I feel like I start every post referencing something that I've talked about on Instagram, but guys I really share more details on there so go follow me (@andreafontanabeauty). I often share little cover shots of books I'm currently reading and a lot of you ask for recommendations and want to know what I'm reading so I'm back with another post sharing what I've recently read (including cookbooks) and what I think of them. Click here if you want to see what I was reading earlier this year. I've also decided to rename these posts so that they are easier to find as the years go by.

So let's get into the books! I'm proud to say that I've read all of these in the last 2-3 months and have generally enjoyed each of them.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle: I had purchased this book because it was recommended in the back of 'You are A Badass' (which I read in my last book update). ' This book took me awhile to get through because I had to keep rereading lines in order to fully understand them. It's really great and emphasizes the importance of living in the present. However, I would only recommend it if you know what you are getting into. I found I couldn't read it before bed because I would get too sleepy and wasn't able to give it my full attention. Just know that when you read it you have to read it in a very detailed way and it's not one you can breeze through and still understand the full meaning. I still highly recommend it though! It's a really important topic when finding true happiness within yourself.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain: I had this one sitting on my shelf but didn't finally pick it up and read it until Anthony Bourdain's tragic death a few months ago. I really respected him before reading it and respect him even more after reading. If you enjoy his shows and haven't read this one yet, pick it up. It's really eye opening and he's a great storyteller. I like that he wasn't as well known when he wrote it. I don't think he expected it to blow up which allowed him to write a little more honestly about the restaurant world. I'm excited to read more of his books and continue to be inspired by the amazing chef that he was. His love for learning about others' cultures is something we can all learn from.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: Mikey bought this one in an airport when we were heading to Florida this year and it somehow ended up on my bookshelf. After seeing it on someone's #CurrentlyReading Instagram post I decided to take it with me on the train to Chicago in July. I ended up reading the first 150 pages during the entire 4 hour train ride to Chicago and was hooked. I love how Whitehead was able to create a story about such a significant time in history that allowed you to escape to that time. His story actually describes the Underground Railroad as a functioning train that runs underground which I found really interesting to read. I highly suggest you pick this one up if you enjoy history, but the creativity of fiction.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot: My science background led me to this read and again it's great if you love history. Telling the story of Henrietta Lacks the source of Hela cells that I learned so much about in my time studying for my B.S. in Human Biology. I took a class my senior year that discussed the ethics surrounding similar issues to this one and it was one of my favorite classes I took while at Michigan State University. I think it's important for us to learn about and discuss the boundaries of science and technology. You don't have to be a science whiz to enjoy this one.

Gap Creek by Robert Morgan: This book tells the story of Julie Richards a young newly-married woman at the end of the 19th century living in the Appalachian Mountains. It follows the first year of Julie's marriage to Hank through meeting and marrying him, loss, heartbreak, being completely broke and starving, motherhood and I really enjoyed it. I found myself wanting to know more about her story, but after completing the book I realized how this book needed to tell just this portion of her life to be successful. I loved how Morgan was able to capture the thought process of a young woman and I think many of you ladies could relate to some of her thoughts as well. His writing made me feel like Julie was reading her story to me herself and I love that in a book.

True Roots by Kristin Cavallari: It's no secret that I am obsessed with this gluten-free, dairy-free, minimal processed sugar cookbook. I had heard amazing things and finally broke down and bought it. I have made over 15 of the recipes already and can't wait to try more. I highly recommend it if you are gluten or dairy free. Some of my favorite recipes include the brussel sprouts salad, peanut butter brownies, chia pudding, pancakes....the list goes on.

Wheat Belly Cookbook by William Davis M.D.: While this book is marketed for weight loss, I bought it because it had good reviews and I wanted more gluten free cookbooks. I've only made a few of the recipes but I really think it could become a staple in my kitchen. There are lots of basic recipes that I think will be useful to reference in the future while eliminating gluten.

What have you been reading in the last few months? Leave a comment below and let me know what your recommendations are!

Have a great weekend,

Andrea