By Her Shelf

Book 5 is by a New York Times Bestseller author in the YA genre. This book is told partially in the epistolary style with one character writing letters to another and is the follow up to the authors NYT Bestselling debut novel. Think you know which book I'm discussing today? Tune in to find out if you're right. You might find another book to add to your towering TBR pile.

Book 4 is from a person whose career is based on books and reading. They work in a unique environment, and their career saw them behind bars frequently. Think you know which book I'm referring to? Tune in to find out if you're correct. Maybe you'll find another must read book for your TBR pile.

Book 3 of the 12 Books of Christmas series is an award winning middle grade novel centered around a Native American tweenager (who prefers to be called Indian) taking a cross country road trip with her grandparents to visit her mother. On the way, she tells them the story of her friend, her friend's disappearing mother, and the lunatic. Think you know which book I'm talking about today? Tune in to find out for sure. Perhaps you'll have one more book to add to your TBR pile.

Day 2 of the 12 Books of Christmas mini-season features a memoir by a singer-slash-reality tv star turned fashion mogul who posed an age-old philosophical question to a generation of fans. Think you know which book I chose for today? Tune in to find out if you're right or if this is one you'd love to add to your TBR pile.

Day 1 of the 12 Books of Christmas mini-season features a book by a well-known YA author whose work is having a moment right now. This particular book takes place in sixty seconds...and in an elevator. Think you know which book kicks off this year's chronicling of my best reads of 2020? Listen in as I share what made this book a no-brainer for this list.

Welcome back to my favorite series of the year! Today kicks off By Her Shelf's annual 12 Books of Christmas series, where I share 1 book that impacted me this year each day for 12 straight days. This introductory episode will tell you everything you need to know about the 12 Books of Christmas 2020 episodes, including the clues for book number one in the series. Check it out, then hop right into episode 1.

Today's episode is a special solo episode about reading in a time of pandemic, protests, and a push for performative, political posting (and reading!). If all the world is going through has been negatively impacting your reading, this episode will give you the encouragement and permission you need to take back your bookshelf. I hope you enjoy it.

Welcome back to By Her Shelf! After an unintended hiatus (hello wedding planning followed by a global pandemic!), I'm back with a new episode featuring a very special guest. Today's episode is the first where we'll get to know a reader by HIS shelf--my husband, Brian Welch. Brian is an avid audio book listener who recently watched the movie based on one of his favorite recent reads. His reaction is hardly surprising to anyone who reads the book before seeing the movie, but it's fun to hear his reaction.

I have a confession to make: I only gave you 10 books that impacted me this year in my 12 Books of Christmas series because only 10 books stood out to me at the time. I'm happy to report that since I recorded the series, I've read two books that begged to be a part of the series. I sat down to record an episode highlight both of these recent reads, one of which became my favorite read of 2019. If you're still looking for the perfect read to bring in the new year with, maybe one of these books will be perfect for you.

Welcome to Day 12 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I've been sharing the books that impacted me the most this year with you for 11 days straight, but today's episode is a little different. Today, I'm sharing the books listeners and fellow readers said impacted them the most this year. I also share how I did on my reading goals and what you can expect from By Her Shelf in the new year. I hope you enjoy this reading wrap up post, and have a happy holiday season with your family. Until next year, I'm wishing you more people worth following, but more importantly, more books worth reading!

Welcome to Day 11 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I do something a little different from the previous 10 and share the books I still haven't finished, the book I still haven't started, and the books I'm having major FOMO over. I invite you to tell me what I should read (or finish) before the new year and tell you how your most impactful books of 2019 can be featured on the last episode of the series.

Welcome to Day 10 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a book of poetry written by an author you likely haven't read. The poems in this collection met me at a time when I needed them, and I can't wait to tell you about them! This episode is a little different from the previous ones, but in a way I hope you'll enjoy! Here's to making Book 10 famous!

Welcome to Day 9 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a book written by someone who used to run a big Christian women's conference that looks at an aspect of faith we don't always consider. This book met me in a really difficult season and helped to shift my perspective and grow my understanding of faith at a critical point in my life. I hope you enjoy my review of Book 9!

Welcome to Day 8 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a book on one of my favorite pastimes, featuring essays about some of my heroes that are written by some of my other heroes. This anthology features some of the best writers writing today, and the combination of these amazing voices creates a literary gumbo I truly savored. I hope you enjoy my review of Book 8!

Welcome to Day 7 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a book written by a master in their genre writing under a pseudonym about a character who makes a tragic mistake and must deal with the consequences. The hallmarks of this author's books--realistic characters and dialogue--paired with a ticking clock kept me turning the pages. I hope you enjoy my review of Book 7!

Welcome to Day 6 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I can't believe we're halfway through this series! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a book by an author I know through social media and writing groups. This book, published by a publisher who puts out happy endings monthly, is centered around a young girl who's having trouble adjusting, but loves books, and one bookstore in particular. This charming and heartwarming story set in a small town with a big heart will tug on yours. I hope you enjoy my review of Book 6!

Welcome to Day 5 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a book centered around a controversial topic by an author known for choosing current events and hot button issues in their fiction. This book is told from multiple points of view chronologically backwards. The author's attempt at a balanced portrayal of a divisive issue is beautifully written if not perfectly executed, and the unique structure is surprisingly compelling given the story being told. I hope you enjoy my review of Book 5!

Welcome to Day 4 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a memoir about how a chance discovery changed the life of an author who writes both fiction and non-fiction. The author's ability to cultivate intimacy and convey the immediacy of the events in this book, along with the beauty of the writing, makes this book a compelling read. I hope you enjoy my review of Book 4!

Welcome to Day 3 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about the latest book from one of my auto-buy authors that hit me in the feels. I watched this author fight for the words in this book as I followed her on Instagram, and received encouragement from episodes of her podcast. This non-fiction book is a must for anyone wrestling with unfulfilled desires/longings. I hope you enjoy this brief review of Book 3!

Welcome to Day 2 of the 12 Books of Christmas Series on the By Her Shelf Podcast! I'm posting a short episode each day featuring one book that's impacted me this year. In this episode, I share about a book chronicling the meteoric rise and fall of a medical technology darling and her startup company. The author's journalistic perspective and the way he was able to simultaneously encapsulate each person's character AND unravel this complicated timeline makes this non-fiction work read like the last page turning medical thriller. I hope you enjoy my review of Book 2!