Fiction

• Whistler (SIGNED hardcover) by Ann Patchett. Top recommendation this month. I went on a pilgrimage with my family to Ann Patchett’s bookstore in Nashville, Parnassus Books. It was beyond lovely, from the reader map to the staff recommendations to the bookstore pup to the plentiful signed copies of Patchett’s latest novel. I read this one slow and I loved every page. This book, along with several others on this list, explore how well we ever know the people we love, and how storytelling builds understanding, connection, and intimacy. Spoiler alert: it’s not about horses. In celebration of this amazing independent bookstore, all of this month’s book links take you to their website!

• The Shampoo Effect (Kindle) by Jenny Jackson. I liked this SO much more than Pineapple Street (2023), which was enjoyable but superficial. This one sticks with the theme of knowing others and knowing ourselves, and how writing impacts those relationships. It is light AND meaningful; a perfect summer read.

• Mad Mabel (Kindle) by Sally Hepworth. A ridiculously fun mystery/psychological thriller sort of book. Mabel is a delight and while the book is very obviously written to heighten the drama, the characters are vivid and emotionally provocative. I loved it.

• This Story Might Save Your Life (hardcover) by Tiffany Crum. I grabbed this from our public library on a whim and wound up loving it. It is both a thriller and a love story. A fun summer read.

• The Night We Met (Kindle) by Abby Jimenez. I am a big fan of Jimenez but this is (sadly) not her best. Characters felt like caricatures; tropes felt trite. Though this was a bummer, it’s a good reminder that writing is a practice and authors will have hits and misses like the rest of us.

Non-Fiction

• London Falling (Audible) by Patrick Radden Keefe. Another bummer from an author I love. Say Nothing and Empire of Pain are two of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. What typically draws me in about PRK’s writing is how he zooms in to a specific, personal situation as a way to zoom out to the larger systems at play. The zooming in and zooming out function to reveal layers of story and deepen understanding for the reader. I had high hopes for this one, but it was way too zoomed in on the story of Zach Brettler, and way too zoomed out at the same time, in such a way that the story never really cohered for me.

I got to listen to these books on long walks, read them on the beach, and of course before and after NAPs. Tell me what you read this month by leaving a comment below!

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Fiction

• The Calamity Club (Kindle) by Kathryn Stockett. Top recommendation this month. Strong female characters, fascinating historical background, plot AND character development. The 600 pages flew by and I miss it now that I’m done.

• Dolly All the Time (Kindle) by Annabel Monaghan. I love a romance that uses the tropes to deepen the story, and Monaghan does this beautifully. Compelling, sexy, feel-good summer read.

• The One Day You Were My Husband (Kindle) by Rosie Walsh. I really loved this mystery. The characters, the backdrop, the twist. GASP. It’s so good.

• Lady Tremaine (Audible) by Rachel Hochhauser. Cinderella from the evil stepmother’s perspective. The best part is what comes after the part of the story we all know. So clever, grounded in why a prince might need a bride in a hurry!

• The Stand (Kindle) by Stephen King. I finished my first slow read this month! I loved the stand and I loved reading it slow and in community with other readers. Highly recommend both.

• Last Night in Brooklyn (Audible) by Xochitl Gonzalez. One must get over a book set in 2007 being classified as historical fiction…but it’s worth it. An ode to early gentrification Brooklyn, and pre-social media friendships. A modern Gatsby retelling. Also excellent.

Non-Fiction

• Not this month.

Tell me about your summer reading adventures! Or your summer napping adventures.

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Fiction

• Enormous Wings (Audible) by Laurie Frankel. Insane premise. Incredible characters. OBSESSED Definitely my top recommendation this month. Great on audio but read it any way you can!

• The Things We Never Say (hardcover) by Elizabeth Strout. My extended framily chose this as one of our beach vacation book club reads. Spoiler alert: it is NOT a beach read. It is, however, a spare, moving, character study of a more than middle aged teacher figuring out who he is when his social and personal foundations crack. Like the title says, it is a story about how not saying something doesn’t mean it isn’t true and how maybe not saying it makes it mean everything. I loved it, and can’t wait for our discussion.

• Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Audible) by Benjamin Alire Saenz. This is a gorgeous YA coming of age story about the relationship between two boys. Like The Things We Never Say, it too explores the idea that the truths we never tell may shape us the most. Narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda. An absolute delight on audio.

• Yesteryear (hardcover) by Caro Claire Burke. This novel is buzzy and it is everywhere and I couldn’t resist. It kept me turning pages, but it felt like the literary equivalent of doomscrolling. I had the ick throughout. Not worth your one wild and precious life, in my opinion.

