Coming to you this morning with an exciting astrology report: the Jupiter-Venus conjunction peaks tomorrow in Cancer. As it builds today, we may already be feeling its effects, especially with the Moon in Pisces offering some extra support.
This is the time to think abundantly when it comes to love, relationships, finances, creativity, and self-worth. Cancers, Aries, Capricorns, and Libras stand to benefit the most— but every zodiac sign can experience a little boost or positive shift. If you're into manifesting, these are some of the most powerful days of the year to get clear on what you want and call it in.
Now I'll leave you in the hands of Kelly Chervin of Lit Club to share her top summer reading picks!
There is a very specific kind of summer reading I gravitate toward.
I want books that make me miss people I've never met, make me want to cancel plans, find the nearest patch of grass, and keep reading until the sun goes down. Books that leave me staring out a train window for three stops after I've finished a chapter.
This year's list is a mix of old favorites, recent discoveries, and a few Lit Club Book Club selections this summer. Some are sweeping and immersive. Others are quiet and intimate. All of them feel like summer to me.
If you're looking to build your reading stack for the season, start here.
A classic for a reason. Every reread reminds me how sharp, funny, and surprisingly modern Austen feels. The romance is wonderful, but what I love most is how perceptive she is about family, ego, and the stories we tell ourselves about other people.
Read if: You've somehow never read it, or if it's been long enough that you think you remember it.
We'll be discussing Pride & Prejudice at Lit Club in June. Join us if you’re in NYC!
Emma Straub has a way of writing families that feels incredibly warm without ever becoming sentimental. This novel is full of messy relationships, reinvention, and people trying their best to understand one another.
Read if: You enjoy character-driven stories and family dramas with heart.
Part historical fiction, part time travel, part meditation on womanhood and identity. This is one of those books that keeps unfolding long after you've finished it.
Read if: You love stories that blend history with contemporary questions about how we choose to live.
This is the book I've been recommending to everyone lately. Set during a Danish summer, it's funny, tender, and full of the kind of friendship dynamics that feel painfully real. It captures that strange period of life when you're figuring out who you're becoming while trying to hold on to the people who knew you before.
Read if: You love coming-of-age stories, complicated friendships, and books that feel like a long summer evening.
We'll be discussing Waist Deep at Lit Club in July, and I can't imagine a better summer read. Join us if you’re in NYC!
Every summer, I find myself recommending Ferrante to someone. The friendship between Lila and Elena is one of the most compelling relationships I've ever encountered in fiction. Once you start, you'll probably want to read the entire Neapolitan series.
Read if: You want a book you can completely disappear into.
Tayari Jones has an incredible gift for writing family relationships with nuance, tenderness, and complexity. Kin explores identity, belonging, and the ties that connect us across generations, all through her characteristically beautiful prose.
Read if: You love richly drawn family stories and novels that linger long after you've finished the final page.
Every time I read Baldwin, I'm reminded that very few writers have ever understood the human heart quite like he did. This novel is devastating, elegant, and unforgettable.
Read if: You're ready for one of the most beautifully written books you'll ever read.
A summer reading list would feel incomplete without at least one Emily Henry novel. This remains my favorite. It's witty and emotional, and it manages to be both deeply entertaining and surprisingly thoughtful about creativity, grief, and love.
Read if: You want a book that's equal parts smart and addictive.
A collection that captures place, memory, and human connection with remarkable precision. The stories feel intimate and lived in.
Read if: You love literary fiction that pays close attention to ordinary lives.
A smart and compulsively readable novel about family secrets, inherited narratives, and the people we think we know best. Perfect for a weekend at the beach or a long train ride.
Read if: You enjoy family dramas with a little mystery woven in.
One of my favorite things about reading is that it's technically a solitary activity that somehow creates community, and that's exactly what we've been building at Lit Club!
This summer, we're gathering readers across New York for book clubs, book swaps, writers salons, and our signature Rest & Read events. Whether you're looking to meet fellow readers, discover your next favorite book, or simply spend a few hours reading alongside other people who love books as much as you do, we'd love to have you join us. You can find our events on Luma + keep up with us on Instagram, Substack, and TikTok!
Because the best summer reads aren't just the books themselves. They're the conversations that happen afterward.
Happy reading,
Kelly x
Back in 2023, I had my first official mammogram and ultrasound (#DenseBreastGang). What followed over the next several weeks gave me a firsthand look at real glaring holes in our healthcare system. After my ultrasound, I learned that the radiologist had found several nodules in my breasts. I already knew about one of them because my gynecologist had flagged it when I was in college and sent me for imaging. That kicked off a search for scans that were more than a decade old. I spent days trying to track down records, locate the doctor who had performed the ultrasound, and just get someone on the phone. At one point, I had to start just showing up to the medical offices in person because calling got me nowhere. Still, I came up empty-handed.
Without those prior records for comparison, I was told I'd need a biopsy. Then, the next day, the radiology group that handled my mammogram and ultrasound was hit by a cyberattack (I wish I were joking). Suddenly, no one could tell me when I'd be able to schedule the procedure. I spent two weeks in limbo, waiting for answers, while postponing a trip back to London because I didn't know what was happening with my health. Even after that, I had to micromanage all imaging being sent between the radiologist and my OBGYN, even though I was told the radiology office would handle it. It was undeniably one of the most stressful times of my life.
What struck me most wasn't just the uncertainty. It was how much of the burden fell on me. I became the coordinator, record keeper, follow-up specialist, and advocate for my own care. As stressful as this health scare was, navigating the system felt like another full-time job. According to new research from Maven Clinic's Research Institute, my experience is far from unique. More than half of women have had a provider dismiss their concerns, nearly half have seen multiple providers for related health issues in a single year, and 47% say the one thing that would most improve their healthcare experience is having a provider who understands their health as a whole.
According to new research from Maven Clinic, the world's largest virtual clinic for women's and family health, my experience is far from unique. More than half of women have had a provider dismiss their concerns, nearly half have seen two or more providers in the past year for care related to their reproductive health, and 47% say the one thing that would most improve their healthcare experience is having a provider who understands their health as a whole.
When care is fragmented, women are left to connect the dots themselves—coordinating appointments, managing records, researching symptoms, and advocating for answers. There is a growing need for integrated, connected care that considers our hormonal, metabolic, mental, and reproductive health altogether, rather than treating them as separate issues. Now that I’m 40, I’m experiencing more difficulty sleeping, my hormonal acne is coming back with a vengeance, and other hormone-related issues, and I’m turning to Maven Clinic to get a clearer picture of what’s going on with my health. Maven Clinic is filling that gap by providing women with a holistic approach to their healthcare. From 1-to-1 visits, a broad range of providers, and easy access to prescriptions depending on your needs. If you’re curious whether Maven Clinic is right for you, use my code CHRISSY50 for $50 off your first visit.
