Transcript
Speaker: Hello beautiful soul and welcome back to another inst installment of the Growing with Sol podcast where we explore the moments and stories that shape who we're becoming. I'm Marisol and this is where I love to have real conversations about growth, self-discovery and learning to put yourself first.
Speaker: Whether we're diving into books that change our perspective or unpacking personal experiences that teach us something new, this podcast is for women who are done playing small and are ready to embrace their own journey.
Speaker: If you've struggled with putting everybody else first or even battled self-doubt, you're in the right place. This isn't about perfection. It's about the messy, beautiful process of growing into yourself.
Speaker: So come grow with me. In this episode, we're talking a bit about something that I think is fun, something that brings me a lot of joy, and maybe you feel the same way, and that is reading. However, as of late, and by as of late, I mean since like May, I've been in a major reading slump where like reading has felt like another thing in life that I'm falling behind on. um I don't know why. i don't know like Why picking up a book was so difficult over the summer.
Speaker: um You know, but but it was. And now I am where I am. I think on Storygraph, I'm like eight books behind. and It's like eight more books to reach your goal. Girl, it ain't happening.
Speaker: It's not going happen. Anyway, I have some strategizing around this because being in a reading slump is not fun, especially when i enjoy reading. It's something that I do that makes me feel alive, you know?
Speaker: So I want to get out of said reading slump and... Enjoy. Enjoy not only reading again but also enjoy the seasons, enjoy life and all that. It's all tied together for me. um Naturally, one of the things that I'm really looking forward to is the fall.
Speaker: I love a good autumnal vibe. um It's my favorite season, though I will say the fall is definitely the time of year I've noticed over the last two years where like I just collapse and my burnout catches up to me and I can no longer function as a human being. I'm trying to avoid that this year. So one of the reasons or one of the One of the strategies that I'm employing to, one, help avoid that, but also to heal myself of this reading slump is getting organized, right?
Speaker: I'm going to get organized. That is my ultimate strategy since the day I was born. When things get... You know, haywire, it's time to get organized. So with that being said, with the cozy season coming upon us soon, okay, it is over 100 degrees. Well, actually, no.
Speaker: I saw last night that today's only supposed to be 95. So hey, yay us. But it's essentially the hottest week of the summer. And I'm thinking about the fall. I'm thinking about autumn, autumn vibes, hot chocolate, apple cider, a scarf. It's way too warm in Los Angeles to wear a scarf in the fall, unfortunately. Climate change, guys, it's real. um Anyway, with that being said, with the fall vibe, i also am shooting for...
Speaker: Something a little bit more low stakes, ah you know, something that's going to give my nervous system a break because with a burnout, i am incredibly stressed, incredibly anxious, not to mention the world. So i need something that's like, oh, no, the muffins burned or something, you know, with a little bit of romance. That's that's what I'm looking for. So let's get into the four cozy books I'm going to be reading this fall.
Speaker: In no particular order, these are the books, okay? So these are just the ones that i either have already in my TBR, like actual physical books on my bookshelf, well, on my mueble, okay?
Speaker: I don't, I don't, you know what's crazy? i I still don't have a bookshelf. like Literally, literally a year ago, i bought a bookshelf off the internet and was like, this is cute. I like the design. It's unique. I'm, I'm looking at the wall where it's supposed to be. um and now they're just like things poking out of my wall for like the last year. It's been a year. Maybe, maybe this is undiagnosed ADHD. I don't know. But like,
Speaker: We hired somebody to come put install it. And then i was at work and then they were like, hey, for what you want to use the bookshelf for all these heavy ass books, this bookshelf is not going support it. You need something that's going to go into like, I i don't know how. do You know what? I don't construct things. Okay.
Speaker: But he said all my crazy ass books and my five special editions of one book were going to be too heavy to be supported on that bookshelf. And he gave me suggestions of what I should get instead. And I was like, yeah, bet. I'm going to do that.
Speaker: And now it's August 2026.
Speaker: Anyway, so i don't have a bookshelf, but the books that I do own that are sitting in a pile on my, um what what is it? what are they called in English?
Speaker: Immigrant child problems. How do I say this word in English even though I lived here my entire life? Not an armoire. Dresser. Sitting on top of my dresser are four piles of books.
Speaker: In those piles of books, I actually do have this next one, which is Can't Spell Treason Without T by Rebecca Thorne. I've had this book maybe for like a year, maybe. No, I've had it for longer than a year because I saw her speak at a panel at the l LA Festival of Books in 2025. And I was like, I want to read her books because like the way she was talking about it was amazing and talking about her books and her stories. And I was like, I want to read that.
Speaker: And then went home And I was like, oh, I have this. I have this one at home already. I bought it a long time ago. So I need to read it finally. But anyway, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is described as a cozy fantasy steeped with love. Isn't that cute? That's very cute. Oh my God. Okay, so cozy fantasy steeped with love where the main characters, work all they want to do is basically open a bookshop that also doubles as a tea shop.
Speaker: But the main characters do find themselves... Essentially, you know, they're they're they're too amazing to live such a cozy, low-key life.
Speaker: Essentially, our main characters have incredible resumes, read Private Guard to the Queen, and the most powerful mage in all the lands. Okay, so how could you be that amazing and then expect a low-key life immediately? It's not going to happen. So I'm very curious to see how that plays out. But essentially, you know, try as they might build this cozy life in a small town.