• The Wedding Date (Kindle) by Jasmine Guillory. Predictable. Sexy. A necessary palate cleanser after Yesteryear, but I am not eager to read her other novels.

• More Than Enough (Kindle) by Anna Quindlen. I have loved some of AQ’s previous books, but this one was less than enough for me.

Non-Fiction

• Famesick (Audible) by Lena Dunham. I knew relatively little about Dunham before listening to her narrate her own memoir. I didn’t watch Girls, don’t closely follow celebrity gossip, etc. I didn’t come into this book with a lot of preconceptions. And - I really didn’t like it. Dunham seems blind to the tremendous privilege (well beyond monetary) and moral instability of her upbringing and adult life. She writes herself as a victim in nearly every situation, even those that were entirely self-created. I feel compassion for her health struggles and for the way she was treated by our healthcare system, and I remain curious about the perils of fame at a young age. There is a Goodreads review that says, “Lena Dunham is basically like a consumptive Victorian child who needs constant coddling and care. Good thing she has always had that.” Mic drop.

• Your Embodied Life (workbook) by Kelly King. My friend Kelly wrote a book! She is the founder of the Movement Movement, and has been walking the walk - or rather dancing the dance - for life. She also writes generously here on Substack, but this is a wonderful handy guide to keep nearby if you tend to get a wee bit stuck in your head. Yes, reading is a cerebral activity, but this book will remind you that mind, body, and spirit alike are part of cultivating a non-anxious presence and give you the tools you need.

Please comment with which book you’d like to read this summer and one lucky reader may find the book at their doorstep! Don’t let the doorbell interrupt your nap.

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Fiction

• The Three Fates of Charlie Red (Kindle) by Brianne Rosa. You already know about my immense enthusiasm for this book. Please buy it, read it, share it, review it. It’s wonderful.

• Long Island Compromise (Kindle) by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. This book is a wild ride. There are graphic descriptions of things that are just gross, and that I’d frankly prefer not to read about. If that will ruin it for you, consider yourself warned. However, I stuck with this story because in addition to being repulsive, it is propulsive, creative, hilarious, insightful, and sad. There is not a single character I’d want to know in my real life, but somehow I cared about each one of them. So I guess I stayed with it because that says something about the writer and their craft, and I’m fascinated by how she does it. TBA (great initials) has written a few other things recently that have stayed with me, like this one about sending a child to college (gift link), and this one (gift link), which compelled me to take a day trip to NYC. I’m a fan.

Non-Fiction

• You with the Sad Eyes (Audible) by Christina Applegate. I love a good dishey celebrity memoir, and am particularly fascinated by Christina Applegate because I could not stand Married with Children but absolutely loved Dead to Me. It made me so curious about her and how she has evolved as a person in the limelight over a long career. She is reflective and fun and fascinating and honest - I am so glad I read this, but it was incredibly brutal.

• Judy Blume: A Life (Audible) by Mark Oppenheimer. If taking a trip to Key West for the express purpose of going to Judy Blume’s bookstore makes me a super fan, guilty as charged. (She was THERE. I got to MEET HER.) I started reading Judy Blume’s canon around the time I was disliking Married with Children, so these two books paired nicely. This New Yorker article provides interesting context to this biography, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was interesting as a 48 year old woman to relate to Judy at that age, to see her through new eyes. I am not sure if this book has wide appeal, but if you are a Judy fan, you will love it.

• What to Make of a Life (Audible) by Jim Collins. I saw Jim Collins in conversation with Kelly Corrigan last month, and it was lovely. However, my friend and I left a bit skeptical about his premise, and agreed we would read the book to decide what we really thought of his project. After reading it, I like it. I like his framework for thinking about the seasons of life, and his choice to pair different well-known people to illustrate the principles was compelling and informative. This book will get a lot of attention as a book for new graduates. I would recommend it to anyone at one of life’s “cliffs” - retirement, move, marriage or divorce, loss, etc. If you are the type of person who makes meaning of your life through books, I bet you will enjoy this. Look - there they are!

  

  What books have been a gift to you lately? Remember to gift yourself a NAP.

