A Year in Books: A Look Back at Our Monthly Book Club Picks
Wow, what a year it's been! As we wrap up our first year in business, I'm overflowing with gratitude for the incredible community we've built together over our monthly book subscription box and virtual book club. It's been amazing to connect with so many passionate readers who share a love for personal development, good storytelling, and a quest for self-mastery. Our Monthly Book Box journey started with a simple idea: to create a space where we could explore transformative ideas, spark meaningful conversations, and support each other on our individual paths to growth.
This year we explored twelve incredible books that challenged, inspired, and expanded our horizons. From intimate virtual gatherings to lively in-person discussions, we built a vibrant community around meaningful books. From thought-provoking discussions that stretched our perspectives to heartfelt sharing that deepened our bonds, each book became a stepping stone on our collective journey of growth. Now, let's relive those moments as we unpack the gems that guided us through 2024.
JANUARY
The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest
Theme: The Pivot Year
Brianna Wiest explores the concept of "pivot years," those stretches in our lives marked by significant change and uncertainty. With daily essays and wisdom, Wiest encourages us to embrace the unknown, redefine our definition of success, and trust the journey of life, even when it takes unexpected turns. We loved it because it gave us daily reminders and affirmations for the whole year and made a beautiful morning journal companion. While the book offered valuable insights into navigating change, a few folks felt it could have provided more concrete tools for putting those insights into action.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I loved the emphasis on personal growth and self-discovery, but I wished for more actionable advice.
FEBRUARY
Secure Love by Julie Menanno
Theme: Secure Love
The brilliant Julie Menanno (make sure you follow her Instagram for incredible daily tips) delves into the science of attachment theory, explaining how our early childhood experiences shape our adult relationships. This is not your boring psychology book on attachment styles - it’s full of great stories and examples and packed with advice and tips on how to cultivate secure bonds with romantic partners, family, and friends. Menanno offers practical strategies for improving communication, building trust, and navigating conflict in relationships, empowering readers to create and maintain fulfilling connections. We learned a ton and are better and happier because of this book!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Fun read, a valuable framework, empathetic approach to understanding and improving our relationships, but alas, still a psychology book, so some may find the theoretical aspects a bit dense.
MARCH
Build the Life You Want by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey
Theme: Mindful March
World’s top experts on happiness, Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey combine their expertise to offer a guide to creating a life of meaning and purpose. They explore four pillars of a fulfilling life: family, friendship, faith, and work. The book is a practical guide with good storytelling that encourages readers to make meaningful changes to lay the foundation for a more fulfilling life. While the book's message was inspiring, it left us wishing for more novel approaches to familiar self-help concepts.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The co-authors' expertise was evident, but the book's structure and hands-on advice could have been more engaging.
APRIL
Ghost Town Living by Brent Underwood
Theme: Adventure Awaits!
We loved this one so much that we went on Readventure to Cerro Gordo! Brent Underwood shares his personal experience of leaving city life behind to live in a deserted mining town. He chronicles his journey of embracing minimalism, disconnecting from technology, and finding fulfillment in a simpler lifestyle. Underwood reflects on the challenges and rewards of living off the grid and encourages readers to consider what truly matters to them. Underwood's story is an inspiring testament to the power of pursuing your dreams and finding fulfillment in unexpected places. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever felt the pull of a different path or longed for a simpler life. And this book didn’t get enough coverage that it deserved! It was a thrilling, original and inspiring read.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This book is a captivating blend of adventure, self-discovery, and a powerful reminder that we all have the potential to create the life we desire. Just read it, trust us!
MAY
On Thriving by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson
Theme: Divine Feminine
Yulia’s personal favorite of the year and one of the top books we gifted to friends. Brandi Sellerz-Jackson shares her deeply personal and inspiring story of overcoming adversity and finding strength in the face of challenges. This book has everything from psychedelic trips to moving personal story-lines, to tips, practices, analogies and lessons for cultivating more resilience, self-compassion, and doing the important inner-work. We cried over some parts while others made us feel seen, and others made us google “imago therapist near me” - true story! This book is a powerful reminder that we all have the inner strength to thrive, even in the face of life's greatest challenges.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This book is a must-read for anyone who has faced adversity or simply wants to learn how to cultivate greater resilience and inner strength. Gift this one to all your friends - these are topics we don’t talk about often enough!
JUNE
The Wealth Money Can’t Buy by Robin Sharma
Theme: Self Mastery
Robin Sharma argues that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in inner peace, purpose, and strong relationships. Through short and practical chapters, he encourages readers to prioritize personal growth, cultivate gratitude, and live a life aligned with their values. This book has the signature Sharma-style of self-help - full of quotes, anecdotes and dialogues to help him make his points. It’s packed with pretty basic practical advice for developing self-awareness, finding purpose, and building a life of meaning and fulfillment. And it’s predictable and a bit self-indulgent. While the book's message was uplifting, and some of the lessons were good reminders, it left us craving more practical steps to bridge the gap between philosophy and everyday life.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed the author's philosophical insights, but I wanted more tangible and original tips for cultivating a more fulfilling life.
