I remember when I was little in the 1980s and 90s, I was completely in awe of the athletes on the screen… especially the ice skaters. There was something almost unreal about them. The grace. The power. The way an entire arena would hold its breath for a single jump or spin and then erupt in cheers when I happened.

They felt legendary then. And honestly? They still do.

What strikes me now… watching as someone… ahem… much older… is just how deeply inspiring it is to see people who are so committed to their craft.

Years of training.

Repetition.

Falling down.

Getting back up.

All in service of one singular pursuit.

If there’s a lesson the Olympics always remind me of, it’s this…

Stay focused on your ONE thing.

Not ten things.
Not everything at once.
The thing that matters most to you.

I asked my husband and son this question, and I want to ask you too:

If you were guaranteed the chance to compete at an Olympic level, which sport would you want to be great at?

My answer? The biathlon.
There’s something about the endurance, the precision, the calm required in the middle of intense physical exertion that fascinates me.

(fun fact - Women's biathlon officially debuted at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.)

My husband chose the luge… speed, trust, and fearlessness all wrapped into one icy run.

And my son? He said any form of skating… Not sure if he was just saying that to end the conversation or not. lol.

I’d love to know… what would your sport be?

To stay with the Olympic spirit, I wanted to share a few historical fiction novels that highlight women who excelled at their sport… often in eras when they were told they shouldn’t.

Fast Girls by Elise Hooper

In the 1928 Olympics, Chicago’s Betty Robinson competes as a member of the first-ever women’s delegation in track and field. Destined for further glory, she returns home feted as America’s Golden Girl until a nearly-fatal airplane crash threatens to end everything.

Outside of Boston, Louise Stokes, one of the few black girls in her town, sees competing as an opportunity to overcome the limitations placed on her. Eager to prove that she has what it takes to be a champion, she risks everything to join the Olympic team.

From Missouri, Helen Stephens, awkward, tomboyish, and poor, is considered an outcast by her schoolmates, but she dreams of escaping the hardships of her farm life through athletic success. Her aspirations appear impossible until a chance encounter changes her life.

These three athletes will join with others to defy society’s expectations of what women can achieve. As tensions bring the United States and Europe closer and closer to the brink of World War II, Betty, Louise, and Helen must fight for the chance to compete as the fastest women in the world amidst the pomp and pageantry of the Nazi-sponsored 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder

An unforgettable novel about competition, ambition, and a woman's struggle to earn a place in a man's world, Girl Runner follows young runner Aganetha Smart, who defied everyone's expectations to win a gold medal for Canada in the 1928 Olympics. It was a revolutionary victory because these were the first Games in which women could compete in track events. Now, Aganetha is in a nursing home, and nobody realizes that the frail centenarian was once a bold pioneer.
When two strangers appear asking to interview Aganetha for a documentary about female athletes, she readily agrees. Despite her frailty, she yearns for adventure and escape, and though her achievement may have been forgotten by history, her memories of chasing gold in Amsterdam remain sharp. But that triumph is only one thread in the rich tapestry of her life, and as Aganetha's story takes shape, it becomes clear that the power of family ties—and secrets—does not diminish through the years, and that these filmmakers may not be who they claim to be . . .

Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh

Alice strives to have it all.

At seventeen, Alice Marble has no formal tennis skills and no coach. What she does have is an ability to hit the ball as hard as she can and a strong desire to prove herself. With steadfast determination and one sacrifice after another, Alice plays her heart out on the courts of the rich and famous, at national tournaments, and—the greatest of them all—at Wimbledon, rising to be one of the top-ranked players in the world.

But then her world falls apart.

With the outbreak of war with Germany, Alice’s tennis career and life come to a screeching halt, and for the first time, she is forced to confront who she is without tennis. As she seeks to understand her new place in the world and how she can aid in the war efforts, a telegram arrives with devastating news from overseas. Heartbroken and lost, she feels like she can only watch as the war wreaks havoc in every area of her life.

Until an unexpected invitation arrives.

Alice is given the chance to fight back when the US Army sends her a request: Under the guise of playing in tennis exhibition games in Switzerland, she would be a spy for them. Alice aches for nothing more than to avenge what the war has taken from her and to prove herself against this new opponent. But what awaits her might be her greatest challenge yet.

From her start as a promising athlete with worn-out shoes to her status as a glamorous international star, Alice Marble’s determination to control her own life and destiny fuels a story of achievement, discipline, loss, and love.

Watching the Olympics reminds me that greatness doesn’t come from doing everything—it comes from devotion. From choosing something and returning to it again and again, even when no one is watching.

So as the games unfold, I’ll be cheering, reminiscing, and quietly asking myself: what’s my one thing right now?

And I hope you’ll ask yourself the same.

💛

Now tell me—if you had your Olympic moment, which sport would you choose?

Melissa
The Literary Assistant

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Upcoming WORKSHOPS

A practical workshop for authors who want to use Substack to build readers, share their work, and earn income sustainably.

Substack is one of the fastest-growing platforms for writers—and for good reason. It allows authors to build genuine relationships with readers, share work on their own terms, and earn income through paid subscriptions.

But many authors hesitate to start because they’re unsure what to post, how often to show up, or how Substack fits into an already full creative life.

This 90-minute virtual workshop is designed to change that.

Led by author–publisher Colin Mustful and author’s assistant and newsletter strategist Melissa Makarewicz (hey, that’s me!), this session combines the creator’s perspective with behind-the-scenes implementation expertise—giving you both clarity and practical systems.

Check it out

Learn how to design a reader journey that naturally turns curiosity into connection.

This workshop walks you through the five key stages of an author sales funnel—Discovery, Connection, Nurture, Conversion, and Retention—and helps you map a system that fits your creative rhythm. I’ll be drawing on my experience helping authors build authentic, sustainable marketing strategies, this session provides clear steps to attract and retain readers. Whether you’re launching your first book or refining your existing outreach, you’ll gain practical strategies to create a funnel that sells.

Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack.

Check it out

Grab both and take advantage of the 2 of 1 deal going on right now! If you are signed up for Colin’s Substack you will already have access to the workshops.

The kind of cozy, reflective read that feels like a warm blanket when the snow won’t stop falling (as we saw this week with the 20 inches we had dumped on us) and when the world feels a little too overwhelming (stay informed, but please also protect your mental health).

Love Walked In was the perfect companion and one I keep thinking about long after swiping to THE END.

One of the themes that stayed with me most was personal reflection. Both main characters, Mari and Leo, are carrying loss, and the way they move through that grief felt quietly honest.

Applause for a low-angst romance.

Leo is grieving the recent loss of his grandfather, who owned the family bookshop. His grandfather wasn’t just family… he was a guiding force. Leo spent much of his life making choices he thought would make his grandfather proud, even when those choices meant putting his own wants last.

And I think a lot of us can relate to that. (please tell me I’m not alone…)

How often do we make decisions for others? For family expectations, for responsibility, for what feels “right” on paper, while quietly shelving our own desires?

Mari’s story hit me just as deeply. She has her dream job, yet she still carries the hurt of her childhood. Books… and the bookshop… were her refuge. Her safe place. And while she thrives professionally, she’s cautious, even avoidant, when it comes to taking risks in her personal life.

Books were her escape.
But the “real world”? That felt much harder.

I don’t think I’m alone in seeing myself in that. (again, please don’t leave me out here on my own…)

Reading Love Walked In felt especially aligned with what we’re exploring this month inside The Alignment Edit.

For years, I filled my calendar completely. Every obligation. Every responsibility. Every “should.” And then I’d get frustrated… angry, even… that I had no time.

No time for the extra family moments I wanted.
No time to take care of my physical health.
No time to rest.

That cycle sent me into overwhelm more times than I can count. And while I’m much better now, I’ll be honest… I still have days where I have to work my way back out of it.

Here’s what I’ve learned uncomfortably, and definitely imperfectly in my 40’s.

If you don’t take time for yourself…
If you don’t make space to heal…
You won’t be able to grow.

You won’t finish the book.
You won’t create the project.
You won’t show up as the best version of yourself.

Self-Love doesn’t just walk in.
Sometimes, you have to clear space for it.

If this post has you nodding along, I’d love to invite you to join us this month for The Alignment Edit.

Together, we’re…

• looking at our calendars honestly,

• identifying what’s supporting our goals,

• and gently releasing what isn’t.

It’s not about doing more.
It’s about making space for what matters.

✨ For just $7/month, your upgrade gives you access to…

• our monthly mini challenge (sent February 9th-15th)

• ongoing creative and mindset support (ask me anything in the chat)

• and helps us donate a book to a local women’s shelter

Your creativity deserves time.
Your healing deserves space.
And your story deserves to be lived… not rushed.

If Love Walked In taught me anything, it’s this… growth begins when we finally choose ourselves.

Melissa
The Literary Assistant

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If you’re reading this, I know you care about literature.

And one of the reasons I love reading is because stories hold a mirror up to our lives—sometimes more gently than advice ever could. Seeing characters navigate grief, identity, and desire reminds us we’re not broken for struggling. We’re human.

If you love that intersection of books and self-reflection, I highly recommend checking out over at Fictional Therapy. Her tagline says it all…

Your literary agony aunt. I solve your problems with advice from classic books.

It’s thoughtful, insightful, and such a beautiful example of how stories help us understand ourselves. Give Emma a follow!

Upcoming WORKSHOPS

A practical workshop for authors who want to use Substack to build readers, share their work, and earn income sustainably.

Substack is one of the fastest-growing platforms for writers—and for good reason. It allows authors to build genuine relationships with readers, share work on their own terms, and earn income through paid subscriptions.

But many authors hesitate to start because they’re unsure what to post, how often to show up, or how Substack fits into an already full creative life.

This 90-minute virtual workshop is designed to change that.

Led by author–publisher Colin Mustful and author’s assistant and newsletter strategist Melissa Makarewicz (hey, that’s me!), this session combines the creator’s perspective with behind-the-scenes implementation expertise—giving you both clarity and practical systems.

Check it out

Learn how to design a reader journey that naturally turns curiosity into connection.

This workshop walks you through the five key stages of an author sales funnel—Discovery, Connection, Nurture, Conversion, and Retention—and helps you map a system that fits your creative rhythm. I’ll be drawing on my experience helping authors build authentic, sustainable marketing strategies, this session provides clear steps to attract and retain readers. Whether you’re launching your first book or refining your existing outreach, you’ll gain practical strategies to create a funnel that sells.

Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack.

Check it out

On leaving something behind and stepping into uncertainty.

Hope weaved with fear.

And while history books can give us dates and facts, it’s stories that help us understand what immigration actually felt like.

I want to understand what my ancestors experienced when left their homes and sailed to a unknown life in a new land.

That’s why I’m drawn to historical fiction about immigrants. Yes, these novels tell us about a days gone by, they honor the courage, grief, resilience, and humanity of people who crossed oceans with little more than faith in the possibility of something better.

Many of us, no matter where we live, has a line of ancestors who came from different places, in different ways, during different points in history.

Ellis Island alone processed more than twelve million immigrants. Each one arrived with a story. Fiction helps us hear that story in a way that allows us to put ourselves, in a small way, in the story.

Here are a few novels that share stories reminding us of the voices that could so easily be lost to time.

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

A beautiful scarf connects two women touched by tragedy in this compelling, emotional novel from the author of As Bright as Heaven and The Last Year of the War.

September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries...and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. What she learns could devastate her—or free her.

September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers...the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. But a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf may open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life.

The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb

Ellis Island, 1902: Two women band together to hold America to its promise: “Give me your tired, your poor ... your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...”

A young Italian woman arrives on the shores of America, her sights set on a better life. That same day, a young American woman reports to her first day of work at the immigration center. But Ellis Island isn’t a refuge for Francesca or Alma, not when ships depart every day with those who are refused entry to the country and when corruption ripples through every corridor. While Francesca resorts to desperate measures to ensure she will make it off the island, Alma fights for her dreams of becoming a translator, even as women are denied the chance.

As the two women face the misdeeds of a system known to manipulate and abuse immigrants searching for new hope in America, they form an unlikely friendship—and share a terrible secret—altering their fates and the lives of the immigrants who come after them.

