Better Homes And Gardens Books To Read

It's not unusual to overhear a conversation about books coming from our break room as coffee is replenished and meals are prepped. Reading is one of our staff's favorite ways to unwind and explore other time periods, locations, and lives. If, like us, you're always on the hunt for your next page-turner, try one of these editor-recommended books to round out your reading list.

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Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste

Best for: Anyone who likes to crack open a bottle every so often

"Why do some people spend $1,000 on a bottle of vino? What makes wine taste the way that it does? What makes a Master Sommelier certification so coveted (only about 250 people hold this rank)? This memoir answers all that and more and will please casual sippers and those with well-honed palates alike." — Karla Walsh, Associate Digital Food Editor, BHG.com

Match Me if You Can book

First Star I See Tonight book

Left: Photos courtesy of Amazon

Right: Photos courtesy of Amazon

Match Me If You Can and First Star I See Tonight

Best for: Rom-Com lovers

"I read A LOT of romance novels (more than I'd like to admit), and these two stand out thanks to their well-developed characters, witty dialogue, athletic heroes, and just-trying-to-hold-life-together heroines. Set in Chicago, these two books are my favorites among all Susan Elizabeth Phillips' contemporary romances. She strikes just the right balance between zany and real, angsty and optimistic, and sexy but not trashy." — Karman Hotchkiss, Deputy Director Special Interest Media, BHG

Circe book

Circe

Best for: People who like classic literature, Greek myths, and a feminist slant

"The author uses such evocative language (I even had to look up a few words, which almost never happens) in her tale about the Greek nymph Circe, usually only discussed in relation to turning Odysseus' men into pigs. It is a story of an outcast discovering and developing her powers, a goddess finding her humanity." — Maria Duryee, Copy Chief, BH&G

Chasing slow book

Chasing Slow

Best for: Working moms

"I move at a million miles a minute and I love how Erin Loechner encourages us to ask why we're doing what we're doing. Do I NEED all the things? Is my life going to be better because I'm doing that/buying that? It's nice to take a minute and slow down to reflect." — Rachel Haugo, Deputy Editor, BHG.com

You're on an airplane book

You're on an Airplane: A Self-Mythologizing Memoir

Best for: People who think Parker Posey is the best thing in every movie she's in

"Imagine being seated next to Indie Movie Queen Parker Posey on a cross-country flight and she's in the mood to talk about her many movies, New York City, her dog, turbans, remodeling, her twisted family tree, Liev Schreiber's unique sex appeal, and dozens of other topics. If this sounds like luckiest day of your life, prepare to be delighted by 300 pages of insights, digressions, and Southern recipes." — Brian Kramer, Senior Editor, Do It Yourself Magazine

Shantaram book

Shantaram: A Novel

Best for: Anyone who liked Breaking Bad and Slumdog Millionaire

"This book didn't seem like something that would appeal to me—a 900+ page tale of an escaped convict who flees Australia to disappear in the slums of India, falls in with drugs, thieves, murderers, and more. But in the same way that Breaking Bad captured an unlikely audience, so too does Shantaram. It's an epic tale full of twists and turns and I could not put it down." — Monika Eyers, East Coast Editor, BH&G

Only Child book

Only Child: A Novel

Best for: Parents with school-age children

"The book follows a young boy who loses his brother in a school shooting. I listened to it on audiobook, which made it all that better, because it was told from the boy's point of view. I cried five (maybe six) times." — Nicole Bradley, Assistant Digital Garden Editor, BHG.com

Educated: a memoir book

Educated: A Memoir

Best for: Fans of gut-wrenching memoirs

"Educated: A Memoir is a coming-of-age story that's equal parts harrowing and inspiring. Tara Westover, born to fundamentalist survivalists in rural Idaho, had never stepped foot in a classroom until she was accepted to BYU. Despite the traumatic, sometimes graphic details, it's an incredible story of human resilience." — Carrie Boyd, Senior Associate Food Editor, BH&G

Homegoing book

Homegoing

Best for: Your next book club

"This is a family saga spanning three centuries and two continents. It is a beautifully written and heart-wrenching story about slavery, survival, love, and redemption and about how circumstances and choices—often beyond our control—have the power to shape our lives." — Samantha Hart, Executive Editor, SIM Home Design

Theft by finding book

Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002

Best for: Bibliophiles with a dark sense of humor

"I'm a big fan of David Sedaris in general so had to pick up this book that documents his daily life over 25 years. Most entries are fairly short and don't follow a narrative arc, so you can put it down at any time, making it good to read during transit, before bed, or when you have a few free minutes. You'll learn a lot about the beloved author with many laughs along the way." — Caitlin Sole, Senior Associate Home Editor, BHG.com

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Tin Man

Best for: Offbeat British romantics

"What's exactly is the deal with Ellis and Michael, former best friends and perhaps more? This slim novel gradually, beautifully unravels the mystery of their relationship through flashbacks, diary entries, and dreamy memories of the English countryside in the 1990s." — Brian Kramer, Senior Editor, Do It Yourself Magazine

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Jane Eyre's Husband – The Life of Edward Rochester

Best for: Fans of BBC period dramas (especially "Jane Eyre"), Outlander fans

"The first time I read Jane Eyre I thought Mr. Rochester was old and creepy. The BBC's mini series starring super-hot Toby Stephens in that role changed my mind completely. This book delivers a wonderfully crafted backstory for Mr. Rochester and continues his life through the meeting, loss, and reunion with Jane. Richly written, imaginatively conceived, honest to the Jane Eyre storyline but with so many more details. Swoon." — Karman Hotchkiss, Deputy Director Special Interest Media, BH&G

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Press Here

Best for: Parents with small children

"Press Here is a fun interactive book perfect for my energetic toddler. There aren't a ton of words, and it's literally just a bunch of dots, but as the story progresses, you're pushing dots, blowing, shaking, tipping the book. It's fun to interact with my 3-year-old (as well as be silly while I read)." — Rachel Haugo, Deputy Editor, BHG.com