was a recent Target purchase and after an impromptu “I want to read” night, I finished this in 2 days. Intriguing, mysterious and gravitating to the past and present. Pulls you in and will stick with you after you finish.

Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham. Be prepared to be as shocked as you were the first time you watched the HBO hit “Girls”. This book is a little much, but it resonates with most of us. Some laugh out loud and some, what me and Delaney would call, “Wait…What?” moments.

It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden. Seeing the value in being wrong sometimes and the insight into a business and advertising guru. Every page is worth the value you get from this easy and short read.

The Homesick Texan by Lisa Fain. A cookbook I know, but wow! This Texan transplanted to NYC has the BEST recipes out there. From Chicken Fried Steak to Sopapillas, everything in this cookbook makes me long for Texas food…and I live here!

Simple Country Wisdom by Susan Wagoner. I will, somewhat embarrassingly, admit that I read this book in one sitting. I LOVE everything about this book. It reminds me of tips my Grandmother and Aunt give me. So many times we lose the art of making a home a home, a meal a meal, and a family a family. This gives some great advice. Things I use daily.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. I may teach Entrepreneurship to high school students and dream of opening my own boutique, but this book makes it feel real. If you have ever been interested in starting your own business check this out.

The Opposite Of Loneliness by Marina Keegan. This is one of those stop, put down the book, let the thought sink in, and keep trudging on with life reads. Marina passed away shortly after graduating from Yale, however her essays and short stories are compiled in this beautiful read. “What we have to remember is that we can still do anything. We can change our minds. We can start over.”

Happy Reading!