WellRead Recently

Note: In 2021, when I had a used book cart for about 20 minutes, I named it “WellRead Books”. I was pretty proud of the pun, considering the books sold were used and well-loved. Here are some recent and not-so-recent reads. I’m not very good at keeping track of books via GoodReads, but I finally found a method that works for me: my planner. And so, here is a recap of some favorites from 2025 thus far.

NONFICTION

The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton 5/5

The catalyst to posting about recent reads. I read Lara Love Hardin’s memoir earlier this year (see below), and she co-authored this memoir. The story of an innocent man who spent 30 years on death row. It should be required reading. (If you’ve read Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson references Ray, too.)

The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin 4/5

A powerful story of redemption and hope. It reads like a novel, and it wasn’t until I was at least a third of the way into the story that I realized it’s a memoir.

Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff 5/5

Maybe the single most influential book I've read, ever? It's not an exaggeration to say I think about this book almost every day, certainly every week. It also felt accidentally Christian to me in the most beautiful way.

The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease 4/5

While some of the research feels dated (because it is), the book contains a massive list of recommended read-aloud stories for kids. A library book I plan to purchase for my personal library.

Good Energy by Calley Means and Casey Means 4/5

My friend Victoria has been begging me to read this for months. And I refused. I’ve been slow to abandon my kids’ unicorn plastic plates, reluctant to stop buying Goldfish, hesitant to scan the barcodes of my groceries. (I think one of, if not the main, source of our problems is our overinformation, our addiction and obsession with knowing everything all the time.) So I determined I was fine consuming a little red dye, some microplastics, etc. But within just a few chapters, Casey had me reevaluating. A worthwhile, if dense, read. Also a great resource if you're following a bunch of health-related social accounts. The book is always better.

FICTION

The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith  5/5

IT’S HERE. The eighth installment in the series that consumes most of my waking thoughts. I love you, JK Rowling.

Hum by Helen Philips 4/5

Whew. This one stayed with me. Set in the very-near-future, a critical look at the cost of the comfortable lives we live and the technology we use to keep it so. I loved it so much I actually emailed the author, maybe the second time I've ever done that.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant 4/5

Another near-DNF. But when I brought it back to the library and the librarian asked if I loved it, I had to confess that I had not finished. She admonished me and told me to try again. So I did. And what a beautiful story. It’s set during the time of Joseph (of the coat of many colors), and provides incredible insight into the culture of the people of Genesis.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe 4/5

A hear me out: this book dabbles in some risque content (i.e., the adult entertainment industry, unplanned pregnancy, drug addiction) but I could not put it down. It was redemptive and hopeful in the most raw way. A book that I kept on my person for days so I could read while my children played.

Lessons in Chemistry  by Bonnie Garmus  4/5

This was a slow start for me, I think because I hard started the TV show, so I knew the story for the first half or so of the novel (and hence awarded it a premature 3/5 in my planner). I ended up loving it once I got past the parts I'd seen in the show.

Happy reading! Libraries change lives.