Chapter #43: A Little of This, A Little of That

Life lately ✨

Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
After putting off reading this for years, I finally picked it up on the insistence of commenters under a previous newsletter, and I'm glad I did. This powerful memoir details Miller's journey as the survivor of sexual assault and her fight for justice, reclaiming her identity beyond being known only as "Emily Doe." She sheds light on the complexities of trauma, healing, and the criminal justice system through raw honesty and resilience. It's a heavy, sad, and frustrating read at times (because of the topic, not her writing) but a must-read nonetheless. 

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
I loved every minute of this love story following Helen, a bestselling author, and Grant, a TV writer, who are both working through the grief and guilt associated with the loss of Helen’s sister thirteen years earlier. The TLDR is that the sister died by suicide in their teens, jumping in front of a car driven by Grant. In the present day, much to Helen’s dismay, one of her books is being adapted for the screen, and Grant is in the writer’s room. Forced proximity brings up a confusing mixture of feelings for Helen: She hates him but is also very attracted to him. It’s heartfelt, humorous, and, above all, messy, which explains why I immensely enjoyed it.

One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole
When I saw that Alyssa Cole was writing another thriller, I immediately placed a hold on Libby—without actually reading what the book was about first. That explains why I was so confused when I started reading and was immediately introduced to a group of interesting “headmates.” Kenetria Nash (Ken) has dissociative identity disorder (DID), or multiple personalities. After being dormant for six years, Ken finds herself waiting for a ferry to take her to a remote island for a new job, but she has no memory of why or how this came to be. The island features a castle eerily similar to the one inside her head where the headmates live. I won’t even try to explain the plot further because it’s a doozy — just know that something terrible is about to go down and it involves someone from Ken’s past. Each chapter alternates between the personalities, and they both confused and intrigued me. This was definitely a WTF read, but I was so proud of myself for figuring out one of the twists!

As the sun finally emerges from its winter slumber, casting its warm embrace upon the world, there's an undeniable sense of renewal in the air. With its gentle breezes and blooming flowers, spring calls us out into the world, inviting us to bask in its glow. And what better way to embrace the season's rejuvenating energy than by indulging in the simple pleasure of reading? 

The last few weeks have been super busy between work and life but have also featured a lot of bookish activities, which has been a dream for nerdy little me. 

🍎 I took an exciting trip to New York City for Adweek’s Social Media Week. I visited some of my favorite bookstores between panels and workshops, including McNally Jackson and The Strand. I even finally got to see the Brooklyn location of The Ripped Bodice. Every time I’m back in the Big Apple, I make a point to browse stacks and pop into a few new coffee shops and cafes. This trip took me to Sunday to Sunday, an all-day cafe and restaurant in the Lower East Side. With so many favorites to recommend, I’ll probably write a bookish guide to New York City soon.    

📺 As soon as I heard there would be an early screening of Hulu’s Queenie at this year’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, I snagged a ticket. The series, out on June 7, follows the humorous yet poignant journey of a young Jamaican British woman navigating love, life, and mental health in contemporary London, based on the book by Candice Carty-Williams. It’s a messy, incredibly frustrating, yet relatable read. And the show—from what I saw in the first two episodes—is very true to the book. Queenie is a reckless, self-sabotaging character. You’ll want to shake and yell at her but, in the end, also root for her.

🧇 An impromptu solo Sunday reading date finally allowed me to try Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen’s brunch items, which are only available on weekends. On the barista's recommendation, I went with the (super crispy) chicken and waffles and my usual iced lavender matcha latte (with oat milk). Worth it. Alongside a little reading, it was the perfect way to start the day and week.

🕯️ My new bookish candle for writing *motivation* finally arrived from Etsy. And that’s all I’m going to say about that for now.  

🎨 Not pictured, but (finally!) I’m at week 12, the last week of The Artist’s Way, and this has been an insightful, creative “exercise” for lack of a better word. I’ll be sharing my complete experience — what I liked, didn’t like, and learned—in my next newsletter. Stay tuned!

First up on my list is When I Think of You by Myah Ariel, a slow-burn, second-chance romance set against the backdrop of Hollywood. Then, I’ll dive into an ARC of Ashley Poston’s A Novel Love Story, a whimsical story following a professor of literature who “finds herself caught up in a work of fiction.”

The anti-romance novel readers’ guide to reading romance novels. A 13 Going on 30 oral history. Emily Henry on the wisdom of modern romance novels. Adult sleepovers are giving us what big nights out can’t. The best books for book clubs to read in 2024, so far. What golden retriever boyfriends tell us about masculinity. Sorry, Wall Street: fangirls run the economy. Writer math. How to start small rituals that make every day feel special.

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