This is a novel of the dark secrets of Ellis Island, when entry to “the land of the free” promised a better life but often delivered something drastically different, and when immigrant strength and female friendship found ways to triumph even on the darkest days.

Inspired by true events and for fans of Kristina McMorris and Hazel Gaynor, The Next Ship Home holds up a mirror to our own times, deftly questioning America’s history of prejudice and exclusion while also reminding us of our citizens’ singular determination.

Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan

With her husband injured serving the IRA, an Irish woman is forced to become an American socialite's maid in this epic saga set in the 1920s.

Sweethearts since childhood, Ellie Hogan and her husband, John, are content on their farm in Ireland—until John, a soldier for the Irish Republican Army, receives an injury that leaves him unable to work. Forced to take drastic measures to survive, Ellie does what so many Irish women in the 1920s have done and sails across a vast ocean to New York City to work as a maid for a wealthy socialite.
Once there, Ellie is introduced to world of opulence and sophistication, tempted by the allure of grand parties and fine clothes, money, and mansions…and by the attentions of a charming suitor who can give her everything. Yet her heart remains with her husband back home. And now she faces the most difficult choice she will ever have to make: a new life in a new country full of hope and promise, or return to a life of cruel poverty . . . and love.

Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke

Maureen O’Reilly and her younger sister flee Ireland in hope of claiming the life promised to their father over twenty years before. After surviving the rigors of Ellis Island, Maureen learns that their benefactor, Colonel Wakefield, has died. His family, refusing to own his Civil War debt, casts her out. Alone, impoverished, and in danger of deportation, Maureen connives to obtain employment in a prominent department store. But she soon discovers that the elegant facade hides a secret that threatens every vulnerable woman in the city. Despite her family’s disapproval, Olivia Wakefield determines to honor her father’s debt but can’t find Maureen. Unexpected help comes from a local businessman, whom Olivia begins to see as more than an ally, even as she fears the secrets he’s hiding. As women begin disappearing from the store, Olivia rallies influential ladies in her circle to help Maureen take a stand against injustice and fight for the lives of their growing band of sisters. But can either woman open her heart to divine leading or the love it might bring?

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father’s “museum,” alongside performers like the Wolfman and the Butterfly Girl. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River.

The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his community and his job as a tailor’s apprentice. When Eddie photographs the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the mystery behind a young woman’s disappearance. And he ignites the heart of Coralie.

💛

What I love about these books is that they highlight the fact that immigration isn’t a single story… it’s millions of them. Stories of sacrifice and hope, loss and reinvention, heartbreak and endurance.

Fiction gives us the chance to witness those lives not as statistics, but as people.

And maybe… by reading them… we learn how to listen better to the stories still being told today.

I’d love to know…
Have you read a novel that helped you understand the immigrant experience more deeply? Or is there one you’d add to this list?

Happy reading,
Melissa
The Literary Assistant

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If social media has been draining your creativity or leaving you unsure how to show up, February’s Alignment Edit was created with you in mind.

This month, we’re focusing on spending less time online, nourishing your creativity offline, and letting what you live and notice guide what you share—without pressure to post constantly or have everything figured out.

When you upgrade for $7, you’ll get access to The Alignment Edit (send one week a month in daily email format) and the paid subscriber chat, where you can ask questions, talk through ideas, and get perspective from me as a social media strategist. Think support, not hustle.

Upgrade when it feels right for you.

Chase youth.
Preserve it.
Fix it.
Reverse it.

As if happiness has an expiration date. As if life only really counts once everything clicks into place early. (Spoiler alert… it’s never going to.)

But what if happiness lives somewhere else entirely?
What if it lives in the messy middle?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Maybe because I just talked about Soft Launch last week, and that book was unapologetically messy. Or maybe because the older I get, the more I appreciate stories that don’t rush their characters toward tidy endings.

I love fiction that accepts this truth… not everyone finds love early. Not everyone figures themselves out in their twenties. Everyone has their own timeline and there is nothing wrong with that.

Lately, I’ve been loving the growing representation of mature heroines in romance. Women who have lived. Women with history, heartbreak, humor, and perspective. Women who don’t need fixing… just space to want, choose, and begin again.

So if you’re craving romance that honors getting older, second chances, and the beauty of not being “on schedule,” here are a few books I’ve loved (or can’t wait to read), with full descriptions so you can see if they make your TBR list.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

After a wild bet, a gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and a cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has her world turned upside down by Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important.

Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people. Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible… and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either.

With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

Check it out.

The Love Hoax by Ellie Hartwood

How did I end up playing the fake fiancé to a woman I just met? Well, it all started with a trip. A guilt trip.

My family is wacky. And way too involved in my love life. So when my sister demands I bring my fiancée to her wedding, there’s only one problem… she doesn’t exist.

Who better to play the role of my future bride than the woman who nearly kicked my bucket?

It doesn’t hurt that Evie is gorgeous, accomplished, and funny.

The plan? Learn everything we can about each other, then “break things off” a few weeks after the wedding.

Except the line between reality and make-believe is getting blurrier.

I can’t stop thinking about Evie. Her laughter is contagious. Our fake kisses feel real.

Maybe if we keep practicing—a lot—we’ll pull this whole love thing off.

For real.

Check it out.

Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy

Ashley Cooke, 46, will do just about anything to save her struggling ski hill. With her credit cards maxed out, her cheating ex-husband trying to buy the mountain out from under her, and record-breaking snow on the way, she can’t afford distractions.

Unfortunately, Matthew Madigan is very distracting.

At 53, Matthew is a recovering addict and former grunge rocker who now runs a sober living home. When he meets tightly wound and adorably flustered Ashley, feelings he’s buried for years begin to surface.

Through bunny hill shenanigans, chairlift confessions, and steamy cabin serenades, Matthew teaches Ashley that a person’s past doesn’t define them—and Ashley reminds Matthew that everyone deserves a second chance.

A steamy, later-in-life, small-town redemption romance with lots of heat and even more heart.

Content notes: addiction, divorce, mourning the loss of a parent.

Check it out. Available in KU.

Silver Foxed by Kayla Grosse

Elijah Astor is my dream man. Smart. Funny. Loyal. Devilishly handsome.

The catch?
My dad is his boss—and his best friend.

When Elijah unexpectedly crashes a relaxing weekend at my parents’ lake house, the sparks between us are impossible to ignore. So I make him an offer:

One weekend.
No strings.
We’ll play house and pretend my dad wouldn’t lose his mind if he knew.

But when the fantasy ends, will we really be able to walk away?

Or will my heart be stolen by this silver fox?

Check it out. Available in KU.

Not Too Late by Samantha J. Bryant (Coming Soon!)

Amanda Deaton left her hometown right after high school, chasing adventure. Thirty-five years later, she’s back—because her mom needs her.

Bellevue, Kentucky has changed. And so has Chris—her former high school classmate, once forgettable, now a confident, caring man with a grown daughter and a thriving career.

Chris has carried a torch for Amanda since he was fourteen.

At 54, Amanda has never fully given her heart away.

Could their timing finally be right?

A Gen X romance about coming home, rediscovery, and the possibility that it truly may not be too late.

Check it out.

I think stories like these matter because they challenge the idea that life peaks early. They remind us that love, desire, creativity, and reinvention don’t belong to one decade.

Aging isn’t the loss of possibility.
It’s the accumulation of experience.

Maybe it time to stop chasing eternal youth and start honoring the life we’re actually living.

If you’re in the messy middle… welcome.
You still so much story left to tell.

💛

I’d love to know…
Have you found books that made you feel seen in this season of life?

Subscribe now

A little reminder
Join in the monthly mini challenge, The Alignment Edit. You’ll get 4-6 extra newsletters during the middle of the month that create a low-touch, pressure-free space to gently improve your Substack, social media and newsletter. Focusing on observation and slow intentional growth online and in your life. Each newsletter will have an exercise with 5-15 minute prompts to help guide you to showing up in a creative way that feels aligned with your goals.

The $7 upgrade gives you access to the full challenge and the paid subscriber chat (think: social media strategist on speed-dial).

No rushing. No overwhelm. Just clarity.

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The Literary Assistant community has now donated 25 books to women in need.💝

Your support means the world to me! For every membership upgraded to $7, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported. Your support helps keep this space thriving for book lovers like you! 😊

Affiliate links are occasional used at no extra cost to you the reader.

Are you an author looking to improve your writing and marketing this year? Come join in the Publisher’s Pathway series taught by Colin Mustful (writing and publishing) and myself (marketing, social media, and Substack).

Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack for more History Through Fiction content.

And that was all just while I was reading Soft Launch this week.

I’m not even sure I know how to neatly sum up this book…but maybe that’s the point. What it made crystal clear to me (again) is this…

We need fiction.

Not as escapism alone. Not as a checklist of morals. But as a mirror to our humanity, our contradictions, our mess.

So often, when we talk about literature as a way of understanding the human condition, we point to the classics. And yes, I get it, they’re classics for a reason. They’ve endured because they say something timeless about who we are.

But I want to make a case for contemporary fiction, using Soft Launch as my exhibit A.

We meet Sam… newly divorced, chasing what she thinks she wants, and carrying a whole bundle of what the hell am I doing with my life energy. She’s smart, flawed, ambitious, reactive, tender, and, at times, deeply frustrating to the reader.

While reading her story, I went through a full emotional arc of my own…

Well, at least I’m not like that.
…
Wait.
Am I like that?
…
Wow. I’m actually really grateful for my messy life.

Sam’s friends show up for her, not as cheery secondary characters who tell her she’s always right, but as people who love her enough to tell her the truth. The relationships in her life are complicated (to put it mildly), and each one reveals something different about her values, her blind spots, and the moral choices she’s navigating, often imperfectly.

I am not a first-year attorney.
And after reading this book, I can confidently say I have zero desire to become one. (I need my sleep.)

But as a human? I can absolutely use Sam’s imperfect life to reflect on my own.

That’s where contemporary fiction has it’ moment to shine and really help us take a hard look and our live... and see what we might want to change or what we like and want more of.

Seeing a working woman drink copious amounts of coffee, worry about money, spiral internally, and narrate her life during late-night Uber rides feels far more helpful than another self-help principle promising to make me organized, productive, and “living my best life” in 90 days.

Life is messy.

And maybe we don’t always need to be fixing ourselves.
Maybe sometimes we need to recognize ourselves.

Fiction lets us do that safely. It gives us space to explore choices, consequences, and contradictions without turning everything into a lesson or a be a part of the 1% hack. It allows us to say, oh—I’m not alone in this.

So yes, read the classics. Love them. Return to them.

But also… read the books where the characters are a little lost. A little caffeinated. A little unsure of their next step. The ones that make you cringe, laugh, argue, and reflect.

Because stories like that don’t just entertain us.
They remind us that being human is already enough.

And honestly?
I think it today’s craziness, that’s something we all need to hear.

Subscribe now

If this book has you curious (or already nodding along), here’s a little nudge…

✨ Soft Launch is available right now through Amazon First Reads for Prime members.
✨ It will be available to everyone on February 1st.

We’re starting our Mini Monthly Challenge tomorrow inside The Literary Assistant community.

This month’s challenge is designed to help you…

• slow down and observe what’s working (and what’s not) with your newsletter, Substack, and social media

• reconnect with your creativity

• and make small, meaningful shifts… without pressure or burnout.

It’s gentle. It’s low-touch. And it’s perfect if you’re craving clarity as we move into a new season.

Subscribe now

The Literary Assistant community has now donated 23 books to women in need.💝

Your support means the world to me! For every membership upgraded to $7, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported. Your support helps keep this space thriving for book lovers like you! 😊

Affiliate links are occasional used at no extra cost to you the reader.

Are you an author looking to improve your writing and marketing this year? Come join in the Publisher’s Pathway series taught by Colin Mustful (writing and publishing) and myself (marketing, social media, and Substack).

Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack for more History Through Fiction content.

Not just the ones we read in books… although those will always have my heart… but the stories we live inside of every day. The ones we tell ourselves. The ones we listen to. The ones we share quietly with those around us.

