The whole30 : the 30-day guide to total health and food freedom by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig

Melissa and Dallas Hartwig's critically-acclaimed Whole30 program has helped hundreds of thousands of people transform how they think about their food, bodies, and lives. The Whole30 features more than 100 chef-developed recipes, like Chimichurri Beef Kabobs and Halibut with Citrus Ginger Glaze, designed to build your confidence in the kitchen and inspire your taste buds. The book also includes real-life success stories, community resources, and an extensive FAQ to give you the support you need on your journey to "food freedom

How to Instant Pot : mastering all the functions of the one pot that will change the way you cook by Daniel Shumski

Shumski provides both a guide to understanding the Instant Pot basics, and a foodie's creative collection of recipes specially crafted to take advantage of the Instant Pot's many virtues. From cooking perfect risotto in six minutes, to five kinds of yogurt, to creating one-hour killer chili and soups from scratch using dried beans, you'll find incredible hands-off meals plus plenty of sides, breakfasts, and desserts.

Why Buddhism is true : the science and philosophy of meditation and enlightenment by Robert Wright.

This book is the culmination of a personal journey that began with Wright's book on evolutionary psychology, The Moral Animal, and deepened as he immersed himself in meditative practice and conversed with some of the world's most skilled mediators. It shows how, in a time of technological distraction and social division, we can save ourselves from ourselves, both as individuals and as a species.

Captain Underpants and the sensational saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot : the twelfth epic novel by Dav Pilkey

George and Harold and their doubles, Yesterday George and Yesterday Harold, have been taking turns going to school, but when the doubles fall prey to their gym teacher, Mr. Meaner, and his method of mind control that turns students into attentive, obedient, perfect children, it is up to original George and Harold to strike back.

Should I share my ice cream? by Mo Willems

Gerald the elephant has a big decision to make, but will he make it in time?

A Widow for One Year by John Irving

This is John Irving at his best as he chronicles the life of writer Ruth Cole. Tragedy strikes the Cole family before Ruth’s birth and this leaves her mother and father broken and shattered. As Irving often does in his novels we follow the main character throughout most of her life. There is a particularly riveting scene that has been stuck in my head since first reading this gem.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Tart’s first novel follows a group of highly intelligent and eccentric college students as they plunge into a world of drinking, drugs, and darkness. An accidental murder is at the heart of this book which is part literary fiction and part psychological thriller. The prose is absolutely wonderful and you’ll want to savor every word.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Ignatius J. Reilly is a bumbling 30 year old who still lives at home with his mom. He is scribing his life story on giant writing pads that he keeps hidden under his bed. A car accident by his drunk mother sends him looking for a job, and then he finds himself in some pretty ridiculous situations. In real life Ignatius would drive me crazy, but as a literary character he is hilariously memorable, so much so that I named by dog after him.

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman is a trilogy of books that follows Lyra Belacqua as she navigates a world with many similarities but also some differences from our own. In Lyra’s world every person has a daemon, an animal that is a representation of a person’s inner being. This special connection is at risk as children are being taken and experimented on. Pullman is a master world builder and he is in the process of expanding on the original books with a second related trilogy called The Book of Dust.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

This time-traveling sci-fi book travels from 2057 to Victorian England to World War II and medieval Britain. With wit, adventure, and a fair amount of romance, Connie Willis has created a perfect sci-fi Victorian comedy of manners, of all the things.

Bomb: the Race to Build-and Steal-the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

A non-fiction book for elementary schoolers, this book combines science, espionage, and international politics to tell the story behind the atomic bomb.

Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson

This young adult book is a fascinating look at the importance of the arts, the resiliency of the Russian people, the lengths humans will go to in order to survive, the unfathomable corruption of the Russian government, and the role the arts play in government propaganda.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

A love letter to roller derby and a spot-on look at how complicated middle school friends can be, all perfectly portrayed in graphic novel format.

True Letters from a Fictional Life by Kenneth Logan

Another read with humor while tackling serious issues. James seems to have it all going for him; popular, all-star athlete, funny, sort of boyfriend to Theresa. But when James is at his desk he writes letters telling the truth, never intending to send them. When the letters get sent James is forced to confront his truths.

The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

A modern version of the novel Speak this story is told in four parts, freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, and senior year, the reader move's through Eden's high school experience after her sexual assault seeing how one incident can completely change a person.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

This heartwarming story will appeal to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or struggled in school. Ally has learned to adapt, and thinks she has everyone fooled until a new teacher arrives. He can see that she's struggling, and helps her learn to understand her dyslexia.

Schizo by Nic Sheff

This is a quick read even though it covers the heavy issue of mental illness. Miles is an unreliable narrator but takes the reader on a trip of what it is like to live with schizophrenia.

Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante

It is the story of a 50 years old friendship between two girls that grew up together in the same poor neighborhood in Naples after WWII , one bookish and intelligent –Elena, and the other rebellious and street smart- Lila. They ended up in different places as adults, yet stay very close at heart all through their life. Through the four novels we follow them, and their friends and families, and watch how their dreams grow and dash when reality confronted them and took them in different directions. I thought it was a treasure.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The book takes place in Nigeria, the US and the UK. The protagonist takes on race, immigration, emigration, interracial relationship, feminism, what it means to leave home and then go back, all wrapped up in a complicated love story. The people described are real and flawed and her honesty is striking and vibrant, all together a great experience.

The Lake House by Kate Morton

Two different story lines decades apart, taking place in Cornwall, UK. The book is very descriptive and atmospheric. It has suspense, family tragedy, secrets and at the end they all connect and make sense. Overall an enjoyable experience.

