There are moments where I miss my hometown so much that my throat closes up and all I can manage are a few wheezes before falling into a fit of tears, wrapped up in my irrational worries that what if it doesn’t get easier? What if time doesn’t heal my open wounds?

I missed watching as the city moved from summer to autumn; from green to red, orange and yellow; from warm and humid to nights spent wearing sweaters and light scarves.

I miss the quiet mornings, the wave from kind neighbours you’ve known for years, and the memories created all over town. I miss the possibility of meeting up for coffee with friends I have had since grade school.

I miss my godson and that smile of his. Every day I think about how much of his life I am missing. I have missed and will miss the birth of three of my friends’ children in 2011-2012. I try not to think of how I will feel after my niece or nephew enters the world this March and I am 2,200 miles away.

Some days are easier than others. Today is not one of them.

2011 was the year that I finally took the 50 Book Challenge seriously, and yes, it didn't hurt that I had made the move from Canada to Las Vegas in January and wouldn't be able to legally work for months until my immigration process was complete. With all that time on my hands I managed to complete my goal of reading 50 books that year. Actually, I read 58 books in all.

I'm a huge bookworm - always have and always will be - and I'm really not embarrassed to admit that (some of my favourite people are the same way!). I love when people ask me for book suggestions; evident by my sudden improved posture and the silly smile plastered all over my face. I once handed over a handwritten list to a friend here in Las Vegas and was intrigued by her surprise that I had written it all out instead of typing it up. Yeah, I'm still that girl that loves to write letters to people and mail it to them (come on. it doesn't get much better than receiving a personalized letter like that!)

So without further adieu I give you a list of some of the funniest, most touching, most I-couldn't-put-this-down books that I read last year in hopes that some of you might fall in love with them the way that I did.

And just for fun, my disappointments included:

1. The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee by Sarah Silverman
2. The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg
3. Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs by Kaira Rouda
4. Things my Girlfriend and I Have Argued About by Mil Millington

Did you read any great books in 2011? I'd love to hear from you!