Hi everyone! I'm pulling together your excellent book recommendations into one list here in case anyone else is interested! If you have more book ideas, please feel free to add them as a reply, and I'll update them to this list. What an incredible resource you all are! Thank you! ♡
- [ ] Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis.
- [ ] Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach
- [ ] Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano.
- [ ] Butter by Asako Yuzuki
- [ ] The North Woods
- [ ] Matrix by Lauren Groff
- [ ] The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab (if you like Fantasy)
- [ ] Wintering by Katherine May
- [ ] American Wolves (nonfiction about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone)
- [ ] The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
- [ ] Curiosities by Anne Fleming
- [ ] Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
- [ ] Little House on the Prairie series
- [ ] A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey
- [ ] The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
- [ ] Bummer Camp by Ann Garvin
- [ ] Absolution by Alice McDermot
- [ ] James by Percival Everett (amazing)
- [ ] The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.
- [ ] The Women by Kristen Hannah (for a heartwarming read)
- [ ] Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
- [ ] The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
- [ ] Eat A Peach by David Chang
- [ ] The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
- [ ] The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
- [ ] The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
- [ ] Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
- [ ] Life After Life & A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
- [ ] The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
- [ ] Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
- [ ] The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
- [ ] Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Love this post. Secret joy this week is going to bed early! Books read and loved recently: Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach and Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano.
My husband knows I love my skincare time so he’s been making me a little tea or cocktail for my evening routine. Being noticed is a joy I’m so grateful to have🥹🤍
Highly recommend listening to Ina Gartens memoir, or reading of course. It’s fabulous and feels more intimate learning the details of her life than I imagined it would.
What a beautiful and tender gesture!! Such a telling example of a small act that feels like big love. "Being noticed is a joy." Yes!! ❤️ I'm curious what stage of marriage you are in?
I listened to Ina's memoir late last year! I normally like to read my books, but there are certain ones that listening in the car (while I drive kids to and from ballet/soccer/karate) is a little treat. That was one of them! Ina is so charming. I had the pleasure to work with her in her home on one of her books (Barefoot in Paris) many years ago and she is just as she seems.
I should’ve known my two favorite cookbook authors would have met! I agree wholeheartedly, I’m a reader 99.9% of the time, but audiobook is absolutely the way to listen to her memoir! I’m about 60% through and find myself taking the long way home to soak in every second. (And a little longer break from my 3 kids 🤫)
To answer your curiosity, My husband and I have been married for 7 years and he gets better every day! Maybe it’s help from the Newlywed Cookbook recipes that keep him even happier haha.
All these recipes look and sound amazing. Proof is when I saw the recipe for rice krispies treats...not my personal favorite. However yours look so delicious I may have to reconsider and make them! Thank you for sharing...anything chocolate is glorious in my book.
Thank you, Heide! Rice Krispy treats are generally way too sweet and overwhelming/underwhelming for me. But adding sea salt, peanut butter, and chocolate makes them balanced and satisfying. Let me know what you think if you give them a try!
What a delicious list ! And I’m going to read that other essay about living a life of quiet rebellion soon-that’s exactly what I want. Reading is also a huge one for me! And putting my phone down and being present in the moment ❤️ In January I read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (murder mystery meets Downton Abbey!), Eat A Peach by David Chang (been really into food / chef memoirs lately-and would totally read yours if you wrote one!!), and Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis. Recommend them all!
Rachel, I forgot to say I love you for your kind note that you would read my food memoir if I wrote one!! My next book (pending) will have a lot of story, and I hope it fills something my most loyal and longstanding readers have been asking for for a long time. ♡
Thank you for this lovely note, Rachel-and all your book recommendations! You have read so much already this year; I'm inspired! I imagine the look on our local librarian's face when I come in later this week with this long list. However, I will tackle them one by one (I often have many books going at once--parenting, reference, social commentary type books--but I can only manage one novel or fiction at a time).
I hope you enjoy the article. This month, my motto is touch over tech, and it's been a game changer the last three days to see the deeper levels of connection between every family member when we have books (or puzzles/games) in our hands instead of any screens.
I'm so honored, I can't wait to hear which one makes the cut! I too am a complete guilt-free choco-alcoholic. I have zero negative feelings about it. ❤️
In no particular order but all great: Butter by Asako Yuzuki; The North Woods; Matrix by Lauren Groff; The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab (if you like Fantasy); Wintering by Katherine May; American Wolves (nonfiction about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone); The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek; Curiosities by Anne Fleming; Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy. I also finished reading the entire Little House on the Prairie series (with some in-the-moment editing) with my husband and 4 year old. It turned into an unexpected family book club. Happy Reading!
Reading the Little House series aloud as a family as one of the most beautiful quiet luxuries I can think of. How special. Thank you for these other wonderful recommendations! Of these, I've only read Wintering, and was planning to reread it this month. I'm thrilled to add the others to my list.
