Happy Tuesday, book friends! There’s a full moon eclipse this morning, which I unfortunately can’t see from my house due to the positioning of the moon at this time of day. So instead of starting at mama moon, I’m sitting here writing this blog post.

And that means… it’s another Top 5 Tuesday! Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Bionic Bookworm, now hosted by Meeghan Reads. If you’re interested in participating, check out their blog to get the details and the prompts for each week. This week’s topic is top five books set in the present, and I am immediately overwhelmed. As I mentioned last week, I mostly read contemporary books these days, which means I could list… so many books!

Let’s go with the top 5 books set in the present… that I read this year!

Getting Clean with Stevie Green by Swan Huntley

This book about starting over and trying to move on from the past is a fantastic read I had the pleasure of reviewing earlier this year. Stevie Green moves back to her hometown and decides to become a decluttering guru–the number one decluttering guru, naturally. Something happened in high school that she’s trying to outpace, but she’s not going to think about that right now.

My review went up earlier this year, and you can check it out here.

The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd

A woman diagnosed with breast cancer discovers running through a local group of other women with breast cancer. Together, they form the Bright Side Running Club and begin training for a race. I adored this book, and you can read more about why here.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

Nora is a divorced mother of two with a strict schedule that keeps her life moving smoothly. But the book she wrote about her divorce is going to be a movie, and they’re filming on site. Enter Leo, the actor who plays her husband in the movie. This is one of those romances that also packs a big emotional punch as Nora heals from the wounds her ex husband left behind. My review here.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

A young woman and her grandmother, both in need of a change, temporarily switch lives. Do I really need to say more? Full review here.

Lucy on the Wild Side by Kerry Rea

This is the most recent read on the list. Lucy works at the Columbus Zoo (yay, Ohio!) and is determined to get promoted to Senior Keeper. She also hates cameras, which means she is less than thrilled when Kai Bridges decides to film the next season of his TV show at her zoo. With her gorillas. The perfect balance of self-growth and romance. Review here.

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Those are my top five contemporary reads from this year! I’m remembering how much of a meh reading year I had at the start of 2022, and I’m so glad I’ve found some great books in the later part of the year. What are your favorite books set in the present day?