Whether you are looking for a romantic escape, a glimpse into the life of what many would consider a “blessee” or you just want to learn more about how to manage your finances, this TBR (to-be-read) list is for you. The books will not only fill your mind with explosive colours but they will be a colourful addition to your bookshelf.
The first book on the list is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Maybe in Another Life, the book was first published in 2015. Set in Los Angeles, it takes us through Hannah’s return home with nothing to show but a little hope that maybe somewhere out there a better life awaits her. The whole idea behind Maybe in Another Life is that of choices and fate. Do our choices determine our fate and destiny or is our destiny set in stone despite all the choices we make?
In Maybe in Another Life, we get to see how Hannah’s life pans out should she go with her ex-boyfriend after a party and when she decides not to go with him. In each choice, some things change whilst others just stay the same. Bringing forward the idea that our choices can alter a few things in our lives but either way, what was meant to be will be. It is a very cheesy romantic read that is guaranteed to melt your heart, it is advisable to at least have someone you will say these words to, “I know there may be universes out there where I made different choices and they led me somewhere else, led me to someone else. And my heart breaks for every version of me that didn’t end up with you”.
Next on your to-be-read should be The Blessed Girl by Angela Makholwa, this is what many would call a certified page-turner. South Africa has seen a rise of the “blesser” and “blessee” relationships in 2010, the “blesser” being the men, usually older and financially capable and the “blessee” being younger and at the receiving end of these “blessings”. Wondering what goes on in the head of the blessee? This is the perfect book for you. First published in 2017, The Blessed Girl takes us through Bontle’s life and her character and loud thoughts takes us through the glitz and glam of the “blessee’s” life and whether they are Gold or not, is for you to read and find out.
Angela Makholwa doesn’t shy away from confronting the harsh realities of the slay queen life, bringing forward the things we overlook, such as the root cause of these things, the consequences and also what enables the “blessers” to do as they please in our societies. The Blessed Girl is very relevant in this era we live in, where social media is filled with aesthetically pleasing content and lifestyle content that might be enticing to young girls, The Blessed Girl brings us the behind-the-scenes of this seemingly perfect lifestyle. Though a bit humorous and light-hearted the book tackles serious issues that society constantly shies away from.
Last on the list is You’re Not Broke You’re Pre-Rich, sounds like a fantasy but this is not fiction but realistic ways of how you can move from always wondering where your money went, to telling your money where to go. You’re Not Broke You’re Pre-Rich is so broad and realistic in its approach that it includes issues such as black tax, money in relationships, handling money as a freelancer and many other factors that affect how money is viewed. In South Africa, conversations about money are not that comfortable, with breadwinners burdened by their families’ expectations and not able to voice that out and couples moving in together and buying assets together whilst they do not even know their partner’s credit scores and debt history, You’re Not Broke You’re Pre-Rich make those conversations a little bit easy.
Money is not only an uncomfortable topic to tackle but often it comes with a lot of jargon that people feel is only reserved for accountants. This book breaks down such jargon and brings them down to the level that anyone despite their academic history can understand. Buried in this book are success stories from Makhu’s clients (Mapalo Makhu is a personal finance coach) and how they managed to change their financial situations by applying some of the principles in this book. Are you ready to tell your money where to go?
Like promised at the beginning these books will fill your mind with so much colour it will feel like an explosion and you will proudly put them around your house as ornaments because they look the part.