What I’ve Read (and Loved) So Far This Year

From cosy cat cafés and mysterious bookshops to simple living and mudlarking by the Thames - here’s all the books that have captured my heart so far this year!

Jun 21, 2025

My Journal of Soulful Reflections is an authentic, cosy and soulful extension of my small business, Clementine Rose. You can expect to uncover more personal entries infused with inspiration and encouragement underpinned by the beauty of the natural world, and the ebb and flow of the changing seasons. You’ll also discover gentle reflections on slow and seasonal living.

I invite you to come alongside me in my monthly journal entries, where we can collectively take a few moments to pause, reflect, and unwind.

Let’s journey together and go on a seasonal adventure, nurturing and nourishing our souls as we discover slow moments of peace and joy, the wonders of nature, and the magic in our everyday lives.

This post turned out to be a teeny tiny bit too long for email, but you can read the full version in the Substack app or in your web browser…

When it comes to reading, I really enjoy a mix of genres. I definitely have a soft spot for a good cheesy romance too! Books bring me so much joy, whether it’s finding inspiration, learning something new, winding down with a comforting story, or escaping into magical worlds.

I often go through phases where I read several books in a row, then don’t read much for a while, and then start again. Does anyone else do that too?

I absolutely love all things bookish, and I recently realised I haven’t actually written a proper post about books on here, apart from a small book section in my Soulful Reflections series. Time to fix that!

I thought I’d share with you all the books that I have read so far this year. I’d also love to know what you’ve been reading, or are currently reading. Let me know what you’ve been enjoying too!

Snowed In at the Cat Café by Rachel Rowlands

This was the perfect cosy winter read. It’s full of cats, romance, a heartwarming story, and characters I really loved. After a tough year, Emmie gets a fresh start when her aunt offers her a job at Catpurrcino, a charming cat café. With the holidays coming up, her aunt also hires Jared as a driver… though he claims to be allergic to cats. But when a surprise blizzard hits on Christmas Eve, secrets start to come out, and Emmie discovers the truth.

I also loved that one of the characters is named Clem. There are even two cats called Poppy and Binx, just like two of my own cats that I had! As soon as I finished the book, I preordered the next one, Cake Off at the Cat Café, which stars Clem as the main character.

You can find

Rachel Rowlands

here on Substack.

Rathlin, A Wild Life by Ruby Free

I really enjoyed this book. In 2021, Ruby Free landed her dream job working on an RSPB reserve, and the story follows her journey on the island, surrounded by beautiful wildlife. I found myself wishing I could be there with her to experience it all. Rathlin, A Wild Life is a heartfelt, passionate, joy-filled love letter to the island and its wildlife, but also a powerful reminder of what we risk losing if we don’t take action.

I follow Ruby on Instagram, so it was lovely to see her journey visually as well as read about it in the book.

This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson

A friend actually recommended Sarah's writing to me, and I'm so glad she did! This is one of the most inspiring and encouraging books I’ve read - full of hope, faith, love, and beauty. Sarah shares her personal experiences of finding beauty during her decade-long struggle with mental illness, depression, and doubt. As someone who has faced anxiety and OCD from a young age, I really connected with her story. At times, it felt like I was reading about myself.

I have another one of Sarah’s books in my to-read pile called Book Girl, which I really can’t wait to read!

You can find

Sarah Clarkson

here on Substack.

A Mudlarking Year: Fing Treasure in Every Season by Lara Maiklem

I’ve always been fascinated by mudlarking, and I’d love to try it someday. There’s something very magical about discovering small pieces of history that have been hidden for decades or even centuries, each one carrying a story we can only imagine. It’s moving to think about the people who once held or used these objects, connecting us to lives long past.

Lara takes us on a journey with her, month by month, “as she searches the foreshore through the changing seasons, she is at times aided by the gentle illumination of the falling winter sun or hindered by bright summer skies and lashing rain. Yet, by working in harmony with the unpredictable terrain, she finds solace in aligning with the elements and uncovering the treasures that are bestowed by the tide.” The book is as wonderful as it sounds.

You’ve Got This by Rhea Freeman

I love business books, and if you’re looking for one that’s full of inspiration and encouragement, let it be this one! It’s packed with practical wisdom and advice, and I’ve literally added sticky tabs all throughout the pages. This book is a helpful guide to growing your business, overcoming challenges, and reaching your goals, with plenty of great stories from other business owners as well. It’s such a brilliant book!

Birds as Individuals by Len Howard

I hadn’t heard of Len Howard until I spotted this book in the Kindle daily deals for just 99p! Since it’s about birds, I grabbed a copy, and loved it so much, I recently bought the hardback from Waterstones, along with another of her books. In the late 1930s, Len left London, bought land in Sussex, and built Bird Cottage, a home she shared with the birds who came and went freely, some even sleeping in her room. If you're on Facebook, I’ll link a lovely 1961 video of Len from the BBC Archive, which you can find here.

The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

I finished this book a little while ago, but it’s really stayed with me. The Year of Less is such an inspiring read and has been encouraging me on my own journey to live more simply and with less. It follows Cait through a year where she only bought essentials - like groceries and petrol - and let go of things she didn’t need. She decluttered her home, cut out TV, learned to repair rather than replace, and explored more sustainable living. The more she let go, the more content she felt… and that message really spoke to me.

You can find

Cait Flanders

here on Substack.

The Lamplighter’s Bookshop by Sophie Austin

I love a good book about bookshops and romance… and this one didn’t disappoint! I really enjoyed a it a lot. Set in 19th-century York, the story unfolds in the mysterious Lamplighter's Bookshop, where secrets are as thick as the dust. When Evelyn Seaton takes a job there, she’s not the only one with something to hide. She meets William Morton, a reserved and secretive aspiring writer. As Evelyn’s walls begin to fall, he becomes the one person she might be able to trust.

Sophie has a new book coming out next year called The Storyteller’s Secret, and just from the title, I already can’t wait to read it!

A Year of Living Simply by Kate Humble

I just finished reading this book yesterday evening (Friday), and I couldn’t leave it off the list… it’s the perfect one to end with. I absolutely loved it. Kate invites us along on her journey of discovering joy in life’s simple pleasures, the inspiring people she’s met, and the small, everyday moments that often bring the greatest happiness. Through it all, she beautifully shows what living simply truly means. I thought this quote was a beautiful reflection to end on:

“A Simple life is not one devoid of pleasures, but rather a life that makes time for them. And to curl up on the sofa and turn back the cover of a new book is the greatest pleasure of all.”
A Year of Living Simply, Kate Humble.