Returning to a Joy Habit: 5 Fiction Favorites

Bad habits steal our time, peace, and progress. Good habits create joy, memories and momentum. A joy habit I returned to last year was reading more. My only goal was to read more purposefully. It brings me joy, yet I wasn’t making it a habit. So, I did and last year read twenty-three books! But it wasn’t about the number; it was about the process.

Not only did I create a joy habit by doing something I love, but each book engaged my mind differently. Many books I listened to while driving, cleaning, or folding the laundry. Yes, multitasking is not good for our brains, but listening to an interesting book made those monotonous tasks fly by while being  entertained, inspired and/or informed.

I want to share some of my favorites, but it was hard to narrow the list. So I’ll share my fiction faves this week and the non-fiction next week! I’ve included  reasons why I loved them and you may too. (Disclosure: If you purchase from links provided I may receive an affiliate commission. I only promote products I personally use or recommend without hesitation. Thanks for your support.)

As I’ll explain more next week, fiction is my go-to genre to listen to. It entertains in the middle of the mundane! Here were my fiction favorites from last year:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Many classics I had never read, so I wanted to include a few and began with this one. As expected, it didn’t disappoint. If you haven’t read it, please do. It should be on everyone’s lifetime book list.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah This epic best seller made me fall in love with historical fiction. The journey of two sisters through WWII kept me intrigued, inspired, and left me wanting more. This will be an all time favorite of mine for a long time!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Another classic for the list and what a great pick! I enjoyed reading of Jane’s determination and admired her staying true to herself and her values. Stands the test of time and worth reading.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein An intriguing listen that had me guessing until the end. Another example of brave heroines but what I enjoyed most was the suspense and surprise. My mind tries to predict the story and this one I could not, which made me love it more!

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving  I saved this for my vacation over the holidays and it was well worth it! Loved the quirky story but even better was my inability to predict the ending! Truly a book I’ll remember.

Please share your favorite fiction reads and stay tuned next week as I share my nonfiction picks!