Homebody hobbies, a new fav rom-com, and house shoes
October was peak fall and I loved it
Welcome to Monthly Wrap, where I share three books I loved last month, three books I’m looking forward to, and three good things. Get access to the full archive by upgrading to paid today!
A quick note: There won't be a new post on Wednesday next week. In light of election week here in the US, sending a regular post following Tuesday's election doesn't feel relevant. I'll be casting my vote for Kamala on Tuesday, and Wednesday will be a big news cycle day (with hopefully historic news of our first female president!). I hope you take care and get offline as needed. I'll be back in your inbox on Sunday 💌
Fall has been an absolute delight here in Maine this year. The foliage has been vibrant, days have been soaked with golden light (the light this year!), and I feel like we had a perfect October.
The biggest headline from the month is that I finished my 2024 wedding season! I shot my final wedding last weekend. It was beautiful, and I am very much looking forward to the change of pace in 'hibernation season.' I have loads of editing and a to-do list of projects to keep me busy through the winter. But I'm happy to have weekends and evenings quiet down and return to a more traditional work schedule for the next six months.
Other than that, this month, I got out for a fun coastal day trip, spent a weekend in Connecticut photographing a wedding and seeing my family and friends, got to spend time with mom and stepdad while they were in town for a reunion, and celebrated the end of wedding season with a treat-your-self day.
Now, onto the books...
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3 books I loved recently
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker is a departure from Bieker's usual work, and I couldn't put it down! Bieker writes female characters so well, and this is no exception. It's darkly funny and a little twisty, which kept me flipping pages.
Under Your Spell by Laura Wood is my newest favorite British rom-com! If you're always looking for more books that feel like Jenny Bayliss, Emily Henry, or Christina Lauren, please give this delightful one a go.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett was a dark horse for me this month. It seems like a divisive book for readers, but I fell into the camp of loving it. Patchett's signature blend of wit, warmth, and tenderness combined with a heavier storyline worked for me!
You can see more of my thoughts about these books and everything else I read in October here:
3 new releases I’m looking forward to
Because of the election season, November's publishing cycle is slower than usual. So, I've got one new release I'm excited about and two other titles at the top of my TBR for November.
Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens (out 11/19) because it's a new Sophie Cousens! I got an advanced copy of this and already read it and spoiler alert: it's a complete delight. Cousens is one of my favorite British rom-com authors, and if you haven't read her backlist yet, what are you waiting for?
A Reason to See You Again by Jami Attenberg (out now) because I missed this new release when it came out in September but picked up a copy at my local independent bookstore last weekend on the recommendation of one of my trusted, favorite booksellers.
Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin (out now) because I read a Colwin book each November, and this is next up on my list. November feels perfect for Colwin: she's a food writer at heart, but her fiction delves into the quirky, messy, and tender dynamics of family. Two perfect themes for November.
3 good things
A new hobby. I have photographed so much these last few months that I developed tendonitis in my wrist. So, while recovering from that, I haven't been able to do my favorite screen-free hobby, crocheting. I noticed my screen time drastically ticked up in September because of this, so I went on the hunt for a new hobby that could take the place. Enter coloring. I saw this video and was sold. I know this is not anything new, but I made the switch from colored pencils to markers and got this cute coloring book, and wow, I can spend literally hours coloring and listening to my audiobook. My screen time and stress levels are down after a month of coloring. One freeing thing, too, is that I've been doing it purely for me and with no intention of displaying it (with crocheting, I often make gifts for other people). So, who cares if it looks terrible or the color palette isn't perfect? That's freeing.
Morning walks. October was about getting back to the basics for self-care as I made my way through the final push of the wedding season. One of my favorite ways to do this is by taking long walks. I reinstated my morning walk in October, which made my days 100% better. Instead of being on my phone first thing (can you sense a theme of recalibrating my phone use this past month), I head out the door for a 30-minute walk on the walking trail near us. It makes me feel present, happier, and accomplished before 8am. Perfect.
House shoes. I have a bad habit of spending the day barefoot because I work from home. I also switched to a standing desk over the summer, so I'm on my feet more. My body thanks me for that, but my bare feet do not! A friend recently talked up a pair of slides she swears are the most comfortable house shoes in the world, and I was intrigued. I hemmed and hawed (because I think they are quite hideous) but finally picked up a pair in Vanilla when we were at REI a few weeks ago. And let me tell you, they are amazing! They feel so good on my feet and feel like I'm standing on clouds. I likely won't be caught dead outside the house in them (😂), but they have been so great to wear while working from home and utilizing my standing desk. Yay for good foot health!
Til next time,
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You and Natalie convinced me to try Under Your Spell and I LOVED IT!!! Definitely one of my new favorite contemporary romances ~ I loved how rich the supporting characters were ♡ Also, you influenced me to try the slides now ....... I'm desperate and if they feel amazing I will weep with relief. Might even wear them to work - ha! I love the coloring book too - so tempted to order one, but feel a little guilty about the gazillion coloring books I already have. It's definitely puzzle and coloring season for me too!
I colored nonstop during lockdown! I need to circle back. Maybe I need to bring it back to soothe election tension. I crochet dishcloths--I've never progressed beyond dishcloths. :o)