I’m proud to share that I’ve been on a reading tear lately! I had a slight dip toward the end of the year, but made up for it. I inadvertently realized that 75% of the books in this post are memoirs, and one is health-focused. I’m someone who gravitates toward non-fiction, but I’ve been pretty good about adding fiction into the mix, despite this month’s roundup.

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Blurb: An explosive memoir charting one woman’s career at the heart of one of the most influential companies on the planet, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to Facebook, the decisions that have shaped world events in recent decades, and the people who made them.

My thoughts: I listened to the audiobook and was instantly hooked. I think I finished this book in two days, and a lot of that was on the train to and from Vermont. This book was both eye-opening and unsurprising. As someone who was a user during the early days of Facebook and is a witness to our current social media landscape (nay, hellscape), it’s both sad and unsettling to learn about some of the detailed accounts of how we got here.

We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons

Blurb: A moving portrait of friendship by Elyce Arons as she reflects on her long relationship with Kate Spade, whom she met in college and went on to cofound the multi-billion-dollar fashion company as they came of age in 1990s New York.

My thoughts: I actually read this book over the summer when it came out, but I had to mention it here. The Kate Spade brand has been such a big part of my life, going back to being a young girl with a love for fancy and whimsy. I’ve collected so many Kate Spade pieces over the years, and have loved the brand Katy and Elyce created (and later sold).

This book was a treasure trove of new information about their early days in college and starting the Kate Spade brand. I’m a sucker for learning about people’s origin stories, both personally and professionally, so this checked all the boxes for me. I also feel a kinship with these ladies, who also hail from the Midwest but made the move to New York City. There’s just something about those Midwestern roots!

The French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson at a Time by Jane Bertch

Blurb: The inspiring and delicious memoir of an American woman who had the gall to open a cooking school in Paris–a true story of triumphing over French naysayers and falling in love with a city along the way.

My thoughts: This was a fun, breezy audiobook listen! I’m a sucker for “an American abroad”-esque stories, and bonus points for it taking place in a dreamy place like Paris. The author is another fellow Midwesterner (more bonus points), and I loved the trials and tribulations of opening a successful cooking school. I love food and stories about food, so this book really checked all the boxes of blending things I enjoy.

Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspé

Blurb: Improve all areas of your health—your sleep, cravings, mood, energy, skin, weight—and even slow down aging with easy, science-based hacks to manage your blood sugar while still eating the foods you love.

My thoughts: Without going into too much detail here (which I could easily do), I’ve struggled with health issues for nearly five years now. I realized in the past year that I think many of my issues could be insulin-related. I’ve been utterly failed by most doctors, so I’ve spent much of those five years doing my own research. I had heard so much about this book and decided it could be helpful. I’m not perfect about following all the strategies, but I do think it has generally helped me understand food and timing better.

One of the main takeaways of this book is the importance of starting your meals with fiber, then protein, and finishing with carbs. The strategies are easy to implement, which is good. Easy means I’m more likely to follow through! Even if you’re not struggling with blood sugar issues, this book offers valuable insights into mindful eating practices that everyone can benefit from.

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Want more book inspiration? Here’s what I read last month!