New Year, New Books to Read

If you’re like most Americans, you probably set at least one goal for the year of 2024, maybe in the past couple weeks you’ve added to those goals or thought up new ones. The most common resolutions tend to revolve around physical and mental health. These are also the hardest to keep with many people committing to intense diets and workout plans. But did you know something as simple as reading can also help you achieve a healthy lifestyle? Over a long time, reading has many benefits including developing essential skills for maintaining social relationships, communicating effectively, sleeping better, engaging your mind as you age, reducing stress and having a more positive outlook on the world. Whether you’re just looking for books to add to your ever growing to-be-read list or are looking for a place to start, we’ve got you covered.

Here are our Boundless staff’s favorite books from 2023:

A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr by Crystal Smith Paul

Everybody, Always by Bob Goff

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

How Lucky by Will Leitch

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

The Whalebone Theater by Joanna Quinn

The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Too Late by Colleen Hoover

Reading is also a great way to gain new knowledge and perspectives. If you’re interested in learning more about people with disabilities, we recommend checking out these books:

Different... Not Less by Temple Grandin shares fourteen different success stories of people with autism and ADHD. Each story is told in the individual’s words and talks about how they overcame challenges at all stages of their life and found success in employment and relationships.
Recommended by Stephanie Niedermier, Mental Health Therapist

Look me in the Eye by John Elder Robinson is a fictional story about growing up with autism spectrum disorder (formerly known as Asperger's) at a time when the diagnosis did not exist.
Recommended by Suzette Sayre, CIS Director North

Something More by Jackie Khalilieh features a Palestinian-Canadian girl trying to hide her autism diagnosis while navigating her first year of high school.
Recommended by Samantha Hottinger, Behavior Technician

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton is a fantastical historic romance features characters with autism as pirates, assassins, thieves and more. Cecilia must save her aunt from a crazed pirate without falling for his charming henchmen. This first installment of the Dangerous Damsels series is hilariously entertaining.
Recommended by Jodi Bopp, Advancement Vice President

Unmasking Autism by Devon Price explores the narrow understanding our society has of the neurodivergent world and the countless individuals who live hiding their autism, and how to explore and express your true self.
Recommended by Irish Phillips, Peer Mentor

If you need help holding yourself accountable for your reading goal this year, our staff recommended great ways to track your reading progress.

Apps – Goodreads, Storygraph, Hardcover, Audible etc. Reading apps make it easy to keep everything in one place. You can make a list of books you want to read, see how many books you’ve read, set a goal and timeline for your reading year, and get recommendations for new books.

Notebook – There's nothing wrong with using good old pen and paper to track your progress. Using a notebook is also a great way to add in your own personal touch. You can buy specific reading notebooks, or design your own, Pinterest has great inspiration. Go as fancy or simple as you want.

If you don’t want to track it, you don’t have to – Reading shouldn’t just become another to-do list living in your brain. If you find tracking it takes the enjoyment out of reading, then stop. If you don’t like setting a book goal, try setting a page or time goal for the year.