writing

What I Read in August 2025

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I didn’t read anything in August and that’s actually just fine by me. I’ve had a lot of other things on my mind. It’s been a busy month with a ton of travel and taking a few different courses for work. On top of that I’ve been adjusting to a new medication that had some side effects that were messing with my brains (but I’ve adjusted now and I’m feeling great btw). There was a time when I’d be so embarrassed to come to this space to say I didn’t read anything but I’m a new man.

Ryan and I after we locked the front door of the shop for the last time before handing over the keys to the new owner.

When I started working at the bookstore that would eventually become mine (the one I sold exactly a year ago last week), one of the first things I noticed was how some people seem to carry pride or shame around their reading life. The proud ones were loud, rare, and super annoying. A lot more folks seemed embarrassed about what they had or hadn’t read or some other aspect of their relationship to books. It didn’t take long for me to make that my whole mission at the store: eliminate shame around reading.

I’m not saying there are just two types of readers. As with anything, there’s a whole spectrum. Still, more people walked in feeling like their reading life wasn’t good enough than I ever would have expected.

When I first took over the store, we were selling used books on Amazon. One of the first things I noticed was that we sold so many more romance mass market paperbacks online than we ever did in store. Once I sold and shipped a book to someone who lived in my town! Now, odds are they didn’t know where they were ordering from. But the point is that it felt like people were embarrassed of their love of romance (though there’s no way to know if that was the case). And that was the first thing that tipped me off to this dynamic.

Thankfully over the course of the past ten years, the landscape of the romance genre has completely changed. Now there are entire stores dedicated to romance–if you’re in Portland, OR check out my friend Katherine’s store Grand Gesture. Or if you’re closer to Kansas City, you need to check out Under The Cover.

But I started to see it in other places, too.

Most often it was from parents who used to be big readers but haven’t been able to finish anything longer than If You Give a Mouse a Cookie in the past decade. Dear Parents–you’re not failing at anything by being in a season of your life that requires every ounce of your body and brain for the caretaking and question-answering duties of young children. No one is judging you, no one blames you, and everyone just wants to bring you a blanket and a cup of tea.

Sometimes it was from the I’m-not-a-big-reader-but-my-wife-is type of guy. This fella is often loud and pretending to be too cool to read to cover up his insecurities about not being smart enough. I keep wondering if there will ever come a time when folks realize that we can tell they’re overcompensating for an insecurity when they make a big deal about how confident and fine they are. Anyway–not to sound like a sales expert or anything but these people were so easy to sell to. I let his wife go look for what she knows she likes. And then he and I get into a conversation about what he likes to watch on TV and from there my recommendations were so seamless. “Oh! You like Yellowstone? I think I read somewhere that the creators of that show used Lonesome Dove as a huge inspiration for that series. We never have a copy though because it’s always sold out. …Oh wow! Look! We DO have a copy today! I know you’re not much of a reader though, so I’m not trying to sell you on it. I am just surprised we had a copy. That’s wild.” And then they always say, “Well now let me take a look at that.” And when they’re at the checkout and his wife almost always says something along the lines of, “You’re buying a book?” And he looks so proud. And I love that.

I can’t tell you how many people used to sheepishly admit they were just comfort reading Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings again, like it was something to be embarrassed about. But honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that! There are so many benefits from reading a familiar book over and over again. Every time you go back, you notice little details you missed before, and it ties you to who you were the first time you read it. Also, studies show that this is also a resilience building activity, which I think is so cool. Think about it. That feeling of “I’ve been here before and I know it ends okay” can actually help you feel braver facing the unknowns of real life over time. Sometimes it’s not about chasing a new book at all, it’s about finding comfort in the one that already feels like home. You’re no less of a reader just because you’re not reading something brand new every time.

I know there’s a lot of discourse around Harry Potter and whether or not it’s ethical to still read and talk about it. Here’s where I stand: if you love it, read the books you already have. Get them from friends or used bookstores or little free libraries. That way you get the joy of these books you love and none of the money goes into the pockets of the author. This is the one instance I wouldn’t recommend using the public library because the more people who check out those books, the more the library has to buy new. That being said, do go to the library to find new books that can help to scratch that itch for you and maybe will even become your new favorite! I recommend checking out the Legendborn series by Tracy Deonn, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, or obviously the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.

Have you noticed shame around reading in your own life or in those of your loved ones? There are so many more types of book shame–I just had to stop myself at some point. I could write a whole series on that alone!

