Friday Reads 6.12.25

Do More of What Makes You Happy

Hullo Hullo, and happy Friday the 13th, friends! When the news cycle turns into a thriller novel, a taste of normalcy is hopefully welcome. So here you are, a little late, but full of optimism.

I saw a quote moments ago that said: “Do more of what makes you happy.”

I’d planned to tell you a bit about my week, which was nutso from start to finish, but instead, I want to reflect on this phrase. It’s unattributable, which means it’s been passed around a million times, a bite-sized directive as pleasing and unthreatening as an Oreo. It’s easy to say, to slip that sweet little platitude into your brainpan and wish you nothing but daisies and joy for the rest of the day—which I do, of course. Here I am, heaping bunches of daisies and sunshine and kittens and rainbows all over you. Huzzah! 🌼🌼😎😎🐱🐱🌈🌈 (Happy Pride Month, too, BTW…)

But really, doing more of what makes you happy is much, much harder than it sounds. A genuine challenge. There are too many things I love that are either unhealthy for me or impossible to do for a variety of reasons, generally financial. I mean, in a perfect world, I’d be jetting to New York right now to hang with my pals at Thrillerfest with my finished manuscript sitting in my editor’s inbox. Or to Paris, to sip champagne at a sidewalk table in Montparnasse. Or Italy, or Scotland, or any number of other places. I’d be able to see my parents weekly. I’d be able to eat actual Oreos, instead of my keto GF version, Choc Zero Dunkies. I’d read, all the time. I’d golf every day. I’d spend hours on my yoga mat, putter in my garden, walk around the lake after eating ice cream. Organize and clean and design and stargaze. Brush the cat and watch the birds. Figure out how to manage the newsletter and Friday Reads when they drop in the same 12-hour period. (Open to ideas on that…)

Oh, and I’d write. Well, constantly, with erudition and composure. Fearless and intense and muscular and deep. Emotionally, aggressively, simply.

Yes, I would LOVE to do more of the things that make me happy.

Am I taking this advice too literally? Or is it meant to be a simple, gentle reminder to appreciate the things that make us happy? To stop and think about what they are, and how to slip a few more into our everyday lives? Well, if that is the case, then let’s all take a moment today to find one small thing that brings us joy, appreciate it, and add an extra bit of it to our lives.

It was a huge week for publishing, with so many books releasing that I can’t stay on top of them all. First up, though… My darling friend VE Schwab’s latest, BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL, is finally, finally here. I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. It’s ADDIE LA RUE on steroids. Everything about it is wonderful, but the writing… see above about erudition and composure and fearlessness. I love that the opening line of description says—This is a story about hunger—because really, what is our quest for happiness other than a hunger for more? Congratulations, V! And thank you for the gf cake!

Kaira Rouda’s newest, JILL IS NOT HAPPY, has arrived as well. Kaira’s books never disappoint — they are always so gleefully improper. Totally love.

Like the rest of the world, I snagged a copy of S.A. Cosby’s KING OF ASHES, which I am sure is going to be astounding, like all of his other work.

I opened my iPad Tuesday morning to see a familiar name on my lock screen—Riley Sager’s newest, WITH A VENGEANCE, being talked about in the Hollywood Reporter. That was fun! Riley’s doing fantastic work reenvisioning the classics, and this one, a mashup of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, is getting raves. Highly recommend his books!

I missed Robert Dugoni’s A DEAD DRAW last week, the 11th installment in his Tracy Crosswhite series. Who’s reading these?

I also grabbed THE BOOK OF DOORS by Gareth Brown, because hello, magical world with a grumpy Scotsman….

And if watching and listening is more your speed, we’ve had several more episodes drop on A WORD ON WORDS — check them out!

And… I am very excited to host my friend and mentor

Jayne Ann Krentz

next Friday here, on a Substack live. I’ll provide times and links in my notes. And because I haven’t ever done this before, (assuming the world is still standing) I will be doing a live later today to practice. Look for me later this afternoon… and forgive me in advance for any fumbling that might happen. 😜

That’s it from me this week. What are you reading this weekend? Would love to hear your recommendations for us!

And stay safe out there. It’s a wild world.

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