What I've been reading on Substack

I’ve been busy burning the candle at both ends (when in Rome, etc. etc.), which means I’m now dosed up on ibuprofen and curled up on the sofa in Bloomsbury, praying I recover in time for a friend’s hen do in Paris this weekend.

So, this week’s Substack is packed with the kind of comfort reads I always turn to when in need of a serious dose of TLC. Think reading recommendations, tales of home, and thoughtful reflections on what happens when you upend your life.

• Natasha Poliszczuk
  ’s piece on Summer Nostalgia was a gorgeous ode to summers gone by, and I loved it all the more because one of her book recommendations was The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher—an all-time favourite of mine (and one that I think everyone should read).

• I read

  Home
  by
  India Knight
  every single week—I’ve been a fan of hers ever since I read The Thrift Book way back when I was an intern in the publicity department at Penguin. This week, she’s offering readers a behind-the-scene glimpse of the gorgeous Suffolk barn she’s selling.

• I j’adore Paris. I dream of living there almost daily. When I wrote about an imaginary dream day while on a Tuscan retreat with

  Emma Gannon
  in May, the day took place in Paris, of course. So I loved the email of Paris recommendations I send to everyone from
  Shelby Chambers
  .

• Stuck in a rut? This from

  Annie Macmanus
  on how to change your working life is excellent.

• In keeping with all things French, I loved reading

  Amber Gardner
  ’s reflections on what she’s learned since moving to France.

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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 would consider buying me a coffee.

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• I think it was

  Jennie Godfrey
  that pointed me in the direction of
  Tawseef Khan
  . I loved reading about why he never wanted to start a Substack.

• Tanya Lynch
  from
  with EASE
  has written a beautiful homage to Cartrefle, the beach house in West Wales that feels like home.

• Lidija Hilje
  —author of Slanting Towards the Sea (one of my favourite books of 2025)—has rounded up her favourite summer stories. Think tender, thoughtful, and deeply human tales: slices of life pressed between covers. Stories of complex relationships, quiet redemption, and the power of forgiveness.

• Ever wondered what happens when you quit your life?

  Anne Boyd
  ’s take on it makes for a gripping read.

• If you have a penchant for all things publishing,

  The Honest Editor
  is well worth subscribing to. I loved
  Phoebe Morgan
  ’s recent interview with Balham bookstore Backstory about how independent booksellers work.