Returning from a Reading Slump
If you’ve been here before, hi, I’ve missed you. If you’re new, welcome. This is Would You Love Me If I Was a Bookworm, a little corner of the internet where I talk about what I’m reading, what bookish stuff I’m loving, and the books that have ruined my sleep schedule.
I’ve been quiet here for a while, not because I stopped reading entirely, but because I’ve been stuck in a reading slump that feels like wading through peanut butter. For the first half of the year, I could not escape into a story for the life of me. I picked up so many books, read so many first chapters, but literally nothing was sticking. Ugh.
What I did manage to read was a decent stack of self-help books, which, honestly, might have been the perfect genre for the slow-growing season I was in. And while I’ll always have a soft spot for a life optimization pep talk, I was missing the magic of fiction. I wanted a plot. A setting. A cast of characters living rent-free inside my head. Somewhere to escape to when reality feels glum.
And finally, I’m back!
Not just back on the blog, but back to the kind of reading that makes me want to ignore my responsibilities and stay up too late. So consider this your revival notice: I think I’ll be sharing way more book thoughts again. And maybe I’ll also do a deep dive soon into all the books I’ve read and loved in 2024, but for now, here are the highlights that brought me back to life:
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan: This radically shifted the way I think about food. Less about restriction, more about curiosity and quality. Plus, it introduced me to the concept of CSAs (community-supported agriculture), and now I’m getting fresh produce from a local farm every week. A win for my body and community!
The Life Council by Laura Tremaine: A small-but-mighty guide on friendships. It gave me new language for the roles people play in our lives. After reading, I just wanted to text all my people to say thank you. We are so lucky to have friends.
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino: A weird, wonderful literary sci-fi that is about an alien studying the human condition. It’s clever, moving, and unique. It made me laugh and made me cry. Highly recommend if you’ve ever felt alone, like you are on the outside looking in at everyone else who seems to have it all figured out.
Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Five stars. Easily the best self-help book I’ve read in a long time. It is so good I’m buying a physical copy just to annotate the hell out of it. If you struggle with time management or feeling like you are doing enough, please read this. Please.
The Invisible Kingdom by Meghan O’Rourke & Built to Move by Juliet and Kelly Starrett: Both brilliant health memoirs that cracked open new perspectives for me about medicine, mobility, and taking care of a body that, frankly, doesn’t always cooperate.
Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee: If Studio Ghibli were a book, it would be this one. Whimsical, cozy, and just pure delight. It is about where we go when we sleep and why we dream the dreams that we dream.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: The official book that broke the slump. Emily Henry is an auto-buy author for me. No questions asked. It was not my favorite of hers, but still an easy-breezy contemporary romance that hit like my favorite 2000s rom-com.
Circe by Madeline Miller: An instant classic. Read it for my book club. We discussed it over delicious Mediterranean food. Gorgeous writing, brilliant character depth. Circe is a witchy, mythological masterpiece. I’ll have to read more from Miss Miller. Also, maybe Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey, because Greek mythology is so spicy!
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez: A fun, fast contemporary romance. The start felt kind of meh, but the third act redeemed this book for me. I just really appreciate the way Abby navigates mental health themes. If you’re new to Abby, start with Yours Truly, which is my favorite of hers so far.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney: Probably my top read of the year so far. A twisty, slow-burn mystery that got me. I didn’t guess what was going to happen next at all, and that’s rare. It started out strong then got a little slow and generic, but I swear it is worth sticking with. I need someone else to read so that we can discuss!
Currently, I’m reading two books — Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach (gripping, atmospheric, as good as I hoped after The Wedding People) and Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson I just started. Fantasy novels are always overwhelming to start, but I’ve been promised by my friend that it is a juicy enemies-to-lovers, so I’m hanging in.
If you’ve been stuck in a reading rut too, I see you. It’s weird when something you love feels just out of reach. But it does come back. The stories come back.
More soon,
Jess
