Welcome to July, friends! As the midsummer sun peaks over New York, life seems to move at two completely different speeds. On one hand, the season invites us to pause and enjoy the long, warm afternoons. On the other hand, the world keeps spinning fast, dominated by screens, instant notifications, and hyper-connectivity.
In a world that demands instant gratification, there is immense beauty in slowing down and letting things unfold naturally. It's the same reason slow-burn love stories have become readers' favorite kinds of stories this summer: the ache of anticipation, the long wait for a connection to fully bloom.
If you're looking for summer reading recommendations in that style, On My Mind and in My Heart is a good place to start. Nickie and Ken's story begins in 1998 with a digital spark. A true epistolary love story built entirely on the words two people chose to send each other.
That era taught us patience. We had to wait for the dial-up connection, wait for the words to arrive, and give ourselves the space to truly digest what someone else was sharing.
This July, I challenge you to bring a little of that 1998 intentionality into your life:
- Write a letter: Send a physical note or a deeply thoughtful email to someone who is on your mind.
- Pause: Allow conversations to linger rather than rushing to send a rapid-fire text.
- Ditch the script: Let your summer plans be messy and imperfect, just like real life.
Real growth, whether it's personal transformation, building a relationship, or writing a book, takes time. It's a slow burn, an unfinished sentence, an imprint left on the soul. If you've been searching for books like One Day or bittersweet love stories, this is the kind of storytelling that fills that space.
Are you taking time to slow down this month? If you've read Nickie and Ken's story, how did their letters make you think about your own relationships? Let's chat in the comments below! And if the book spoke to you, I'd be so grateful if you left a quick review on Amazon. It helps other readers find their way here too.