I really enjoy reading posts by other bloggers about the books they’ve read. Usually, I end up adding a few more books to my ever growing to-read list. I thought it would be fun to share some books I’ve been loving lately along with a roundup at the end of this post!
As I put this post together, I realized all three of the books I’ve read lately are nonfiction. Two of the books are memoirs about pregnancy, and the other is about marriage. I tend to read a lot of memoirs and books about midwifery, pregnancy, and family life. It’s definitely an interest of mine!
Look at You Now: My Journey from Shame to Strength by Liz Pryor
In the late 1970s, Liz Pryor found herself pregnant at 17-years-old. She came from a good family in Chicago, so when her mother dropped her off at a locked government-run facility for delinquent and impoverished pregnant teenage girls three states away, she experienced a culture shock. Liz’s parents wanted to keep her pregnancy a secret, so she was forced to spend six months in involuntary hiding from life as she knew it. Liz developed special bonds with the other girls and began to question what she knew about her life in Chicago.
I absolutely devoured this book. I wanted to know what was going to happen, how Liz would hold up, and what the other girls lives turned out like.
Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage by Gary Thomas
I actually can’t say I finished this book yet because I checked it out from the library and had to return in within a week or so because others were on the waitlist. I requested it again, and I can’t wait to dive back in when it’s available!
In Cherish, Gary Thomas unpacks how marriages can thrive if husbands and wives learn to Cherish each other. He gives a lot of real life stories and practical advice, which I love!
Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story by Sara Connell
Sara Connell struggled through a incredibly painful journey to motherhood. She went through multiple rounds of IVF, lost pregnancies, experienced stillbirth, and so much emotional anguish. In 2011, her mother became her surrogate and gave birth to Sara and her husband Bill’s son, Finnean.
The way that Sara wrote her story was so raw, honest, and real. I especially loved learning about how Sara and her mom formed a beautifully strong bond through their journey together.
Now, onto the roundup!
Other Books on Pregnancy and Motherhood I’ve Read and Enjoyed
Surrogacy
Then Came You: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner
Goodnight, Beautiful by Dorothy Koomson
Teenage Pregnancy
Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far by Bristol Palin
Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan
The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir by Gaby Rodriguez
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
Not my Daughter by Barbara Delinsky
Pregnancy
Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury
Baby Proof: A Novel by Emily Giffin
Something Blue: A Novel by Emily Giffin
Rattled!: A Memoir by Christine Coppa
The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler
Inconceivable: A Woman’s Triumph over Despair and Statistics by Julia Indichova
Parenting
Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott
Adoption
Where We Belong: A Novel by Emily Giffin
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie J. Davis
Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury
Family Life
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
Midwifery
The Reluctant Midwife: A Hope River Novel by Patricia Harman
The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife’s Memoir by Patricia Harman
The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth
Arms Wide Open: A Midwife’s Journey by Patricia Harman
The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife by Patricia Harman
The Midwife by Jolina Petersheim
A Midwife’s Story by Penny Armstrong
Diary of a Midwife: The Power of Positive Childbearing by Julianna van Olphen-Fehr
Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent
Living My Full Life 
You should read Waiting for Birdy. It’s one of my favorites. I also have one that is young adult fiction called The Midwife’s Apprentice. I haven’t read it but it looks good.
Just looked up both books and they sound great! Adding them to my to-read list now 🙂 Thanks for the recommendations!
So just a couple of weeks ago Christopher and I went to a marriage seminar called “Cherish” with Gary Thomas as the speaker. Everyone there received a copy of the book! We haven’t read it yet because right now we’re devouring parenting books right and left, but it’s on our list to read for a few months after the baby arrives (to remind us to think about our marriage). The seminar was really good so I’m guessing the book is too! 🙂
I’m so jealous you went to a marriage seminar with Gary Thomas! That is just so awesome, and I had no idea he was doing one called “Cherish.” I’m totally going to have to look up his speaking schedule, now!!
The Look at You Now book sounds so good- I’m going to put it on my list at the library. You always have really good book recommendations, Allie.
It’s great, Amy! I think you’d like it. I couldn’t put it down, haha.
Thanks for the compliment 🙂 that means a lot!!
Great info Allie want to read that Cherish book!
Thanks, dad!! I highly recommend Cherish! I think you would love it!
How do you feel about gay marriage? Any books about that?
I don’t support it, and I haven’t read any books on it yet!
I was drawn to Look At You Now just by the cover- I’m sadly one that judges books by a cover LOL unless I hear that its phenomenal then if it has a boring cover, I’ll still read it. Im going to add that to my amazon cart 🙂
xo, JJ
Haha, I do love a good book cover, too! I feel like it somehow enhances the book 😉
If you read Look At You Now, let me know how you like it!! It was really good!
Time out, what am I missing on the pregnancy front?! HA.
Hahah, nothing, I promise!!