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What are you up to this first weekend of 2025? Around here we\u2019re wrapping up a decidedly chill week at home but tracking the big winter storm to see how long the college kids can actually stay in town. (The answer: not as long as I\u2019d like.) Today I\u2019m planning on Friday coffee with Will<\/a><\/strong>, getting together with family for one last holiday gathering, and hopefully finishing a good book.<\/p>\n I hope you<\/em> have something good to look forward to these next few days, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind. <\/p>\n Our 2025<\/em> Spring Book Preview<\/a><\/strong> is right around the corner! Coming January 16: I\u2019ll walk you through the early 2025 offerings options and help you get clear on how you want to approach your reading life this spring. Our Spring Book Preview includes event access and an accompanying digital PDF booklet that lays out every title in our preview, 6 spotlight titles, and more features to help you make the most of your spring (aka winter!) reading life.<\/p>\n Our Spring Book Preview event is an included perk for members of our\u00a0Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>community and\u00a0What Should I Read Next Patreon<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u201cBook Lover\u201d supporters. It\u2019s a steal of a deal! For those who don\u2019t have the time or inclination to join a community, we\u2019ve got you covered with our ever-popular a la carte access.<\/p>\n Click here to get in on the action.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I offer gift links for articles whenever possible (you may still need to create an account with the publication); if there\u2019s no gift link and you\u2019re not a subscriber, check to see if your library carries the publication or use a service like Pocket.<\/em><\/p>\n These were the most-borrowed books from public libraries in 2024.<\/a><\/strong> (NPR<\/em>) \u201cWhile many of 2024\u2019s top books are new, a scan of titles revealed a striking number of repeats that also appeared on numerous most-borrowed lists in 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n Doing Nothing With Your Favorite People Is Really, Really Good for You.<\/a><\/strong> (Self<\/em>) On the healing power of just hanging out. <\/p>\n I can\u2019t rave hard enough about Apotheke\u2019s charcoal candle<\/a><\/strong>, now 40% off (today\u2019s the last day, use code BEST2024 at checkout) for their best-of-2024 sale. Will gave me one for Christmas last year and I was instantly hooked. Will and I are also really enjoying their Winter Discovery Set<\/a><\/strong>, also 40% off right now with the code. <\/p>\n Read 20 of the best books entering the public domain in 2025.<\/a><\/strong> (Standard Ebooks<\/em>) \u201cOn January 1, 2025, books published in 1929 enter the U.S. public domain. And 1929 was a literary doozy!\u201d Faulkner, Steinbeck, Christie, and more.<\/p>\n TikTok\u2019s \u201cScary Hour\u201d Might Be The Best Productivity Hack Yet.<\/a><\/strong> (Bustle<\/em>) This week has been full of blessedly lazy days; sharing with next<\/em> week in mind. \u201cIt often feels easier to put things off for days, weeks, or even months, but it\u2019s not until you finally take action that you\u2019re able to see how easy the chore really is.\u201d<\/p>\n My daughter came home with the cutest Target Valentine finds<\/a><\/strong> (that she intends to use year-round) for her college apartment: mugs<\/a><\/strong> and dish towels<\/a><\/strong> and candles<\/a><\/strong>, oh my! On the Valentine\u2019s (but also evergreen) theme, this Old Navy heart sweater<\/a><\/strong> is also adorable and available in XS\u20134X.<\/p>\n The Story of Us.<\/strong><\/a> (Joy the Baker<\/em>) Golly I love a love story. Congrats on your marriage, Joy!<\/p>\n The Hottest Trend in Publishing: Books You Can Judge by Their Cover.<\/a><\/strong> (New York Times<\/em> gift link) \u201cThis strategy runs counter to the way most publishers have released books for decades.\u201d The photos accompanying this piece are fantastic.<\/p>\n This Shasta Crewneck Sweater<\/a><\/strong> is my favorite holiday sale purchase. (XS\u2013XL) I\u2019m 5\u20199\u2033 and love the fit of the Medium.<\/p>\n Katalog.<\/a><\/strong> (Barbara Iweins<\/em>) My husband Will finds fascinating stuff online: this Belgian photographer photographed everything she owned for a museum exhibit; the accompanying piece includes interesting thoughts about Marie Kondo, the new year, hanging artwork, and things you would save in a fire.<\/p>\n Dry January Forever: How Gen Z Is Turning Sobriety Into a Lifestyle.<\/a><\/strong> (ELLE<\/em>) \u201cInstead of being cordoned off to a decidedly unsexy corner of a drink menu, mocktails now often get an entire page of their own.\u201d<\/p>\n The Award-Winning Novels of 2024.<\/a><\/strong> (Literary Hub<\/em>) A handy list.<\/p>\n Do you see blue or green? This viral test plays with color perception.<\/a><\/strong> (The Guardian<\/em>) I\u2019ve thought about this test<\/a><\/strong> weekly since I first read about it in September. My own blue-green boundary leans green. <\/p>\n 21 Jane Austen retellings worth picking up.<\/a><\/strong> It is a truth universally acknowledged that I am a sucker for Jane Austen retellings.<\/p>\nSpring Book Preview is coming<\/h3>\n
My favorite finds from around the web:<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t miss these posts:<\/h3>\n