Introducing.... Monthly Surprise Books & More

A new monthly series with exclusive surprise reads & reviews, lists, loves & more

Hello! I’m so excited to share details of Reading Simplified, my new monthly series for paid subscribers. This series comes from of my desire to occasionally have a specific theme/topic/genre each month to guide my reading. It also came about because I’ve been hearing that so many of you are experiencing decision fatigue at the sheer number of books you hear about that you want to read. I think with the variety of places we all hear about books, we are bombarded with book titles, reviews, etc that we add to our tbr, but then feel overwhelmed with the sheer amount of choices. This often leads us to not being able to make a decision about what we want to pick up next.

While it’s fun to hear about new books (as well as backlist books we forgot about) and excitedly add them to our tbr’s, it can leave us feeling scattered and not sure what we truly want to read. So, I thought it would be fun for me- and hopefully you too- if I offered a theme/topic/genre each month to simplify our reading.

Reading Simplified is the result and it’s an evolving idea, but the gist of it is as follows….I will pick a reading theme, topic, or genre at the beginning of each month that will be revealed in a post. Along with the reveal of that month’s theme, I’ll include a list of books (with ⭐️ ratings) I’ve already read for your perusal, and links to other fun book lists and/or info. Then, at the end of the month, I’ll do a mini audio podcast of the surprise books I read for the chosen theme. These books and my reviews will be shared here first. I may not even end up sharing them anywhere else. For this series, I will ONLY be reading and sharing books I loved and would recommend.

My extended thoughts on this series can also be found in my audio segment of June Reflections…

June Reflections: Books Read, A New Monthly Series, & More

I love this idea and hope you do too!! My intention is that if you just aren't sure what you want to read, or maybe you don’t feel like making any reading decisions for the month, you’ll pop over to a Reading Simplified newsletter and use that as your guide for the month. There will be a separate Reading Simplified tab on the navigation bar at the top of my Homepage where you can easily find all the newsletters associated with this series. The audio post at the end of the month will also be a great opportunity for you all to share in the comments the books you’ve read and loved that pertain to the monthly theme.

If this sounds good to you, now would be a great time to upgrade to a paid subscription, so you’ll get this month’s Reading Simplified at the end of July, plus the full archive.

Ok, so let me reveal July’s theme….Italian Summer 🇮🇹 Since I’m in a huge arm chair travel mood and Italy is at the top of my “travel to someday” bucket list, I thought it would be a great theme to start with. It feels very “summer” to think of vacationing on the Italian coast, or sipping wine at an Italian bistro, or you know me, to think about the dark and dangerous, the secrets and betrayals that could be behind the picturesque places we often dream of visiting. My Italian reading for this month has already started and I’m continuing to search high and low for at least one super under the radar pick. In the meantime, check out my list below. I’m including many books I’ve already read (and for the most part enjoyed), as well as a few Italian book lists and fun facts. Let’s simplify our reading together!

Italian Fun Facts

• Naples, Italy, is the birthplace of pizza. The first pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba, opened in 1830 and is still in operation today.

• Italy was the heart of the Roman Empire, which had a profound impact on the development of Western civilization. Many ancient ruins, like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, are located in Rome

• Opera originated in Italy at the end of the 16th century. The word "opera" is Italian for "work," as in "work of art."

• Italian cuisine is famous worldwide, with dishes like pasta, gelato, and espresso being integral to its culture. Each region has its own specialties and unique flavors.

• Giovanni Boccaccio wrote The Decameron, a collection of 100 tales told by a group of young people sheltering in a secluded villa to escape the Black Death. This work is celebrated for its vivid depiction of 14th-century life and its influence on later writers like Chaucer.

• Umberto Eco, a renowned scholar and novelist, wrote The Name of the Rose, a historical murder mystery set in a 14th-century monastery. The book combines medieval studies, literary theory, and a gripping narrative, becoming an international bestseller.

• The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) by Alessandro Manzoni is considered one of Italy's greatest novels. Published in 1827, it is a cornerstone of Italian literature and is credited with helping to standardize the Italian language

Italian Book Lists

• 50 of the best books set in Italy

• 12 books set in Italy

• 10 of the best novels set in Italy

• 7 Italian mysteries and thrillers

• 9 great mysteries set in Italy

• 17 top crime novels set in Italy

• 8 Italian romance novels to sweep you away

• Must read historical fiction set in Italy

Italy Themed Books I’ve Already Read

Some I loved more than others, but all are set in Italy at some point in the story

• The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell - 5 ⭐️

• The Villa by Rachel Hawkins - 3.25 ⭐️

• August Blue by Deborah Levy - 5 ⭐️

• The Family Holiday by Shalini Roland - 3.25 ⭐️

• Still Life by Sarah Winman - 5 ⭐️

• The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante - 3.5 ⭐️

• The Singer’s Gun by Emily St John Mandel - 5 ⭐️

• The Forbidden Notebook by Alba de Cespedes - 4 ⭐️

• Out of Her Depth by Lizzie Barber - 3 ⭐️

** This introductory Reading Simplified is free for all! Moving forward this will be a bonus perk for paid subscribers.

Buona Lettura! (Happy Reading)