Storytelling is such a powerful part of our humanity. It’s how we make sense of the world, how we remember who we are, and how we find one another.

I’m endlessly fascinated by how stories show up everywhere. In novels and movies, but also in conversations, in social media captions, in newsletters sent from one human to another. I love the art of storytelling through these modern forms because connection doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s simply honest little moments.

That’s why I believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to build community. When we share our stories… our reflections, our questions, our quiet truths, as we so often do on social media… we create space for others to say, me too. And suddenly, we’re not alone anymore.

There are a few quotes about stories that I love…

“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.”
— Sue Monk Kidd

“Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller, waiting to be released.”
— Robin Moore

“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”
— Jimmy Neil Smith, Director of the International Storytelling Center

Each one reminds us that storytelling isn’t reserved for writers, or artists, or people with big platforms. It belongs to all of us.

As we head into a new year, I keep coming back to this question…

What story have you been telling yourself?

And just as importantly… is it the one you want to keep telling?

The start of a new year feels like a blank page at the beginning of a manuscript. Not meant to rewrite everything, but to pause. To reflect. To notice the narrative you’ve been carrying… and to ask yourself if it’s time for a new one.

Maybe this is the year you let yourself become the hero of your own story.
The year you stop shrinking your experiences.
The year you tell the truth… first to yourself, and then to the world, in whatever way feels right.

I’d love for us to connect through this shared love of storytelling as we move forward together. Through books, through reflections, through small moments shared in this space.

Stories don’t just entertain us.
They shape us.
And when we tell them… out loud, honestly, and for others to see… write our own life story.

Until next time,
Melissa
The Literary Assistant

Learn how to design a reader journey that naturally turns curiosity into connection.

This workshop walks you through the five key stages of an author sales funnel

• Discovery

• Connection

• Nurture

• Conversion

• Retention

and helps you map a system that fits your creative rhythm.

Drawing on my years of experience helping authors build authentic, sustainable marketing strategies, this session provides clear steps to attract and retain readers. Whether you’re launching your first book or refining your existing outreach, you’ll gain practical strategies to create a funnel that sells. Open to authors of all genres.

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Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack for more History Through Fiction content.

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The holidays always make me nostalgic.

There’s something about this season that pulls me back to my childhood. Stepping back into memories, stories, and moments that feel like the comfort of a parental hug. Maybe that’s why I’ve always loved history so much. It lets us linger in worlds that moved a little slower, where traditions were just being started and new joys were waiting to be found.

Fun fact - one of my first “grown-up” jobs was working at our local historical society in Michigan… in the gift shop. The shop itself was an old caboose that had been turned into a tiny store for students visiting the village on field trips. I spent my days selling postcards and trinkets, making cotton candy, and feeling like life was a little bit magical being surrounded by the past. (I made $5 an hour! How much did you make at your first job?)

Every once in a while, I even got to dress in historical clothing. My piano teacher, who also happened to be in charge of costumes, loved letting me play dress-up.

I was thrilled.

There’s something that will transform you into a completely different person when you put on a historical or a vintage inspired outfit. Just the act of dressing up for church or shopping is such a thing of the past.

This week, my mom sent me a handful of photos from her own childhood holidays. The whole family would put on their Sunday best to go to Hudson’s in downtown Detroit to shop and see Santa.

The glamour of old department store shopping… glittering windows, gold decorations, carefully wrapped gifts all donned with ribbons and bows… feels like a world away from today’s Amazon boxes and plastic wrap arriving at the door.

And maybe that’s why I find myself craving old-school holiday cheer this time of year, the kind you can step into through books.

So, if you’re in the mood to bring a little history, wonder, and warmth into your holiday reading, here are a few titles from my shelves I’d love to recommend…

Heat up some cider, turn on the fireplace, and get ready to get cozy with a book.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
A beautifully written story inspired by the origins of The Chronicles of Narnia. It’s tender, imaginative, and filled with the kind of quiet wonder that feels perfect for December. I really enjoy ‘s writing style. She’s here on Substack so go check her out!

Click HERE to check it out.

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Set across four Christmases during WWI, this epistolary novel is heartfelt and romantic, weaving love, longing, and history together in a deeply moving way. Who doesn’t love a good letter! This one is for Persuasion fans.

Click HERE to check it out.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
A fictionalized look at Charles Dickens as he writes A Christmas Carol. It captures the struggle, inspiration, and humanity behind one of the most enduring holiday stories. I guess it takes a bit of fiction to redeem Dickens… but it makes for a great holiday read.

Click HERE to check it out.

To pair with this, if you haven’t watch The Man Who Invented Christmas with Dan Stevens (sorry to drudge up Downton Abbey drama), I highly recommend it.

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
Set during the Civil War, this novel explores the story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”… a beautiful reminder of hope during heartbreak.

Click HERE to check it out.

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Old friends, royal secrets, and Sandringham at Christmastime… this one feels like curling up beside a crackling fire with a cup of tea and a touch of regal charm.

Click HERE to check it out.

❄️🎀❤️✨

If you’re feeling pulled toward the past this season… toward stories full of history, memory, and ones that give the days a little extra meaning… you’re not alone.

Sometimes the best way to honor the present is to revisit the worlds that shaped us.

I’d love to know, do the holidays make you nostalgic too?

And if so, what’s one tradition, memory, or story you find yourself returning to each year?

Until next time,
Melissa
The Literary Assistant

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The holidays are such a complicated season, aren’t they?

They bring together people we love… and they also magnify the people we’re missing.

Each meet up can hold a mix of joy and sadness, celebration and ache. I’ve been feeling that a lot this year… how one moment you’re laughing with your family, and the next you’re aware of the empty chairs that used to be filled.

One of the greatest comforts in seasons like this, at least for me, is finding books that let me feel seen. Stories that capture those layered emotions in a way that feels honest and human.

Last year, I stumbled across a romance novel that explored grief with such care and depth that I still think about it. And if you’re looking for something that blends holiday warmth with the real, messy truth of loss, I can’t recommend Marie Landry’s At Home With You This Christmas enough. (And as a bonus—it’s always nice to support a Canadian author!)

Here’s what it’s about…

Hazel Morris is dreading the holidays. It’s her first Christmas without her mom, and the first since ending things with the man who truly loved her. Six months of grief and trying to stand on her own have left her exhausted, and she escapes to Honeywell Hollow hoping for a quiet holiday—until she arrives and discovers her aunt forgot they had plans and left town.

Meanwhile, Mason Reynolds still hasn’t told his family that Hazel broke up with him. Partly because he didn’t know how… and partly because he never stopped hoping she might find her way back. So when he walks into his parents’ house and finds Hazel standing there, it feels like a Christmas miracle—one he’s terrified to lose all over again.

What unfolds is a story that’s sweet and steamy, heartfelt and hopeful, grounded in grief but guided by the idea that healing doesn’t happen alone. It’s romantic, funny, and tender in all the right ways.

Marie wrote this very shortly after the loss of her mother.

If you do read it, please check the author’s note and content warnings, especially if grief or loss is a sensitive topic for you.

I had such a blast hosting our very first Office Hours with from History Through Fiction. We loved answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing. If you’re an author or aspiring author who wants guidance, encouragement, or clarity, you’re always welcome to join us. Our next LIVE will be December 26th at 1pm EST.

Office Hours are a time to learn, ask questions, and get personalized insight from two people who love helping authors grow. Get ready for more happening in collaboration with History Through Fiction!

Right now you can check out the workshops I’ll be hosting for 2026 in partnership with them. Check out Colin’s writing workshops and then keep scrolling down to see what I’ll be teaching for the year.

And lastly… my current holiday reading stack

I’ve been slowly working my way through the books on my NetGalley shelf, and here are the holiday reads I still need to get to…

A sentimental advertising creative and a blunt, no-nonsense bar owner find a second chance at love while binge-watching iconic holiday movies in this poignant and heartwarming romance, from the author of Charm City Rocks and All Together Now.

The new year had barely begun when Grace White and Henry Adler both lost their spouses. Now, nearly a year later, the first holiday season since their “Great and Terrible Sadnesses” approaches. Although their mothers scheme to matchmake the two surviving spouses, it’s clear that neither is ready to date again. Yet no one understands what they are going through better than each other, and a delicate friendship is born.

When Henry sees an ad for a Christmas movie marathon—once an annual tradition for him and his wife—Grace offers to watch some films with him, despite her aversion to a few of his picks. Her two young kids, Ian and Bella, also join in whenever possible—bedtimes permitting, of course.

With each movie, Grace and Henry’s shared grief eases as they start to see a life beyond the sadness. But as they draw closer, other romantic possibilities leave them uncertain about their future together. Is their bond merely the result of loneliness and shared circumstances, or have they found something that’s worth taking a shot at . . . again?

Check it out HERE.

The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a heartwarming holiday romance, full of grumpy/sunshine vibes.

There are two things that Ruby Dhanji loves with her whole entire heart: Christmas and anything to do with the UK. For Ruby the holiday season means joy, generosity, and warm memories with her late mother. And now she’s on the verge of realizing the dream she and her mom always had: moving to England and opening a cozy inn. The only problem, Ruby needs some hotel experience first.

Rashid just doesn’t get all the holiday hype. But when he meets a woman dragging home a Christmas tree alone from the Winter Market, he has to offer to help—even if he soon finds Ruby adores all the things he dislikes. When Ruby discovers that Rashid’s family owns a luxury boutique hotel chain in Britain, she offers him a proposition: she’ll help him give his young nieces an amazing Christmas if he’ll facilitate an introduction to his family.

As Ruby and Rashid get closer, she realizes that the great big grump loves his large, eccentric family fiercely. And when their friendship turns to something more, she’s afraid she’s falling for someone weeks before she moves across the Atlantic and she’ll soon have to decide which dream she wants to chase.

Check it out HERE.

It’s a harmony of second chances, forced proximity and festive mayhem

in this warm and bright holiday romance!

Music was everything to professional soprano Charlie Ward…until her brother died, leaving her lost in grief. But when her beloved Gram moves into the Glendale Retirement Village, Charlie is cajoled into temporarily volunteering to direct the community’s new choir, their sights set on winning the Annual Christmas Choir Competition.

Only, the home’s activities director happens to be the super-cute guy she once spent a hot, hazy, sexy summer with. Julian Guerrero hasn’t forgotten Charlie Ward. Not even a little. Fortunately, he has his hands full with the lively residents who are determined to win, even if they must twerk their way to victory.

Amid mince tarts, gingerbread houses and Christmas lights, Charlie and Julian must find a way to transform their quirky singing seniors into a sensation. It’ll take hard work. It’ll take heart. And it’ll take just enough holiday magic to surprise everyone…Charlie most of all.

The Best Christmas Choir Ever is a spicy, fast-paced romance you can read in one sitting.

Check it out HERE.

And my current read is Yours For The Season

For an ambitious attorney and a rising-star chef, a cross-cultural fake romance takes an unexpected detour in a heartwarming and funny novel by the author of Much Ado About Nada and Ayesha at Last.

When Sameera Malik and Tom Cooke meet at a ho-hum holiday party, neither is looking for romance. Sameera’s working ridiculous hours at her law firm and healing from heartache while navigating a recently resolved family estrangement. Tom’s hustling to turn his social media stardom into a real career while fending off his family’s demands to give up his chef dreams and move back home. The two share a few laughs and a samosa-making lesson and go their separate ways.

But when one of Tom’s posts starts a viral rumor that they’re a couple, he suggests they keep up the ruse for a few months. It’s a good proposal, and a fauxmance will help Tom grow his popularity, and, in return, he can help Sameera land a wealthy client. The only problem? Their parents.

When Sameera’s very Muslim parents insist on meeting Tom’s very not Muslim family over Christmas in rural Alaska, the stage is set for misunderstandings, holiday hijinks, and an epic culture clash. As the Maliks and Cookes exchange holiday traditions and endless opinions on their children’s lives, Sameera and Tom realize they have a lot in common—including an attraction that’s starting to feel very real.

Check it out HERE.

