Want to Try Something New?

I’ve succumbed, everyone. This newsletter is now coming from Substack, because I’m nothing if not a person who enjoys showing up late to a party.

As a reader, I love the community here, so I wanted to take my own little Happy Books newsletter out of the Squarespace silo it’s been in. Thanks for not instantly unsubscribing (I hope, ha). If you’re used to this newsletter, nothing is changing other than the design. But if this has suddenly made its way to the top of your inbox: hello! This is a space where I share happy fiction and cookbook recommendations, along with some happy news. It’s really just a little place to spread joy and book updates.

So Thanksgiving is behind us and it’s all now the run-up to the holidays. I surrendered to a bit of shopping—I highly recommend the Union Square Holiday Market if you’re a New Yorker. But as a summer gal who hates the cold, I love leaning into cookbooks once the temperature drops. I’ve been loving David Lebovitz’s updated Ready for Dessert, and it’s a perfect book to start your holiday baking. If you want a perfect gifting book I love Tamar Adler’s Feast on Your Life: Kitchen Meditations for Every Day, which is a perfect reset to consider for the new year (it’s coming!). It’s really a beautiful ode to the push and pull of the kitchen.

Also, I also was on the Today Show last week with Thanksgiving leftovers. If you’re hitting that one-week mark with them, I might suggest this turkey shepherd’s pie before you toss anything.

The minute Thanksgiving ends I am ready for holiday reads—we have to appreciate the one month where we get twinkly lights and festive cheer! There have been a few books this year that I’ve adored: Lindsey Kelk’s Christmas Fling is set in dreamy Scotland. If you want something spicy, Alexis Daria’s novella The Holiday Hookup List is a delight. Ali Brady’s Merry Little Bookshop is sweet a small town Christmas/Hannukah bonanza. And if you haven’t read my little novella already, Merry & Bright is out now!

Most of my serotonin the last few weeks was courtesy of Wicked and its press tour. It seemed to be over, but then up popped a New York Times cooking video with Glinda and Fiyero (yes, I know they have real names), and it was just a delight? So give that a watch if you want the intersection of musicals, pizza and wholesomeness?!

Finally, I’m sorry for being annoying about this and harping on it…but HEY, did you know I’m going on tour for my next book? And no matter where you are, you can pop into the virtual event and support an amazing indie bookstore? Please join me, I’d love to see you all in real life in January when we’ll all need a bit of happiness!

I love getting to share a little dose of joy into the world, so thanks for being here. One of the fun things I can do with Substack is have chats and other interactive things, so make sure to find me on the app if you have it.

And if you enjoy this give it a share (man, I really feel like a YouTube video asking people to ‘like and subscribe’, but here we are). Have a wonderful day!

Share Ali's Happy Books