What I Read in January 2025
📍 Southport, Connecticut

The following content may contain affiliate links. 
When you click and shop the links, I may receive a small commission.

Dress || Boots || Similar Scarf || Handbag || Earrings || Lip Color

Another year, another opportunity to enjoy as many books as I can. How many books will I read this year? It’s kind of hard to tell, and I’m not sure if I want to put a firm number down as a goal. After all, I always start off strong and tend to lose steam during the summertime when I’m at my busiest. So far, I’ve read 6 books some fiction, some non-fiction that highlight the stories of amazing women that are both real and imaginary. To help you achieve your own reading goals this year, here’s what I read in January.

When Women Ran Fifth Avenue

This book is an absolute treat for anyone who loves fashion history. When Women Ran Fifth Avenue dives into the golden age of department stores, spotlighting the powerful women who shaped luxury retail at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, and Lord & Taylor. Their influence stretched far beyond window displays and designer collections—they dictated style and shaped American fashion in ways that still resonate today. If you’ve ever romanticized the elegance of mid-century shopping or admired the ingenuity behind the industry’s biggest names, you’ll devour this book.

The Divine Miss Marble

A fascinating and deeply researched biography, The Divine Miss Marble introduces readers to Alice Marble, a trailblazing tennis star whose life was anything but ordinary. From Grand Slam victories to alleged espionage during World War II, Marble’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and mystery. The book captures her glamour and complexity, leaving you wondering how such a captivating figure isn’t more widely known. It’s a must-read for sports enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone who loves a story about an unconventional woman ahead of her time.

Deluxe

A deep dive into the world of luxury fashion, Deluxe pulls back the curtain on what really goes into the making—and marketing—of high-end goods. Dana Thomas does an incredible job tracing how legacy brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci evolved from artisanal craftsmanship to billion-dollar global empires. Eye-opening and impeccably researched, this book is equal parts celebration and critique of modern luxury. If you’re fascinated by fashion and its cultural impact, is an insightful and compelling read.

The Stolen Queen

A historical novel set in one of my favorite places in the world—the Met Museum—The Stolen Queen transports readers to 1970s New York in the lead-up to the year’s Met Gala. Blending the elegance of the city’s art world with echoes of 1930s Egypt, the novel intertwines past and present, making for an immersive and atmospheric read. Talks about the museum’s Egyptian Collection have inspired me to explore it more carefully, as the book breathes life into some of the artifacts and how they were acquired by the MET in the first place.

Where Madness Lies

This moving biography of legendary actress Vivien Leigh goes beyond her glamorous on-screen persona to reveal the struggles she faced in her personal life. Leigh’s career and marriage to Laurence Olivier were often overshadowed by her lifelong battle with bipolar disorder, and this book sensitively explores her highs and lows with great depth. A heartbreaking yet illuminating portrait of an extraordinary woman, Where Madness Lies is a must-read for classic film lovers and those interested in mental health history.

The Other Windsor Girl

For fans of The Crown, this novel offers an intimate look at the life of Princess Margaret through the eyes of a fictional outsider. It perfectly captures the allure, wit, and rebellion of the Queen’s glamorous younger sister, making her both fascinating and deeply human. With its mix of royal intrigue, high society, and old Hollywood cameos, The Other Windsor Girl reads like a delicious period drama—equal parts fun and insightful.

Now that it’s February, I have a few more books from my local library that I can’t wait to read. I’m currently working on both Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret and By Her Own Design. They’re books about two very different women, but are equally compelling. I can’t wait to tell you more about it in next month’s round up. Keep me on track, and I’ll share all the great books in next month’s review. Happy reading!

Love from Connecticut,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England. 

What I Read in June
📍 Norwalk, CT

The following content may contain affiliate links. 
When you click and shop the links, I may receive a small commission.

Blouse || Jeans || Similar Heels || Similar Bag || Earrings || Lip Color

I made a goal of reading 24 books in 2024 (AKA 2 books per month). Although having a reading goal has become an annual tradition, I always lose steam in the summertime. Happily, I’ve already reached my original goal and decided to push it to reach 50. It’s becoming a bit of a challenge as a busy season is pulling me in every direction. To help you achieve your own reading goals this year, here’s what I read in June.

Bright Young Women

This book should be required reading for any true crime fan. Bright Young Women tells a fictionalized aftermath of Teddy Bundy’s attacks at Florida State University in 1978. While the story focuses largely on Chi Omega’s president, Pamela, it also flashes back to include other women impacted by Bundy. It was a very powerful book and may be one of my favorite reads of the entire year. I highly recommend! 

Wives Like Us

Wives Like Us welcomes you to the pristine destination of the Cotswolds. This collection of villages, under two hours away from London, is home to incredibly posh and historic families. With Executive Butler, Ian Palmer, as our main protagonist, we learn that the grass isn’t always greener beyond the pristine hedges. This was such a fun read to really kick off the summer season.

All the Beauty in the World

I often share my deep love for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, AKA the Met. I’ve even gone to call it my happy place. All the Beauty in the World was a relatively quick read for me, only 239 pages, but was nonetheless poignant. Author Patrick Brinkley took a security guard position at the MET upon the death of his brother. Through the halls of the museum, he tackles his own grief with the help of art from around the world. As a frequent visitor to the MET, I have a deeper respect for the men and women who work there. 

