books that make you ~feel something~
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Hi, fun & cool readers! I’m Catherine, Haley’s sister-in-law, unpaid editor, and fellow booklover! Haley and I text daily, and I would estimate half our convos revolve around what we’re reading. We don’t agree on everything but both find book reviews on Goodreads and other apps largely unhelpful. So, when she asked me to add my two cents to her newsletter, I said the world needs me!
If a book doesn’t make me feel something, I’m personally not interested (looking at you, gray witchy hockey player smut). Not exclusive to sad feelings — I also love feelings of hope, triumph, belonging, nostalgia! So, if you’re reading ~just to feel something~, here are my latest recs.
The feeling: Daydreaming about fleeing to the Hamptons to start a new life.
The book: Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
Ina has accomplished all our dreams: overcome childhood trauma, built a thriving business, designed stunning homes, maintained an iconic marriage, published best-selling books, become a TV legend! She’s basically the leading lady in your favorite Nancy Meyers film. (Nancy, if you’re reading this, please Julie & Julia yourself out of retirement ASAP).
One of the few memoirs that feels inspirational in an attainable way. Her story made me want to pop on an apron and roast a whole chicken — who am I?
The feeling: Stuck in a job that you hate, but desperate for that paycheck.
The book: The Glow by Jessie Gaynor
Our girl Jane has some hefty bills to pay and she’s skating on thin ice at her PR job. She pitches a middle-of-nowhere wellness retreat to buy herself some time. Her boss agrees it has promise and sends her off to the retreat for “research.” She meets the absurd duo in charge — think influencer-owned yoga studio with sketchy strategy and kooky cult vibes — and there are plot twists that kept me up reading under the covers with a flashlight (Haley’s brother is a light sleeper). Jane’s cynical humor had me doing real LOLs, and there are a few moments where it felt like the she read my (nonexistent) diary? This book hasn’t gotten enough buzz in my corner of the internet, and I’m determined to right that wrong!
The feeling: Waiting for your Hallmark Channel happy ending.
The book: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Not all feelings have to be heavy! This book is quick and playful with a protagonist you can’t stop rooting for. It has seriously Hallmark-worthy criteria. Witty banter? Check. Meet cute initiated by a dog? Check. Red-flag ridden ex you love to hate? Check. High school nobody gets a glow up? Check! My Hallmark adaptation would star Lacey Chabert, of Gretchen Weiners fame.
Footnote: Can we collectively agree to stop naming books “Summer _____?” Summer Romance / Same Time Next Summer / Just for the Summer. What happened to originality?!
The feeling: Struggling to redeem your faith in post-COVID humanity.
The book: The Wedding People by Alison Espach
If you’ve seen the cover art so many times you’re considering dragging a champagne bottle into the water as a photo op on your next beach vacation, hear me out. Don’t expect a light and fluffy story with an upbeat narrator. This book tackles some Big Themes that might not be palatable for all, so read with caution. But if you love marinating in the tragedy and triumphs of the human experience, this one is for you! All your favorite wedding regulars are there: the uncle that never married, stereotypical bridesmaids (hilariously boiled down to nicknames “Messy Bun” and “Neck Pillow”), and a self-absorbed mother of the bride to boot! Anyone who has been in a wedding party or planned their own event can likely relate. I devoured!
The feeling: Searching for your place in the world against all odds.
The book: Evil Eye by Etaf Rum
Yara is a Palestinian-American woman who feels she’s wasting the promise of a “better life.” The story follows her heart wrenching inner monologue as she overcomes racism, sexism, and repression. When pitching to Haley, I described as the type of book that should be required reading to develop emotional intelligence and understanding of different cultures, generational trauma, and mental health. Did you not-so-secretly enjoy high school literary analysis assignments as much as I did? Give this one a read!
The feeling: Contemplating the merits of motherhood.
The book: Sandwich by Catherine Newman
As a WebMD-diagnosed empath, I expect parenthood will rip my heart to shreds on the daily. This book supports that theory — in a good way! It’s set on an annual family vacation narrated by a mother with an admirable relationship with her grown children. Present day musings are sprinkled with flashbacks from summers past, so you understand the shared experiences that shaped each character (cue “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert).
I’m a sucker for stories that deepen my sense of connection to humanity and even tippy tapped this quote in my Notes app:
“And this may be the only reason we were put on this earth. To say, Same. To say, I understand how hard it is to be a parent, a kid.”
Whew. Girlies named Catherine know their stuff! ;)
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