19. On The Small Town Trope
And why that is so helpful to young adults, the start of the Amazing April Releases, one of my favorite authors, and a favorite book recommendation.
We’re raised to believe that we should, and even need to, make an impact on the world in some way. Some of my anxiety as I grew older was due to this burning need to be important, to impact the world and people around me. I believe fears of the corporate lifestyle are party in relation to this. Becoming part of the corporate ladder, working a 9 to 5 like everyone else, is the opposite of what we have been told to do.
“He could be President one day.”
“She’s going to do amazing things.”
“It’s going to fall on your generation to do x, y, and z.”
The most freeing realization I’ve had thus far in my life is that not only is a “small” life perfect the way it is, but it’s what I want anyway. There is such beauty in it. On knowing my neighbors, creating friendships, going to my favorite restaurants, building a community, and inside jokes with my coworkers. It goes on and on. Why do you think most people live a typical life? Because it has its own perfections. Impact and changing someone’s world doesn’t have to be shown on a worldwide scale.
You never know when you might have an impact on someone and how that can butterfly outwards. Smile at a stranger, invite a new friend out to lunch, meet your future roommate … every decision we make affects more than ourselves, and we have no idea how that impact will reverberate through life.
I have recently noticed the rise of the small town trope in books, especially ones that have gotten popular. The first two that come to mind are the Chestnut Springs series and the When in Rome series. These show readers and the younger generations that amazing lives can be lived on that “small” scale. It is not insignificant. It is perfect, and it is okay. Leaving your mark doesn’t have to be some massive earth shattering thing. I love the small town setting!
I like my quiet life. Right now, I live at home. I have probably 4 or 5 really close friends. I like my corporate job. I enjoy challenging myself with my running. I like to take pictures of nature and sports. I enjoy editing videos. I like to post about books on Instagram and express myself on here. I’ve recently found it incredibly fun to paint (especially bookmarks), put puzzles together, and even build legos. I have plans to go on vacation in June and move to a new city in July. Does that sound like a small life to you?
There are so many fantastic books releasing this month! I highly suggest exploring on your own, but here are a few to get you started.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jiminez (Romance): April 2, 2024
Hopelessly Romantic by Barbara Freethy (Romance): April 2, 2024
The Rule Book by Sarah Adams (Romance): April 2, 2024
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (Mystery): April 2, 2024
Rebel Rising: A Memoir by Rebel Wilson (Memoir): April 2, 2024
Books I’ve compiled from mainly the NYT Bestsellers List, but also the B&N Top 100 and Amazon Bestsellers in no particular order. I’ve decided to simply add the books I haven’t before, since I’ve caught up to the new additions. If you’re curious, last week’s post can be found here.
The #1 Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen (Mystery/Fiction)
James by Percival Everett (Historical Fiction)
Note: I am shocked that this is the first I’m hearing about this book. Not only is it incredibly highly rated, but it also seems to be a very important book.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle (Romance)
This Author of the Week is my OG Author of the Week. Back when I had my blog, I wrote my first ever AotW on her. It’s Carissa Broadbent!
You guys!! I love her!! I found her books while (obviously) writing my blog. I was blown away by The Serpent and the Wings of Night, adored The War of Lost Hearts series, and once the novella and second book of Crowns of Nyaxia released, I eagerly ate them up. I legitimately plan on purchasing all of her books as physical ones so I can blow them a kiss every day.
Besides the fact that her books are all unique takes on fantasy, world building is fantastic, and characters well rounded, I relate to her deeply. Carissa got a marketing degree (like me), worked in marketing for a few years (like me), then decided to live out her dream of being a writer. She also indie published with her skillsets of marketing and graphic design! I find her to be such an inspiration, and she makes me feel like my dream of becoming a writer is a possibility. She also shows that indie publishing can be just as fantastic as traditional publishing.
Carissa lives with her husband and animals in Rhode Island. I also believe she had her first child recently! Carissa came back to the forefront of my mind because she announced the release of book 3 in the Crowns of Nyaxia series and she is literally so funny on Threads.
I would love nothing more than to sit down with Carissa and absorb all of her awesomeness into my brain. I’m so inspired by her path, and she helps me keep hope in regards to my own dream.
You can find Carissa on her website, Goodreads, or Instagram.
Just a reminder to submit any books you think others will love on the R&R page or to my email: thesundayreads@gmail.com!
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
I picked this up randomly in the fall and LOVED it. Recently it has been getting some love online and her next release is coming out on April 30th, so I wanted to share in the love! Below is my review from the fall. I still think about this book, and I want to reread it soon!
This was so adorable! Millie was a wonderful main character to follow. Her heart is in the right place, and I loved learning about her and rooting for her throughout this book. I love Hollis and the two of them together. I was rooting for them the entire time. The last act situation was believable to me, on both sides. The only thing I want is more of them. I was left with a book hangover 100%. I really can't wait for Adler's next book to come out!
That’s all for today. Much love.
Izzy
The sentiment expressed in this post is so relatable, but you worded it better than I ever could have! I felt the same sort of anxieties growing up, and used to daydream about going on to live some big, grand life. But you don't need to live a big life in order to live a great one. Similar to your point about small town tropes in reading becoming more popular, there's also been a trend on TikTok in recent years of "slow living," which romanticizes the same sort of lifestyle. I love to see it!
Funny how, our publication name is so similar.