A Tiny Book Universe

Notes from My Reading Journal and a Few Favorite Books

It’s been about five months since I started a break from social media—meaning Instagram and Facebook. Every now and then someone asks me what I do with the extra time. I try not to analyze it too much; adding more pressure to be productive was not the reason for my break.

That said, I am writing a book about mediumship development. Sticking to a writing schedule of three hours per week has added up to about 15,000 words so far—a solid start.

But reading is by far the thing that fills my time the most. At the time I’m writing this, I’ve finished my 51st book of the year.

I’ve gone through periods of book binging since the summer after fifth grade when my uncle gifted me a trash bag full of Stephen King paperbacks. Books give my mind somewhere to go when I want a break, and that’s felt especially nourishing this year. I’m aware that I’m probably reading more than most people would consider reasonable, but if I’m being honest, of all the things a person can do too much of, reading feels like one of the least harmful.

This year my little rituals around books have changed too. For a long time I used to post what I was reading on Instagram—usually just a photo of a book I’d finished with a few thoughts.

Tiny book universe

Now that habit has moved somewhere else. I’ve started keeping a handwritten reading journal where I track the books I finish. I highlight titles, jot down ratings, and print the book covers onto sticker paper so I can place them on the page next to my notes.

This simple habit of creating a tiny book universe for myself is surprisingly satisfying. Watching the pages fill up with color, titles, and small impressions from each book feels much more grounding than watching them disappear into a story feed.

And I’m aware of the irony that I’m now sharing this offline habit here. But doesn’t a newsletter feel slightly different? I hope it feels slower—more like a conversation.

So before too much time goes by, I thought I’d share a short list of some of my favorite books from the year so far.

Favorite Books of the Year So Far

Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin

This novel follows a grieving librarian returning to work after a breakdown. While the story deals with the complexities of grief, it’s also full of humor and warmth, and populated with characters I genuinely wanted to spend time with.

If you’re someone who enjoys stories about queer people finding themselves—and especially if those stories take place in and around libraries—there’s a good chance you’ll love this book.

This was the first Emily Austin novel I had read, and after finishing it, I immediately went back and read everything else she’s published.

One and Only by Maureen Goo

This was a really fun read. I went into it knowing almost nothing and ended up loving it.

The novel centers on a Korean American family in Los Angeles who, for generations, have had a supernatural gift: they can identify people’s soulmates. It’s the foundation of their matchmaking business, which comes with a one-hundred-percent guarantee.

It’s a romantic comedy with just enough mysticism woven in to make it feel special. There are complicated family dynamics, ancestors with supernatural abilities, family secrets, and happiness amongst the lingering presence of grief and loss.

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie

“Dear Lord, please forgive me for the sins I’ve committed and for the one I’m still planning to commit tomorrow. Amen.”

Seventeen-year-old Doris Steele arrives at the home of her favorite teacher seeking help obtaining an abortion in 1960s Georgia. The two travel to Atlanta for a weekend that ends up changing Doris’s life in ways she never expected.

There she meets celebrities she has only seen in the pages of Jet and Ebony, crossing paths with civil rights leaders like Coretta Scott King and Diane Nash, and discovering a vibrant queer community. Over the course of the weekend, Doris shifts from feeling scandalized by what she sees to feeling inspired about the life she might create for herself.

This is a really enjoyable book—funny and sharp, and very easy to get caught up in.

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy

This coming-of-age novel is set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. The story centers on a young woman and a complicated affair, unfolding within a small mixed Catholic and Protestant community where daily life is punctuated by reports of violence.

This book completely swept me up—I finished it in a single day.

While the central relationship drives the narrative, the novel quietly explores much larger themes: religion, justice, family, community, and the way political conflict seeps into the most intimate corners of ordinary life. It’s a brilliant character study, full of tension and moral complexity.

The Barbecue at No. 9 by Jennie Godfrey

I hesitated to put this book on my list—not because I didn’t love it, but because I had to order it from the UK since it isn’t available in the United States yet. But my feeling is that if you’ve already read Jenny Godfrey’s The List of Suspicious Things (one of my all time favorites), you probably wouldn’t mind ordering this one too. And if you haven’t read it yet, you can easily start there.

For the record, I think I liked The List of Suspicious Things just slightly more than this one—which is saying a lot, because The Barbecue at No. 9 was still a five-star read for me.

Jennie’s second novel centers around a small neighborhood in Northern England in 1985 during a community barbecue taking place while Live Aid is being broadcast. I recommend getting the physical copy if you can—it includes a helpful map of the neighborhood that makes following the story even more enjoyable.

This is very much a character study: strangers coming together, secrets slowly revealed, and unexpected bonds forming. There’s also a subtle thread of mystery running through the story.

I loved everything about this book and am already thinking about rereading it. Jennie Godfrey has a way of writing about characters—especially children and young adults—that really speaks to me.

Adrift by Will Dean

This dark psychological thriller follows a couple and their young son who move onto an isolated canal boat. As Drew becomes increasingly frustrated by his wife’s sudden writing success, he begins steering their life—quite literally—farther and farther away from civilization.

This book is excellently written. I was completely immersed in the story and carried a constant sense of dread while reading it.

At three quarters of the way through, I skipped ahead and read the final chapter just so I could break the tension and keep going—which is something I never do.

The novel captures emotional abuse and gaslighting with unsettling accuracy. Some scenes were genuinely difficult to read because the characters felt so real and the dynamics so believable.

This is definitely one of those books that lingers in your mind after you finish it. Because of the intensity, though, it may not be for everyone.

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash

This is a quirky novel centered around a dysfunctional family. The parents are unhappily experimenting with an open marriage and three young daughters spiraling through their own forms of chaos.

As the story unfolds, the plot takes on a slightly fantastical edge, but I was completely invested in what the author was doing and the points she was making along the way.

One thing I especially loved is that every woman in the book—even the youngest daughter, who is still in elementary school—has a strong point of view and isn’t afraid to say exactly what she wants. The characters are flawed and messy in ways that feel refreshing rather than exhausting. This is not a light book, but I laughed out loud several times.

A great weird book for people who love weird books.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

“What I am is the Indian who can’t die. I’m the worst dream America ever had.”

This book sits in a strange and compelling space between horror and historical fiction. It probably requires just about every trigger warning you can imagine. It is not exactly fun or enjoyable to read. Words like enthralling, mesmerizing, and brutal come to mind.

The most intricately plotted vampire novel I’ve ever read. The true horror comes from being rooted in the real historical violence of genocide. Before reading this, I had never heard of the 1870 Marias Massacre, which is a major plot point.

I finished this book a couple of months ago, and I’m still thinking about it. I suspect I will be for a long time.

---

What have you been reading lately?

If you’ve come across a book you loved this year, I’d genuinely enjoy hearing about it.

With love,

Sheryl

P.S. Here are more ways to connect with me:

Buy a copy of my book 📚 or check out these free articles

Book a reading with me 🕊️