This month the Bad Bitch Book Club celebrated it’s one year anniversary with book exchanges in Boston & New York City. To say that this club has been the most empowering accomplishment of my life would be completely valid. What I thought would be a small group of people I could chat about books with has evolved into a community of 300+ women who love to read. We’ve contributed thousands of book sales for female authors, have had some difficult and important conversations, and read some SERIOUSLY great books. If you’re interested in reading some of our previous selections, here is the official Bad Bitch Book List– starting from April 2018. Per always, if a book sounds interesting to you, please buy directly from my links– as i’ll receive a small commission. Please note many of these descriptions came from Goodreads.
BTW – Here is the official Bad Bitch Book Club Spotify playlist.
APRIL 2018 – All the Lives I Want by Alana Massey
All the Lives I Want by Alana Massey was the very first Bad Bitch selection. It is also only one of two books that the group didn’t vote on. I chose this book because I already planned on reading it, and I only expected ~10 people to join my book club. All the Lives I Want is a collection of essays examining the intersection of the personal with pop culture through the lives of pivotal female figures – from Sylvia Plath to Britney Spears – in the spirit of Chuck Klosterman, with the heart of a true fan. Truth be told, it was my least favorite book we have read so far. But if you’re a pop-culture aficionado, so you might really enjoy it.
Sound like your style? Buy here
MAY 2018 – Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng was the second book we read for the book club. It was the first book the group voted on, and remains one of the favorite books the group has read of all time. It’s just one of those stories you feel confident recommending to anyone. This is the story about family, adoption and secrets in a small “perfect” Ohio town.
Sound like your style? Buy here
JUNE 2018 – Not That Bad by Roxane Gay
You’ll be hard pressed to find a book that will make you feel as strongly as Not That Bad, an essay series edited by Roxane Gay. Coming off the beginning of the #MeToo movement, this collection of essays on rape culture is enough to make anyone’s stomach churn. You’ll cry, a trigger warning is required, and you’ll leave the book feeling angry. But it’s important, it’s well done, and it’ll make you re-think your interactions.
Sound like your style? Buy here
JULY 2018 – All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
All We Ever Wanted is one of those beach reads that leaves you with a little more than you bargained for. After reading Not That Bad, I felt like our group could use a book that was a little more light and fluffy. Though I wouldn’t say a story about explicit photos taken without a minor’s consent accomplished that goal, it was the intent. All We Ever Wanted could easily be digested on a beach, and is the perfect choice for those of you who want something that reads quickly, but doesn’t lack in substance.
Sound like your style? Buy here
AUGUST 2018 – The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Okay Bad Bitches, I have a confession. Although we vote on our monthly books, this is one of two books that I used my presidential authority to override. That Hate U Give actually came in second place, but upon reading reviews about the book that “won” I decided to rig it and change it to this one. Fortunately it paid off, because to this day The Hate U Give is still nearly everyone’s favorite selection. In the words of Demi Lovato– sorry, not sorry! Here’s the story: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. This book was nothing short of exceptional, and I encourage anyone who hasn’t yet read it to do so immediately.
Sound like your style? Buy here
SEPTEMBER 2018 – Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
If you love historical fiction and you want to read something depressing– Before We Were Yours could be the book for you! Based on the real-life story of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, Before We Were Yours is the story of child abuse, kidnapping, family history and secrets. It takes place in both 1939 and modern day; you’ll learn a lot, perhaps more than you hoped you would. This wasn’t one of my personal favorite books we’ve read, but I’m actually in the minority with that, as most of the feedback has been positive.
Sound like your style? Buy here
OCTOBER 2018 – Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
For our October book we wanted to read something spo0o0ky in the spirit of Halloween. We’d also just read a slow AF book (IMO), so I wanted to choose something fast-paced. It’s the story of three best friends, one who went to prison, one who was murdered, and one who has continued searching for the truth all these years. This is an excellent thriller, and you’ll be shocked by the twists!!
