How Seasonal Reading Transformed My Reading Life (And Yours Can Too)
One overwhelmed bookshelf, a rainy afternoon, and the simple trick that made me fall in love with books again.
The Journal: On Tuesdays Wednesdays, dive into personal essays, reflections, and behind-the-scenes insights from my bookish and personal life.
📚 The Day My Bookshelf Broke Me
Hi Bookish Besties!
The good thing about keeping journals is having the opportunity to look back at where you were and what you were doing.
It was ten years ago on a cold, rainy February day in North East England when my reading life hit a wall. I was in between jobs, surrounded by a sea of books—many unread—and feeling… completely uninspired.
I had the time. I had the books. But instead of curling up to read, I found myself turning on the TV and spiraling into a fog of guilt. What happened to the reader I used to be?
Then I noticed something: the only book I had finished that month was a mystery I’d read during a weekend it was chucking it down and we had to cancel an outing. The mood, the setting—it had matched the moment. That’s when it clicked: maybe the trick to getting back into reading wasn’t about discipline—it was about alignment.
That small realization launched what would become one of the most joyful reading habits I’ve ever developed—and one that still saves me every time I fall into a funk.
Keep reading for:
The question that changed how I pick books forever
Why seasonal reading works
How I build “vibe shelves” for each season—no stress, just fun
My favorite seasonal prompts to help you create your own joyful stack
P.S. Join us for March’s BYOB Club meeting THIS Saturday, March 29th, 2025 at 1 pm ET or at 7 pm ET. Bring a book you've read during the past month and share it with us.
How to join, details, and more in the post below:
