Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved to read. The library is my happy place and I regularly sleep with novels in my bed. Books help me travel without having to go anywhere. They teach me, challenge me, and open my eyes to perspectives that aren’t my own. And they make me better at my job — because the only way to become a better writer is to read.

Beginning in 2012, I’ve set an annual goal to read 50 books. I don’t always hit it, but I tend to get pretty close. It means I’ve read a lot of books in the last 8 years — and I’d love to share them with you.