Sound like your style? Buy here
NOVEMBER 2018 – Beauty in the Broken Places by Allison Pataki
For the month of November we voted between some of my personal favorite books of 2018. I was really happy everyone chose Beauty in the Broken Places, as I loved the book, but I expected some criticism from the choice. Five months pregnant, on a flight to their “babymoon,” Allison Pataki turned to her husband when he asked if his eye looked strange, and watched him suddenly lose consciousness. After an emergency landing, she discovered that Dave—a healthy thirty-year-old athlete and surgical resident—had suffered a rare and life-threatening stroke. Next thing Allison knew, she was sitting alone in the ER in Fargo, North Dakota, waiting to hear if her husband would survive the night. There is a lot of talk about Jesus/faith/religion in this book, and the author is the daughter of a Republican politician. On a personal level, I do consider myself mildly-religious and I do have a relationship with Jesus. If you’re someone who is uncomfortable with religion, it probably isn’t for you. As for me, I balled my eyes out and thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Sound like your style? Buy here
DECEMBER 2018 – Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
We chose Next Year in Havana as our December BOTM because nobody seemed to have any interest in reading a holiday-themed book. Probably because so many of them are cheesy (not you, One Day in December, you’re amazing!) I actually regret choosing Next Year in Havana as our December book, as that was the month we had the least engagement. I get it, the holiday season takes it out of all of us! Of all the books we read in 2018, this one was by FAR my favorite. I loved everything about this book. The story alternates between the perspective of Elisa in 1958 and her granddaughter in 2017– it’s about a young woman who is forced to flee cuba, and her granddaughter who goes back to learn more about her roots. if you’re into historical fiction and romance, you’ll love this book.
Sound like your style? Buy here
JANUARY 2019 – Becoming by Michelle Obama
I’m in the minority of people who didn’t *LOVE* Becoming + I am so glad to finally get that off my chest. Don’t get me wrong, I love our former first lady and i’d sell my soul to have her back in the White House. But it typically takes me a week on average to finish a book, and this took me over two weeks. That said, I hear it’s amazing on audiobook, and Michelle Obama is even more impressive than I thought she was. I enjoyed her snark and the behind-the-scenes stories of her husband; but I didn’t need to read 200 pages about her childhood. None the less, I feel like Becoming allowed me to see Michelle for the multi-dimensional woman she is; outside of J.Crew dresses and healthy lunch programs.
Sound like your style? Buy here
FEBRUARY 2019 – Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
If you’re starting to think I have an affinity for Roxane Gay, you’d be absolutely right. I’ve loved her since reading Bad Feminist in college. I found it hilarious that our book club voted to read this in February, when I offered up several other books with romantic story lines. Instead they wanted to read about abused women, strippers and infidelity. I love my team. The women in these stories live lives of privilege and of poverty, are in marriages both loving and haunted by past crimes or emotional blackmail. If you love imperfect and often unlikable characters, you’ll love this essay collection.
Sound like your style? Buy here
MARCH 2019 – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
We’ve read some pretty fantastic books over the last year, but in my opinion, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was the absolute best. This book is made for those obsessed with celebrity gossip, but it’s so much deeper than that. Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Evelyn Hugo is the ultimate Bad Bitch, and this book will have you second guessing every Hollywood couple. READ THIS BOOK.
This is your style. Buy here!
APRIL 2019 – This is How it Always is by Laurie Frankel
Per always, i’m not going to give a review on this month’s Bad Bitch BOTM until I’ve released it internally. What I will say, is that This is How it Always is received 5 stars from me on Goodreads, and it’s a story equally as important as The Hate U Give.
Read with us, buy here!
If you’re wondering, my top 3 are: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Next Year in Havana and The Hate U Give! If you’re a member of the book club, comment with your favorite book we’ve read so far!
If you’re not a member yet, send a request to join us 🙂