If the season feels heavy for you, or joyful, or both… you’re not alone. Stories help us make sense of it all, and I hope you find one this month that feels like a warm hug.

Until next time,
Melissa
The Literary Assistant

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The quiet.

Some days I feel like the quiet is yelling at me.
It sneaks up on me in places that are supposed to feel peaceful, like in yoga. The moment we settle on our mats, the lights dim, and everything goes still… that’s when I feel the tears slip out. Not dramatic tears. Just the kind that appear without permission. It’s like my body has been holding something it finally feels safe enough to let go of.

And the crazy part?
I don’t always know why I’m crying.
Just that sometimes the quiet moments feel so loud.

And that’s exactly why I think we need them.

As a social media strategist, it’s literally my job to help you show up online. I adore social media. I love the connection, the creativity, the community-building. But one thing I’ll never pretend is that socials were meant to be our escape from every quiet moment.

They weren’t.

Quiet is uncomfortable because we don’t control it.
Quiet makes us feel things we’ve shoved down.
Quiet reminds us of the questions we haven’t answered.

But quiet also tells the truth.

So maybe I’m writing this as a reminder to myself:
As hard as it is, lean into the quiet. See what the universe is trying to say.

Another thing I’ve been thinking about as the year winds down is to talk about our constant belief that everyone else has things more figured out than we do.

I was on a coaching call today with an author who has almost 30,000 reviews on her book.

Thirty. Thousand.
That’s not sales… that’s reviews.

And yet… do you know what she said?
“I feel like my newsletter is lagging.”

We talked about that.
We talked about how no one’s journey is the same.
How someone else’s “not enough” might be someone else’s wildest dream.

There are thousands of authors who would be over the moon to have her numbers. But we get so caught up in what needs improving that we forget to acknowledge what is already extraordinary.

We all do it.
I do it.
Maybe you do too.

So I’d like to encourage you to…

Take a moment.
Find the quiet.
Let it be loud.
Let it tell you something.

And then, find the gratitude tucked somewhere inside it.

I’m working on it too.
And I’m glad to be on this journey with you. ❤️

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A few books from my clients to check out…

Charming English villages, loyal dogs, and heartwarming mysteries with a dash of danger.

A murdered churchwarden. An unlikely hotchpotch of carol-singing suspects. An orphaned dog … and a nosy dog trainer!

In the heart of England’s Malvern Hills, Tamsin Kernick faces more holiday havoc when a festive gathering of inept but well-meaning carol singers ends in murder. While it’s a silent night for the victim, the merry gentlemen (and gentlewomen) of the choir find themselves under intense scrutiny.

Eager to collar the criminal so her club friends can enjoy their mince pies and Christmas holiday, dog trainer Tamsin and her super-sleuthing dogs race against the clock to get the culprit locked up before the Man in Red arrives. As the jingle bells of approaching police cars draw near, Tamsin is determined to restore sweet singing in the choir. Can Tamsin and her canine companions unwrap the mystery and bring joy back to their cozy town?

Christmas Carols and Canine Capers! is the delightful seventh book in the Tamsin Kernick English Cozy Mystery series. If you love quirky characters, gentle clean mysteries, clever dogs, and a dash of Christmas cheer, you’ll adore this festive caper.

Are they a fling—or a thing?

William Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have been dating for three months—the thrilling, awkward stage where every milestone feels momentous. And now comes the biggest test yet: their first Christmas together.

Elizabeth just wants the holiday to go right. And it will. That is, if she can survive the Bennet sisters’ group chat, keep her golden retriever Waffles from eating the decorations, and figure out how to knit a gift for the man who has everything.

Darcy just wants to show Elizabeth he’s the right man for her. But between his judgmental Great Dane, his nagging worry that he’s more ‘bah humbug’ than holiday cheer, and the stress of finding a meaningful present, he worries one misstep could sink him.

With knitting disasters, shopping shenanigans, and meddling families, Unwrapping Christmas is a witty, warm-hearted rom com about chaos, communication, and the art of finding the perfect gift.

Exciting news!

I’ll be teaching a series of workshops throughout 2026 over at History Through Fiction. I’ve been a part of the social media team, and coaching HTF authors for years. Now, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my love of marketing and teaching with so many of you.

2026 Writing, Publishing, & Marketing Workshops

Explore our full lineup of workshops, series, and mentorship opportunities for historical fiction writers. Whether you’re just starting out, polishing a manuscript, or preparing to publish, there’s a program designed for you.

First, you can check out Colin’s workshops and then scroll down to see what I’ll be teaching throughout the year.

Check out the workshops

I love finding historical fiction that brings these forgotten women to life. These books are haunting not because of ghosts and shades of the supernatural, but because of what really happened. These novels remind us that “witch” was often just another word for woman with a voice. And sometimes history is terrifying.

If you’re in the mood for something atmospheric, eerie, and full of history, here are a few books to add to your list this season…

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

A young Puritan woman—faithful, resourceful, but afraid of the demons that dog her soul—plots her escape from a violent marriage in this riveting and propulsive novel of historical suspense.

Boston, 1662. Mary Deerfield is twenty-four-years-old. Her skin is porcelain, her eyes delft blue, and in England she might have had many suitors. But here in the New World, amid this community of saints, Mary is the second wife of Thomas Deerfield, a man as cruel as he is powerful. When Thomas, prone to drunken rage, drives a three-tined fork into the back of Mary’s hand, she resolves that she must divorce him to save her life.

But in a world where every neighbor is watching for signs of the devil, a woman like Mary—a woman who harbors secret desires and finds it difficult to tolerate the brazen hypocrisy of so many men in the colony—soon becomes herself the object of suspicion and rumor. When tainted objects are discovered buried in Mary’s garden, when a boy she has treated with herbs and simples dies, and when their servant girl runs screaming in fright from her home, Mary must fight to not only escape her marriage, but also the gallows.

A twisting, tightly plotted novel of historical suspense from one of our greatest storytellers, Hour of the Witch is a timely and terrifying story of socially sanctioned brutality and the original American witch hunt.

The First Witch of Boston by Samantha Silvas

A gripping and intimate novel based on the true story of Margaret Jones, the first woman to be found guilty of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1646. Thomas and Margaret Jones arrive from England to build a life in the New World. Though of differing temperaments, cautious Thomas and fiery Margaret, a healer, are bound by a love that has lasted decades. With a child on the way, their new beginning promises only blessings.

But in this austere Puritan community, comely faces hide malicious intent. Wrong moves or words are met with suspicion, and Margaret’s bold and unguarded nature draws scorn. Soon, Margaret is mistrusted as more cunning woman than kind caregiver. And when personal tragedies, religious hysteria, and wariness of the unknown turn most against her, even the devotion Margaret and her husband share is at risk.

Inspired by actual diary entries and court records, The First Witch of Boston is at once the riveting story of a woman unjustly accused and a love story set amid the political and social turmoil of both Old and New England. Harrowing, and with a deep understanding of the human heart, history is brilliantly imagined.

The Devil’s Glove by Lucretia Grindle

Northern New England, summer, 1688.
Salem started here.

A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft.

Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They’re known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers.

Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community.

As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew - about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.

Based on meticulous research and inspired by the true story of the fear and suspicion that led to the Salem Witchcraft Trials, THE DEVIL’S GLOVE is a tale of betrayal, loyalty, and the power of secrets.

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris

Being a woman was her only crime.

Scottish Highlands, 1727.

In the aftermath of a tragic fire that kills her father, Aila and her mother, Janet, move to the remote parish of Loth, north-west of Inverness. Blending in does not come easily to the women: Aila was badly burned in the fire and left with visible injuries, while her mother struggles to maintain her grip on reality. When a temporary minister is appointed in the area, rather than welcome the two women, he develops a strange curiosity for them that sets them even further apart from the community.

Then arrives a motley troupe of travelling entertainers from Edinburgh, led by the charismatic but mysterious Jack. It is just the distraction Janet, and particularly Aila, needs: for the first time in a long while, their lives are filling with joy and friendship, and a kind of hope Aila hasn’t known since her father’s death. But in this small community, faith is more powerful than truth, and whispers more dangerous even than fire.

Haunting and deeply moving, The Last Witch of Scotland is a story of love, loyalty and sacrifice, inspired by the true story of the last person to be executed for witchcraft in Britain.

Her Kind by Niamh Boyce

‘I am the sacrifice: my hair, my eyes, my tongue,
my flesh will turn to ash, will drift on the breeze,
will be the air they breathe.’

1324, Kilkennie.
In the dead of night, a desperate woman knocks on the door of a childhood friend, the infamous moneylender Dame Alice Kytler. In doing so, she steps into a house which is about to become infamous, and into a story which will go down in history. Tense, moving and atmospheric - Her Kind is a vivid reimagining of the events leading up to the Sorcery Trial of Alice Kytler, the first witch trial in Ireland and the British Isles.

The Lost Witch of Windsor by Amelia Frost (upcoming release)

Her mother was cursed. Will she suffer the same fate?

Windsor, Connecticut, 1647.

Alse Young is a wife, a mother, and a woman of faith. But when sickness and death spread through her town, whispers gather like storm clouds. Accused of witchcraft, she becomes the first person hanged for the crime in the American colonies.
Thirty years later, her daughter Alice Beamon carries the same stain. Known only as the witch’s daughter, Alice struggles to build a life in Springfield. She marries, bears children, and tends her household with quiet hope — but when misfortune strikes her neighbours, old suspicions rise again. The voices that condemned her mother begin to circle her too, and history threatens to repeat itself…

Told across two generations, this haunting novel explores faith and fear, love and betrayal, and the terrible power of a community gripped by hysteria. From the gallows of Hartford to the fields of Springfield, it asks what it means to survive when your very name is a curse.

Inspired by true events, this is the untold story of Alse Young — the first woman executed for witchcraft in America — and the daughter who lived in her shadow.

Each of these stories casts its own spell, revealing the darker corners of history and the resilience of women who refused to be silenced.

So brew a cup of tea, light a candle, play play on the gothic reading ambience video and step into the past… if you dare.

✨ Have you read any historical novels about witch trials or powerful women accused of magic? I’d love to hear your favorites in the comments.

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Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount, just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, has been on repeat for me.

Naturally, the book lover in me couldn’t help but think of the historical novels that carry the same feels.

So here are five songs I can’t stop listening to, each paired with a historical fiction novel that echoes its themes of feminine resilience, reinvention, and legacy.

The Fate of Ophelia

The Mood - Tragic, poetic, haunting.

A song steeped in heartbreak and introspection. It’s the sound of a heroine realizing she’s both facing her undoing and has the choice to pick her savior.

You Should Read - Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki

In the company of Ralph Waldo Emerson and his circle of enlightened friends, the young, beautiful, and brilliant Margaret Fuller becomes “the radiant genius and fiery heart” of the Transcendentalists. She inspires Louisa May Alcott, sparks Nathaniel Hawthorne to create Hester Prynne, and forms close bonds with Henry David Thoreau and Emerson himself. However, Margaret’s soul yearns for more than poetry and drama, leading her on a journey of adventure and self-discovery.

From hosting a women-only literary salon in Boston to becoming the first woman permitted entry to Harvard’s library, Margaret defies societal conventions as an activist for women’s rights and a champion for humanity. On the gritty New York streets, she spars with Edgar Allan Poe and reports on the work of Frederick Douglass. And when offered an assignment in Europe by editor Horace Greeley, Margaret becomes the first female foreign news correspondent, mingling with the likes of Frédéric Chopin, William Wordsworth, and George Sand. In Rome, she embarks on a passionate love affair with a Roman count, causing an international scandal. As a mother and a countess, Margaret enters a new fight for Italy’s unification.

With a star-studded cast and an epic sweep of historical events, this is a story of an inspiring trailblazer, a woman who loved big and lived even bigger—a fierce adventurer who transcended the rigid roles ascribed to women and changed history for millions, all on her own terms.

Elizabeth Taylor

The Mood - Glamorous, self-aware, and glittering with reinvention.

This song channels old-Hollywood opulence here. You get the ache of the spotlight and the art of performing your own legacy.

