Book-Desserts are based on the idea that when we take something away (nighttime eating) it becomes vital that we give ourselves something rich and meaningful in return. Remember our overall plan: we’re shifting from a food-centered life to our healthier chapter.
As I well know, food can be comforting. But losing weight for a lifetime is about losing and maintaining (preserving) very differently than we did in the last century.
Here’s how book-desserts work: in concert with living on the Royal Eating Plan (breakfast as king, lunch as a princess and dinner like a pauper), I encourage you to use super incredible books as a tool to help wean you off using food in a way that feels out of control.
For example, let’s say I’ve eaten my pauper’s dinner at six o’clock in the evening. I clean the kitchen and at eight o’clock head upstairs to brush my teeth, take a shower and jump into jams. This is our new habit that triggers our brain about what comes next: a phenomenal read! See, the whole idea is to replace the two bowls of ice cream with Pachinko, Does this Beach Make Me Look Fat? and A Woman of No Importance the Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II.
Little Bites is what I call books that I really loved that don’t make it Book-dessert status, but are extremely readable. So Melinda Gates memoir appears on the Little Bites list; a short, very vulnerable retelling of her life events.
I really believe of the power of a book. The books on this list either inspire or are funny (I don’t gravitate to downer books).
All of these gems are listed by alphabetical order — not by favorites. I love, love, love them all.
Fiction.
I’m a library gal through and through, but every so often I find a book that has to remain with me so I pay it’s adoption fee and home we go.
***Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear.
You might want to sit down for this one. A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne is the same brilliant writer who brought us The Hearts Invisible Furies (also highly recommend). If the plot doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, give it a go anyway. Both books are so exceptional. ♥
I’m a Bill Bryson fan. A few years back I stayed up way too many nights reading A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson. I was one-more-paging-it into the wee hours.
In this non-fiction, the author and a friend walk the Appalachian Trail. With a buddy Bryson walks the Appalachian Trail (starts in GA and finishes up in ME). Bryson details where he slept, how he ate and so forth, but he also sprinkles in absorbing stories about the trail’s history and the wildlife that live near the trail like black bears, bobcats, coyotes, even moose up north that call the trail home. Highly recommended, five-stars.
I was immediately drawn into An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel by Tayari Jones. About the book Barack Obama called it “a moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.” Not what I was expecting from the title, but at the first page I was engrossed. The book’s vibe reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird (if you’ve never read, I highly recommend). I wouldn’t call either book “a beach read,” but both would be great on a flight. ♥
I know I’m probably one of the last on the planet to read this marvel of a story but I finally got to The Book Thief by Markus Zusa. So. Good.
The Beauty of Dusk by Frank Bruni starts a tad slow. But thankfully, I did not put the book down. In his early 50s, Bruni had the life: a phenomenal job (New York Times columnist and bestselling book author), friends, family, a partner. But one morning he woke up with a blurriness in his eye that turned out couldn’t be fixed. Even worse, there’s a chance his other eye could go down the same path, rendering him blind. Bruni shares deeply personal stories about his life, his health and how he manages his world with a (mostly) invisible disability. Review: worth your time to read or listen on audio.
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger. I’ll admit that I never read stories about concentration camps (too horrific), but this book is a five-star, don’t-miss wonder. The author — 94 as I write — shares stories about “boob” contests, her mother’s love of Gone with the Wind; and even an astounding escape from the communists in her country (a few years after WW II ended). Another excellent read by this phenomenal woman, The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Own Life.
Do I have a great book-dessert for you. It’s one of those books you might have been assigned in high school and avoided reading or read some and then stopped. This story is historical fiction at its very best.
Written by Pearl S. Buck in 1931, The Good Earth introduced the Western world to the daily lives of Chinese peasants. Born in West Virginia, Buck moved to China as an infant when her missionary parents relocated. She spent over forty years living there, which allowed her to portray peasant life with remarkable authenticity.
Britt-Marie was here: a Novel by Frederik Backman. The author with miles and miles of dry wit packed into one little book. Excellent.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. A masterpiece written by a surgeon. Mere coincidence, but I was reading Cutting for Stone while waiting to see a surgeon. As he entered the room he immediately saw what I was reading and said, “that is a great story.” He was right.
