Carissa Kellerby

Staying motivated to read when life is demanding and the world is on fire can be difficult. Expanding your mind through reading is a great motivator, but reading for rest has an important place, too.

Brightly colored rom-coms with would-be lovers gazing at each other with either flirtation or annoyance are lining the shelves as we head into the unrelenting heat wave. If romance isn’t your thing or if you’re looking for something different, then look in the shade from the blockbuster beach reads for these upcoming titles on my “To Read” list.

In this month where we reserve one day out of 365 to celebrate women who have produced another human being from their own bodies, here are a few books about all kinds of mothers.

Climate fiction, sometimes called environmental or green fiction, gives us a glimpse into a near future where human destruction and carelessness has led to extreme climate and an increase or intensification of natural disasters.

Historical fiction holds memories that spark curiosity.

Here is a sampling of books to give you some ideas to focus on loving yourself first.

In 2025, I challenge you to stop reading those books that just aren’t grabbing you and keep seeking the ones that do.

December. The race to the finish line of the holiday season and the end of the year. Remember those things you told yourself you were going to accomplish back in January? Yeah, sorry I reminded you.

I don’t know about you, but the end of Daylight Savings time sends me straight into hibernation mode. It’s dark by 5:30pm, which for some reason now feels like 8pm. All I want to do is curl up in a nest of blankets and cuddly cats, drink a hot beverage, and you guessed it, read a book!

October is my favorite month for many reasons. Fall finally starts to feel like it’s here. The leaves change. It feels like the calm before the major holiday storm. I can justify having candy in the house, particularly Brach’s candy corn pumpkins. (It’s for the trick or treaters! wink). And my witchiness can be out on full display without anyone batting an eye.