This has been a WEEK. I entertained my dad and his wife for the four days they were here. I threw my daughter a second birthday party of her dreams. Somehow I got her birthday dress made even though I started it on Friday. And on top of all this, my daughter started sleeping on a floor bed instead of her crib, so she is popping out of her room. So after a very busy weekend, we are a bit sleep-deprived on top of it all. And by “we” I mean her. And by “sleep-deprived” I mean she is a tiny terror. I personally need my reading habit to deal with the insanity that is going on right now.

So even on a week when I should have put the books down, I found myself lost in other worlds so I could deal with what was going on in my own world. Let’s take a look at what I am reading:

Reading Social Media News

Some weeks, I come to this section wondering what I’ll share here, and then there are weeks where I see an article and think, “I’m totally sharing this.” Gini Dietrich’s rebuttal to PR Daily’s AI obstacle course got me super excited. Even though I did like the original article, Gini’s points are excellent. I’m including more and more AI in my work where it makes sense, and it’s been fantastic, especially when it comes to keeping me writing. I’m excited to see what is to come to automate the things I shouldn’t be focused on.

Instagram just released some tips for Reels creators. They seem to be doing this a lot lately as these creators keep complaining. Yes, it was much easier to get through before, but as the space grows and grows, your Reels have to be better and better for you to get the same results. Most people can’t keep up with that, especially when Instagram is recommending at least ten Reels per month. That is a lot of video content to be producing. And for brands, I think it means that you need a dedicated video person if your budget permits. There is just no way one person can keep up with this much video content on top of what else social media demands.

Reading Books, Books and More Books

Past

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman surprised me. I’m pretty much braced for a terrible book to come my way because I’ve had a run of fantastic books in my life. That has to end at some point, right? This ragtag comedy about store employees hatching a plan they believe will make their lives better definitely did not end that streak. It’s a nice, light book that really reminded me of the craziness from my time in retail. Will it be the best thing you’ve ever read? Probably not, but you’ll enjoy it anyway. It’s a great summer book. Score: A-

My book club read You Are Here by David Nicholls this month, and it was surprisingly good. This club has a tendency to read some mediocre books, so I’m always a little hesitant. But this month, I put that hesitation aside and was pretty excited about this one. It’s not anything that challenged me. It was just a lovely book. The two different divorces and their aftermaths felt very realistic. The trip they were on made me laugh and nod my head along as well. This was another great summer book. Score: B+

Present

Next up is The Garden by Claire Beams. This book is overdue at the library. I always feel like they’re going to yell at me when I can’t get a book back in time, but it is what it is. This is still very early days, so you’ll have to wait until next week to get any kind of thoughts from me. It was a book that called to me when I was at the bookstore, so I can’t even give you a good reason why I’m reading this. I just am.

Future

And talking about racing against library due dates… On the Tobacco Coast is due in ten days. I probably won’t make it but I’m going to give it my best try. We’ll see if it’s enough. I found this book on a best of the year list, which, in my opinion, means absolutely nothing about the quality of the book. So it can be one of the best books I’ve ever read or the worst. I’ve had a fantastic run of books, so I’m mentally preparing for a terrible book to come my way.

So what are you reading? What books are you looking forward to?