What I've been reading on Substack
Links to everything I've loved on Substack this month
I’m currently staying with my sister in Salisbury and heading to Hay Festival at the crack of dawn tomorrow—and I mean that literally. I’ll be hopping on the 6.06am train to Hereford via Westbury and Newport, so I’m praying to all things holy that there won’t be any cancellations or delays.
To pass the rather long train ride, I’m taking with me an iced coffee (alas most coffee shops understandably don’t open before 7am here, and I doubt very much that my one-shot-large-but-weak-iced-oat-latte will fly when the coffee cart comes round on the train), a flask of tea, and Freya Bromley’s brilliant memoir The Tidal Year, which I picked up on Monday at Wasing Estate’s Well Read festival—a glorious two-day stint in the woods, surrounded by authors, hay bales, and brilliant bookish chat. It was every bit as dreamy as it sounds.
In the meantime, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite Substack finds from this month—featuring hot husband dilemmas, excellent people watching, and how to have a scroll-free summer.
- is one of my favourite writers on Substack (and one of the best interior designers to follow on Instagram—just look at her excellent wall of books). I loved her gorgeous ode to some of what she’s learned after five decades on the planet.
OK, so this one was published almost two years ago, but I’m nothing if not perpetually late to the party. A hilarious write-up from the brilliant
on why having a hot husband is a fate she’d wish on no-one.- is another writer whose work I love. Her 1000 Days of Summer—a two-week writing sprint she runs to encourage fellow writers and creatives to put pen to metaphorical paper—kicks off in a couple of days. Her latest post, on being in the weeds but ready, is over here.
Who doesn’t love a bit of people watching? I loved this piece, from
on the things she’s gleaned from observing strangers in a room.I’ll read anything that
writes—her Substack prose is every bit as beautiful as her books. This post, about cherry blossoms, grief, and her late husband Rob, is as poignant as it is powerful.
I try to write as much as I can 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.
Want to spend less time on your phone and more time actually living? Don;t we all? Read
’s guide to a scroll-free summer—and then close your laptop immediately.I loved this, from
on the five books that made her feel something this month.This, from
about a woman with two cupcakes perfectly captures the value of putting yourself out there. A brilliant read.I must be the only person on earth who hasn’t yet read
’s The List of Suspicious Things—something I fully intend to rectify as soon as I remember whose house I left her book at. In the meantime, I’ve been devouring her brilliant Substack. Her latest piece—on being lost in a creative wilderness and finding a way to make her life meaningful—is excellent.- ’s Receipts from a Bookshop is one of my favourite Substack reads. Her latest—about a man trying to sell her a pair of D Squared jorts—offers a brilliant glimpse into the goings-on of a bookshop, and also reminded me that I still need to read The Cazalet Chronicles.
Ahhhh Lucy thank you so much! How long are you at Hay for? (I’m there on Sunday!)
I have so many new things to read now, thank you Lucy! And thank you for including my piece. We love spreading the book love!