I have a delicious book-dessert for you today! Daughters of Shandong is a gripping historical novel set during the chaos of 1948 China. It follows a mother and three sisters as they navigate war, displacement, and danger, making a harrowing journey from Shandong to Hong Kong and eventually Taiwan. Eve J. Chung’s debut is a powerful story of courage, resilience, and the strength of family bonds. It’s based on her family’s experience. A don’t miss book-dessert. ♥
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. I’ve heard some readers love Dear Edward while some really don’t like it. I’m Team Love. Read to page 100 before deciding for yourself. Also, don’t read if you’re getting on a plane.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. So funny and so sweet.
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee. Standing ovation for this author’s second book.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I love novels that aren’t just an absorbing read, but also have a current or two streaming under the actual story. I turn the last page of an Amor Towles’ novel a better person or parent or friend; and definitely a more knowledgeable student of history. His other fun book (not quite as awesome as Moscow, but it holds its own: Rules of Civility.
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré. This is a coming-of-age novel by a powerhouse of a new writer. Her daughters encouraged their mom to write her first book and omg is it good. Daré has an MA in creative writing from Birkbeck, University of London along with other degrees. Her book reminds me of the writing of Khaled Hosseini who wrote the acclaimed novels: The Kite Runner (2003) and its follow-up A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007).
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. ♥
I love memoirs, I joke that it’s because I’m nosy, but it really is more to do with feeling connected to others. The funny thing about Sally Field’s memoir In Pieces is that as the reader we get to know her better, but it soon becomes clear that the author has long valued privacy. In her story, she starts at the beginning with the women who raised her. She is open and vulnerable. I mean, who knew that an actress of her stature would have to go out on a limb to play Mary Todd in the movie Lincoln? In Pieces is a rich, lovely book-dessert. ♥
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus. This book — has a place on my 100 most favorite books list — is about a home and the former owner lost (from a tax error) and the home’s new owner: a family from Iran. My description isn’t doing this book justice. The book is an excellent must-read extraordinaire.
The Humans by Matt Haig. When you first start reading The Humans you might wonder if it’s a non-fiction and then think that maybe it’s sci-fi. It’s neither. It’s a five-star read, infused with a bit of magic, that’ll make you feel happy to be human. The story is about an alien who’s been tasked with visiting Earth to see what humans are all about. The alien inhabits a dad’s body and goes home to “his” family. It’s a fish-out-of-water story with hilarious moments, but is also touching and wonderful and please read it.
Last year I featured Life After Life by Kate Atkinson a beyond awesome book. A quick rewind: We meet Ursula first as a baby. We watch her go through many lives before she completes a satisfying experience for her final life. I highly, highly recommend Life After Life. A God in Ruins is Kate’s sequel to Life After Life about her little brother – although each book is stand-alone — and is equally as good.
I’ve read all of Jessie Handler’s prior books because she’s brutally honest and so open about her own life. She loves making money and losharing it with her siblings and friends so that they’ll travel with her. Her latest book out is I’ll Have What She’s Having (2025). I highly recommend. ♥
After a foray into the woods, Bryson then set off for Australia. Smitten with Nemo’s temporary home, he delivers the best of what the country has to offer in In a Sunburned Country. That said, I have these important words for you: box jellyfish, spiders the size of dinner plates (his words), and paralysis ticks. Australia might have the deadliest creatures on the planet, but Bryson also points out that Australia is known for her friendly people and gorgeous birds (pelicans, parrots and Cockatoos to name three of the 850 species). Fabulous book that you’ll remember for a lifetime. Five-starfish. ♥
Loving Frank: a Novel by Nancy Horan. ♥
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Hilarious and poignant.
The Midnight Library. This Haig-masterpiece is about a woman who isn’t so thrilled with her life. Nothing’s going her way and she’s done. She ends up in a purgatory that takes her down several cool life-threads. If you’ve ever wondered, will this book speak to me? The answer is yes. this is your read. Haig outdid himself with the ending. ♥
I was amazed at how good The Names: a Novel is by Florence Knapp and it’s a can’t-put-down read. Knapp’s clever story is about how a single choice shapes a life grabbed me from page one.. No surprise it’s now on the bestseller list and is being translated into twenty languages.
Trigger warning: The Names doesn’t get gruesome at all, but there’s short references to both emotional and physical abuse. The Names: a Novel by Florence Knapp is absolutely a five-star book-dessert.
