What I read in June 2025

  1. The Day the World Stops Shopping: How Ending Consumerism Saves the Environment and Ourselves by J.B. MacKinnon, 384p: I loved the questions this book raised. It is a fascinating look at what might happen if people stopped buying things. I really liked the way it asks deep questions about our world today: how we’re using more energy-efficient technologies but still consuming so much that global carbon emissions keep rising. The book covers topics like planned obsolescence and simple living and offers some ideas for change. But it also shows that many of these solutions are tough to apply on your own. It’s a thoughtful and important read that makes you think differently about the way we live. And it made me feel even more confident about the minimalist choices I’ve already made in my own life.

  2. How to Do Things: Productivity for the Productivity-Challenged by David Cain, 50p: A concise and practical guide inspired by the Pomodoro Technique.  This simplified approach makes it easy to dive in and get started, especially for anyone feeling overwhelmed by productivity systems.  Rather than focusing on organizing tasks, it emphasizes taking action, making it an ideal add-on to any method you're already using. I've always loved the Pomodoro Technique, and I appreciated the fresh perspective this book brings. 

  3. Any Duke in a Storm (Daring Dukes #4) by Amalie Howard, 402p: This was a fun ride. I loved the main character: a divorced countess-turned-British-spy hiding in plain sight as the infamous smuggler called “Bonnie Bess”. She’s bold, mature, and full of surprises. The mix of mystery, travel, and adventure kept things exciting, and I totally enjoyed seeing her navigate life on the high seas. I also appreciated the diverse cast: the hero (Raphael) has Caribbean and French heritage, with roots in Trinidad and Tobago, and Lisbeth is demiromantic and pansexual. 

  4. The Princess Stakes (Daring Dukes #1) by Amalie Howard, 329p: This one just wasn’t for me. It mixes second-chance romance with an enemies-to-lovers twist, and that combo didn’t quite click for me. While the cast is diverse the story didn’t hold my interest the way I hoped. I read this one because I loved the #4 in the series (which I read first) and I thought I would try out the other books in this series.

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Post 92/100 of 100DaysToOffload challenge (Round 2)!

#100DaysToOffload #100Days #readinglist #books #reading

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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.