Love all the chocolate! 🤎🤎 My little joys I started in January is writing more snail mail letters. I feel good sending notes of joy to family and friends and it’s always nice to receive a note back. 💌. If you read The Woman, add Absolution, Alice McDermott to your list. Those two books compliment each other. Other favs James, Percival Everett (amazing)) and The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese.
What a good list!! Thank you for sharing these books, Maureen. and I love this intention to send more snail mail.
This year around Greta's birthday I had her friends write her a postcard from different places in the world, imagining themselves traveling (in the future) and writing a note to her on her birthday from all over the world (we did a travel themed birthday). We got about 60 postcards from all over the world and the leftovers I've been writing to friends and also to future Greta imagining us in different parts of the world throughout different parts of our lives. It's been a really fun little exercise in both dreaming and connecting. I reminded me I need to send out a few more this week ❤️❤️
I am on a non fat, or very low fat diet. Please don't think I am not saving these recipes! My gallbladder was inflamed. My doctor said to use the diet and if that does not do the trick, well, surgery. At 72, that would be my first time.
Improving our diet and paying attention to fuel is always a smart first line of defense! I hope that works for you, Christine!! Luckily lots of health focused recipes are coming for you from me in the next few weeks. Sending love + healing vibes! 🤍
I agree! I am such a cake gal (rare but deeply enjoyed) but we are having a major resurgence of the simple joys of a warm chocolate chip cookie on regular rotation.
Thank you for these excellent book recs! So far I have 22 on my wish list and these were not on there yet!
How are you not a chocolate person!? (Though if I had to rank, chocolate comes first for me, and fruit and lemon are a close second for desserts). I can't wait to compare notes and meet IRL very soon!!
I'm desperately trying not to eat whole pans of cookies myself today! (My son just made the chocolate chip cookies for modern times himself, with no help, and nailed it!)
Hi everyone! I'm pulling together your excellent book recommendations into one list here in case anyone else is interested! If you have more book ideas, please feel free to add them as a reply, and I'll update them to this list. What an incredible resource you all are! Thank you! ♡
- [ ] Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis.
- [ ] Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach
- [ ] Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano.
- [ ] Butter by Asako Yuzuki
- [ ] The North Woods
- [ ] Matrix by Lauren Groff
- [ ] The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab (if you like Fantasy)
- [ ] Wintering by Katherine May
- [ ] American Wolves (nonfiction about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone)
- [ ] The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
- [ ] Curiosities by Anne Fleming
- [ ] Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
- [ ] Little House on the Prairie series
- [ ] A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey
- [ ] The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
- [ ] Bummer Camp by Ann Garvin
- [ ] Absolution by Alice McDermot
- [ ] James by Percival Everett (amazing)
- [ ] The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.
- [ ] The Women by Kristen Hannah (for a heartwarming read)
- [ ] Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
- [ ] The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
- [ ] Eat A Peach by David Chang
- [ ] The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
- [ ] The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
- [ ] The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
- [ ] Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
- [ ] Life After Life & A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
- [ ] The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
- [ ] Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
- [ ] The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
- [ ] Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
- [ ] The Real Americans by Rachel Khong
Love this post. Secret joy this week is going to bed early! Books read and loved recently: Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach and Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano.
Ooh, going to bed early is such a luxury (especially with a good book!). Thank you for your book recs!
Yum!
My husband knows I love my skincare time so he’s been making me a little tea or cocktail for my evening routine. Being noticed is a joy I’m so grateful to have🥹🤍
Highly recommend listening to Ina Gartens memoir, or reading of course. It’s fabulous and feels more intimate learning the details of her life than I imagined it would.
What a beautiful and tender gesture!! Such a telling example of a small act that feels like big love. "Being noticed is a joy." Yes!! ❤️ I'm curious what stage of marriage you are in?
I listened to Ina's memoir late last year! I normally like to read my books, but there are certain ones that listening in the car (while I drive kids to and from ballet/soccer/karate) is a little treat. That was one of them! Ina is so charming. I had the pleasure to work with her in her home on one of her books (Barefoot in Paris) many years ago and she is just as she seems.
I should’ve known my two favorite cookbook authors would have met! I agree wholeheartedly, I’m a reader 99.9% of the time, but audiobook is absolutely the way to listen to her memoir! I’m about 60% through and find myself taking the long way home to soak in every second. (And a little longer break from my 3 kids 🤫)
To answer your curiosity, My husband and I have been married for 7 years and he gets better every day! Maybe it’s help from the Newlywed Cookbook recipes that keep him even happier haha.
All these recipes look and sound amazing. Proof is when I saw the recipe for rice krispies treats...not my personal favorite. However yours look so delicious I may have to reconsider and make them! Thank you for sharing...anything chocolate is glorious in my book.
Thank you, Heide! Rice Krispy treats are generally way too sweet and overwhelming/underwhelming for me. But adding sea salt, peanut butter, and chocolate makes them balanced and satisfying. Let me know what you think if you give them a try!
