Author Archives: Lindsey Buck

Today, I want to talk about something that has become deeply personal in my life: mental health representation in books.

There’s something I’ve come to learn about life: it’s wonderful and full of bright moments, but it can also be messy, unpredictable, and, frankly, hard. And no matter how much we try to plan or prepare, there will always be curveballs we can’t dodge. I used to think the goal was to create a perfect life — one where I had everything figured out. But therapy (and books — always books) taught me that perfection was never the goal. Instead, it’s about perspective, acceptance, and finding the little sparks of joy even when things feel heavy.

In these past few years, alongside cozy stories and magical escapes, I found myself reaching for books that didn’t shy away from the messy, complicated parts of being human. Like many others, I’ve wrestled with my own mental health. And what I learned—through therapy, through trial and error, through good days and bad ones— is this: life can be wonderful, but it’s never perfect. No matter how much we plan, something will always find a way to derail us. That doesn’t mean we’ve failed—it just means we’re human.

For me, reading books that spoke honestly about anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and resilience was a kind of quiet therapy of its own. They reminded me that I wasn’t alone, that struggle doesn’t cancel out joy, and that perspective can be just as powerful as progress. These books became companions in my growth, nudging me toward a healthier, more grounded version of myself.

Here are some of the books that helped me shift my perspective and accept life for what it is—beautiful, imperfect, and sometimes incredibly hard:

✨ Wintering by Katherine May – A tender, lyrical reflection on seasons of rest and retreat, teaching me that slowing down isn’t weakness but wisdom.

✨ Broken (In the Best Way Possible) by Jenny Lawson – Raw, hilarious, and heartbreaking all at once. Jenny Lawson’s honesty about living with mental illness made me feel seen. This book helped me through one of the darkest times in my life.

✨ Everything is OK by Debbie Tung – A beautifully illustrated memoir that captures the weight of anxiety and the slow, hopeful path toward healing.

✨ Me vs. Brain: An Overthinker’s Guide to Life by Hayley Morris – Lighthearted yet painfully relatable, this book gave me permission to laugh at the spirals my brain creates.

✨ Everyone But Myself by Julie Chavez – A thoughtful memoir about identity, burnout, and learning how to find yourself again when you feel lost.

✨ Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – Quirky and tender, this story captures the absurdity of being human—and how anxiety quietly threads through so many lives.

✨ Hello Stranger by Katherine Center – A love story, yes, but also a gentle exploration of resilience and self-compassion when life doesn’t go to plan. I particularly enjoyed the therapy that the main character experiences, as I felt that it was a healthy and accurate representation of what good therapy looks like.

✨ The Wedding People by Alison Espach – Funny and poignant, with characters stumbling through life’s chaos in ways that felt familiar and grounding. (*Trigger warnings for attempted suicide)

Each of these reads reminded me in its own way that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth living. We’re allowed to be messy. We’re allowed to be in progress. And sometimes, the best thing we can do is simply meet ourselves where we are, instead of where we think we “should” be.

If you’ve ever found comfort in a book that understood your inner world better than you could put into words, you know what I mean. These are the kinds of books I’ll carry with me, the ones that remind me that healing isn’t linear—and that none of us are alone in the struggle.

Welcome back! Previously, I shared a post on cozy reads. Today, I’m turning to something a little different: quick bite books.

Quick Bites are the short ones — slim novels, novellas, essays, short stories, and poetry collections that you can tuck into a busy afternoon. They may be brief, but their impact is anything but small. These are the books I’ve reached for when I didn’t think I had time to read at all — and found myself not just reading, but deeply moved. Each one has been like a breath of fresh air, clearing my mind and settling my spirit.

Here are a few of my favorites:

✨ A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush – A witty, honest, and wonderfully relatable poetry collection that feels like sharing coffee with a friend who “gets it.” It’s funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly grounding. This was in my top ten reads of 2024.

✨ Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan – A poetry collection that feels like both a map and a companion. Sullivan’s words invite you to look outward at the wide world while also turning inward with tenderness.

✨ Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones – Gentle reflections on finding sacredness in the everyday. Jones makes stillness feel not only possible but holy.

✨ Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil – A vibrant, joyful exploration of food and memory from one of my own college professors! Reading this felt like a celebration of flavor, culture, and connection.

✨ Sandwich by Catherine Newman – This novella is warm, messy, and full of heart. It feels like summer sun on your shoulders, with all the sweetness and ache of life tucked inside. And it turns out that she has a sequel coming out this fall!

✨ In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It by Lauren Graham – Brief but full of wisdom, like a pep talk from your big sister. Graham’s voice is light, funny, and exactly the kind of encouragement you want to keep on your nightstand.

✨ The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer – A stunning essay that weaves together ecology, gratitude, and reciprocity. It’s a meditation on living generously, and like all of Kimmerer’s work, it stays with you.

✨ Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez – A tender, emotional short story that proves even the briefest reads can leave a lasting mark. Jimenez’s signature humor and heart shine here, making it one you’ll think about long after the last page.

Sometimes a little goes a long way. These books prove that you don’t need hundreds of pages to be changed, comforted, or inspired. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to read, but I just don’t have time,” one of these little gems might be exactly what you need.