I am hopeful that this app will find its way to survive all the grant /programs cuts. It’s a great app! It has definitely changed my mom’s busy life.
This year has been full of stories already, real and fiction. Here is the list of books that I listened so far with a snipped of my thoughts in each of them.
1. Romney, a reckoning -McKay Coppins
I have recommended this book multiple times already! Seriously so well written, it describes the good and the not so good of Mitt Romney. The trajectory of his life, his desire to make an impact in people’s lives, and the failure to connect with the masses. His overall life story is so inspiring and my opinion will probably be biased since I strive to live the same principles he embodies.
2. Supercommunicators – Charles Duhigg
This is such a great book! Especially when I always feel that language variation can be a roadblock in my own upbringing. It felt good to know that communication is more than the words and more about the real intent to listen and be vulnerable with those you can be vulnerable with. This book give real and tangibles things we can do to improve our communications. If you do not want to read the whole book, the most important and meaningful story for me was a case study that is displayed towards the end of the book. A research study that follows the lives of two individuals throughout their lives, such great details in how they conducted themselves, and especially what was the main difference in living fulfilling lives.
3. The Women -Kristin Hannah
Ok, this book made me cry so many times through out. If you have lived, or have family members that have lived through wars, this can be very very raw and sad book. This books describes how a nurse enlisted to the Army to serve in the Vietnam War. I loved how the book portrays the role of women in war and how little we know about it. It is a novel, so the romantic life of the nurse can also be a hook. The traumas and the healing, all very relatable. It is a heavy book, but It’s a book that I could not stop listening! My dad and his sibling were part of the civil war in El Salvador, and I was born in the middle of it. Suffering and wars are not just acquaintance for our family, healing still happening.
4. Christmas with the Queen
This book is a novel, a good and sort of happy one. The book describes the lives of this journalist and a chef, they somehow reconnect because of Royal Christmas holidays preparations. They had met before that’s why I am saying they reconnect. It’s a fun pace and short chapters that could leave you asking for more. I loved this book because I could picture the places they talked about when I visited London for work -my past single life was not entirely boring.
5. Foster – Claire Keegan
Sweet and sad, all at the same time. Is about this girl the goes and spend time with family members over the summer because her parents can’t take care of her. Very relatable story, many kids live this and they learn to love those that show them love —even if is in a short period of time.
6. The Second Mountain- David Brooks
I loved this one. It talks about the quest of seeing more than one’s individual success in life. It’s about a life full of service, people and abundant relationships. The chapter about marriage is great and want to read it again!
7. I just wish I had a bigger kitchen- Kate Strickler
It has been such a great reminder to be grateful at all times and specifically for the people around us. Living a life feeling lacking or wishing can steal the real meaning of life and can preclude us from seeing the blessings we already have. Such an easy, heartwarming book!
8. Let them be kids- Jessica Smart
Ok, I read this one twice! It has such great insights for any parent, or anyone really that help shape kids lives. I might read it again. One thing I want to say is do not skip the last chapter, even if you are not religious. Spirituality is a great part of who we are and for kids is such a great way to learn a life full of meaning.
9. Foggy Christmas- Kortney Keisel
This was fun and cheesy. It was like watching a clean novela. I loved that all the descriptions included a lot of Christmas in it.
10. Anxious Generation – Jonathan Haidt
I might read this one again. It just make think twice about the use of phone in general. Even when we are adults, we still pay the price of using “free” social media and other apps. Phones can really take our time if we don’t put boundaries around them. Great insights on how to approach youth and phones, social media and internet in general. The consequences of letting young kids use it and more!
That is it for 2025. I started other books that I did not finish because they didn’t spark something in me.
Other readings during the year include lots of kids books, scriptures, news, and of course social media.
Happy reading 📚🤎
