Fall Book Club Favs from The SRH Team & Community!

This week has felt like….well, a lot of different things. But all to be expected, which somehow has made it a little easier. Unlike most of 2020, this week was easy to predict the high and low emotions to come….and therefore easier to just try and breathe through it all, take it one day at a time (and one hour at a time, sometimes), and to take time to just pray for LOVE to prevail.

As someone who tries to be very intentional about *not* using things/crutches to cover up our feelings or emotions that need to be felt so they can be healed instead of stuffed away (usually via our relationship to food, alcohol, social media, shopping, etc.), I also realize that sometimes we DO NEED to step away. As a protective measure. To give our brains and nervous systems a break from the media, noise and stories coming at us from every direction.

Healthy boundaries. Energetic ones, most of all (I talked about this yesterday in my post on IG here). And ones that help us process and protect ourselves from getting sucked in too far to anything without rest and care.

To have little moments and hours (and sometimes days) set in place so that we can return to our centers. To return to ourselves and our truths and our hearts as humans and to see the bigger picture. And to help us better navigate the things in our real life that need to be felt, cared for and processed…..but doing so feeling a little more rested. Empowered. Re-energized.

It’s necessary AND healthy, as long as we can honor both sides of it– the sitting with our emotions, and the letting go of them to make space for moments of peace and light.

Yesterday I shared with you the NOTE on my phone that I always keep handy– of easy ways to get that energetic shift into a better state. To have that pause, change up, and re-direct. And as a reminder to shift into a higher vibe state, whenever I need it (aka, multiple times a day over here as I transition from mama to CEO to leader back to mama, back to wife, back to myself all throughout the day. There is a lot of momentary shifting, so I’ve gotten use to harnessing that as a power and reminder time).

It’s honestly one of the reasons why I love cooking so much. Working with my hands, creating something nourishing for my family from scratch. It’s healing and centering in sooo many ways.

Reading can do the same, at least for me. It can transport you somewhere new, or offer some fresh perspective in just the right moment. And, it just takes your mind off things for a little while, which can be such a gift in tense & uncertain times.

So, today let’s talk about what’s on our reading list and nightstand these days. I polled my team aaaand my audience to get some amazing recs to add to your bookshelves (or kindle library, if that’s more your thing).

And, would you do me a favor? If you’ve read an AMAZING book this year that didn’t make our list, could you leave it in a comment below so the rest of us can check it out?

I’m all about crowdsourcing my next read, so drop us your favs and we’ll pretend like this is our own sweet, sacred little book club, deal?

Team #SRH book club recs

My favs this year:

just for fun:

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey: explanation— none needed?! I mean, come on. I’m doing it over audio just for his voice alone.
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Lina Holmes: a great easy read for when you need a break from reality. Currently reading!
More Myself by Alicia Keys: this one is next on my list. This one I’ve heard over and over is sooo good.
Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid: such a fun one if you need a lighter read.

wellness/health/habits/mindset/my nerdy self:

Atomic Habits by James Clear: this one is next on my list in the business/life category. I’ve heard it’s sooo good.
Becoming Supernatural by Joe Dispenza: currently reading. Love him. It’s so good.
The Spirit Almanac by Emma Loewe: just finished this, a great way to stay inspired with the changing of seasons, little ritual ideas and explains so many woo-woo practices in approachable ways. I didn’t resonate as much with all the actual practices to do, but reading was soothing and calming at night and a reminder to trust the rhythms of life.
The Feel Good Effect by Robyn Conley Downs: I love how this breaks wellness/self-care into tiny habits and routines. And I just love her! Catch my episodes on her podcast here.
In the FLO by Alisa Vitti: such an important read for women to understand how our hormones affect every area of our lives. I wish EVERY woman would read this! I liked this better than her first book because it’s meant for most women where her first one focuses on PCOS and period issues. It’s also great!

I’m also obsessed with the Hello Sunshine Book Club, and have read most of them. Reece knows her books and always chooses strong women leads and women authors, which I love.

For all my other books & favorite things, check out my full favorites page, here

My Assistant, Susie recommends:

The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett: This was one of those books that just grips you from the start and doesn’t let you go. Told with dual narrators, it’s a beautifully told tale of family secrets (and relationships), society’s expectations, and cultural identity. I LOVED it. So much.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver: I freaking looooved this book. It tackled grief and love and friendship, and made me cry and laugh at the same time. It’s sad, but also gorgeously written and hopeful, too.

Community & Partnerships Manager, Jordyn recommends:

Untamed by Glennon Doyle: You’ll find yourself completely consumed by Glennon’s words as she opens up her soul and invites you in! I caught myself trying to underline multiple portions of the book to revisit as it dealt with topics of privilege, bravery, bias, parenting, and much more. This memoir was a call to action for us to step up and also a reminder to slow down.

Online Business Manager, Kate recommends:

Do Less by Kate Northrup: I loved this one because it gave an approach to time management with the busy mom in mind along with the even more important topic of energy management which is not typically a topic that goes hand and hand with productivity, but this gave me a whole new outlook on how I plan my days.
The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte: This is a practical hands on guide to help you figure out success on your own terms. I loved how Danielle Laporte really made you look inside and answer some important but difficult questions to set you on a path towards your true calling.

My Copywriter, Audrey recommends:

Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman: We’re expecting our first baby at the end of the year and this is BY FAR my favorite parenting book/resource I’ve read! It’s all about French parenting and their low-key approach to pretty much… everything. Seriously. From feeding kids to raising them to be good humans without all the stress and pressure I think a lot of American parents (moms specifically) feel, it’s freeing to see a different kind of approach. And it’s super well written and funny… just not your typical parenting guide at all, in the best kind of way. (Sarah actually recommended this to me when I told her I was pregnant!)

Book recommendations from the SRH community:

You guys sent in soooo many great recs when I polled you on IG this week. Here are some of the top picks that look SO good and/or that I’ve been eyeing too!