JULY
Coming Home by Brittney Griner
Theme: What is Freedom?
Brittney Griner shares her harrowing experience of being wrongfully detained in Russia and her fight for freedom. She details the physical and emotional challenges she endured during her imprisonment and her inspiring journey of resilience and perseverance. Griner's memoir sheds light on the power of hope, the importance of community, and the strength of the human spirit. Griner's story is one of incredible resilience, courage, and the fight for freedom. Two words: read it! We are not even sports fans, but this book is so much more than Griner's account of what happened to her. It touches on the difficult subjects of what it’s like to defy societal norms and be "different” - a humbling and necessary reflection into our own hearts in a times of cancel cultures and us vs them mentality.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This book is a powerful testament to the human spirit and a reminder that we are capable of overcoming even the most difficult challenges.
AUGUST
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
Theme: Slow Down
Cal Newport challenges the cult of busyness and advocates for a more intentional and focused approach to work. He argues that by prioritizing deep work, minimizing distractions, and setting clear boundaries, we can achieve greater productivity and fulfillment. And… we didn’t buy any of it! Honestly, this book was the biggest disappointment of the year for us. Newport offers a few practical tips for managing our time, attention, and energy to achieve our goals - most of it was predictable and unrealistic. We were left yearning for a more relatable voice to guide us through the complexities of mindful productivity.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Informative, but not very practical! We were not impressed and at times, bored reading the examples and stories that seemed “framed” to fit the narratives at times.
SEPTEMBER
Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley
Theme: Reflection
Sloane Crosley offers a candid, humorous, and sometimes cynical exploration of grief, drawing on her own experiences of loss and healing. She challenges conventional notions of grieving and provides a refreshingly honest perspective on navigating the complexities of loss. This is not your predictable self-help read which is exactly the goal of the author. It’s both highly engaging and overly dramatic, but somehow familiar, relatable, and comforting; yet, annoying and facetious at times. While I personally enjoyed this book, I’d be wary of recommending this to others going through grief.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I appreciated the author's ability to find humor in the darkest of times, but this style of writing is not my preferred way to explore difficult matters.
OCTOBER
Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
Theme: Fear Not!
Charles Duhigg explores the science of communication, revealing the secrets of effective communication in various contexts, from personal relationships to professional settings. He examines the role of empathy, active listening, and nonverbal cues in building strong connections and fostering understanding. A great read with fun stories from the author that offers practical advice for improving communication skills, resolving conflict, and building more meaningful relationships. It’s an easy to apply framework that sticks! We’ve been more aware of how to converse with others since we’ve read this book, so the tools here are extremely valuable
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable read that offers invaluable insights and practical strategies for improving communication in all aspects of our lives. Great book to gift within a professional setting.
NOVEMBER
Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Theme: Seasons of Change
Malcolm Gladwell revisits the concept of tipping points, exploring how seemingly small changes can lead to significant shifts in society, culture, and behavior. In true Gladwell-fashion, he examines historical events and contemporary trends to illustrate the power of ideas, collective networks, and individual actions in creating widespread change. The stories inside are simply fascinating, which makes this book hard to put down. Gladwell challenges us to think critically about the forces that shape our world and to consider our own potential to make a difference. While fascinating and thought-provoking, it’s more of an entertainment value than a real solution to the world’s biggest problems.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
A huge Gladwell-fan for life, I enjoyed the author's ability to connect seemingly unrelated ideas, but I wished for a more focused and action-oriented narrative. This book left me with more questions than answers.
DECEMBER
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Theme: Reciprocity
Robin Wall Kimmerer delves into the intricate relationships within the natural world, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living things. Through vivid descriptions and evocative prose, she explores the concepts of abundance and reciprocity, demonstrating how nature thrives through a delicate balance of give and take. We enjoyed the personal anecdotes, encouraging us to observe the natural world with a renewed sense of wonder. This book offers so much hope for a more sustainable world, with radical (only because we’ve strayed too far as a society) ideas around gift economies and interconnected communities
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This book is a beautiful and insightful exploration of the natural world and our place within it, reminding us of the importance of connection and reciprocity. Exactly how I wanted to end our year - with hope and inspiration.
Our Year of Books in Review
As we close the chapter on 2024, I'm overflowing with glee, wonder, and an abundance of perspectives we’ve gathered from the books we’ve read together this year. Through our monthly book discussions, we've shared inspiration, candid stories, laughter, tears, and countless insights. We've challenged our beliefs, expanded our minds, and grown as individuals.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being such an integral part of this journey. Your presence, your unique perspectives, and your willingness to engage in meaningful conversations have made this first year truly remarkable. We are incredibly excited to continue this exploration with you in 2025! Stay tuned for our upcoming 2025 Book List announcement with thought-provoking newest releases each month, curated to spark new conversations and ignite your personal growth.
In the meantime, may your days be filled with the joy of reading, the warmth of connection, and the endless pursuit of knowledge.