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

The book is a psychological, atmospheric drama that later becomes a melodramatic crime story taking place in the 1920s in London. Very detailed, great sense of the period and strong characters . I enjoyed it a lot.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor is a master of world building and the myths that go with it. In this fantasy, the reader is transported to the lost city of Weep where blue-skinned gods control the city from their citadel floating above. It is a fast, fascinating read and the perfect beginning to a new series.

Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys

It is at the end of WWII, the Germans are losing and the Russians are advancing westward. Thousands of refugees are fleeing and seeking escape on the German ship Wilhelm Gustloff. The story is told from the point of view of four refugees of four differing homelands who must unite for survival on the journey to the coast. This is the tragic story of history’s most tragic (and little known) ship sinking in which 9,400 civilians died in the Baltic Sea. A gripping tale that you will not be able to put down!

Listen to the Moon by Michael Morpurgo

I love historical fiction and this rich, multi-layered story does not disappoint! This book offers the historical setting of WWI and the sinking of the Lusitania but also mystery, friendship, community, and survival.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

This is the story of the author’s childhood told in verse. Woodson tells of her experiences as an African American child growing up in the dual worlds of the Jim Crow South and New York City in the 60’s and 70’s. Brown Girl Dreaming is a beautifully written journey of identity as well as an inspiring life for children and adults.

Fantasy Sports by Sam Bosma

As members of the Order of Mages, Wiz and Mug must travel to ancient castles and dungeons in search of treasure to fill the Order’s coffers. In the first volume, the duo square off against an ancient mummy in a high-stakes game of basketball, and in the second volume they face a duo of water spirits in an intense game of volleyball. Drawn in bold lines with a muted yet rich color palette, Fantasy Sports is a series that will appeal to both sports fans and fantasy aficionados.

Feed by M.T. Anderson

Imagine having a Twitter or Facebook feed plugged directly into your brain or that your dreams are replaced with targeted ads. That’s the future imagined by M.T. Anderson in this book, which is in many ways eerily similar to our present. While on a spring break trip to the moon with his friends, Titus meets an eccentric girl, Violet. Their trip is cut short when their feeds are disrupted by a hacker and they are all hospitalized. What follows is a dystopian tale that stands alongside great classics like 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Based on an original idea by the late Siobhan Dowd, Patrick Ness has written a dark, eerie, and heartbreaking tale of loss, with just a little hint of magic. Conor, troubled by nightmares ever since his mother started treatments for cancer, is visited in the night by an ancient monster. The monster demands that Conor must tell him the “truth” after he has told him three stories or be consumed by his nightmares. A heartbreaking story accompanied by wonderfully eerie illustrations by Jim Kay.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching is wry, clever, uncertain, resourceful, a staunch sceptic, yet sometimes uncertain of herself, and she wants to be a witch. She already has the most important of witch abilities: second thoughts. When Tiffany’s brother is taken by the Queen of the Elves, Tiffany sets out (armed with nothing but a frying pan) to get her little brother back. She might think he is annoying and somehow always sticky, but he is her brother after all. Few books leave me laughing out loud but this book provides guffaws at every page turn. Pratchett’s trademark wit and humor is out in full force, and if it leaves you wanting more it is an excellent entry point into his long-running Discworld series.

World War Z by Max Brooks

Stories about zombies often focus on small groups of survivors struggling to cope with the threat of zombies as well as each other. In World War Z, the scope is much greater. The book explores how different countries, governments, and organizations deal with the threat of the zombie apocalypse. The scope is both international and personal, as the story is told through interviews with survivors of the Great Zombie War. Each of these personal stories gradually unpack how the world reacted to the zombie threat.

Hunger by Roxane Gay

Right from the beginning, Roxane Gay lets us know that this is not a weight-loss success story, but a memoir so deeply personal that it was extremely difficult for her to write. Parts of it are also incredibly difficult to read. Every woman that breathes has issues with her body, food, and her weight, no matter what her size. Gay holds nothing back as she tells of the sexual assault that changed her forever when she was 12 years old. She concealed the trauma from her family and dealt with it the only way she knew how, by eating until her body was no longer desirable to men, but a fortress in which she could hide and protect herself from the world. She candidly explains how it feels to be at once so large and so invisible, as she moves through a world that is less than kind when it comes to judging women’s bodies.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Elena Richardson lives a well-planned life in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She has a successful husband, a respected career, a large house, and four beautiful children. She believes that she is so blessed because she has always followed the rules. When Mia and her daughter Pearl come to town, her beliefs are shaken a little. Mia is a single mom, an artist who gets by on part-time minimum wage jobs. Mia rents a house from Elena and eventually becomes the Richardson’s housekeeper and cook. Pearl becomes involved with the Richardson kids on various levels. When friends of the Richardsons try to adopt a Chinese-American baby, there is a custody battle with the baby’s birth mother that divides the town. This is a beautifully written novel that explores the meaning of motherhood, privilege, and the things that make up a contented and safe existence.

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a retelling of Pride and Prejudice must be cleverly written and wickedly funny. Curtis Sittenfeld has accomplished that with her fantastic new novel. The Bennet sisters have been transported to modern day Cincinnati. Jane is a yoga instructor, Liz, a writer for a women’s magazine, Lydia and Kitty do nothing but work out, and Mary spends most of her time in her room. The two older sisters live in New York, but have come home to check on Mr. Bennet, who is recovering from a heart attack. The storyline is one that will be familiar to most Austen readers, but with some extremely funny twists. I thoroughly enjoyed Eligible from start to finish.

Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson

Pete Snow is a social worker in Montana in 1980. He spends his days looking out for troubled kids, until the day that his own daughter goes missing. This is an exquisitely written first novel, and I look forward to reading more from Smith Henderson.