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The author, Brianne Rosa, builds a compelling realm of witches, connecting their relationships to the human world and to the fate of one high school aged girl, Charlie Red. Charlie has been through it in her short life, and is an absolutely irresistible protagonist. As she weaves through typical adolescent ups and downs combined with unusual grief and hardship, her choices intersect with the witches charged with her protection. Through her trials, Charlie Red shows growth, courage, spirit, and love. She finds a way to be in her world by both being deeply a part of it and also by gaining perspective beyond her daily existence. I feel like she develops her non-anxious presence:-)

I would recommend this book to anyone - it is so beautiful. I plan to support Bri in the following ways:

• buying the book

• buying more books and putting them in the hands of former students who I know will resonate with Charlie Red

• buying more books and leaving them around town in Little Free Libraries

• requesting the book from my local library

• recommending the book to my local bookstore and asking them to carry it

• if you read the book, leave online reviews and share on your social media, especially if you love it

• send the author fan mail. i can put you in touch!

I hope you will buy, read, and love this book. If you want me to send you a copy, comment below! I also hope you will spread the word. Experiencing great art and performing random acts of kindness are great ways to access your NAP. Don’t forget to nap afterwards.

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*Brianne is my cousin’s daughter, making her my 1st cousin once removed or my 1st and 2nd cousin, depending on how you like to call it. She is a 2nd cousin to my children. I have an absurd number of first cousins. I’m good at the cousin counting.

For a variety of reasons, I used to dread March. It is a month that carries multiple difficult anniversaries, and it can feel SO LONG. Plus, I am always so impatient for spring. But over the past 20 years, March has become a reminder of what I’ve endured and as such gives very different energy. For me at this point, March is a month that moves. It moves us from Lent to Easter, from Winter to Spring, from what was to what is. March is a month that marches us into what’s next.

Fiction

• Project Hail Mary (Audible) by Andy Weir. I re-listened to this in anticipation of the movie. I have never typed these words before, but the movie is better. The set up of PHM is so creative and fascinating and genius, but the endless scientific rambling got boring for me at a point. (Don’t you dare say astrophage again.) The movie, however, communicates the key scientific bits efficiently, and focuses on the character development, the beauty, and the deeply human part of this outer space novel. Read the book if you like, but definitely go see the movie.

• Rebecca (Kindle) by Daphne Du Maurier. A classic suspense thriller originally published in 1938. This Gothic novel is a classic for a reason - the psychological subtlety, the compelling mystery, and full creep factor of certain characters. It’s not my usual fare, but I’m glad I read it.

• Forget Me Not (Kindle) by Stacy Willingham. A modern novel of psychological suspense. Solid story, pairs well with Rebecca.

Non-Fiction

• A Marriage at Sea (Audible) by Sophie Elmhurst. I have been telling everyone about this book. The true story of a British couple who decide to flout the societal conventions of the 1970s and live on their boat would make for barely believable fiction. The husband wants to navigate by the stars alone, so when their boat is badly damaged they have no way to get help, and live for over 4 months on their dinghy and life raft. The logistics of their survival, as well as how it reveals and shapes them as individuals and as a couple, are described so vividly. It’s a truly fascinating story.

• Lent is my favorite spiritual season. “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” is, ironically, the reminder my spirit needs to support my non-anxious presence. These two books speak explicitly about Christian faith:

  • Braving the Truth (Audible) by Rachel Held Evans. RHE changed my life, and the life of so many others, with her unflinching dedication to untangling Christian culture from Christ’s message. This is a posthumous compilation of her writing after her untimely death. There wasn’t much in here I had not already read, but I am so glad to have her words in one place to revisit when I need a shot of radical Christian love.

  • Good Soil (Audible) by Jeff Chu. I am learning to grow flowers, and this has been a rough winter for plant life. Feeling discouraged, I picked up this book to remind myself that good soil is all about struggle, and composting the shit we go through is what builds a rich place for growth. Jeff Chu is a vulnerable and thoughtful writer, and I loved reading his reflections from his time at the Farminary.

What books moved you this month? It’s okay if they moved you to NAP.

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I love love, and I celebrate love in February. This months reads are all about love - among families, friends, and lovers.

Fiction

• The Rachel Incident (Kindle) by Caroline O’Donoghue. Not by design, this book is very similar to Writers & Lovers in terms of the age of the characters and the life stage they are in. Post-college, but very much adults in transition. This book is plot-driven, with well drawn, lovable and flawed characters. It is an absolute page turner, and makes you think about friends, lovers, and how they shape us as we grow up. Recommend.