You Should Read - The Blue Butterfly: A Novel of Marion Davies by Leslie K. Simmons

New York 1915, Marion Davies is a shy eighteen-year-old beauty dancing on the Broadway stage when she meets William Randolph Hearst and finds herself captivated by his riches, passion and desire to make her a movie star. Following a whirlwind courtship, she learns through trial and error to live as Hearst’s mistress when a divorce from his wife proves impossible. A baby girl is born in secret in 1919 and they agree to never acknowledge her publicly as their own. In a burgeoning Hollywood scene, she works hard making movies while living a lavish partying life that includes a secret love affair with Charlie Chaplin. In late 1937, at the height of the depression, Hearst wrestles with his debtors and failing health, when Marion loans him $1M when nobody else will. Together, they must confront the movie that threatens to invalidate all of Marion’s successes in the movie industry: Citizen Kane.

Opalite

The Mood - Dreamlike, introspective, and quietly defiant.
A song that glows. It’s self-aware, giving the vibe that we all desire to be truly seen.

You Should Read - Learning to See: A Novel of Dorothea Lange, the Woman Who Revealed the Real America by Elise Hooper

In 1918, a fearless twenty-two-year old arrives in bohemian San Francisco from the Northeast, determined to make her own way as an independent woman. Renaming herself Dorothea Lange she is soon the celebrated owner of the city’s most prestigious and stylish portrait studio and wife of the talented but volatile painter, Maynard Dixon.


By the early 1930s, as the America’s economy collapses, her marriage founders and Dorothea must find ways to support her two young sons single-handedly. Determined to expose the horrific conditions of the nation’s poor, she takes to the road with her camera, creating images that inspire, reform, and define the era. And when the United States enters World War II, Dorothea chooses to confront another injustice—the incarceration of thousands of innocent Japanese Americans.

Father Figure

The Mood - Complex, raw, and full of moral tension.
This song wrestles with protection, power, and the invisible boundaries that define love and sometimes blur it.

You Should Read - An American Beauty by Shana Abe

1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham’s gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It’s not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm. Even at seventeen, Arabella possesses an unyielding grit, and a resolve to escape her background of struggle and poverty.

Collis Huntington, railroad baron and self-made multimillionaire, is drawn to Arabella from their first meeting. Collis is married and thirty years her senior, yet they are well-matched in temperament, and flirtation rapidly escalates into an affair. With Collis’s help, Arabella eventually moves to New York, posing as a genteel, well-to-do Southern widow. Using Collis’s seed money and her own shrewd investing instincts, she begins to amass a fortune.

Their relationship is an open secret, and no one is surprised when Collis marries Arabella after his wife’s death. But “The Four Hundred”—the elite circle that includes the Astors and Vanderbilts—have their rules. Arabella must earn her place in Society—not just through her vast wealth, but with taste, style, and impeccable behavior. There are some who suspect the scandalous truth, and will blackmail her for it. And then there is another threat—an unexpected, impossible romance that will test her ambition, her loyalties, and her heart . . .

The Life of a Showgirl

The Mood - Dazzling ambition, self-creation, and the price of beauty.
The title track feels like a love letter to every woman who has had to sparkle while building her own empire from scratch.

You Should Read - A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler

Alva Smith, her southern family destitute after the Civil War, married into one of America’s great Gilded Age dynasties: the newly wealthy but socially shunned Vanderbilts. Ignored by New York’s old-money circles and determined to win respect, she designed and built nine mansions, hosted grand balls, and arranged for her daughter to marry a duke. But Alva also defied convention for women of her time, asserting power within her marriage and becoming a leader in the women’s suffrage movement.

With a nod to Jane Austen and Edith Wharton, in A Well-Behaved Woman Therese Anne Fowler paints a glittering world of enormous wealth contrasted against desperate poverty, of social ambition and social scorn, of friendship and betrayal, and an unforgettable story of a remarkable woman. Meet Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont, living proof that history is made by those who know the rules—and how to break them.

This is for the women past, present and future. You are strong.

Have you listened to Life of a Showgirl? Do you have any favorite songs?

And which historical novel captures some of these songs for you?
Drop your pairing in the comments!

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Welcome to Gothic season. 💀

Here’s your Fall Vibes Primer… a curated blend of books, films, activities, and mood-lifting distractions to scratch that particular autumnal itch.

Less pumpkin spice, more candlelit suspense. (I’m an apple cider lover myself)

BOOKS: ROMANCE WITH SHADOWS

Let’s step away from summer romance tropes and lean into brooding looks, stormy estates, and heroines with questions.

🖤 Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
A playful parody of Gothic tropes that still manages to indulge them. Catherine Morland is the perfect guide into a world where nothing is as dramatic as it seems—or is it? P.S. This gorgeous edition is on sale right now.

🖤 Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt
Governess. Isolated mansion. Dead wife. Mysterious employer. You know the drill and Holt does it with addictive precision. This is textbook Gothic romance, and it goes down like cozy mug of cocoa on a cold night.

P.S. This is an classic so you might have to go on a treasure hunt to find it.

Bonus Gothic Reads

• Bride of Montrose by Cynthia Keyes (currently reading)

• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

• The Widow of Greywater Keep by Clarissa Wetherell

MOVIES: MOODY & ATMOSPHERIC

Crimson Peak (2015)
Guillermo del Toro’s love letter to Gothic fiction. Think: haunted mansion, blood-red clay, forbidden romance, and ghosts that warn, not scare. Visually lush and gloriously dramatic.

Northanger Abbey (2007)
A charming, slightly cheeky adaptation of Austen’s most Gothic-flavored novel. It lovingly pokes fun at dark corridors and brooding strangers, while still letting you swoon and shiver a little. Felicity Jones is pitch-perfect as Catherine Morland.

Jane Eyre (2011)
This version leans into the eerie, windswept loneliness of the moors and the emotional volatility of the source material. Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender bring Brontë’s brooding intensity to life. It’s basically required viewing for fall.

YOUTUBE DEEP DIVE: WHAT IS GOTHIC LITERATURE?

Set the mood and sharpen your mind. This short lecture nails the foundations of the genre and explains why Gothic stories still haunt us:

▶️ What is Gothic Literature? | A Brief Introduction

▶️ The Gothic: A Case for Reading

ACTIVITIES FOR A FOGGY AFTERNOON

🕯️ Light a candle. Now light five more.

🕯️ Read aloud by flashlight or candlelight. Bonus points for a dramatic accent.

🕯️ Walk through a cemetery (quietly, respectfully, with with reverence).

🕯️ Bake something Victorian: seed cake, jam tarts, or gingerbread.

🕯️ Thrift a vintage nightgown or velvet robe and pretend you’re the tragic heroine.

A client of mine wrote the other week, “It is said that you die twice, once when you stop breathing and the second time when someone says your name for the last time.”

That sentence haunts me.

It makes me want to go to the cemetery and read the names as I walk through to keep them all alive for another lifetime.

WEAR THE VIBE

Need a sweatshirt that matches your reading list? This sweatshirt is my vibe. Cozy enough for an all day reading marathon. Dramatically dark enough for your candlelit reading.

FICTION WITH GOTHIC UNDERTONES

Historical Fiction:
🕯️ The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano
A haunting reimagining of the real-life case of Margaret Jones, the first woman executed for witchcraft in colonial Boston. Told through diary entries, imagined transcripts, and raw emotion, this is a feminist gothic rooted in real history.

Contemporary Romance:
🖤 Beautiful Villain: A Dark & Spicy Modern Jay Gatsby by Rebecca F. Kenney
A Southern Gothic Gatsby retelling with vampires, secrets, and intense chemistry. Moody, atmospheric, and full of doomed desire. Gatsby has never been this morally gray or this hot.

Dim the lights, pour the tea, and let a little darkness into your heart, in the most delightful way.

Let me know your favorite gothic reads and watches

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For every membership upgraded for $5, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount, just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

The cool air, hot cider, embracing the dark mornings. I love it.

And fall means a change in what I’m grabbing to read and wear. Vampire romance, second-chance at love, and academic settings are some of the first tropes that come to mind. But really, it’s all about the gothic vibes and getting cozy.

With all the promotion of the Downton Abbey movie right now, it had me thinking about how Downtown Abbey has all the right elements to be a great gothic story…a sprawling estate, family secrets, and the simmering tensions between love and duty.

I know they said they are done, but can we get a Downton Abbey movie with a gothic twist? Does anyone have Julian Fellowes on speed dial?

I put together a list of some of my gothic favorites, but I would love to here your recommendations.

Oh, and one more thing I can’t get enough of during the fall months Poe, Anne of Green Gables, and Northanger Abbey… and sweatshirts. My vibe is definitely bookish sweatshirts. Here a few of my favorites for inspiration.

Representing the macabre with Poe.

I’m so glad I live in a world with Octobers.

One thing you need to know about me, I’m a Henry Tilney stan.

So, on to the books, here are a few that I think capture that same atmospheric charm and Downton, but add in crumbling manors, mysterious pasts, and romantic intrigue that keeps you turning the pages late into the evening.

Whether you prefer historical settings or a modern Gothic twist, I’ve tried to create this list with something more everyone.

1. The Trembling Hills by Phyllis A Whitney

Sara's childhood has been haunted by dreams of a candlelit figure glimpsed in a mirror. She now decides to follow her true love, Ritchie Temple, to San Francisco. But Sara could not know about the terrors that were in store for her.When lovely young Sara Jerome moves to San Francisco, she is filled with anticipation. Not only does the man she has loved since childhood live there, but her father, who left mysteriously so many years ago, came from San Francisco. She feels certain that now she will finally fulfill her dreams of marrying Ritchie Temple and finding out what happened to her father. But Sara has another dream as well, a terrifying nightmare that has haunted her all of her life.

Once in San Francisco, it is clearer and more frightening than ever. What does it mean? And what does it have to do with the stormy night her father disappeared? The answers are waiting for her, as is true love, if she just knows where to look

(This one is available in Kindle Unlimited)

2. On the Night of the Seventh Moon by Victoria Holt

On the night of the seventh moon, according to ancient Black Forest legend, Loke, the god of mischief, is abroad in the world. It is a night for singing and dancing. And it is a night for love.

Helena Trant was enchanted by everything she found in the Black Forest—its people, its mysterious castles, its legends and lore. Especially its legends of love. Until the day she started to live one of them and the enchantment turned suddenly into a terrifying nightmare . . .

3. The Curse of Morton Abbey by Clarissa Harwood

Solicitor Vaughan Springthorpe knows perfectly well that Sir Peter Spencer’s offer of employment seems too good to be true: he hires her sight unseen, offering a suspiciously large salary to prepare the sale of Morton Abbey, his crumbling Yorkshire estate. But few people in late-Victorian England will entrust their legal affairs to a woman, and Vaughan is desperate to prove herself.

Once at Morton, Vaughan discovers that someone is determined to drive her away. An intruder tries to enter her bedroom at night, gunshots are fired outside her window, and an eerie crying echoes from the uninhabited second floor. Even Netherton, the nearest village, seems odd: the picturesque houses and perfect-looking families are haunted by dark secrets connected to Morton Abbey itself.

To complete her work and solve the mystery at the heart of Morton, Vaughan needs the help of Joe Dixon, the handsome gardener, and Nicholas Spencer, her employer’s irascible invalid brother. But with her questions diverted, her progress thwarted, and her sleep disrupted by the crying, will Vaughan escape Morton Abbey with her sanity intact or be cursed by the secrets within?

4. Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she'd lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they'd be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing.

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa's beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he'd found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress....

5. The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

Maine, 1846. Gabriel Stone is desperate to escape the ghosts that haunt him in Massachusetts after his wife’s death, so he moves to Maine, taking a position as a minister in the remote village of Pale Harbor.

But not all is as it seems in the sleepy town. Strange, unsettling things have been happening, and the townspeople claim that only one person can be responsible: Sophronia Carver, a reclusive widow who lives with a spinster maid in the eerie Castle Carver. Sophronia must be a witch, and she almost certainly killed her husband.

As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. And Gabriel must find answers, or Pale Harbor will suffer a fate worthy of Poe’s darkest tales.