Speaker: There's going to be lots of challenges, mishaps, and mysteries, it says. So I am looking forward to that. This is the first book in a series. And the description in the book, like on the back of the book, it also describes being close to dragon country. So if you give me bookshop, if you give me tea shop, if you give me mage and a crazy queen and dragons,
Speaker: And it's also still cozy. i'm i'm sold. I'm sold. Okay. I'm looking forward to that one. The next book is My Vampire Plus One by Jenna Levine. So technically, this is not quote unquote cozy, but it's definitely low stakes in comparison to the things I tend to read.
Speaker: So, yeah. And I've been wanting to read this one for a while. This is the second book in, like, a universe. So it's not necessarily a sequel, but we are introduced to the plus one in the first book. So I... It's not necessary to read the first book, but I recommend it because it is good. off I don't remember... Oh, that one is... um My Roommate is a Vampire or My my Vampire Roommate all or something like that. Also by Jenna Levine, naturally. um It was such a good book. Not cozy technically, but again, low stakes and just overall very cute. So we are introduced to the vampire Reginald in the first one. He is now the love interest in the second one.
Speaker: And what's so funny is that in the first book, when we meet Reginald, I didn't picture him as hot. I didn't picture him as attractive in any way. So now I need to like go back into my mind and rewrite him as hot.
Speaker: But in this book, um the female main character is a successful woman who I think we can all relate to is pestered by her family about being single. She has another family wedding coming up where she's going to be you know, the odd woman out as the single one. So she decides to just find someone, anyone to be her date.
Speaker: And that happens to be Reginald Cleaves. So time to make him hot in my mind. um the next book that I am really looking forward to, and again, it's another one of those, like another book in a universe type of situation. Apparently I like those. but is They Love Me Not by Winnie Astor. And that is not with a K. This is a small town, why choose Omegaverse rom-com. So cozy, cute, spicy, funny. Like, honestly, those are life goals, which I think...
Speaker: I think I did a podcast episode on like the top books I read in 2025. One of them being, i forget the title of the first book by Winnie Astor, um but I read that one last year.
Speaker: and I think I also said that that was life goals. Maybe I'm really revealing a little bit too much about myself on the internet, but I just want a cozy life.
Speaker: OK, want to be a barista in a bookstore with a very low stress life who makes two hundred thousand dollars magically.
Speaker: And, you know, has a very beautiful, considerate, romantic hunk of a man obsessed with me. That's it. That's it. That's what want in life. You know, don't we all?
Speaker: Anyway, They Love Me Not by Winnie Astor. Like I said, this is the second installment in a universe. So in the Stars Falls universe, again, small town. The the the last book that I read was my very first Omegaverse book. So this might not be my second because another one that I want to read before the summer's over. That's like a summer summer vibe book. But...
Speaker: It was amazing. In this particular book, They Love Me Not, the FMC ah has been dumped, which is so sad. So we find her after a breakup from her previous pack.
Speaker: And essentially, she's just looking for a fresh start. we've all been there where we just don't want to date. We just want to live life and like do our own thing. But could she fall in love again when she meets, you know, another pack of alphas? We don't know. Let's find out. I'm ready to find out. I've had this book like on my TBR for like a year. I'm ready to find out.
Speaker: Lastly, the last book I am looking forward to reading for a cozy girl fall is How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days by Jessie Silva. Maybe it's the millennial in me because I've seen the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Speaker: But I saw the title and it instantly hooked me. So yay on you, whoever chose that title, because it worked. But also when I read the back and I read the description, it was just so cute and like a very wonderful and yet whimsical combination of things that I personally find really interesting, like in life.
Speaker: So... let me Let me just describe it to you. It is described as a comfort read fantasy romance between a halfling and a goblin who end up having to live together.
Speaker: So you have forced proximity as well as them navigating cultural misunderstandings. And then they have to rally their peoples against a common threat, all the while essentially falling in love.
Speaker: Okay, pause. Because I said we have a goblin and a halfling. Two different types of beings. Two different races of beings, okay? Falling in love. Cultural misunderstandings.
Speaker: They're coming together. They're bridging the gaps. They're understanding each other, okay? Not only just falling in love, but creating understanding between two different cultures. So you're giving me fantasy. You're giving me romance. You're giving me intercultural communication and exchange.
Speaker: And two races of beings overcoming their differences?
Speaker: You're giving me world peace on top of everything else in a cozy fantasy. I'm sold. So I'm really looking forward to that one. um Let me know, guys, if you have read any of these books. If you have, let me know your thoughts. I do still plan on reading them either way. But have you read them? Let me know.
Speaker: Will you be adding them to your TBRs or your book lists for the fall? Also, let me know. And if you do want to add them, if you want to grab them, you can just go through the link in the show notes as well.
Speaker: Thank you for tuning into the Growing with podcast. If this resonated with you, if you know someone else out there who is wondering, what am I going to read? What am I going to do for the upcoming fall? My TBR? want to get cozy. Send this over to them. Send this to your, you know, your local cozy girl in the friend group. Okay.
Speaker: Also, if you would like to further support the podcast, don't forget to subscribe, especially if you are watching this on YouTube. but hi um But also, yeah, give it a like and leave a little five-star review if you've been enjoying it.
Speaker: You can also find me on social media as well. I'm constantly posting. I post about like usually about two to three times a week. I'm constantly on there also sharing stories on Instagram and stuff. So follow me on there as well at Your Coach Mari.
Speaker: And of course, if you would like live coaching, that is also something that I do. i even though this podcast isn't directly related to that. But honestly, i am a huge proponent of having fun as a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. and mental health in general.
Speaker: So if you would like some support, some life coaching, definitely hit me up and you can schedule your very own discovery call with me through the link in the show notes. Until next time, keep growing.
