Y’all. Memorial Day weekend is THIS WEEKEND, and I am SO excited! Nothing says summer to me like a weekend at the beach, a good book, Bud Lite Lime and a rocket pop. No, I’m not kidding. Those things are delicious. I have recently read books that have been absolutely AMAZING. Every single one of these books are a 5/5 stars in my book, and so so sooooo good. I flew through them and cannot recommend them enough. You will notice very quickly that I have a preference for nonfiction books, which may or may not be your cup of tea for beach reads, but I always like to be learning things. Even if trashy fiction is your MO, I would challenge you to pick at least one of these up this summer to enrich your life… Because, trust me, they will. I’ll do a separate post with my fiction favorites, but for now, enjoy these nonfiction reads!
Girl, Wash Your Face
: I’m starting off with my absolute favorite on this list. Ladies, this book rocked my world. Rachel Hollis (#girlcrush) is so beyond raw and honest in this book, and contains valuable information that anyone can benefit from. It’s funny at times, sad at others, and a must-read for any woman who is struggling with her state of life. Hollis goes through lies we tell ourselves and gives personal testimony to how she’s working to overcome these lies.. Read it NOW. 
One Beautiful Dream
: Jennifer Fulwiler is amazing, and that means a lot coming from me because I abhor the whole “catholic groupie” thing. This book addresses so many things, but what sticks out to me most is her honesty about motherhood, financial issues, and, ultimately, the fact that God has a plan for her life, even when she is inclined to ignore that fact. Fulwiler is hilarious, honest, and SO normal sounding. There are so many weirdos in the Catholic/Christian blogosphere, so it’s so refreshing to read words from someone who clearly has social skills.
The Confidence Code
: This book is a little more “heady” than the other nonfiction books on this list, but it soooo worth the read. The Confidence Code authors research what causes confidence in men, and how women need to start showing a little more gumption in the work place. I definitely learned many good tidbits in this book, have already started to apply them, and am already seeing a difference. This is a must-read for any professional woman. 
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
: If you loved Hillbilly Elegy, you’ll like The Glass Castle. The theme of this book is about how family disfunction tends to run very deep. Like Hillbilly Elegy, The Glass Castle is also a memoir of a person raised in poverty, who gets an Ivy League education and rises above her past, but also learns to appreciate it.
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
: So, if you’ve been with me for more than five minutes in the past few months, odds are high that I’ve recently gained an affinity for learning about religious cults. I binge-watched Wild Wild Country on Netflix, and am not the least bit ashamed to admit that. I just find it so interesting how provoking people can get people to blindly follow them. Anyway, Troublemaker was written by Lisa Remini about her experience with Scientology. So interesting!!
Flat Broke with Two Goats: A Memoir
: Family living above their means gets a very rude awaking from the IRS some time around 2008.. We all know some version of this story personally, but to hear this woman’s story firsthand is riveting. Despite all the hardships, she and her husband go from living a posh, lavish life to homesteading in a cabin in the woods. Another memoir. 
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II
: Did you know that brilliant Seven Sisters School girls were poached from their senior years to work for the government during World War II? Sorry, that was a very wordy sentence. This book was so interesting!! These girls worked to decode enemy correspondence during the war, and have amazing stories.
Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff
: Whatta guy. Who doesn’t want to have a beer with Chip and Jo, grill them about their lives, and laugh the entire time? Chip is, as always, so endearing with his stories about forming Magnolia, his love for his beautiful wife, and his voracious appetite for making meaningful and lasting changes in the world. 
