Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy.
People often ask me what I do with books after I finish reading. Do I donate them? Loan them to friends? Depending on the book (and whether or not I hated it), maybe.
But quite often, I keep and reread my books.
That’s been the case lately, which is why there’s no recent reads at the top of this newsletter. And why I’m three books behind on my yearly reading goal. Technically, rereads can count towards a reading goal because there are no actual rules, but I personally don’t count them.
Why Rereads?
For starters, I’ve found that revisiting old favorites can bring a warm sense of comfort and invoke the same happy feeling one gets when eating their favorite food or wearing their favorite shirt.
Maybe I want to understand the book more. On a first read, I'm breezing through pages trying to figure out how the story will unfold. But on a reread, I can sit back and digest. Take in the author’s writing and decipher the characters’ motivations.
Rereading can also help measure how much I’ve grown. Putting a book down and coming back to it with a fresh set of eyes—maybe even years later—helps me see it in a new light. Gain a new perspective. Our experiences often color what we’re reading, and I find myself relating to characters differently as I age.
Books I’ve Recently Reread
And yes, they’re both romances. For research purposes.
Seven Days In June by Tia Williams, a slow burn following two writers who unexpectedly reunite 15 years after spending a whirlwind “seven days” together.
Intercepted by Alexa Martin, a second-chance sports romance following a recently-dumped girlfriend of professional football player who vows never to date an athlete again. Of course, that doesn’t last.
🍿What I watched: Not a stretch to say that I’ve been thinking about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 all month long. I’ve seen it three times, and that’s shocking, as someone who hated the first Guardians movie back in 2014. I’ve since changed my stance on that one too. The third and final volume is funny, heartfelt, and a little dark and twisted (but in a good way!) Definitely one of my top two favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. I also recently saw The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey as the beloved Ariel, a young mermaid with a thing for humans. So good! I was smiling, singing along, and maybe even a little misty-eyed. XO, Kitty is also on that list. The Netflix series is a spinoff of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and follows the youngest Covey sister as she reunites with her long-distance boyfriend in Seoul. I went in with low expectations and was blown away at how exciting the teen dramedy was. Kitty is still playing matchmaker. There are jokes galore. And even a few twists. I mean, one I saw coming but I still really enjoyed the series nonetheless.
🛒 What I bought: Someone ban me from Sephora. I go into the store for one thing, and I leave with ten other products. Luckily, the products have been great, especially this Cay Skin Deepwater Lip Mask. After being burned by the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, which did nothing for me, I swore I’d never try another and stick to good old-fashioned chapstick. But to my surprise, the ultra-soothing, non-sticky mask from Winnie Harlow’s brand hydrates so well! And it smells good too! Another new favorite product that smells good? This Tatcha Hinoki Exfoliating Body Wash.
I’m finishing up The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco, set on a cursed island oasis. Next up on my list is The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer, a debut novel about a modern-day death doula.
How to vent to your friends without bringing them down. How can you overcome impostor syndrome? You don’t. All the shows to watch ahead of the Emmys. 25 movies you need to see this summer. Tina Turner brought Rock & Roll back home to Black women. The most popular beach reads for summer 2023. What it’s like to be the punching bag of your friend group. “Reality TV saved me.”
This newsletter came at the perfect time because I’ve been in the mood to re-read some of my faves. I’m gravitating towards Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. But also, I’ve been in a Hunger Games mood. We’ll see!!
i just love your newsletters. It's so nice to get a peek into your life ever so often. I also love your recs and realize we read/watch a lot of the same things bc obvi we have amazing taste :)