My 3 Favorite Recent Book Releases

Picking out the next book I read is one of my favorite decisions. The possibilities are endless, and the options nearly unlimited. Having so many choices can be an amazing luxury, but it can also make finding the right book difficult amid an endless supply.

If you are having trouble finding the right book to read, I have put together a list of my favorite three new books.

Here are 3 of my favorite recent book releases: 

1. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed 

I cannot tell enough people how much I love this book. You may be familiar with Cheryl Strayed from the recent movie Wild starring Reese Witherspoon as a younger Strayed hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail. Her autobiographical account of the journey was transformed into the film.

This book is a collection of advice columns from the anonymous Dear Sugar column that Strayed wrote for several years. The writing is absolutely beautiful, and Strayed's poignant, funny, scathing, and ultimately touching advice made me cry on several occasions. 

The topics range from family, love, career, and all other aspects of life. Strayed touches everything with grace and a touch of wit.

A little taste of her writing style; 

"But the reality is we often become our kindest, most ethical selves only by seeing what it feels like to be a selfish jackass first."

2. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

This nonfiction historical recounting of the sinking of the Whaleship Essex through a whale attack and the subsequent journey and survival attempt of the twenty-one crew members that were onboard. This was the real-life inspiration for Herman Melville's Moby Dick.

The story was gripping. I read this book in under twenty-four hours. The journey, and the deep dive that Philbrick takes into the history of the whaling industry had me hooked. 

Ron Howard is turning the book into a movie starring Chris Hemsworth.

Watch the trailer here:

3. Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler's memoir chronicles her life coming up in the Second City improv group through her present life as a single mom. Her and Tina Fey are two of the funniest and smartest women writing and working in popular culture, and it shows in this book.

Her writing ranges from personal writing on her love life, to how she balances her personal life with her work life. 

The book itself is intercut with glossy images that add to the points Poehler makes in her short, essay style of writing. The points made are often funny, helpful, and most often, some combination of the two.

A little taste of her writing style;

"I think we should stop asking people in their twenties what they 'want to do' and start asking them what they don't want to do." 

What were your favorite recent releases? Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments!