A list of Joyous Bookish Moments™

2024 edition

Dec 29, 2024

Hello, readers! I'm offline, enjoying time with family and some rest as we prepare to turn the calendar into 2025. I scheduled this post before I left, but hopefully, by now, I've baked cookies with my mom, been puzzling in the middle of the afternoon in pajamas, and enjoyed long, brisk walks bundled up.

Last year, I shared my joyous bookish moments, which brought me so much, well, joy! So, I thought about them again this year. I read many great books this year, but it wasn't my most fulfilling reading year (which is okay!). But, because of feeling that way, it felt extra nice to reflect on the year and be reminded of all the good.

I'll be back the week of January 6th with new posts. Cheers to 2025 🥂

A List of Joyous Bookish Moments™

Spending the first few weekends of the year cozied up on the couch, reading a book while the snow fell outside, with no reason to leave.
Unexpectedly getting sucked into the world of dragons at the same time as my two best friends. And subsequently sharing all the absurd memes after. It was such a treat to have an ongoing text thread with them going about this; a reminder of how connective books can be for people you don't see daily.
Putting even more time and energy into Substack and delighting in all the fantastic book recommendations I've found through this space.
This was the first year Dean and I read so many of the same books, and it was so fun to be in a very informal book club of two. Many of them ended up being my favorites of the year!
Heading to the bookstore on pub day for Funny Story and then coming home immediately and reading it. Emily Henry's release days have started to feel like the kickoff of summer reading.
Setting gentler reading resolutions for the year and listening more to my intuition than the feeling of "should."
Shopping my amazing local bookstores and always experiencing a spark of joy when one of the booksellers compliments my book selections.
Packing a giant tote bag of books to take on summer vacation because we had room in the car, and then actually reading most of them.
Taking the train down to Boston for the loveliest, sunshiniest day hopping around to various bookstores for Independent Bookstore Day.
Making my Kindle cute, which never fails to inspire me to pick it up more.
Cat snuggles and reading, always. It might have been different kitties this year than last, but it was still great.
Jetting off to Florida in February for ten days and spending the entire plane ride knitting and listening to an audiobook. So peaceful!
Reading more middle-grade books because Dean has been reading so much for a work project. And that resulting in reading some of the same books as friend's kids and being able to chat books with the littles in our life.
Wrapping up my final wedding of the season and spending the following day bookstore hopping around Portland and coming home with a giant stack as a "treat your shelf" celebration day.
Instituting a book-buying ban for March and April, which really helped me enjoy what I already had.
Trying new ways of tracking my reading, which gave an unexpected jolt to my reading season.
Buying many of my books from Pangobooks and subsequently letting my books find great new homes.
Monthly meetups with my local book club at the new cafe/bookstore in town. Cozy!
A summer that was not full of rain, which yielded so many fantastic sunny afternoons spent lazing at the beach with a book in hand. Maine beaches have a specific vibe, and that vibe is that many people are quietly reading. I love sneaking a look at what people are reading.
Practicing a different way of planning for seasonal reading, which really worked for me!
Getting to visit indie bookstores in Connecticut throughout the year with my mom anytime I visited. I love sharing that interest with her!
That first holiday read in front of the tree with the "fire" going. It's like a deep exhale each year.
Replacing my lunchtime scroll with a chapter or two in the sunny spot at the dining room table.

I got to collaborate with so many fellow book-loving friends this year! It will never not be an honor when someone asks to feature me. Here are some of my favorites.