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman. This amazing author gifted our world with A Man Called Ove. Two book-desserts that will keep you out of the kitchen.
My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor.
The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson – Funny and phenomenal.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. She first book snagged the Pulitzer’s Fiction Runner Up in 2018 and is such proof that aliens live among us.
The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: a Novel by Jonathan Evision.]
The River Is Waiting: A Novel by Wally Lamb (yes, that Wally Lamb, but apparently Oprah’s made peace with the author because I found this book on her book list). I’m just now diving into the story. It was on the lists as one of the most awaited books of 2025. ♥
This is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison. It falls under “the really good-fiction that immediately hooks you” genre. It’s a thoughtful, seemingly light but a relatively thorny story about 78-year-old Harriet Chance, recently widowed, who goes on an Alaskan cruise. No hilarity ensues. Instead Harriet begins the process of taking stock of her life, as so many do in the older decades. My review: Easy to read (meaning not a slog, grabs you almost immediately) and absorbing. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: a Novel by Jonathan Evision was just like Harriet in that Evision writes about serious topics, yet manages to wrap the seriousness up in wonderful humor. (Quite the talent.) ♥
Non Fiction.
***Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear. A must read for everyone who wants to instill solid habits.
A Woman of No Importance the Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell left me absolutely floored. This book falls into the historical non-fiction genre and the author knocks it out of the park having researched and written the book in such a way that you can almost feel the Gestapo just steps behind Virginia as she flees France. Review: an incredible read and you’ll never forget Virginia.
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins. Awesomeness thy name is David Goggins (I suggest first reading Living with a Seal, before reading Can’t Hurt Me).
The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Goldhor Lerner, Ph.D. The author writes in everyday language – i.e. no therapist-speak – explaining that our anger is important and g and that stuffing our anger merely leads to trouble in our own hearts and souls. I love that the Goldhor Lerner doesn’t just talk about the problem, but goes into detail about how we can better work with our anger rather eating through it or ignoring it. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
Dead Wake the Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. Awesome, gripping, a lot of it unforgettable.
Does this Beach Make Me Look Fat by Lisa Scottoline and daughter Francesca Serritella. Lisa made her mark writing mysteries which I’ve yet to read, but her memoir books are hilarious.
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.Word to the wise: don’t screw over Tara Westover like her parents did or she’ll write a book about you that will stay on the New York Times bestseller list for years and be translated into 45 languages. Just sayin’.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance. This book is awesome to listen to on audio. The writer took what could have been a dry topic – I mean, rockets and electric cars? — and made it super entertaining. As a husband and a dad, Elon needs work, but as earth’s reigning deity? Not bad.
Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry at his best, but you definitely want to listen to the audio version that Jerry voices. Fun. Nee. (Plus Jerry is the gold-standard in the dad and husband department.)
Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson. About the biggest storm in American history that went down in Galveston, Texas. Written in Larson’s usual riveting style. He’s a mater at writing non fiction that reads like a novel.
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza. The book chronicles a young woman’s – Immaculee’s — personal survival story during the Rwandan genocide. And this extraordinary story is a book-dessert of the highest order. After her family is killed by Hutu extremists, she hides in a small bathroom (roughly 3×4 feet) for 91 days, along with seven other women, relying on prayer and inner strength to survive. I stayed up too late reading. Phenomenal book-dessert. ♥
Living with a SEAL — 31 days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet by Jesse Itzler. This book was written by the guy who married Sara Blakely the Spanx founder. (He founded a bunch of companies too.) They’re both cajillion-aires, but are very salt-of-the-earth people whom you’d love to have as neighbors. The book is funny and smart.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. Such a funny, wonderful, and true (ish) story, but definitely listen to the audio version to hear the various southern voices.
My Southern Journey : true stories from the heart of the South by Rick Bragg. I love all of Bragg’s books including The Prince of Frogtown, All Over but the Shoutin’, Ava’s Man to name just three.
***The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. This is the other habit book that’s a keeper.
My Stroke of Insight: a brain scientist’s personal journey by Jill Bolte. (Her Ted Talk is one of the highest rated. Super good.)
On Writing: A Memoir on the Craft by Stephen King. I know, you’re thinking, but lady I’m not a writer. Great news: the book is half and half. Part of On Writing is a master class worth of advice, but the book is also his memoir and includes details about the car accident that came very close to ending his life. He’s critical of the driver who plowed into him, of course. But he doesn’t hold back his fury at the two women who were walking and could have given him a heads up about the goofball driver in the first place, but didn’t. Phenomenal read.
