Bookshelf

A Uniquely Portable Magic

I was always the child who was caught staying up late at night, buried beneath a blanket reading by flashlight. I was so privileged to have a mom who was also a bibliophile, and always encouraged my love of reading. She never censored what I could read as a child, and because of that, I devoured all the books I could get my hands on at bookstores, libraries, garage sales, and second-hand stores. Unsurprisingly, I grew up to be a bookseller in an earlier life for nearly 10 years before I made the decision to go back to school. Even as an adult, I will likely always consider myself to be a perpetual student, and I hope to always, always be learning. We all have so much to teach one another.

So, for that reason, here is a space for me to show the books that I have most recently been reading, as well as some of my favorite to recommend. This is certainly is not an exhaustive list, but I have included all of the books that I felt have helped me learn and evolve. I try to read at least one book each month that challenges my perspectives. The majority of these books come from non-fiction categories such as the social justice, psychology, self-development, or memoirs, but occasionally I'll also include a poignant and thought-provoking novel.

What's on my TBR (to be read) stack

Books that I'm looking forward to reading in the near future:

"The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us."

(Ray Bradbury)

A peek at one of my personal bookshelves at home

"That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong."

(F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Current Reads: 2026

01 - JANUARY

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Becoming Nicole: The Inspiring Story of Transgender Actor-Activist Nicole Maines & her Extraordinary Family (Amy Ellis Nutt)

When Wayne and Kelly Maines adopted identical twin boys, they thought their lives were complete. But by the time Jonas and Wyatt were toddlers, confusion over Wyatt’s insistence that he was female began to tear the family apart. In the years that followed, the Maineses came to question their long-held views on gender and identity, to accept Wyatt’s transition to Nicole, and to undergo a wrenching transformation of their own, the effects of which would reverberate through their entire community.

02 - FEBRUARY

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How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning & Organizing (KC Davis)

If you’re struggling to stay on top of your to-do list, you probably have a good reason: anxiety, fatigue, depression, ADHD, or lack of support. For therapist KC Davis, the birth of her second child triggered a stress-mess cycle. The more behind she felt, the less motivated she was to start. She didn’t fold a single piece of laundry for seven months. One life-changing realization restored her sanity—and the functionality of her home: You don’t work for your home; your home works for you.

03 - MARCH

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Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse & Fighting for Justice (Virginia Roberts Giuffre)

In this brave and remarkable memoir, Virginia Roberts Giuffre shares her harrowing story in her own words, detailing the years of abuse she endured at the hands of Jefferey Epstein and her subsequent fight for justice.

04 - APRIL

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That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You (Elyse Myers)

Bold, relatable and laugh-out-loud funny. The internet’s BFF delivers a collection of personal stories, hilarious anecdotes and intimate reflections from her life as a viral sensation.

05 - MAY

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You With the Sad Eyes: A Memoir (Christina Applegate)

The iconic actress reflects on her monumental on-screen and off-screen career, from her sitcom days to her movie roles to her hilarious podcast, and the important lessons she’s learned over the years.

06 - JUNE

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We Can Do Better Than This: An Urgent Manifesto for How we Can Shape a Better World for LGBTQ+ People (Amelia Abraham, Editor)

In We Can Do Better Than This, 35 voices - actors, musicians, writers, artists and activists - answer this vital question, at a time when the queer community continues to suffer discrimination and extreme violence. Through deeply moving stories and provocative new arguments on safety and visibility, dating and gender, care and community, they present a powerful manifesto for how - together - we can change lives everywhere.

January

February

March

April

May

CURRENT READ:

“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.”

(Oscar Wilde)