6. Dark Desires by Eve Silver

Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as the assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumors that he's a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer.

As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances ... and the murders. With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she is falling in love with. Is he innocent ... or is he a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?

7. The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

Some doors are locked for a reason.

When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But pregnant and widowed just weeks after their wedding, with her new servants resentful and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her late husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure—a silent companion—that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of the estate are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition—that is, until she notices the figure’s eyes following her.

8. Parting the Veil by Paulette Kennedy

Some houses hold secrets that are meant to be kept forever…

When Eliza Sullivan inherits an estate from a recently deceased aunt, she leaves behind a grievous and guilt-ridden past in New Orleans for rural England and a fresh start. Eliza arrives at her new home and finds herself falling for the mysterious lord of Havenwood, Malcolm Winfield. Despite the sinister rumors that surround him, Eliza is drawn to his melancholy charm and his crumbling, once-beautiful mansion. With enough love, she thinks, both man and manor could be repaired.

Not long into their marriage, Eliza fears that she should have listened to the locals. There’s something terribly wrong at Havenwood Manor: Forbidden rooms. Ghostly whispers in the shadows. Strangely guarded servants. And Malcolm’s threatening moods, as changeable as night and day.

As Eliza delves deeper into Malcolm’s troubling history, the dark secrets she unearths gain a frightening power. Has she married a man or a monster? For Eliza, uncovering the truth will either save her or destroy her.

(This one is available in Kindle Unlimited)

9. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes “a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror” (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico.

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

10. Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

1845: New York City is a sprawling warren of gaslit streets and crowded avenues, bustling with new immigrants and old money, optimism and opportunity, poverty and crime. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” is all the rage—the success of which a struggling poet like Frances Osgood can only dream. As a mother trying to support two young children after her husband’s cruel betrayal, Frances jumps at the chance to meet the illustrious Mr. Poe at a small literary gathering, if only to help her fledgling career. Although not a great fan of Poe’s writing, she is nonetheless overwhelmed by his magnetic presence—and the surprising revelation that he admires her work.

What follows is a flirtation, then a seduction, then an illicit affair…and with each clandestine encounter, Frances finds herself falling slowly and inexorably under the spell of her mysterious, complicated lover. But when Edgar’s frail wife, Virginia, insists on befriending Frances as well, the relationship becomes as dark and twisted as one of Poe’s tales. And like those gothic heroines whose fates are forever sealed, Frances begins to fear that deceiving Mrs. Poe may be as impossible as cheating death itself…

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Posts I’ve been loving this week…

Cultural Capital

How to read and why

I love reading and I love advice about how to read. I’m especially fond of these columns about how to read by Rob Henderson from his Substack and Janan Ganesh in the Financial Times…

Read more

10 months ago · 469 likes · 57 comments · James Marriott

From Me to You

30 Ways to End Your Night Without Your Phone

Sometimes even scrolling gets boring. You’re flipping through feeds, not really seeing anything, just letting the hours pass. These are little things you can do instead, creative, playful, or just plain rewarding before bed. Tiny projects, experiments, or small pleasures that actually make putting the phone down feel worth it…

Read more

7 months ago · 1425 likes · 56 comments · Nancy Yin

Shopping with Beni

How to Take Care of Your Clothes: A Practical Guide to a Wardrobe that Lasts

Laundry isn’t the sexiest topic in the world of fashion, but it can be the make-it or break-it for many pieces in your closet. And fabric care isn’t just about laundry. It’s about how long your clothes last, how they look after each wash, and how well they hold their shape, texture, and color over time…

Read more

7 months ago · 550 likes · 5 comments · Kate Sanner

milk and cookies

10 weekend rituals that are saving my overstimulated brain

i think a lot about noise. not the obvious kind — not sirens or notifications or the baby crying while the kettle whistles — but the kind of emotional noise you carry around quietly. the tension in your jaw that’s been there since tuesday. the invisible pressure to optimize your sunday. the mental tabs left open from half-finished conversations, emails…

Read more

9 months ago · 4813 likes · 61 comments · ayushi thakkar

For every membership upgraded for $5, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount, just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

This week felt like a mountain.

A sick kid. Back-to-back family trips to Michigan. An exciting (but exhausting) launch over at The Austen Pathway.

Sometimes, life is just like that.

You keep trekking, step after step, carrying all the weight, doing all the things (so. many. things.), and still feel like you’re not really getting anywhere. You look up and can’t even see the summit… just more fog, more rocks, more to climb.

Maybe you’ve had a week like that too.

What I’ve realized, and what Brianna Wiest writes so beautifully in The Mountain Is You (our book club pick this month), is that not every mountain we climb is truly ours.

Some are paths we’ve chosen because we thought we should. Others are climbs we’ve inherited because of expectations, pressure, or the image of who we thought we needed to be.

The harder truth… not every mountain leads where we want to go.

This has been on my mind with the launch of our new methodology at The Austen Pathway. After years of working with authors, Caroline and I noticed the same struggle repeating… brilliant writers were trying to force themselves into marketing styles that didn’t fit them.

They were climbing mountains that didn’t belong to them.

So we created pathway-based marketing, a way for authors to align with their natural communication style. When you’re on the path that feels like you, the climb is still hard, yes, but the air feels clearer. The direction makes sense. There’s ease where before there was only resistance.

And it’s the same with our personal lives. When we’re honest with ourselves about who we really are, not who we think we’re supposed to be, the mountain changes.

The steps are still there, but they feel different.

Lighter.

Possible.

That’s why this month in the book club, we’re reading The Mountain Is You.

Because life isn’t just about productivity or ambition, it’s about alignment. About finding the version of yourself who feels like home, and choosing paths that actually lead you somewhere worth going.

👉 If you’ve been carrying your own mountain this week, I’d love for you to join us.

Upgrade your subscription and come sit with us in the book club chat.

Bring your reflections, your questions, your “yes! same!” moments.

Because the mountain may be you, but you don’t have to climb it alone.

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I’m excited to share these 3 book reccomendations of women who found their path.

An antiques dealer and an enigmatic heiress embark on a revelatory friendship in a haunting and hopeful novel about family ties, secrets, and belonging by the bestselling author of A Heart Like Home.

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

Settling into Rose Hill’s carriage house, Claire finds Hanna, nearing eighty, to be a still-formidable woman. She’s demanding, judgmental, and protective of a mansion that is a veritable shrine to her ancestors. Then, diving into her work, Claire discovers a hidden library that is the stuff of legend among locals. An avid booklover, Claire is in heaven. More enthralling are Hanna’s leather-bound family journals that open Claire up to the past—and soon forge a rich and unexpected bond between two very different women.

A legacy is coming to light. All of Maine is talking. Because the revelations in the journals are enlightening enough to unite old friends, lovers, and families. And shocking enough to tear them apart forever.

Check it out HERE.

In nineteenth-century Texas, two tough-minded women dare to challenge the status quo in a warm, witty, and adventurous historical romance by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.

Daisy Lindberg and Lily Boyle traded a colorful past for a fresh start as seamstresses in Autrie, Texas, and their aim to spark a women’s rights movement is raising eyebrows among the town’s dumbfounded men. But among the ladies? Tired of being treated like possessions, they have two words: Amen, sister!

Beulah, a sassy shop owner as formidable as a cannon shot, is on board. So is Alma, a timid preacher’s wife who hit her breaking point. Before long, a courageous female posse has a liberating petition of demands. Surprisingly, they also have an empathetic ear in sheep rancher Matt Maguire, who’s as keen on women’s independence as he is on Lily.

As Daisy and Lily make waves in the small town, their secrets threaten to come out. But they haven’t traveled this far to let their past define them. In fact, with love and the forging of new lives on the line, they’ve never felt more defiant.

Check it out HERE.

There's no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.

But after one incredible and seemingly endless date, Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be. Only no amount of distance or time is enough to forget what's between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.

Check it out HERE.

Just a little reminder that I share books from sweet to spicy, so please check to make sure they suit your preference. 🥰

Looking to workout more at home?

Get a weekly curated list of workout videos selected for women (like myself) who are over 40. Join us at Moving With Melissa. We are a community over over 2,000 women adding joyful movement to our lives.

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As a community we have now donated 18 books to women who need them.💝

For every membership upgraded for $5, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount, just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

I’ve been climbing some mountains, lately.

You know those mountains in our lives… those invisible monstrous things that are these keeping us from reaching the dreams we have for ourselves.

Sometimes they’re big and obvious.

Other times, they’re small habits, doubts, or fears that quietly shape our choices.

I know I’ve had times where it feels like I’m never going to see the other side… and I bet you have too.

Starting tomorrow (can you believe it’s September!), we are reading The Mountain is You for our book club.

Many of these mountains as self-sabotage.

You know the vibe… it’s like when we unconsciously create obstacles for ourselves.

It shows up in ways like…

• Procrastination: putting off what matters most

• Perfectionism: waiting until everything is “just right”

• Avoidance: skipping opportunities because they feel uncomfortable

• Negative self-talk: convincing ourselves we’re not enough

Did you feel yourself going… 👀?

I know… it happened to me too.

You might be bemoaning the fact that you keep doing the same things over and over. Ugh!

These habits often feel familiar, even safe, because they’ve been part of our lives for years.

Craziness, but true. Again, Ugh!

Bad news… You can’t climb a mountain you can’t see. Right?

Good news… By noticing when and how you sabotage yourself, you gain the power to respond differently.

Awareness is the first, most powerful step toward transformation.

Think about it: how often do you get frustrated with yourself for doing something you “shouldn’t” do… only to repeat it again?

That’s your mountain calling for recognition.

Take 5–10 minutes to journal and answer these questions:

1. Where in your life are you holding yourself back?

2. What patterns keep repeating, even when you don’t want them to?

3. How do these patterns show up in your work, relationships, or personal goals?

Don’t judge yourself… just notice.

Awareness is your first tool for change.

Notice Your Patterns. Awareness is everything.

Even just noticing the pattern is a victory.

If this is a topic you would like to explore more, join The Literary Assistant book club!

It’s a chill place in the chat here on Substack where you can leave your thoughts in real time as you are reading, bring up questions for us to chat about, or just share a quote that really stood out to you.

It’s held in the Substack chat for The Literary Assistant, and it’s the perfect way to weave a self-growth book club into your life without an extra commitment of showing up in person, but still connecting with fellow readers.

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Now for some fiction recs to check out this week…

The theme for this week is women with a mountain to climb. I’ve read and loved all three of these. Let me know if you have read any or if you plan on grabbing one… or more!

When Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson finds her famous grandmother's diary while cleaning out her New York brownstone, the pages are full of surprises. The first surprise is, the diary isn't her grandmother's. It belongs to Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law.

Johanna inherited Vincent van Gogh's paintings. They were all she had, and they weren't worth anything. She was a 28 year old widow with a baby in the 1800s, without any means of supporting herself, living in Paris where she barely spoke the language. Yet she managed to introduce Vincent's legacy to the world.

The inspiration couldn't come at a better time for Emsley. With her business failing, an unexpected love turning up in her life, and family secrets unraveling, can she find answers in the past?

Check it out HERE.

1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham’s gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It’s not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm. Even at seventeen, Arabella possesses an unyielding grit, and a resolve to escape her background of struggle and poverty.

Collis Huntington, railroad baron and self-made multimillionaire, is drawn to Arabella from their first meeting. Collis is married and thirty years her senior, yet they are well-matched in temperament, and flirtation rapidly escalates into an affair. With Collis’s help, Arabella eventually moves to New York, posing as a genteel, well-to-do Southern widow. Using Collis’s seed money and her own shrewd investing instincts, she begins to amass a fortune.

Their relationship is an open secret, and no one is surprised when Collis marries Arabella after his wife’s death. But “The Four Hundred”—the elite circle that includes the Astors and Vanderbilts—have their rules. Arabella must earn her place in Society—not just through her vast wealth, but with taste, style, and impeccable behavior. There are some who suspect the scandalous truth, and will blackmail her for it. And then there is another threat—an unexpected, impossible romance that will test her ambition, her loyalties, and her heart . . .