Orange is the New Black: My Time in a Women’s Prison by Piper Kerman. I know you’ve seen the show, now read the book and get the first-hand scoop on Piper’s year in prison.
Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir by Linda Ronstadt. I grew up with Linda Ronstadt’s music and never thought much about her, but after reading her memoir I now get it: Ronstadt was a powerhouse in the rock world.
The Color of Water by James McBride. OMG-audio-memoir alert! The story and the audio is phenomenal. As you can see, I love memoirs and have read many, but this one is unusually wonderful.
The Elephant in the Room — One Fat Man’s Quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America by Tommy Tomlinson. What a better world we’d live in if this book were required reading in all schools. A generation of kids with a deeper understanding and compassion for those with weight issues? Not only is it time, but Tomlinson is showing us the way.
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance during the Blitz by Erik Larson. Wow. That’s it: just wow. (One cool thing about this book: problems seem tiny compared to Churchill’s challenge of ridding the earth of Hitler and his flying monkeys.) Erik Larsen is genius at writing thrilling non-fiction. My review: Total Masterpiece.
The Unwinding of the Miracle : a Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything that Comes After by Julie Yip-Williams. Okay, I’m not wild about tearjerkers, but this one completely works. I absolutely love how Julie creates life as she’s dealing with cancer. Amazing woman. Incredible story.
The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why by Amanda Ripley: blew me away. Years later, the author’s specific real-life stories – and their “lessons” — are still with me. I didn’t have to look any of this up in order to refresh my memory: one guy fell off a cruise ship into the Gulf of Mexico, another saved every person in his company when 9/11 hit, and hoo-boy, there’s a tsunami story of survival that’s impossible to forget. An Amazon reviewer put it perfectly when she wrote, “I fully believe this book should be read by every single person in the world.” (Thank you C.C. Chivers!) My review: the author wrote a gripping read that will always be with you.
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson tells how Marconi’s wireless communication invention went hand-in-glove with England’s second most famous murder (after Jack the Ripper). And the second most famous murder wasn’t gory stuff. (There’s a different reason that the murder was so well-known in England.) You guys, the ending to this book is astonishing. If you haven’t read Larson he shares stories from history and tells them in the most insanely exciting way possible. Review about Thunderstruck: the first 100 pages is a tad dry and somewhat focuses on Marconi and his place in our world. But around page 100, the book picks up and then soars. I highly recommend Thunderstruck, but if you get bored, just skim like I did. At a certain point your skimming days will be over.
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby. Genre: hilarious-memoir. This book is perfect when you just want to read the details of a woman with normal problems, but sees them through a funny filter.
Self-Help on Steroids.
If you haven’t yet read these two books on habits, read these two books. They’re the gold standard for incorporating rock star habits into your life:
Atomic habits : tiny changes, remarkable results : an easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones by James Clear. If you need a book to be successful at creating a lifetime weight loss, start with this book.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. You want to buy this book too if you’re brand new to this site.
The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz. Grab. Read. Repeat. This jewel is vintage, but don’t let that dissuade you from reading it. Tim Ferriss says of The Magic of Thinking Big, “The main message is pretty simple: don’t overestimate others and underestimate yourself.” It sits on Tim’s Fundamental Four book list.
The Obstacle is the Way: the Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday. Ryan writes compellingly about how difficulties in life can empower us. This is a don’t-miss.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Total five-star memoir about a woman who deals with her difficult younger years by hiking the 1,100-Pacific Crest Trail. Alone.’
I have a phenomenal, short memoir for you: Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships by Hayley Arceneaux. This young woman’s experience of surviving cancer at a young age is inspirational on steroids and will take you to the moon. Highly recommend reading this uthor’s debut book. Perfect book-dessert. ♥
For Baseball Fans (like my dad)
Baseball 100 by Joe Posnanski. A life-long baseball fan talks baseball’s Greatest 100 players. My review: my baseball-obsessed dad loved it. Sent a copy to his best friend from childhood.
My Dad, Yogi A Memoir of Family and Baseball by Dale Berra. My mom sent me a photo of my dad reading this book. He finished it in two-reads.
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