472 ratings | 47 reviews | avg rating:4.36

Mike’s Year In Books

Mike’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Mike’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Mike Smolarek’s Followers (10)

Mike’s Bookshelves

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Christine

1,896 books | 68 friends

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450 books | 56 friends

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1,780 books | 47 friends

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400 books | 11 friends

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1,098 books | 42 friends

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32 books | 88 friends

Nikki Golden

1,758 books | 102 friends

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Mike Smolarek has read 14 of 37 books.

38%

Mike Smolarek

Goodreads Author

Born

in Evergreen Park, IL, The United States

Website

http://msmolarek.blogspot.com

Twitter

smodaddy

Influences

Kurt Vonnegut, Ernest Hemingway, Stuart Dybek, The most recent book I' ...more

Member Since

May 2013

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Mike Smolarek is a writer who lives in Riverside, Illinois, an historic suburb of Chicago, with his wife and three children. He writes short stories and is working on a novel, titled 'Fallout.' His favorite color is green and he can be found at http://msmolarek.blogspot.com ...more

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Combine Editions
Mike Smolarek’s books

Average rating: 4.7 · 20 ratings · 6 reviews · 1 distinct work

Daddy Cool
by

Ben Tanzer (Goodreads Author) (Editor),

Ryan W. Bradley (Goodreads Author) (Contributor),

Mark R. Brand (Contributor)

4.70 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions

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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

46 posts
Mike Smolarek's Blog

Look Who's Fifty

One of my friends sent me these words today on a group texton my 50th birthday:“Time is the trickster. Today Iwoke up half a century old. I am not ready. Too much yet to do. Too mucheveryday living. Too much unsaid, unimagined.”Another friend on the group answered: “Thanks for the dailyexistential crisis.”Time IS the ultimate trickster. One day, you are showingyour five-year-old how to

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Published on May 09, 2025 09:51

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Mike is Currently Reading

Mike Smolarek is currently reading

I Can't Wait!: 30 Years of Slinging Food & Drinks Across America

by Mad Valid Mike

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 29, 2026 07:19AM

Mike Smolarek is currently reading

Brawler

by Lauren Groff (Goodreads Author)

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May 11, 2026 05:46AM

Mike Smolarek is currently reading

The Art of Time in Fiction: As Long as It Takes

by Joan Silber

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Mar 23, 2026 07:19PM

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Mike’s Recent Updates

Mike Smolarek entered a giveaway Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (Goodreads Author) 20 copies available, ends on June 24, 2026 Enter to win »
Jun 01, 2026 07:03AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mike Smolarek entered a giveaway The Wedding People by Alison Espach 25 copies available, ends on June 29, 2026 Enter to win »
Jun 01, 2026 07:03AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Wedding People by Alison Espach <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mike Smolarek is currently reading I Can't Wait!: 30 Years of Slinging Food & Drinks Across America by Mad Valid Mike	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 29, 2026 07:19AM · like
Mike Smolarek rated a book really liked it Ploughshares Winter 2024-2025 by John Skoyles	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 25, 2026 02:07PM · like
Mike Smolarek is currently reading Brawler by Lauren Groff (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 11, 2026 05:46AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Brawler by Lauren Groff. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Brawler by Lauren Groff <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mike Smolarek rated a book really liked it Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 11, 2026 05:46AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mike Smolarek rated a book really liked it Ploughshares Spring 2026 Guest-edited by Annie Finch by Annie Finch (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 10, 2026 08:15AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Ploughshares Spring 2026 Guest-edited by Annie Finch by Annie Finch. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Ploughshares Spring 2026 Guest-edited by Annie Finch by Annie Finch <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mike Smolarek wants to read The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 03, 2026 05:19PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mike Smolarek wants to read Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 27, 2026 09:12AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Shoe Dog by Phil Knight <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mike Smolarek started reading Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 19, 2026 12:26PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">