An American Beauty brings to vivid life the glitter and drama of a captivating chapter in history—and a remarkable woman who lived by her own rules.

Check it out HERE.

Millie has never taken the expected path. Her childhood love for bugs and science led her to entomology, and her role as a curator, inspiring museum visitors every day. It’s her dream to run her own department—so when a rare director position opens, she is determined nothing will distract her from her goal. Especially not Finn, her grumpy coworker with his permanent scowl, electric blue eyes, and endless supply of astronomy ties.

. . . Not that she’s spent time noticing any of those things.

Finn doesn’t mean to glare at everyone, but he’s juggling his role at the museum, navigating the grief of losing his sister, attempting to make his nieces smile, and trying not to ruin dinner for the fifth night in a row. He can’t afford to let anything slip, and certainly doesn’t need more to deal with—especially not Millie literally stumbling into him, with her bright smile and sunny optimism.

He bugs her. She’s too starry-eyed for him. They want nothing to do with each other. But with Finn on the interview committee, avoidance is impossible. And Millie soon realizes it’s one thing when a job is on the line. It’s quite another when it’s her heart.

Check it out HERE.

Bonus FREE book!

My amazing client Kristie has a book that is currently free to grab on Amazon for a VERY limited time. This is an inspirational, historical romance with a bit of mystery!

She promised to help him catch a thief.
He promised to help her track down a killer.
Falling in love wasn’t part of the bargain.

Lady Fanny Morgan has spent much of her life as a member of the highest social circles, a position she relished until the sudden death of her husband. Convinced that foul play was involved, she is desperate to uncover the truth and discover the identity of his murderer.

Detective Julian Gray is one of the hardest working members of the Metropolitan Police Force. He has developed a reputation for unrelenting determination when it comes to solving cases; however, that tenacity has been put to the test by his latest case, a series of mysterious thefts targeting the highest members of society.

When Fanny offers an unexpected assist in preventing the next robbery, Julian hits upon a foolproof method to solve the case. Fanny will use her connections in society to uncover clues that will hopefully lead to the mastermind behind the thefts. In exchange for her assistance, Julian will reopen the investigation into her husband’s death.

It’s an excellent plan, one that is mutually beneficial to both parties—however, neither of them anticipates the complications that arise when their unexpected attraction turns into something deeper. As the danger increases, so, too, does the risk to their hearts. Will they be able to solve the mysteries that surround them before it’s too late, or will their romance be cut short before it even begins?

The fourth book in The Ladies of Roderick Glen series gives us another glimpse into the lives of the villagers as they reconcile faith with love, heartache, and the search for true happiness.

Check it out HERE.

Want to join the book club chat to dive even deeper into each monthly discussion.

Upgrade for just $5 a month to get access to our discussion via chat here on Substack. Plus, for every upgraded membership, I’ll donate a book to a local women’s shelter.

Subscribe now

As a community we have now donated 17 books to women who need them.💝

For every membership upgraded for $5, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount, just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

Mountains of laundry.
Mountains of books (guilty 🙋‍♀️).
The mountain that is… well, your life.

Same.

There’s family to care for, work to do, workouts to squeeze in, dishes in the sink, dust on the shelves. One thing after another after another. (Let’s not look in the closets or the garage.)

But here’s a little question I keep asking myself lately…

What if we could climb all of those mountains… and feel better about ourselves in the process?

What if, instead of feeling buried and overwhelmed, we felt capable?

What if we felt confident in our ability to handle the day, even if that confidence is tiny and wobbly at first?

Think about the last time you felt truly care-free and confident.
Maybe it was yesterday (yay! I’m cheering for you!).
Or maybe it’s been a minute.

Honestly, that’s one of the reasons I love reading so much. Most stories follow the same arc, someone starts in a hard place… and ends up somewhere better, wiser, happier.

There’s so much power in watching someone grow.

And that’s exactly why I chose our September book club pick.

The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery

This book exploded on TikTok and has over 100,000 reviews on Goodreads (for good reason). It’s short. It’s powerful. And honestly… it hits hard in all the best ways.

I’d love to read it with you.

If you’re new here, our book club is completely chat-based right here in the Substack app ,which means it’s perfect for busy people who want to keep learning, growing, and taking small intentional steps toward who they want to become.

Want to join us? Just hit subscribe for $5/month and you’ll get access to all of our book club chats.

We start in September — I can’t wait to dive in together. 💛

Grab your copy HERE.

Subscribe now

Over 40 and looking for fun, free workouts? Check out my curated list of YouTube workouts I love sent every Sunday straight to your inbox at Moving With Melissa.

Are you still feeling the back to school vibes? I am!

Feel the vibes with these 3 recs this week…

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting blockbuster novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

This has been on my shelf for way too long. Help influence me that I need to read this book!

Check it out HERE.

Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. And she, just like her four best guy friends and fellow professors, is perma-single.

So when a routine university function turns into a black tie gala, Mille and her circle make a pact that they’ll join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. There’s only one hitch: after making the pact, Millie and one of the guys, Reid Campbell, secretly spend the sexiest half-night of their lives together, but mutually decide the friendship would be better off strictly platonic.

But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, Millie’s first profile attempt garners nothing but dick pics and creepers. Enter “Catherine”—Millie’s fictional profile persona, in whose make-believe shoes she can be more vulnerable than she’s ever been in person. Soon “Catherine” and Reid strike up a digital pen-pal-ship...but Millie can’t resist temptation in real life, either. Soon, Millie will have to face her worst fear—intimacy—or risk losing her best friend, forever.

Check it out HERE.

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When big, brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and former rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact to him, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Suddenly, half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf is secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs.

The easy lay Dani dreamed of is now more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

Check it out HERE.

Happy reading,

Melissa

Subscribe now

Reminder, upgraded subscribers can join our read along chat of Attitudes of Gratitude this month. Unsure of where to find that chat? Just send me a reply and I’m happy to help.

As a community we have now donated 17 books to women who need them.💝

For every membership upgraded to $5, we donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount—just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

A few weeks ago I was listening to a podcast about gratitude (for the life of me I can’t remember which one…. so sorry!), and the guest mentioned that they started saying ONE thing they were grateful for before they even opened their eyes in the morning.

Nothing fancy.
No journaling.
No meditation app.

Just a simple statement, said quietly to yourself the moment you wake up.

I figured… why not try? What’s the worst that could happen?

And honestly? That one small shift has made the biggest difference.
Every morning now, before I even open my eyes, I say to myself…

“I’m so grateful to have another day. How lucky am I that I get to experience today and everything it’s going to bring?”

I know. It sounds kind of woo-woo.
(To be fair, I probably would have rolled my eyes too a few years ago.)

But here’s my honest take away… my days have been better since I started.
That doesn’t mean everything is perfect. I still cry. I still get overwhelmed. I still have days where everything feels like too much.

The difference is: I start from a place of gratitude instead of stress.

I wake up feeling grounded.
I start by noticing just how lucky I am to wake up in a safe, cozy home with my family around me.
Before the noise and the to-do lists rush in, I choose gratefulness.

And that choice changes everything.

If you’re looking to add more gratefulness to your life, I highly recommend Attitudes of Gratitude (we’re reading it together this month inside the book club chat here on Substack. (available for paid subscribers)

Subscribe now

Book Spotlight!
One of my amazing clients has a cozy mystery box set on sale right now for only 99 cents. If you love cozies with furry friend, you are in for a treat. Lucy is also an amazing dog trainer so the pups really have their moment to shine in these stories.

Check it out👉 https://amzn.to/45pnWVz

What readers are saying…

“Her three lovely dogs, and great friends make these mysteries so fun to read. And the descriptions of the beautiful landscape! And the cake! These books will warm your heart, as love and affection are everywhere in this great group of characters.”

“If you love dogs, friendship, determination and cake, do yourself a favour and read this boxset to be drawn into this beautiful area, full of characters interacting on so many levels, and so realistic I at least never wanted each book to end.”

📖❤️🫶

I hope you all have an amazing rest of the week filled with joy and gratitude.

Happy reading,

Melissa

P.S. I’m so excited that we added another community member to the book club! That’s one more book donated this month.

Subscribe now

As a community we have now donated 17 books to women who need them.💝

For every membership upgraded for $5, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount, just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

A few days ago I stumbled across an entire series of videos about building your own personal curriculum and I was immediately hooked. Yes, to all of this! I realized I’ve been trying to do this for years, but without the structure to actually stick with it.

“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

Launching our new book club this month with Attitudes of Gratitude made something click into place for me. What I’ve really been chasing is a passion for learning… this craving for improvement and curiosity that doesn’t go away just because we’re no longer in classrooms.

I can thank my parents for that. Growing up, our family vacations revolved around historical sites. Most weekends were spent in museums. Weekdays were full of reading. In other words…my childhood was one big personal curriculum.

And that’s the best thing about continuing your education outside of traditional school… you get to choose the subject matter.

Want to explore gothic architecture? Go for it.

Curious about alchemy? You can start today.

Have ladybugs always fascinated you? Learn more about them.

It’s entirely yours to curate.🫶

So the little inspiration I want to leave you with this week is this… renew your joy of learning. Let yourself become a student again.

Here’s a great video to get started (especially perfect for readers and writers). Check it out.

Also…exciting news!

I’ve officially launched a brand new newsletter called Moving With Melissa. Every Sunday, I send out a curated list of 5 free YouTube workouts plus 5 free gentle walking videos specifically chosen for women over 40 (a mix of yoga, Pilates, and rebounder exercises). We’ve had over 1,200 women join in the first three days and I would absolutely love for you to join us.
👉 You can subscribe here: Check It Out

To wrap things up, here are 3 romances featuring teachers to keep you in the back-to-school spirit…

Juliet Baldwin.

Type-A Teacher.

Sam Ford.

Ruler of Classroom Chaos.

I, Juliet Baldwin, have my hands firmly on the wheel of life at ten-and-two, steering in the opposite direction of heartache. Teaching comes first, and nothing can stand in the way of bettering my students and achieving my professional goals.

Except, of course, technology.

When a grade level shift moves Sam Ford—everyone’s favorite rambunctious teacher, baseball coach, and technology wizard—to my seventh grade team, we butt heads more than we grade papers. But I need someone to help put together a video for my prestigious grant application—a project that I have invested a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into over the past several years. And while I can barely work my phone’s selfie camera, Sam just so happens to be the tech guru of the building.

Suddenly, as I let him take over the video project for my grant, my reins are in Sam’s hands—someone I don’t trust, and someone who could very well break my heart. But as the layers slowly peel back, revealing much more than a charming smirk beneath his sexy beard, I start to wonder if placing my heart in someone else’s hands will be good for me, or if it will just further upset the apple cart.

Check it out HERE.

Aryn Murphy loves her family and friends, sports, and teaching school. What she doesn’t love is all the wrong attention she receives from men who don’t know the first thing about her.

When her childhood friend Wesley moves to town and lands a job working at the same school where she teaches, she has the perfect idea – he can be the decoy that keeps all the men away while she focuses on her otherwise perfect life. After all, Wesley has always been someone she’s felt safe with.

Wesley Baker harbored a secret crush on Aryn in high school, and when he arrives at his new job to find Aryn there too, that crush comes raging back. Now she wants him to play the part of doting boyfriend by night, and forgotten coworker by day.

But he had enough of playing pretend all those years ago. This time, he’s looking to play a different game – one with high stakes, and the potential to make them both winners.

Back To Class is a kissing only, sweet and clean romcom, with all the swoon but no explicit content.

Check it out HERE.

In the sweeping tradition of The English Patient, a gripping tale of love and betrayal set in war-torn Hong Kong

In 1942, Will Truesdale, an Englishman newly arrived in Hong Kong, falls headlong into a passionate relationship with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. But their love affair is soon threatened by the invasion of the Japanese as World War II overwhelms their part of the world. Will is sent to an internment camp, where he and other foreigners struggle daily for survival. Meanwhile, Trudy remains outside, forced to form dangerous alliances with the Japanese—in particular, the malevolent head of the gendarmerie, whose desperate attempts to locate a priceless collection of Chinese art lead to a chain of terrible betrayals.