Summer Darlings

A fun summer read meets Martha’s Vineyard in 1964. I’ve been a fan of Brooke Lea Foster’s historical fiction since I read On Gin Lane last year. Summer Darlings is her first novel, and such a wild ride. You’ll love the main character, Heddy, as she navigates high society as the island’s newest nanny. Like Foster’s other novels, Summer Darlings has so many unexpected twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the final page!

Bringing Up Bébé

Consider me yet another new mom who read Bringing Up Bébé and loved it. I had some anxieties ahead of getting pregnant about parenthood and how life would change. I love our little one more than words can say, and reading this book has helped me create a balanced lifestyle. Inside, I’ve highlighted the French’s strategy on sleeping through the night, introducing new foods, and other little tidbits. While I won’t make this book my entire parenting philosophy, I really recommend it for any parents-to-be.

Chanel’s Riviera

I originally grabbed this book based on the cover, hoping to learn about the life of famed designer Coco Chanel. While her life story is sprinkled throughout the book, Chanel’s Riviera also focuses on the changing times of the Cote d’Azur in the 1930s and 1940s. France’s southern coast was a meeting place for some of the most notorious names, including the Duke of Windsor, Picasso, and Hemingway. This book dives into Chanel’s relationships with those people, and other lesser known aspects of her life. 

Now that it’s July, I have a few more books from my local library that I can’t wait to read. I’m just a few pages into Dogland , and I’m already hooked. I can’t wait to tell you more about it in next month’s round up. Keep me on track, and I’ll share all the great books in next month’s review. Until then, happy reading!

Love from Connecticut,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England. 

What I Read in May
📍 Greenwich, CT

The following content may contain affiliate links. 
When you click and shop the links, I may receive a small commission.

Shirt || Pants || Ballet Flats (Similar) || Similar Handbag || Earrings

I made a goal of reading 24 books in 2024 (AKA 2 books per month). Although having a reading goal has become an annual tradition, I always lose major steam in the summertime. I can’t believe it, but I’ve already reached my goal. Even though Baby Brennan has been keeping me extra busy, I’ve found some reading time while I pump several times a day. Let’s see if I can push myself to get to 50 this year. To help you reach your own reading goals this year, here’s what I read in May.

The Swans of Fifth Avenue

My interest in Truman Capote is still piqued thanks to the latest season of Feud. The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a novelized version of the blowout that happened between him and the socialites of 1960s Manhattan. Like in real life, the story focuses on Babe Paley, who was known to be Truman’s favorite, his closest confidante, yet she is also the one he betrayed the most. We’ll never truly understand what compelled Truman to air the darkest secrets of the women who considered him to be a friend. Still, Melanie Benjamin’s retelling may be our safest bet. 

Fake

My eyes were opened to the world of art replicas by reading Fake. In short, museums and high art collectors may commission high-end replicas in order to help ensure their investment. Some may want to have something to display while the art is being cleaned, while others use the replica long-term while the original is kept safe in storage. Emma is such a painter, and she’s one of the best. Once she becomes a freelancer, she quickly sees the thin line between legal replicas and illegal forgeries. 

My Year of Rest of Relaxation

Because of my new, exhausting status as ‘mom”, My Year of Rest and Relaxation hit a little close to home. Through a combination of endless prescriptions, the world’s worst psychiatrists, and sheer willpower, our narrator aspires to take a full year away from society. Literally, all she wants to do is sleep. Not for medical reasons or anything; she just wants to. While it sounds like the storyline would be a drag, it’s a wild ride with a wicked sense of humor. I’m now officially intrigued by the author’s writing style and want to read more about what Ottessa Moshfegh has to offer. 

Stone Cold Fox

Stone Cold Fox was the kind of book I just couldn’t put down. Bea is a con artist who is striving to marry her way into one of the wealthiest families in NYC. She’s manipulative, cunning, and incredibly vein. How is it possible that I was still rooting for her? That’s because her arch nemesis, Gale, her fiancé’s best friend, is even worse. Gale comes from the same world of old money and has no problem openly reminding Bea that she doesn’t belong. That she’s not good enough. This level of classism is not a good look on anyone but is a friendly reminder that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. If you liked The Guest or Pineapple Street, you’ll definitely love this book!

Parachute Women

Each month, I try to keep a well-balanced reading diet by alternating between fiction and non-fiction. Since adjusting to motherhood, I’ve wanted books that were more about escapism than new information. Parachute Women was my lone biography this month, and it was such a great choice! You know it will be good when the librarian says, “I’m going to read this when you check it back in.” While we all know The Rolling Stones, unless you have no musical taste, the incredible stories of the women who supported them are almost always overshadowed. This book is a deep dive into music history while reading with the ease and intrigue of a novel. 

The Paris Novel

Don’t you love it when you find a book that really speaks to your soul? That’s what The Paris Novel is for me. Stella has always felt like she’s been living in her mother’s shadow. Because of a traumatic event when she was a child, she absorbed herself in a world of order, schedules, and predictability. When her mother passes away, she receives a small inheritance, a one-way ticket to Paris, and a rare opportunity to find herself. With an incredible cast of characters, Ruth Reichl helps you dive into Paris’s moveable feast. This novel is an extra dose of inspiration to revisit this culinary haven.

Although we’re barely into June, I just finished Bright Young Women. It could possibly be one of favorite books of the year and I can’t wait to tell you all about it in next month’s round up. Summer is always my busiest season, but I’m so excited to keep making progress to 50 books. I’ve already read more books this year than I did in 2023, but I’m ready to keep going! Keep me on track and I’ll share all the great books in next month’s review. Until then, happy reading!

Love from Connecticut
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.