Nine Substacks I read each week
Because sometimes you're not in the mood for a book.
Look, I love books. They are my biggest passion, the greatest loves of my life, and there are few things I love more than hunkering down in my sunroom (pictured above)—especially when it’s raining outside—with a stick of incense, a chunky novel, and a glass of red. But suffice it say that our attention spans are shot to shit, and sometimes it’s far easier to tackle something you can start and finish over lunch.
Thankfully, Substack now fills the void between mindless Instagram scrolling and tackling a thousand-page classic in microscopic font, like I did earlier this year with Roberto Bolaño’s 2666. While it does mean the number of tabs open on my laptop are reaching new levels of unhinged, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.
And if you’re looking for some excellent reading matter, I’m here to help. While not an exhaustive list, these nine Substacks are my current favourites—the faithful friends I turn to when a deadline is looming and I need a little help procrastinating, and the emails I actually look forward to landing in my inbox each week—imagine that!
Things We Don’t Talk About (But I Do)
drops once a week, and has quickly become one of the emails I most look forward to reading on the reg (not a sentence I thought I would ever type, let me tell you). I love all of Isolde’s posts (she even managed to make a post about her leaky roof a riveting read—no mean feat) but this one, on everything she’s gleaned from being freelance, is my personal fave.
With Ease
Tanya is the doyenne of journalling—and she’s just taken things up a notch by converting a camper van into a mobile journaling studio. If you’re into journaling, creativity, writing, and wellbeing, you’ll love her Substack, . This post—which offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of her retreats—is one of my faves. And—shameless plug—if you’d like to come along to a reading retreat I’m co-hosting with Tanya in June, we’ve got a few spots left. You can find all the info over here.
Chez Hanny
Blending creativity with interior design (two of my favourite things),
is a cosy corner of the internet that offers inspiring career advice, thoughts on creativity, and tips on things like how to create a writing spot you love. Hannah’s also got an excellent podcast, which you can listen to over here.I believe in writing without a paywall—but it does take time. If you’re enjoying this post, I’d be so grateful if you considered buying me a coffee. It would absolutely make my day.
Create Your Living
If you need a weekly pick-me-up in the form of tips, tools and inspo to help with creativity, career-building, wellbeing—and simply being, is a one-stop shop for all things work, wealth, and creativity—and an excellent resource for freelancers looking for firsthand insights from someone who's been there. This post, on Lizzie’s highs, lows, and learnings after six months on Substack is a great place to start.
The Sophist
If you’re not yet subscribed to Sophie Heawood’s excellent Substack, , hop to it. Her Rightmove Round-ups are the stuff of dreams, and she writes about everything from taking dating advice from her ex to navigating single parenthood—with bucketloads of humour and heart. Her book, The Hungover Games, is also one of my all-time favourites.
The Camont Journals with Kate Hill
offers readers a jaunt through the French countryside, the markets Kate frequents, her heavenly-sounding garden, and into the warming kitchen of her creative residency—the sort of life I one day aspire to live (please, God). This gorgeous post has a recipe for burnt cheesecake and some pictures of the reading salon at Kate’s home, Relais de Camont. A reading salon! Be still my beating heart.
Crone Sandwich
I’ve spoken (and written) at length about how much j’adore
’s book Sandwich, so I suppose it makes a lot of sense that I also love her Substack, . It’s an excellent mishmash of recipes, menopause, semi-grown kids, aging parents, empty-nesting, food, colonoscopies, fun stuff, weed, sex, friendship, writing, and insomnia. This post, which features a very particular potato salad recipe, an idea for free make-up remover (sort of), and an unspeakable thing to do with zucchini, is arguable her best.Onwards and Sideways by Sophia Money Coutts
God I love this Substack. Destination weddings, posh weddings, the world’s worst Valentine’s Day cards (there are some absolute terrors out there) and dogs. What’s not to love? : it’s my go-to for an instant mood lift. And—while it’s no mean feat to pick a favourite of Sophia’s posts—I’d suggest starting with this one: a list of 40 things she’s learned ahead of her 40th birthday.
'Midlifin' it,' with Anniki Sommerville
I first came across Anniki on Instagram via the author Jane Green, and she has swiftly become one of my favourite people to follow thanks to her hilarious impersonations of posh mums complaining about pine nuts and odd jobs men who speak her love language. Her Substack, is just as entertaining, packed with musings on ageing, anxiety, and how to avoid catastrophizing when you work for yourself. This post, on whether Hollywood women are really that inspiring, is a great place to start.
That Reading Salon at Kate's got me too! Nice list, thank you for the suggestions.
Great recommendations! Thanks!