What I Read in March of 2025

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I do find it ironic that immediately upon starting my reading instagram account, I took a month off from reading at all. I don’t know what happened here–it’s like my brain said, “Hold ON! The books from February were just too good and I’m not ready to move on!”

Actually, that’s not true. I know exactly what happened. It’s that when I’m reading, it’s very tempting to look at my phone. I am constantly Googling while reading. I want to get a visual for what’s happening in the story. Like when the author says that the main character walked out in a stunning, backless, emerald green, high neck mini dress with blouson sleeves. And I’m like, “Wait… backless AND high-neck? And blouson sleeves? This sounds heinous. Give me a second.” And then this pops up and I’m like, “Ohhhh”. That’s very helpful to me.

But then after I Google the dress or the location of a story or a song that someone is singing in the book, then my thumb immediately hovers over Facebook or Instagram and I’m sucked back into the “real world” (is it?) where I’m hearing about the latest abhorrent thing someone in our administration has done.

My tension gets high and I start feeling knots in my stomach and I feel the need to share all the shit that is making me feel this way so that I’m not alone in feeling this way. But… GOD why would I want other people to feel this way?! I’m no one’s news source they don’t have to hear it from me. I recently started implementing a practice wherein if I must share information that sends me into a rage–I immediately share a video of something silly to balance it. So… for example, someone is making plans for war in a group chat instead of congress? Cool. Here’s that but also… here’s a video of a schnauzer in rain boots.

Anyway, last week I was falling back into old patterns of feeling bad for things that no one should ever feel bad for. Like, not reading “enough”? Or creating a bookstagram account and then not posting on it for a month. But, like, what’s the purpose of reading? To have fun. For me the whole point is to have fun. It’s fun when I do it! It’s not fun when I give myself homework.
Why did I create that account? Was it to be a consistency queen or get a certain number of followers? No, it was so that I could have a space to post on my grid about what I was reading and to have another place to scroll (when I must scroll) that doesn’t have an algorithm filled with weight loss ads and Elon Musk’s face. So, honestly, on both fronts I’m winning.

Yesterday I was zoning out, scrolling for my allotted 15 minutes at a time on Instagram and I happened upon Elsie Larson’s IG stories. She talked about how during her social media break she finished writing her first novel. Someone asked her, “When will your book be released?” And she said something along the lines of, “I’m not sure it’ll ever be released. That’s not necessarily why I wrote it.” And the way I put my phone down for a second and had to talk to myself about it.

I responded and was honestly shocked that she wrote me back. I’m always astonished when people who have a billion followers respond to my messages. The world is wild. But this is it exactly. This is the energy I want to build into my 4th decade on this planet. I’m no longer doing things because I want to find success in it. I’m doing shit because I want to find enjoyment in it. And that’s it. That’s what it’s all about for me.

Anyway–sprinkled throughout this post are photos of things that I found enjoyment in this month that weren’t reading:
-Finishing Severance and then finally allowing myself to indulge in all the silly fan theories and memes.
-Happening upon a mural that reminded me of my best friend’s kid.
-This Christmas Cactus that my dear friend gave to me and when she did I was like, “Oof this is not going to survive me.” But look at her thriving!
-Taking makeup-free selfies.
-Endless video calls with Kinzie as we continue to build out our second round of the Empowerment Experience (which will start on April 8 and I can’t be more thrilled).
-Sitting on the porch in our new patio furniture while Nala fixates on a spot where she one time saw a baby snake.


Not pictured:
-Endless hours of me playing The Sims 4 and recreating my favorite TV characters homes (most recently Carrie Bradshaw moved to town and she’s struggling as a freelance writer and looking for love).
–This YouTube account which follows a delightful man who, in the midst of burnout and grief, bought a cottage in the Scottish countryside and is working (pretty much alone and with relatively basic skills) to fix it up and make his life more beautiful. I feel so proud of him and it makes me want to find and add more beauty to my own life.
-Dates with Ryan. This month I took him on a surprise date. We only went to the movies (we saw Micky 17 which I found deeply hilarious and excellent–much to my surprise) but the fact that I wouldn’t tell him anything about what we were doing was actually more fun than anything we could have done. Well, that and the fact that we blew the budget we were going to use on dinner at the concession stand.

Where are you finding enjoyment these days?

What I Read in October and November 2024

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I didn’t feel like writing about what I read in October. I don’t remember why but this past month I’ve been feeling more and more compelled to come over to this space. It’s just that… I don’t have a clue what to write about anymore. It’s wild because there was a time where I never wanted to do anything but write. I wanted to make it my whole livelihood! I’m not sure that much is for me, these days. But I would love to stretch that muscle a little bit more. I’m sure something will come to me but if you have any ideas, I’m all ears.

