Over the last few years, I noticed all my reading was connected to self-improvement or books relating to mediumship or spirituality. Great topics, but what was once a joyful activity started to feel like work. Almost like I was reading from a place of lack. Trying to study or cram for an exam that wasn't happening.
Sure, part of my quest for knowledge was genuine enthusiasm and curiosity, but I started to suspect that I was chasing a certain feeling.
Changing careers several years ago left me with the uncomfortable feeling of being a beginner. I was trying to cover all my bases and fill every gap in my understanding of spirituality and the metaphysical. When I realized this, I decided to take a step back and set some limits for myself — to allow these topics to have the lifetime they deserve to be leisurely absorbed.
So, this year for the first time, I participated in a reading challenge — specifically, a fiction challenge.
I set a goal to read fifty fiction books this year, which I quickly amended to 44 books (hello, angel number). Now I am always five books ahead of schedule, which gives me a little thrill.
I alternate between my Kindle and audio app (yes, audiobooks are reading!) and a few hardcovers I couldn’t resist. I’m proud to say that so far, most of my books have come from the library or the Libby app (a free app you should check out if you enjoy Kindle or Audible.) You can read and listen for free.
Being more than halfway through the year, I already feel the shift in my creativity and how I feel about reading. It’s become a comfort again rather than a quest — a way to spend time with other people's ideas and expand my imagination.
I’ve also noticed a remarkable synchronicity in the stories I read and my work as a medium. Often the spirit world will use my knowledge of certain characters and situations and reference them to get my attention. This has been a surprising delight. It’s like they have new references to work with.
I recently finished a book where one of the side characters debated telling her husband of an affair because she doubted the paternity of their second child. Later that day, I connected with a spirit person who referenced almost the exact same scenario. I feel sure I wouldn’t have picked up on that, in the same way, had I not just been reading about it.
The spirit world continues to amaze me with the layers and levels of intelligent design, making it clear that the divine plan is beyond what we can imagine.
You can see my Good Reads Challenge here
Here are my top three favorites of the year so far:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
This might be one of my favorite books of all time. After Tova’s husband of thirty years dies, she finds comfort in her routines and her job mopping the floors at The Sowell Bay Aquarium. Keeping busy has helped her cope since her eighteen-year-old son mysteriously disappeared near The Puget Sound thirty years ago.
The characters are so richly created, and I deeply cared for them. Especially Marcelus, the Octopus, was a refreshing, humorous, and deeply meaningful POV. The way the author weaves this story together is brilliant. The scenery is hypnotic and made me want to visit the west coast. There is grief, love, loss, romance, and plenty of suspense to keep you hooked. I even laughed out loud several times. I wish I could go back and reread this book for the first time. It was truly heartwarming.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
This was one of my first reads for 2023, and it was the hook I needed. A thriller with a setting that reminded me of Agatha Christy’s ‘And Then There Were None,’ except for the remote Island off the coast of Ireland is the scene of a posh wedding. Every detail of this wedding has been carefully planned, but when things start to go awry, you’re left wondering who in attendance might not be there to celebrate the happy couple. Some of the characters are deliciously hate-a-ble. None are particularly wholesome or relatable, but that didn't bother me. This was a wild ride that kept me guessing to the end. Afterward, I went on to read the rest of Lucy Foley’s novels. I also loved ‘The Hunting Party’.
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
This was a thriller/ family drama. I loved the scenery and characters. A house set on a cliff in Australia where people go to end their lives, and the hero who lives there talks them out of it. But is he a hero? The death at the beginning poses this question as we embark on a wild ride to find the answer. Betrayal, mental illness, infidelity, and true love brought it all together for me. I particularly loved the POV of the victim, who is in spirit. If a tragic thriller could be heartwarming, this pulls it off. I also went on to binge all of Sally Hepworth’s novels, and ‘The Good Sister’ was a close second to this, I highly recommend starting there.
Thank for being here, I’d love to hear about some of your favorite books in the comments.
With love,
Sheryl
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OMG those are some of my fave books ever!!!! I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Guest List. Def will check out Sally Hepworth. I’m reading your rec None Of This Is True now! I just came off a Peter Swanson binge - his thrillers are 🥵🤪👀