In My Mom Era

Ten more books. Twenty down. Twenty to go!

It’s October, which means I’m still celebrating the fact that I’m turning 40 by making a list of 40 books I want to read sooner rather than later.

And apparently, my Goodreads account has been preparing for this moment for YEARS.

While digging through my ridiculously long Want to Read shelf, I came across several books that have been sitting there since around 2020.

SIX YEARS, PEOPLE.

Six years of telling myself, “Oh, that looks good! I’ll read that!”

And then promptly finding another 300 books that also look good. LOL!

If you missed the beginning of this little birthday adventure, you can catch up on the first 10 books in my 40 for 40 series.

And if you’re wondering just how bad my reading-list situation actually is, I already confessed everything in My TBR Is Completely Out of Control.

Spoiler alert: It’s bad. 😂

So, for Part Two, we’re dusting off some longtime residents of my Goodreads list.

Here we go!

Book #11 — Now You See Me by Chris McGeorge

Six students and a dog enter a canal tunnel in England on a boat.

Two and a half hours later, the boat comes out the other side.

Except now there are only TWO passengers.

One unconscious student. And the dog.

WHERE THE HELL DID THE OTHER FIVE PEOPLE GO?!?!

The surviving student, Matthew, has absolutely no memory of what happened. Naturally, the police think he murdered his friends.

Except there’s one tiny problem. THERE ARE NO BODIES.

And apparently, Matthew has information about another man’s missing wife, which he’s willing to share if that man can prove his innocence.

I’m sorry, WHAT?!

How do five people disappear from a boat inside a tunnel without leaving a trace?!

And more importantly, WHAT DOES THE DOG KNOW?! 🤣

I have approximately 47 questions already.

Book #12 — Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey

Small-town Minnesota. The 1980s. Boys disappearing and returning changed.

And a young girl who begins to suspect something terrible is happening in her community.

This one is inspired by real events, which means there’s an excellent chance I’ll finish the book and immediately spend three hours researching the actual cases.

Because apparently I don’t know how to just read a thriller and move on with my life.

Book #13 — Black Horizon by Robert Masello

Okay, imagine discovering that you have the ability to bring dead people BACK TO LIFE.

That’s exactly the situation Jack Logan, a New York City orchestra musician, finds himself in.

And then he revives a man who was hit by a taxi.

In front of a TELEVISION NEWS CREW.

Well, there goes keeping that little talent a secret. LOL!

Suddenly, the media wants answers, scientists want to study him, and apparently the dead aren’t particularly interested in staying where they belong.

Including his own mother.

I’m sorry, WHAT?!

This book was originally published in 1989, and somehow it’s been sitting on my Goodreads list for years without me actually reading it.

Supernatural horror, life after death, and a guy who accidentally becomes the world’s most sought-after miracle worker?

Yeah. I need to read this one. 😂

Book #14 — In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn

A family outing turns into a nightmare when a tragic accident forces everyone involved to make impossible decisions.

This story explores survival, grief, guilt, and the ways one moment can change an entire family forever.

As a mother of five, I already suspect this one is going to hit me right in the heart.

And yet, here I am, voluntarily adding it to my birthday reading challenge.

Apparently, emotional devastation is part of the celebration. LOL!

Book #15 — The Sticking Point Solution by Jay Abraham

Okay, we’re changing gears for a minute.

Because not everything on my reading list involves murder, mythology, or emotional destruction.

Sometimes I like to learn things, too. 😂

This book explores ways to identify the obstacles holding a business back and find opportunities for growth.

And considering I’m building In My Mom Era into something much bigger than a little corner of the internet where I ramble about books and motherhood, this one feels particularly relevant right now.

Who knows? Maybe six-years-ago Kelly was onto something.

Book #16 — The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

We’re going back to Panem!

This prequel to The Hunger Games follows a young Coriolanus Snow, long before he becomes the president we all know.

And apparently, we’re supposed to explore how he became THAT guy.

I’m fascinated by stories that examine how people become who they are, especially when we already know how badly things eventually turn out.

Will I understand him better?

Will I dislike him even more?

Will I end up rereading The Hunger Games afterward?

Probably that last one. LOL!

Book #17 — Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

A young girl searches for answers about her mother’s mysterious disappearance, with the help of a psychic and a private investigator.

And elephants play a significant role in the story.

ELEPHANTS.

Apparently, the book explores memory, grief, love, and the remarkable emotional lives of these animals.

A mystery involving a missing mother, a psychic, and elephants?

Jodi Picoult, you have my attention.

Book #18 — Circe by Madeline Miller

Greek mythology!

Specifically, the story of Circe, the daughter of the sun god Helios, who discovers her own powers and is banished to a remote island.

Gods, goddesses, witchcraft, transformations, and a woman figuring out exactly who she is?

Yes, please.

I’ve always been fascinated by mythology, and I especially love stories that revisit familiar legends from a different perspective.

Plus, let’s face it.

A woman who gets tired of everyone’s nonsense and turns men into pigs?

I’m listening. 😂

Book #19 — A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

And we’re staying in ancient Greece!

This time, we’re looking at the Trojan War through the eyes of the women whose lives were shaped, shattered, and forever changed by it.

Not just the famous warriors.

The women.

The wives, daughters, queens, captives, and goddesses whose stories so often get pushed to the background.

I love historical fiction that gives a voice to people whose experiences weren’t always the focus of traditional storytelling.

And this one sounds like it does exactly that.

Book #20 — The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

World War II. Nazi-occupied Poland. Family secrets. Sacrifice. Love.

Oh, this one has my name written ALL OVER IT.

The story moves between the past and present, connecting a young woman’s experiences during the war with her granddaughter’s search for answers decades later.

If you’ve spent any time around my blog, you already know how deeply interested I am in World War II history, particularly the personal stories of those who lived through it.

I suspect this one is going to break my heart.

And I’ll probably love every minute of it.

Twenty Books Down. Twenty to Go!

So there we have it!

Another ten books added to my official 40 for 40 list.

We’ve got mysteries, thrillers, mythology, historical fiction, business strategy, and enough potential emotional damage to keep a therapist employed for months.

And the funniest part?

These books have been sitting on my Goodreads Want to Read shelf for YEARS.

I haven’t suddenly discovered them.

I’ve just finally decided to give them the attention they deserve.

Will I read all 40 before my birthday?

Absolutely not. LOL!

But that’s not really the point.

The point is to stop putting off the things I want to experience, whether that’s reading a book, visiting a new place, or chasing an opportunity that sounds a little ridiculous.

Because life is short.

And apparently, my Goodreads list is not.

If you’re just joining me, don’t forget to check out Part One: The First 10 Books. And for the full extent of my literary chaos, there’s always My TBR Is Completely Out of Control.

Twenty down. Twenty to go. ❤️📚

— Kelly – I M ME

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