In October, I read three books.

I started with Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford.

I really loved this book so much. I just snagged it off the new release shelf at the library because I really like books about old ladies. And this one was no different.

On its face it’s a book about an older woman who joins a fictionalized version of the Great British Bake Off and has a secret that she’d really like to keep.

But at its core, this is a book about the complexity of long relationships, the power of unconditional love, but mostly about taking the opportunity to take what you want out of life–even if you haven’t believed that you’d deserve it until now. It’s never too late to take what you want–even if you didn’t know what that was until just now.

The characters are absolutely lovable and darling. I couldn’t get enough of these folks.

Then I read The Fastest Way To Fall by Denise Williams. Another book I absolutely loved!

Britt is a plus-sized hottie that works as a writer for a lifestyle blog (me in another life). She gets an assignment to try out a new body-positive fitness app and give her full and honest opinion. Things are going great when her posts start going viral and getting tons of views–and she also starts falling for her coach. Things start getting a little out of hand as her fame rises and then yadda yadda yadda… I’m not gonna give it all away.

Here’s what I will say: the banter is A+. The spice is comparatively tame (in relation to a lot of other books out there) I’d give it 2.5/5 chili peppers. I did take a point off because of a personal pet peeve of mine that I won’t tell you about because it’s a spoiler.
A note for my body-positive friends: I was nervous that this book would have weight loss talk in it or that our fat main character or other characters would be concerned with that. I can’t say there’s none of that but it is a topic used to point out who’s a good person and who sucks. So that’s nice. And the love interest is obsessed with her body as-is. There are also a few other scenes where the main character notices the way her body is changing but not in a way that glorifies thinness as much as it celebrates her strength. I recommend it!

Next up was Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks. Full disclosure: I got this book because I thought it would be a nice, semi-spooky romance to read for Halloween. I was wrong (no spook whatsoever). But that’s okay because I loved it anyway!

It’s about this shy, demisexual Irish mortician (that’s where “morbidly” comes from in the title) who has to get married before he turns 35 or he’ll lose his family’s funeral home. Meanwhile, his new neighbor is a feisty Texas girl who’s trying to leave her messy past behind. They’re total opposites, obviously, and it’s super awkward at first, but then… you know. Feelings. It’s funny, it’s sweet, and it’s got just the right amount of chaos.

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that took place in Ireland before! The beginning of the book has a glossary full of Irish words and their English translations. So when Irish characters use those words, you can flip to the front to get the phonetic spelling so you can say it, quietly, to yourself and feel cool. Also… there are extra spicy Irish words and phrases at the back of the book. Because… you’ll need that too.

In October I DNF’d these two books:
The Old Place by Bobby Finger (was really enjoying it but not feeling compelled)
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (this book seems really good but my brain is still smooth and just wants light stuff–I can’t wait to dig back into all my thrillers again though!)

In November, I read two books.

I read fewer pages this month, but I feel like I read a lot more often than I did in October! I’ve been reading every day (or close to it) and that feels good. That’s something I want to keep up with.

Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young was so good! I have never read a book that handled disability the way this did. UGH! I felt really seen–even though our disabilities are very different.

I will tell you something I didn’t know about before picking it up–but also, it’s something that if I had known, it would have kept me from reading this book. And I would be poorer for it. This book does prominently feature a pregnancy. If you’re avoiding pregnancy tropes because of trigger reasons–by all means, avoid this one. But if it’s just because you think you know how it’s going to go or something like that? I recommend getting past that and picking this one up.

Both main characters in this book have limb disabilities (as does the author of this book!) and while that’s not the main feature of any character–it’s also absolutely not ignored! And I love that. Because in your relationship, your family, your friendships, no matter what accommodations you need, they will come up! And this demonstrates it so beautifully.

Also, and I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say this, there is no annoying 3rd act breakup scene. *Siri, play the Hallelujah Chorus*

The day after the election, I was dead inside and I didn’t feel like reading anything at all. But then the bookstore called and said that a book that Ryan had special ordered came in and, what do you know, he’d bought me a copy of Stanley Tucci’s newest book. That was exactly what I needed.

So then I read What I Ate in a Year by Stanley Tucci. I would tell you about it here but I actually had to come over to my blog and write a whole post dedicated to only this book. Here’s a link.

Meet Me Monday: Brooke

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I met Brooke on Instagram last year. I was initially super intrigued by her waste-free lifestyle. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it and I’m super interested in reducing waste–I just need to see some examples. You know? So that’s why I was following her, at first.

