My Favorite Things 2017 – Entertainment

Best books of 2017While not officially on the list for 2017, The Radium Girls has been a great read the last few days over the holiday! I am so happy I got into reading again, and use the local library to find a good book. (Soap + candle from Mojo Spa)

Wow…2017 is coming to an end and this week I’m reflecting on some of my favorite things from the last 12 months. Some of which I thought you might be interested in to incorporate into the next year. Today I’ll start with a peek at my favorite books, TV shows and podcasts from the year. Please leave a comment with your favorites – I’d love to check them out come Jan. 1!

Books

  • The Couple Next Door – Wow, what a page turner! Each time I thought I had the “who done it” figured out, there was another twist…right down to the very end. Stop trying to guess and just enjoy the book! (Runner-up thriller: The Woman in Cabin 10)
  • Little Fires Everywhere – Maybe I’m biased as I’m from northeast Ohio, but I enjoyed that this book was set in suburban Cleveland and the kids’ experiences are relate-able to any 90s family. It was an interesting mix of a coming of age story and one that proves no one ever grows up to have all of the answers. I’d recommend this book with one caveat: the characters’ decisions might disappoint you at times. It’ll also force you to come to terms with what you might have done differently (or even the same) in their situations.
  • Crazy Rich Asians (trilogy) – I started this book because it was described as the Asian “Gossip Girl.” While the story wasn’t as salacious (probably a good thing), the characters’ wealth and the way in which it’s described kept me reading, as did the history lessons the author cleverly tucked in every few pages.
  • Down the Rabbit Hole – If you want to know what actually happened in the Playboy Mansion when Hugh was there, this book is juicy. It’s also relatively well-written (for what I might expect) and makes me really like Holly, who I first found charming on the E! reality show.
  • The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress – My friends on my college text chain turned each other on this book.When I started this book I didn’t think I’d like it. It’s set back in the 30s, an era I’m not particularly interested in. However, the characters held my attention as did all of the twists and unexpected connections. It’ll keep you entertained, and would be a great book club book.

TV

  • Broad Church (Seasons 1,2,3) – If you love crime dramas, this is for you. Just get ready to turn on the subtitles. It’s a BBC series that starts when an unexpected death (murder?) rocks a small community. An outsider detective comes in and starts upturning a lot of small town secrets. It doesn’t stop for three seasons, and three mysteries.
  • Younger – I mentioned this show two years ago, and I keep suggesting it to any Sex and the City or Lizzy McGuire fans. (They’re similar, right?) Sure, Hilary Duff stars in this TV Land series about 20-somethings in NYC, but that’s not even the best part. Her 40-something colleague is trying to keep her age a secret from the millennials and while doing that has amazing fashion moments. The fun 30-minute  episodes make it so easy to binge on a lazy weekend!
  • Big Little Lies – I would have happily included any of Liane Moriarty’s books in my best of list, having read them all and liked them. This HBO miniseries really does “Big Little Lies” justice. It’s a cast of fierce females, and amazing fashion. Be prepared to face some heavy issues though, such as domestic abuse and custody battles. But it’s definitely worth it to keep cheering on the women.
  • Floribama Shore – Perhaps the show to surprise me the most this year, the cast of Floribama Shore is just a fun and a lot more lovable that the similar Jersey Shore. They’re less characters of themselves, more just normal 20-somethings (with a pension for fist fights) trying to have fun on the Gulf Coast. Watch this with guys and girls, everyone will like it!

Podcasts

I already shared a list of my favorite podcasts, and have continued to add to it as I’ve listened to others.

Want more?

  • Check out all of the books I read this year by connecting with me on Goodreads.
  • If true crime shows and movies are your thing, then check out the list of top picks from Cosmopolitan.
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    Comments

    Laura || Walking in Memphis in High Heels

    I haven’t heard of any of these books! They all sound like amazing reads, I need to check a few of them out!