5 Life-Changing Books I Read This Year
Every year, I set an intention around reading—not just to consume information, but to be changed by it.
Some books entertain.
Some educate.
And then there are the rare ones that rearrange something inside you—the way you think, the way you show up, the way you give yourself permission to want more.
This year, my reading list leaned heavily into focus, courage, self-trust, emotional honesty, and releasing what no longer serves me. Each of these books met me exactly where I was—and challenged me to grow into who I’m becoming.
If you’re feeling stretched, stuck, or standing at the edge of your next chapter, these are the best books I read this year—and why I think they’re especially powerful for women navigating midlife, ambition, and reinvention.
Deep Work
by Cal Newport
Best for: Focus, productivity, and reclaiming your time
In a world that constantly pulls at your attention, Deep Work is a much-needed wake-up call.
Cal Newport makes a compelling case for why the ability to focus deeply—without distraction—is becoming increasingly rare and incredibly valuable. But this book isn’t just about productivity hacks. It’s about protecting your mental energyso you can do work (and live a life) that actually matters.
What stood out to me most was the reminder that busyness is not the same as effectiveness. Many of us—especially high-achieving women—are praised for being “always on,” responsive, and productive. But that constant state of reactivity comes at a cost.
Deep Work challenged me to:
- Be more intentional with my time
- Create boundaries around distraction
- Schedule focus the same way I schedule meetings
If you’re feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or like you’re constantly working but not making meaningful progress, this book will help you slow down to move forward.
The World Is Waiting for You by Edwina Findley Dickerson
Best for: Purpose, courage, and stepping into your calling
This was, without question, my favorite book of the year.
The World Is Waiting for You isn’t just a book—it’s a mirror and a nudge and a loving push all at once. Edwina Findley Dickerson speaks directly to the woman who knows she’s meant for more… but isn’t quite sure how to claim it yet.
This book explores the fears that keep us small:
- Waiting until we feel “ready”
- Shrinking ourselves to fit expectations
- Letting perfectionism delay our purpose
What made this book so powerful for me was how deeply it validated the internal tension so many women feel in midlife—the pull between responsibility and desire, between what’s expected and what’s possible.
Edwina reminds us that our gifts are not random and that the world doesn’t need a more polished version of us—it needs our brave yes.
If you’re standing at a crossroads, questioning your next move, or sensing a calling you’ve been postponing, this book will speak directly to your soul.
Everything Is Figureoutable
by Marie Forleo
Best for: Mindset shifts and rebuilding self-belief
Marie Forleo’s core message is simple but radical: Everything is figureoutable.
This book is an antidote to self-doubt. It’s for the moments when you think:
- “I don’t know how.”
- “I’m too late.”
- “What if I fail?”
Marie doesn’t dismiss fear—she reframes it. She reminds us that clarity often comes after action, not before it. That waiting to feel confident is often the very thing keeping us stuck.
What I love about this book is how empowering it is without being unrealistic. It doesn’t promise ease—but it does promise agency.
If you’re rebuilding confidence, pivoting careers, launching something new, or simply trying to trust yourself again, Everything Is Figureoutable will help you reconnect with your inner problem-solver.
How Are You, Really?
by Jenna Kutcher
Best for: Emotional honesty and redefining success
Jenna Kutcher’s How Are You, Really? is a refreshing reminder that success doesn’t mean suppressing how you feel.
This book goes beyond surface-level positivity and dives into emotional awareness, burnout, boundaries, and self-worth—topics so many women silently struggle with, especially after years of “holding it all together.”
What stood out to me was Jenna’s emphasis on:
- Asking yourself better questions
- Listening to your body and emotions
- Redefining success on your own terms
This book creates space for honesty—without judgment. It invites you to check in with yourself not just as a professional or a caregiver, but as a human being.
If you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself, emotionally exhausted, or unsure why success doesn’t feel as good as you thought it would, this book offers permission to slow down and reconnect.
The Let Them Theory
by Mel Robbins
Best for: Boundaries, emotional freedom, and letting go
Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory delivers one of the most liberating mindset shifts I’ve embraced this year.
The idea is deceptively simple:
When people do what they’re going to do—let them.
Let them misunderstand you.
Let them judge you.
Let them make choices you don’t agree with.
This book is a powerful reminder that we waste enormous amounts of energy trying to control other people’s perceptions, reactions, and behavior. And in doing so, we abandon ourselves.
For women who’ve spent years people-pleasing, over-explaining, or carrying emotional labor that isn’t theirs, this book is freeing.
It reinforces the truth that boundaries are not selfish—they’re necessary.
If you’re ready to stop outsourcing your peace and start prioritizing your own alignment, The Let Them Theory is a must-read.
Final Thoughts: Why These Books Matter in Midlife
What ties all of these books together is this shared message:
You don’t need to become someone else.
You need to come home to yourself.
Midlife isn’t about starting over—it’s about starting aligned. It’s about releasing old narratives, reclaiming focus, honoring your emotions, trusting your capability, and answering the call you’ve been ignoring.
If I had to recommend just one book from this list, The World Is Waiting for You would be it. It captured the essence of this season of life perfectly—the knowing that you’re ready, even if you’re scared.
The world isn’t waiting for a perfect version of you.
It’s waiting for you—as you are, where you are, right now.
And sometimes, the right book is the first step toward that realization.
