Hello Reader,

We know you’re always looking for your next good read, so we have some great recommendations.

Every month, you’ll receive team CGF’s top picks of books to help you improve your finances, advance your career, practice self-care, or get lost in a fantasy world.

Here is out list of MONTH book recommendations!

• Note: This book list contains affiliate links from Amazon. Clever Girl Finance is an Amazon Associate which means we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. These commissions help us grow!
• We also encourage you to support your local independent booksellers! You can search by your location here.​

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Finance pick: The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life

You have a good job that supports a comfortable life. Your budgeting is on point, and your savings are healthy. Yet, every time money comes up, you feel uneasy. You check your bank account multiple times a day, worried about your spending. Despite your strong savings, you fear it’s never enough.

The reason you're financially secure on paper but anxious in reality is that money isn’t just about numbers. Financial stability comes from steady income and habits, but true peace of mind stems from mindset and perception.

If you’ve read The Psychology of Money, you know that how we handle money ties deeply to our beliefs and values. Therefore, simply following another budget won’t fix your problem. You must transform your mindset to spend confidently.

​The Art of Spending Money offers more than budgets or hacks, it helps you understand your money relationship and reshape it to work for you. Morgan Housel brings insight and warmth, illustrating that the best investment is peace of mind. If you prefer mastering your current resources over chasing quick wealth, this book is for you.

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Self-help pick: The Pivot Year: 365 Days To Become The Person You Truly Want To Be

How many times have you said "new year, new me" only to slip back into old habits?

Though you've made progress toward your goals, you’re still not where you want to be. You haven’t become the person you envisioned.

Even with your morning routine and daily podcasts, you feel stuck. You can’t pinpoint what’s missing. If only life came with an instruction manual.

While there’s no handbook for life, The Pivot Year comes close.

In just one year, you can achieve your goals and transform who you are. This book offers 365 daily meditations designed to shift how you think, decide, and show up. Brianna Wiest, the internationally bestselling author who’s helped millions expand their inner worlds, guides you on a year-long journey to become your best self.

This isn’t about grand resolutions or overnight change. It’s about small, steady mindset shifts that build the life you want, one day, one thought, one pivot at a time.

Wherever you are in life, you can transform with the right tool. This book is that tool.

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Business pick: Build a Business Not a Job: Grow Your Business & Get Your Life Back

You had a vision before starting your business. You dreamed of waking up on your own schedule, energized and ready to seize the day. Deadlines, overbearing bosses, and long hours would be a thing of the past. Starting a business meant freedom above all else.

But now, over a year in, you’re working just as hard as in your 9-to-5.

Trapped in the mindset that overworking equals success, that dream of freedom feels like wishful thinking instead of an obtainable goal.

There is hope. Building a Business, Not a Job is your roadmap back to running a business that gives you your life.

David Finkel, a former Olympic athlete turned multimillionaire, is a trusted voice on sustainable growth. Stephanie Harkness brings 35 years as a serial entrepreneur, building eight businesses and guiding 100+ startups through funding and acquisitions.

Together, they reveal the systems, mindset shifts, and strategies to transform owner-dependent businesses into self-sustaining enterprises. This book is your guide to breaking free from the daily grind without losing what you’ve built.

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Personal development pick: Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That’s Beautiful Again

Sometimes, the deepest wounds come from those closest to us, a first boyfriend, a partner, a best friend, or a parent. Emotional scars from these hurts, or from mistakes that haunt us, can linger for years, making it hard to live fully.

You've been told that practicing forgiveness will help you move on, but it’s rarely easy to let go of emotional pain. Lysa TerKeurst, best-selling author and speaker, understands this struggle. In her book, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, she shares how she moved beyond resentment and pain.

Her book will show you that true forgiveness isn’t just possible, it’s transformative. You can find peace after deep hurt, even if those who hurt you refuse to change.

Order this book and get ready to release your past pain. With honest and practical steps from the book, you can live a lighter and happier life.

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Fiction pick: An Inside Job: A Novel

With so many obligations during the holidays, it’s easy to neglect self-care. That’s why carving out downtime for yourself is essential. What better way to escape life’s demands than by diving into a gripping mystery novel?

A scandal has erupted in the art world after a priceless painting mysteriously disappeared. Mobsters, moneymen, and an artist all race to uncover the truth.

Set against the backdrop of art galleries and auction houses in London and the French Riviera, this mystery will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Step into the dark side of the art world with Daniel Silva’s An Inside Job.​

🎧 Your Weekly Dose of Motivation:The Clever Girls Know Podcast

A good book is something to be grateful for!

As you and your family gather around the table for Thanksgiving, conversations can take unpredictable turns. Your aunt might ask about your marriage, or your uncle could launch into his political views.

Avoid awkward silences and arguments by steering the talk toward the great books you’ve read. Sharing a story from a novel or insights from a self-help book can bring fresh energy and holiday cheer to family gatherings.

Which book will you pick to guide the conversation away from your personal life?

Don’t forget, you can stay motivated and learn other financial tips and tricks from our completely free financial courses.​

Happy reading! ❤️
Team CGF

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