• Writers & Lovers (Kindle) by Lily King. This was a re-read for me. Heart the Lover, which I also re-read this month, is a prequel and a sequel to this book, which I read for the first time in the very early days of the pandemic. After loving Heart the Lover so much, I wanted to go back and read them together to get the full arc of Casey/Jordan. (Also, as I work on my own writing, it is helpful for me to revisit favorite books and beloved authors to wonder how on earth they do what they do so well.) This is a book about a young adult coping with the loss of her mother. In the early days of the pandemic, I loved the book but could not relate. Just six months later, I became a (relatively) young adult who lost her mother. This reread reminded me how much I have changed in six years, how beautifully Lily King writes about living with grief, and what an absolute freaking genius she is on the page. I loved this even more the second time.

• Heart the Lover (hardcover) by Lily King. I have already told you all how much I loved this book, and reading it again after W&L made me love it even more. I want to know if Lily King planned to write this book when she wrote W&L, and if Daisy will have a book in the future.

Non-Fiction

• Home Schooled (Audible) by Stefan Merrill Block. This memoir of a young boy who is homeschooled by his narcissistic mother was triggering in all the ways. Abuse of children and bad teaching are two things that make me most upset in the world, and this is FILLED with both. Related, what on earth was his dad doing? It is a fascinating story - likely one hated by the home school community - and I salute the author for being able to tell his story and find some freedom from his childhood.

• Strangers (Audible) by Belle Burden. I loved this memoir so much. First, it is beautifully written. Second, it is an unflinching glimpse into a world of intense (INTENSE) privilege that is not often talked about in detail. But mostly, it is a raw telling of the end of a marriage - how our childhood experiences shape us, and trap us - and how no amount of money in the world can buy emotional security and freedom. Highly recommend.

I continue to enjoy my slow read of The Stand. I’ve bailed on Wolf Hall. I might try again another time, but I found doing two slow reads was jamming up my reading flow, and I am not here for that.

What did you read and love this month? Don’t forget to nap.

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January is not my jam. Why is it so cold? Why are there so many days? For my whole life, I have teetered between feeling like it is a problem to solve and trying to just accept it. I don’t want to dread 1/12 of my life. And this particular January…I am distraught, distracted, depleted.

My bad January attitude definitely extended to some of these books, which might be perfectly lovely books to read in perfectly lovely months. And if I liked it in January, it’s probably awesome.

Fiction

• Wreck (hardcover) by Catherine Newman. I love her writing. She is very middle-aged white lady, but so am I. Her writing is funny, and honest, and resonant. She loves her husband and her children and isn’t afraid to name what’s hard amidst all that is good. OK, I guess I did like this one.

• The Eyes and The Impossible (Audible) by Dave Eggers. This book won the Newbery Medal in 2024, and it is so deserved. I listened to this entire audiobook, narrated delightfully by Ethan Hawke, between December 31-January 1, and it is wonderful. Great if you need a lighthearted break between more serious books.

• The Ghostwriter (Kindle) by Julie Clark. I read this in Mexico during Girls Just Wanna Weekend, so of course I liked it. (It was warm out). This one surprised me - super page turny, very atmospheric, kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommend.

• The Names (Kindle) by Florence Knapp. This one has an interesting premise, and has gotten a lot of buzz. I almost put it down after the first three chapters, due to brutal descriptions of domestic violence. A friend encouraged me to continue, and I am glad I did. The domestic violence stopped being an active thing, though it haunted the rest of the novel. I liked the characters and thought it was interesting the way the alternate timelines played out. Recommend.

• Rejection (Kindle) by Tony Tulathimutte. Abandoned. Did not finish. Rejected, if you will. NOT PICTURED. Maybe I just don’t get it, but 50% in I really didn’t want to.

Non-Fiction

• How To Lose Your Mother (Audible) by Molly Jong-Fast. Though there was much I could identify with in this book - the grief of having parents with memory loss, the weight of parenting your children, parenting your parents, caring for your spouse, and trying to keep a sense of health admidst it all - I found it fairly insufferable. Partly, January. Partly, don’t write a memoir about the last two years of your life and expect to have profound insight. Partly, though I normally love memoirs read by the author, ROUGH on audio.

I continue to enjoy my slow reads of The Stand and Wolf Hall.

What did you read and love this month? Long winter’s naps for all.

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This…

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Recently we were discussing a persistent pain in my left asship (a technical term). She asked if …

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This book is an absolute delight, and would be a perfect listen while you are wrapping, baking, holiday prepping, or a perfect read in front of your holiday decorations.

What are you reading this season?

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Happy holidays, NAPpers.

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I have typically been a pretty rules bound person. I follow rules, I exceed expectations.

Reading, for me, is an antidote to that. I read what I…

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