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The Books We All Need to Read in 2026
New releases worth knowing about
Jan 22
•
Alisha Ramos
116
41
6
I Don't Need Better Habits. I Need Fewer Things.
Deleting > optimizing. A refreshing rinse for your brain.
Jan 14
•
Alisha Ramos
809
76
42
3 Good Things with Madison Snider Podpirka
The jewelry designer and founder on making new mom friends, running a business while navigating parenthood, and her best advice for buying fine jewelry…
Feb 12
•
Alisha Ramos
and
Madison Snider Podpirka
78
9
2
A Few Self-Helpy Books I Actually Recommend
New year, new perspectives
Feb 11
•
Alisha Ramos
93
21
1
7 Great Books About Love
Get ready to swoon and to weep
Feb 9
•
Alisha Ramos
78
212
1
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10 Things I Loved Most Last Month
Including extremely practical recs.
Feb 6
•
Alisha Ramos
144
58
2
One hopeful book recommendation
Notes from parenting in the third trimester and a hopeful book rec for dark times
Feb 3
•
Alisha Ramos
89
12
15 Things to Bring Us Some Joy Right Now
And some hot tips from Downtime readers that blew my mind.
Jan 23
•
Alisha Ramos
99
17
3
Some thoughts on "friction-maxxing"
Friction-maxxing, Emily Henry's big Hollywood moment, and other things to read, watch, listen to, and think about.
Jan 16
•
Alisha Ramos
97
15
2
Do we all want less noise and clutter in 2026?
Things to read, listen to, watch, think about at the top of the new year
Jan 9
•
Alisha Ramos
125
25
4
Our Favorite Things From 2025
The things readers and I loved most this year.
Dec 31, 2025
•
Alisha Ramos
70
5
A bevy of pre-holiday-break links for your clicking pleasure
A bevy of pre-holiday-break links for your clicking pleasure
Dec 19, 2025
•
Alisha Ramos
76
8
3 Good Things with Emma Straub
"People (strangers!) often stop me and my family on the street to tell us that our outfits make them smile."
Dec 14, 2025
•
Alisha Ramos
93
12
4
15+ Books to Curl Up With This Winter
A comfort-read list for cold days, suggested by favorite Substackers and Downtime readers.
Dec 10, 2025
•
Alisha Ramos
106
166
1
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Downtime
Sharing good books and genuinely useful recs for moms and people with taste and not enough time. Sent weekly to your inbox, written by Alisha Ramos.
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Recommendations
View all 55
Ice Cream Before Dinner
Ingrid Nilsen
Your Stylist Says...
Abby Arad
MOON LISTS
The Moon Lists
Professor Off Duty
Marina Cooley
Diabolical Lies
Diabolical Lies
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