Random Reads + One Year of ATKReads

May is the first anniversary of ATKReads – I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I launched with Gentle Reads! This milestone has me reflecting on where I want to take the newsletter next. I still love picking themes and curating books around them, but it sometimes feels slightly restrictive. I don’t always want to wait months to tell you about an amazing book I just read because it doesn’t fit an upcoming theme. Or I have two perfect picks for a theme but not a third. Or, let’s be honest, life gets in the way, and I miss my self-imposed deadlines!

So, I’m thinking of loosening things up a bit.

Going forward, I may send an email every few weeks — maybe about a great new read, the next book in a series I’ve already reviewed, or an audiobook I can’t stop thinking about. Some months, you might get two emails; in others, you might get just one. It’ll be more… organic. That said, I know you signed up for a monthly email, so I’ve created a short poll to get your feedback: would you rather I stick with the status quo, or are you curious to see what happens when I mix things up? I’d love to know what you think — take the poll (it’ll only take a moment!)

And now, back to our regular programming — this month’s picks are a collection of random reads I couldn’t wait to share. Heck, these are so random that they aren’t even all fiction!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach
When Phoebe arrives at the posh resort where she’s booked a room for the night, she’s surprised to discover she’s the only guest who’s not part of a wedding party that’s booked the entire place. Lila, the bride, is equally surprised. And not pleased. Phoebe, worn down by the pandemic and reeling from her husband’s departure, has come to the resort in her fanciest dress and most uncomfortable shoes, planning to end her life. But Lila doesn’t want anything ruining her big (expensive) day, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. Given the premise, you might expect this to be heavy, but this novel is surprisingly delightful, uplifting, and life-affirming. Phoebe, who has run out of f***s to give, is the perfect foil for Lila, who wears one face for her guests and her true face for Phoebe. The story unspools over a week of unexpected connections, potential romance, and new beginnings for Phoebe. You’ll find yourself rooting for her all the way.

Ambition Monster: A Memoir  by Jennifer Romolini
This one’s for anyone who loved magazines during their ’80s and ’90s heyday and worked at early internet content sites (hello, yoyomama — which I sold 10 years ago this month!) or who has felt driven to succeed at the expense of everything else (or is recovering from doing so). As the Simon & Schuster site put it’s “perfect for people pleasers, overachievers, and those whose traumas have driven them to be perfect, no matter the cost.” Romolini had the jobs — and worked in the milieu — I once dreamed of. But after reading her memoir, I’m glad I didn’t follow that path. It’s pacy and hard to put down, and you may end the book wanting to be friends with Jennifer. You can keep connected to her via her podcast. Everything is Fine, co-hosted with her former boss, Kim France, founder of Sassy magazine (yes, she’s in the book too!). Here are gift links to reviews of the book from The Guardian and The New York Times. 

The Lifecycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
If Remarkably Bright Creatures was the “octopus” book of 2024, then I deem TLofCO the “octopus” book of 2025 – who knew cephalopods were having such a literary moment? Knight’s book combines the tiniest whiff of The Secret History with more than a pinch of Brideshead Revisited and a titch of Mitfordness (even Jilly Cooper gets a nod). But it’s still unique unto itself. The book follows Pen, who leaves Toronto for her first term at the University of Edinburgh — and embarks on a quest to solve a long-buried family secret she believes lies in Scotland. Her journey leads her to surprising truths and her first love. This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt like they should have studied the classics at a UK university, those who remember the growing pains of coming of age and first love, and anyone who’s wrestled with the complexities of motherhood and finding your place in a family.

One of my goals for the next year of ATK Reads is to expand the reach of this newsletter. If you have thoughts, ideas, or tips — please send them my way!

A Little Something Extra: Red Magazine - in honour of both Ambition Monster and The Lifecycle of the Common Octopus, I’m recommending UK’s Red. As a longtime magazine fanatic (since the ’80s!), I miss the heyday of Vogue and Vanity Fair. Red still scratches that itch. It offers a mix of interviews, articles, fashion, recipes, and decor — and flipping through the magazine is a perfect antidote to doomscrolling. They also have a great online newsletter, which sort of contradicts what I just said, but I stand by my statement. I usually find it at Whole Foods or Indigo - even if it’s always lagging a few months behind the UK release date.

If you know a reader who might enjoy these newsletters (or the website or Instagram), it would mean a lot if you’d pass this along to them!