As time went on, I was more and more intrigued by the way that Brooke gave herself so much grace and permission to take the time she needs and be gentle with herself regarding the way that life sometimes throws out a curveball. She lives an example of walking in grief, joy, pleasure, trust and everything else that we encounter along this journey. And that’s why I’m still following her and look forward to seeing her new posts every time they pop up in my feed.

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How do you want to introduce yourself?
Hi, everyone! I’m so glad you’re here. Firstly because Libby is great, and I’m glad you found her blog. Secondly, I’m honored to share a bit about myself with you today! I’m Brooke, creator of the blog A Simple Alternative where I write and share what it means to live from my values in everyday life. I’m a big fan of simplicity, communication, laughter, and life’s sensual offerings, from a juicy meal to a sweet kiss! Much like Libby and my dear idol Glennon Doyle, I consider myself a teller of the truth, in all of its raw, delightful, and uncomfortable forms. Recently I’ve taken a break from publishing content to dive deeper into my current life experience of healing a broken heart. You can find me on Instagram where I post daily about grief, heartbreak, healing, and juicy living. More blog content will be coming soon!
What gets you out of the bed in the morning?
Trusting what God (life, the universe, the force, you know what I mean) has in store for me. I trust that I am here to learn, grow, and love.
What word/ phrase resonates the most in your life?
Grace and Trust have been my go-to soul words recently. Especially Grace. Everything in my life is enhanced by my ability to be in flow with Grace, to trust Grace, to melt into Grace, etc. I don’t mean Grace in with any specific religious tone, however (nor do I dislike grace in a religious context). For me, Grace names my underpinning commitment to trusting in love and integrity.
My favorite phrase is an excerpt from a Mark Nepo poem: “… It is the way I would have chosen had I been born three times as brave”.
What does your ideal day look like?
My ideal day is when I get to go with the flow, nothing particular scheduled. It involves eating nourishing meals, laughing with friends, being by water or in nature, walking, hiking, or swimming, reading a good book and writing. From start to finish: Waking up to no alarm, going for a solo hike followed by lunch with my best friend, reading, and writing by the Boulder Creek for a while, laughing with dear friends over food again, then headed to bed early.
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Brooke–thank you for coming here to tell us a little more about what drives you through the world.
Everyone else, if you want more of Brooke’s perspective in your life, go follow her on Instagram and subscribe to A Simple Alternative.

If you know of someone that we should hear from, hit me up on Instagram or Facebook! Let me know who the cool women are in your life and we’ll try to get a conversation going!
XOXO, Lib

Meet Me Mondays

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Overwhelmingly, the thing that people keep asking me about in regards to my blog is if I’m ever going to bring back Feminist Fridays. My answer, for the longest time, was something between a very polite, “Oh, I’m not sure…” and Michael Scott realizing that Toby is back at work in Scranton. It’s not that I didn’t love doing Feminist Fridays–I really, really did. But it took a lot more labor than I ever expected and it only took a few months for me to feel completely burned out from it. I also feel like Feminist Fridays has served its purpose around here. At least, the way that I was using the interviews to, essentially, show that “feminist” is not a dirty word and there are so many facets to it.

But I hear you. You were loving the interviews and the reliability and learning about new, ordinary, super cool women on the regular. That’s what I like, too! So that’s why I’m introducing a new series called Meet Me Mondays.

Meet Me Mondays was inspired by this book [affiliate] that my brother-in-law gave to me for Christmas. This book is incredible and I whole heartedly recommend picking it up for yourself. The thing that I first loved about this book was that every woman who was interviewed was asked the exact same questions. I think that was a brilliant choice by the authors. When you ask everyone the exact same questions, you’re focusing more on her humanity than on her accomplishments or things that have happened to her outside of her control. Whether the person is a best selling author or an actress or an activist or a mom or a teacher or a meter-maid–they’re all on the same playing field. I’m not directing the conversation in any way–the person we’re talking to is the one in charge. And I love that. There’s no preconceived notions or right answers. There’s just, whatever you want to talk about. Wherever you want to go.

I already have a few cool women lined up for interviews and I’m psyched for you all to meet them! If you want to be interviewed, hit me up! Or if you know of someone that you think more people should know, let me know! This isn’t about celebrating women for the cool things they’re doing–it’s about celebrating women for being women and showing the world that there’s so much treasure in ordinary people.

Anyway, I hope you’re as excited as I am. I am v excited, after all.

XOXO, Lib