Ten years later, Claire Pendleton comes to Hong Kong and is hired by the wealthy Chen family as their daughter’s piano teacher. A provincial English newlywed, Claire is seduced by the heady social life of the expatriate community. At one of its elegant cocktail parties, she meets Will, to whom she is instantly attracted—but as their affair intensifies, Claire discovers that Will’s enigmatic persona hides a devastating past. As she begins to understand the true nature of the world she has entered, and long-buried secrets start to emerge, Claire learns that sometimes the price of survival is love.

Check it out HERE.

What subject would you include in your own self learning curriculum?

I’d love to hear!

Subscribe now

Reminder, upgraded subscribers can join our read along chat of Attitudes of Gratitude this month. Unsure of where to find that chat? Just send me a reply and I’m happy to help.

As a community we have now donated 16 books to women who need them.💝

For every membership upgraded to $5, we donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount—just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

Nice, sure.

But life-changing? I wasn’t convinced.

But something happened when I picked up Attitudes of Gratitude by M. J. Ryan this month as I turned towards gratitude to help me through my grief.

It started to shift me.

As I opened the first few pages, I realized that I’ve spent so much of my adult life chasing. Chasing goals, chasing peace, chasing the version of myself who finally has it all “together.” (which I have not learned it not possible)

And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting more, I’ve often overlooked the most powerful starting point of all…

Gratitude for what already is…

Why This Book, Why Now?

I decided to launch this book club as a space where we could read books that change us. Not just entertain us (though that’s lovely too and I’ll be sharing plenty of those), but ones that help us become who we want to be.

And Attitudes of Gratitude felt like the right beginning. Because how can we grow if we don’t first acknowledge the value in where we are?

This book doesn’t preach at you. It gently invites you into a new way of seeing.

M. J. Ryan writes with warmth, clarity, and compassion is there reminding us that gratitude isn’t just a feeling.

It’s a practice.

A choice.

A life skill.

One line from the early chapters had me rereading it a few times to let it soak in…

“The more attention we pay to our gratitude, the less room there is for our negative emotions.”

I read it twice. Three times.

Because this is something I’ve felt, but never had words for. When I’m caught in comparison, doubt, or burnout, it’s not that I don’t have things to be grateful for. It’s that I’m not noticing them.

That’s what this book is helping me shift. Slowly, quietly. But powerfully.

This week in the book club, we’re reflecting on the small ways gratitude can show up and the sneaky ways we sometimes resist it.

We are just reading and letting the words wash over us. No pressure. No homework. Just space to breathe, connect, and gently grow.

And if you’re reading this and thinking, I need that… you’re not too late.

We’re just getting started, and you’re warmly invited to join us.

This space isn’t about hustle. It’s about alignment. It’s about tuning back into who you are and who you’re becoming.

Each month we read a book together. Each week, I share reflections, quotes, and prompts. There’s community, conversation, and space for you to show up exactly as you are.

If that sounds like something your heart is craving, I’d love to see you inside.

You can join us here and start reading with us today.

Let’s begin with gratitude.

Subscribe now

P.S. We’re discussing the first few chapters inside the book club right now and I can already tell it’s going to be one of my favorites. Come say hello in the chat if you're reading along ✨

Before I go, I have a few books to highlight that I’m grateful to have read recently.

There's no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.

But after one incredible and seemingly endless date, Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be. Only no amount of distance or time is enough to forget what's between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.

Click HERE to check it out. P.S. Right now there is a 25% off coupon on Amazon.

This love story is a work in progress…

When romcom author Allie Edwards crosses paths with bestselling crime novelist – aka publishing dinosaur – Martin Clark at a party, they discover they both have crippling writer’s block, overdue manuscripts and precisely zero words to show to their respective editors.

With deadlines looming, Allie and Martin decide to switch plots and tell each other’s stories. In the writing process, Allie not only gains a father-figure in Martin, but also meets gorgeous events caterer Will, the answer to the leading man-shaped hole in her life and her lack of spicy material.

Caught between love and her career, what could possibly go wrong?

Click HERE to check it out. (Also currently 25% off or grab the e-book for 99 cents)

If your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Bennet Taylor is failing miserably . . . with a big emphasis on the miserable. Where’s that zest she keeps hearing about? She’s a temp worker in New York City with no direction, no future, and no social life. And at the painful center of this listlessness is grief over the death of her first love.

When Bennet runs into Henry Adams just hours after standing him up for a first date, she makes an alcohol-fueled confession: She’s not ready to date. In fact, it’s been years since she felt passion for something. Not even pottery, or organized sports—not anything. Rather than leaving her to ruminate, Henry jumps at the opportunity for adventure: Bennet needs to find a passion for life, and Henry will help her find it. Every Saturday, they’ll try something new in New York City. As friends, of course.

As their “passion project” continues, the pair tackle everything from carpentry to tattooing to rappelling off skyscrapers, and Bennet feels her guarded exterior ebbing away. But as secrets surface, Bennet has to decide what she wants, and if she’s truly ready to move on. With emotional resonance and sparkling banter, Passion Project is a fun, flirty, thoughtful story of finding a spark—and igniting happiness.

Click HERE to check it out.

If you are an upgraded subscriber who would like to be participating in the book club, join us in the chat space for The Literary Assistant.

I would love to know what you have been reading and enjoying this week!

Subscribe now

As a community we have now donated 16 books to women who need them.💝

For every membership upgraded to $5, we donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.

Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount—just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕

This week, we’re heading up north to our family cabin in Michigan. It’s a short trip before school starts, a little escape into the quiet woods. We’re squeezing it in after a summer that brought a lot of grief, sadness, and the kind of loss you never really prepare for. It’s been a season of heaviness, but also one of slowing down and remembering what matters most.

This trip feels like a chance to breathe again.

And as we get ready for school to start, I’m still trying to wrap my head around how on earth I have a child going into 10th grade (how??), I’m also grateful for this little moment to reset and reflect before the busy season of back to school.

Of course, the real question is—what books am I bringing?

Let’s start with my Kindle picks, which I like to think of as my guilt-free travel-friendly library that takes up zero space (so I can justify the two extra physical copies in my suitcase, right. Right?). Here's what I'm packing:

📖 Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver

A talent agent hires an actress to play the part of “novelist” on a book tour for his agency’s publicity-shy client in this delightful rom-com from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club Pick One Day in December

She’s playing the part of romance author, but has she found her own real life love story?

Talent agent Charlie Francisco has three problems: a divorce that ended his screenwriting career, a business he never planned to inherit, and a take-your-breath-away romance novel whose author wants nothing to do with its publication. The book is a surefire hit, if only his agency can find someone to “play” author on its summer book tour.

Enter Kate Elliott, a former soap actress who’s miraculously right for the part at the very moment her life seems to be going all wrong. Kate is still recovering from her own divorce and Charlie’s job offer is a lifeline. She agrees to the pretense for all interviews, signings, and appearances surrounding the novel’s publication. But she can’t know who really wrote the remarkable story—the one so beautiful it’s made her believe in love again.

When Kate and Charlie meet they’re all friction and sparks—the one thing they have in common is they’re determined to play their respective parts. But as the summer heat ups and the lies get bigger and bigger, can they stick to their lines . . . or will they go off-script?

📖 A Magic Deep and Drowning by Hester Fox

Set in the waning days of the Dutch Golden Age, this enchanting, lush reimagining of The Little Mermaid is perfect for fans of Jesse Burton’s The Miniaturist and Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar.

The Dutch Republic, 1650. One fine spring day in Friesland, twenty-year-old Clara van Wieren is faced with an ill omen: a whale, beached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstition, and this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrives, promising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule.

When her attempts at overseeing the household at the family’s estate lead to her chance encounter with a young man with russet hair and sparkling eyes the color of the sea, she finds herself strangely drawn to him. As Clara grows closer to Maurits, she must choose between the steady, gentle life she has been raised for and the man who makes her blood sing.

But Maurits isn’t who he seems to be, and his secrets, once hidden beneath the waves, threaten to rise up and drown them both. And when an ancient bargain, forged in blood between the mythical people of the sea and the rulers of the land, begins to unravel, Clara finds herself at the heart of a deadly struggle for power.

📖 Taste the Love by Karelia Stetz-Waters and Fay Stetz-Waters

A delicious, heartwarming romantic comedy about big dreams, life-changing friendships, and the people who bring out your best.

Six years ago, eco-chef Alice Sullivan and her culinary-school rival almost gave into the burning tension between them. But those kisses? Just the heat of competition boiling over. Sullivan never expected to see Kia after graduation . . . until Kia crashes back into her life with a plan to buy Sullivan’s beloved Portland greenspace.

Kia has worked hard building her social media empire as the big-hearted glitter-bomb queen of the food-truck scene. Now she’s one step away from opening a foodie utopia for underrepresented culinary talents. But Kia’s plans catch the attention of a bulldozer-happy food conglomerate, and now both Kia and Sullivan’s dreams are on the line. When a legal loophole turns out to be the only way to save what they each love most, they’re left with one option: pull off a very public fake marriage to obtain the deed to the land and keep their old rivalry under control.

📖 Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon

From the outside, veterinarian Evie Williams appears to have the perfect but boring life. She is desperate to figure out a way to shake it up, but gets more than she bargained for when she finds her fiancé in bed with another woman. Suddenly, Evie is without a fiancé or a job, and isn’t sure what her next steps should be. That is, until her college crush, Bryson Mitchell, returns to town.

Now, a nationally recognized veterinary surgeon, Bryson is stunned when he encounters Evie Williams for the first time in half a decade. When they learn the animal shelter where they used to volunteer is in danger of closing, the two must work together to save it. It has Bryson wondering, can he and Evie also save the friendship they once shared and finally bring it to the next level?

📖 Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez

Wanted—no, NEEDED: a summer escape with beach reads, cocktails…and a little romance on the side.

After her legal career comes to a sudden and humiliating end, Liliane Lyon books a restorative summer rental at The Icon, a quintessential Art Deco building in Miami Beach, where her only plan is to bask in the sun, read, and sip cocktails. But soon she’s enchanted by the colorful community, including university professor Benedicto Romero—resident tortured poet, whose sole intention for sabbatical is to indulge in brooding introspection.

When they discover a shared passion for romance novels, Lily and Ben are soon spending hours reading together by the pool, the spark between them unwittingly giving the other residents the impression that they’re experts in matters of the heart…no matter that IRL their disastrous love lives bear little resemblance to the stories they’re reading.

But while Ben and Lily can pinpoint a trope a mile away and give excellent advice to others, they can’t make sense of the sizzling chemistry between them, and the suggestion of a professional podcast suddenly forces them to consider the long-term. So what if it means working even closer together! So what if their banter makes Lily's head spin! It’s the summer of taking chances, but a word to the wise: Miami isn’t the place for growth and rebirth. It’s the place to get messy.

A mix of romance, whimsy and fun… just what I need for life in the woods.

Then there’s my nonfiction stack, because even when I’m on vacation, I love to reflect and grow. I’m bringing two books I’ve already started and am really enjoying:

💡 Attitudes of Gratitude by M. J. Ryan
This one is also our August pick for The Literary Assistant Book Club!

If you’re craving a more intentional, grounded mindset this season, I’d love for you to read along with us. You can join the book club right here on Substack (just upgrade for $5 a month) and be part of our growing community.

💡 Make Money Easy by Lewis Howes
This is a practical and encouraging read that’s been helping me reframe how I think about money, goals, and creating a sustainable business. I’m taking it slow and highlighting a lot.

So yes, I’m probably bringing too much. And yes, I’ll likely read only half of what I’ve packed… ok, less be honest, more like 1/10. But having all these books with me feels like bringing a group of friends along for the ride. They need me and I need them.

Whether I’m curled up in a cabin chair, out at the lake, or just grabbing a few peaceful minutes before making dinner, I like knowing I have the perfect read waiting for me.

Now I want to hear from you…
How do you pack for a vacation? Are you more strategic with your book choices? Or do you, like me, bring the whole shelf just in case? (this is a judgement free zone.)

Wishing you a peaceful end of summer,
Melissa

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