What a delicious list ! And I’m going to read that other essay about living a life of quiet rebellion soon-that’s exactly what I want. Reading is also a huge one for me! And putting my phone down and being present in the moment ❤️ In January I read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (murder mystery meets Downton Abbey!), Eat A Peach by David Chang (been really into food / chef memoirs lately-and would totally read yours if you wrote one!!), and Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis. Recommend them all!
Rachel, I forgot to say I love you for your kind note that you would read my food memoir if I wrote one!! My next book (pending) will have a lot of story, and I hope it fills something my most loyal and longstanding readers have been asking for for a long time. ♡
Yay! How exciting! Can’t wait to read it 🥰
Thank you for this lovely note, Rachel-and all your book recommendations! You have read so much already this year; I'm inspired! I imagine the look on our local librarian's face when I come in later this week with this long list. However, I will tackle them one by one (I often have many books going at once--parenting, reference, social commentary type books--but I can only manage one novel or fiction at a time).
I hope you enjoy the article. This month, my motto is touch over tech, and it's been a game changer the last three days to see the deeper levels of connection between every family member when we have books (or puzzles/games) in our hands instead of any screens.
I'm a guilt-free complete chocaholic and now wondering which of these I can make for Sunday lunch with my in-laws today, thank you!
I'm so honored, I can't wait to hear which one makes the cut! I too am a complete guilt-free choco-alcoholic. I have zero negative feelings about it. ❤️
In no particular order but all great: Butter by Asako Yuzuki; The North Woods; Matrix by Lauren Groff; The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab (if you like Fantasy); Wintering by Katherine May; American Wolves (nonfiction about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone); The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek; Curiosities by Anne Fleming; Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy. I also finished reading the entire Little House on the Prairie series (with some in-the-moment editing) with my husband and 4 year old. It turned into an unexpected family book club. Happy Reading!
Reading the Little House series aloud as a family as one of the most beautiful quiet luxuries I can think of. How special. Thank you for these other wonderful recommendations! Of these, I've only read Wintering, and was planning to reread it this month. I'm thrilled to add the others to my list.
so decadent.
I made homemade chocolate chip scones today.
oooh yum, chocolate in scones. now I'm craving a chocolate cranberry scone with flecks of orange zest!
My top three books last year were A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey, THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center, and BUMMER CAMP by Ann Garvin.
noted!! thank you for sharing! 🫶🏼
Love all the chocolate! 🤎🤎 My little joys I started in January is writing more snail mail letters. I feel good sending notes of joy to family and friends and it’s always nice to receive a note back. 💌. If you read The Woman, add Absolution, Alice McDermott to your list. Those two books compliment each other. Other favs James, Percival Everett (amazing)) and The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese.
What a good list!! Thank you for sharing these books, Maureen. and I love this intention to send more snail mail.
This year around Greta's birthday I had her friends write her a postcard from different places in the world, imagining themselves traveling (in the future) and writing a note to her on her birthday from all over the world (we did a travel themed birthday). We got about 60 postcards from all over the world and the leftovers I've been writing to friends and also to future Greta imagining us in different parts of the world throughout different parts of our lives. It's been a really fun little exercise in both dreaming and connecting. I reminded me I need to send out a few more this week ❤️❤️
Everything looks delicious! Thank you!
I am on a non fat, or very low fat diet. Please don't think I am not saving these recipes! My gallbladder was inflamed. My doctor said to use the diet and if that does not do the trick, well, surgery. At 72, that would be my first time.
Improving our diet and paying attention to fuel is always a smart first line of defense! I hope that works for you, Christine!! Luckily lots of health focused recipes are coming for you from me in the next few weeks. Sending love + healing vibes! 🤍
Total chocoholic here. Nothing beats a homemade chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven with a cold glass of milk. All these recipes look amazing!
A great read from the last year? The Women by Kristen Hannah for a heart warming read: Mrs. Quinn’s rise to fame by Olivia ford
I agree! I am such a cake gal (rare but deeply enjoyed) but we are having a major resurgence of the simple joys of a warm chocolate chip cookie on regular rotation.
Thank you for these excellent book recs! So far I have 22 on my wish list and these were not on there yet!
This is a very difficult post to read while on a month long sugar break!!!!
Oof, you picked a tough month, my friend!! I vow to support you with some veg-heavy (low-sugar) posts coming next week. x
I'm not even a chocolate person and yet I want all of these!!!
How are you not a chocolate person!? (Though if I had to rank, chocolate comes first for me, and fruit and lemon are a close second for desserts). I can't wait to compare notes and meet IRL very soon!!
I know, I know! I’ve just never had a taste for it. Give me a fruity, creamy dessert anyday!
YUM
I'm desperately trying not to eat whole pans of cookies myself today! (My son just made the chocolate chip cookies for modern times himself, with no help, and nailed it!)
Few things in life can rival a warm chocolate chip cookie! (Preferably with extra chocolate chips!) 😂
I absolutely agree. This batch had a full 16 oz of chips in it!!