#heather cocks

Favorite Books → THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

May BFT Book Photo Challenge

Reading is a lost art. I mean, really, how often do you sit down and “read for fun” these days? Maybe you’ve got too much homework on your plate. Maybe between your job and your kids, there just isn’t enough space for books. 

Maybe you’re blind. 

Either way, reading is dead. People don’t read like they used to, what with iPhones to stare at and laptops to hunch over. The pace of life has picked up so rapidly that we’ve lost interest in something as slow and simple as a book. Today I spit on modernity! Away with your useless technology! Be gone, microchips! Today, I encourage you to find a cozy chair, grab a warm cup of (something), and settle into a good story. And don’t worry. To help, I made this great list of books, just for you! Try them all!

1. If You Want to be “Woke”: The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood

“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”

Full disclosure, I haven’t actually read this, but it’s on my list okay?! It was part of Emma Watson’s book club (you should really check that out btw) and now Alexis Bleidel (heart eyes) is in the HBO series, so it must be good. It was required reading for my rival high school back in the day, except everyone hated it then. But I’m sure that as adults, we’ll all love it now!

2. If You Want to be Pretentious: Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

“BITTER: always a bit unanticipated. Coffee, chocolate, rosemary, citrus rinds, wine. Once, when we were wild, it told us about poison. The mouth still hesitates at each new encounter. We urge it forward, say, Adapt. Now, enjoy it.”

This book was weird, no lie. It’s another girl-runs-off-to-New-York story, but with flavor. And by flavor, I mean you’ll want to go taste obnoxious wines and try the special at Fleming’s. This book made me hungry, basically.

3. If You Like Inspirational Junk: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

“’You only get one life. It’s actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.’”

Tired of Nicolas Sparks? Now you can read a tragic love story that takes place outside of North Carolina! I thought this book was good and all, but we all knew he was going to kick the bucket. Oh… did you not see the movie? My bad…

4. If You Want to be a Feminist: Women Who Run with the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

“I learned about the sacred art of self decoration with the monarch butterflies perched atop my head, lightning bugs as my night jewelry, and emerald-green frogs as bracelets.”

This book takes some focus; the writing is beautiful and ethereal, but pretty complex for someone with a brain the size of a peanut (like mine). Another pick from Emma Waton’s book club, Women Who Run with the Wolves is a guide to getting in touch with your inner Wild Woman. If you’re big on nature and not shaving, give this a try.

5. If You’re Still Kind of Into YA Books: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

“’It is a dangerous thing to unbelieve something only because it frightens you.’”

This book was intense, no lie. It’s a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, but from the perspective of the Red Queen; pre-Red Queendom. She likes to bake and falls in love with a jester. Adorable? You bet, but be warned; heads will roll.

6. If You Really Like the Royal Family: The Royal We by Heather Cocks

“’He has kind of a homicidal face. Or is that just syphilis making him insane? British monarchs do love their syphilis.’ ‘A prerequisite of the job,’ he agreed.”