Hi! Danielle Wraith here! The Second Act is the weekly newsletter I always wanted in my inbox, packed with obsessively-curated recommendations, thoughtful reflections on books, feelings, life, and the art of making room for more. Whether you're seeking inspiration or connection. The Second Act offers a warm, inviting space for all.
Imagine we’re catching up over coffee and I’m gushing over what I’ve been Lovin’ Lately…
📚 Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason: One of the most honest, but also oddly funniest, depictions of living with depression and everything it takes to be human. Martha Friel has endured the debilitating mental weight that occasionally keeps her bedridden for months, through her job as a writer, two marriages, and neurotic sister Ingrid, until she moves back in with her parents in London. It’s also full of gems, like this depiction of three years of a marriage, “A holiday, a leaking pipe, new sheets, happy birthday, a technician between nine and three, a bird flew into the window, I want to die, please, I can’t breathe, I think it’s a lunch thing, I love you, I can’t do this anymore, both of us thinking it would be like that forever.”
📺 “One Day” on Netflix: Like most other Millenials, I’m guessing, I’ve read the book and seen the Anne Hathaway movie—I know the story by heart. And yet, I couldn’t stop watching episode after episode of this charming new adaptation about the bookish girl who strikes up a lifelong friendship with a popular, if passionless, guy on their last day at University of Edinburgh. It’s told one day at a time, each episode a year apart, starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall.
🍑 Peaches and Cream Pie: Still thinking about this. The cool sweet cream is the perfect vehicle for late summer peaches so ripe, no additional sugar is required.
My most asked question: How do you read so much?!
Choose the right books (aka books you think you’ll like not what everyone else is reading).
Set time aside each day to read. It’s all about how you choose to spend your time. Swap an hour of TV for an hour of reading.
Set a daily page goal, and make it realistic. On days where I’m busy, I aim for 50 pages.
Put your phone on do not disturb and outside of your eye line. This is probably the biggest tip. If you can’t see it, you can’t be distracted by it.
DNF books you aren’t enjoying. Life is too short to read books you don’t like.
Read more - think of your brain as a muscle and every time you read, you’re training it. You’ll get faster and develop the habit!
Don’t put pressure on yourself - it’s supposed to be fun!
ps: If you’re a big reader, follow me on goodreads! I try and rank/save every book I read (and I read about 60-80 a year!)
Sharing a few of my saves and other faves bc cool girls don’t gatekeep
Found these cute claw clips
How to strengthen your happiness muscle I love the practical tips shared in this article, especially “expanding your joy vocabulary".
Okay but I need these cozy cute pillow shams for my bed, right?
I share my bed with this Kindle stand
Though I’ve been skeptical, I’ve officially jumped on the red light therapy trend and purchased a Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand a few weeks ago. With the promise of a 60-day free trial, I figured I had nothing to lose.
My love for puzzles has no bounds, this one is next!
A friend of mine swears this helps with jetlag—I have yet to try it!
for your ears: lit girl fall playlist
Testing these out for heavy earrings - they help the look of stretched lobes!
Recently swapped out my kitchen cabinet knobs for these and they gave a quick facelift!
