RatherBeReading 's Avatar

RatherBeReading

@ratherbereading

Katharine: Celt. Charity worker. Ink drinker & word wrangler of dark fiction Book Reviewer: Historical Novel Society https://open.substack.com/pub/mywritingshenanigans Short story published Bloody St Albans 22 Top 100: Cheshire Novel Prize 23 Mum to a

5,891
Followers
4,463
Following
978
Posts
19.09.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by RatherBeReading @ratherbereading

This looks and sounds like such a tonic

14.12.2025 17:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I think as a society we need to normalise more Sundays like this! πŸ™Œ

14.12.2025 17:34 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Beautiful 🀩

13.12.2025 18:37 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Back at you!

13.12.2025 17:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Word of the day, should you be feeling a little huffish, is β€˜apanthropy’ (18th century): a love of solitude and the desire to be away from other people.

13.12.2025 14:02 πŸ‘ 1660 πŸ” 418 πŸ’¬ 59 πŸ“Œ 63

I feel like the wheels are coming off and I’m unravelling. This is a tough time of year for neurodivergent families. Throw in some perimenopausal existential angst and it’s a perfect storm. I am retreating with books blankets and tea πŸ’†πŸ»β€β™€οΈ

13.12.2025 14:18 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0

F wesstreeting and this damaging hateful narrative

04.12.2025 20:57 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

Stunning winter’s day for a long walk & a creative boost

30.11.2025 13:06 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
a black and white photo of a woman dancing in a crowd of people . ALT: a black and white photo of a woman dancing in a crowd of people .

Me too

27.11.2025 19:47 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Polite public announcement:

I'm taking an extended break from reviewing books in order to rebalance my workload and focus on my writing.

Publisher/PR people: best not to send me proofs.

Likewise, blurb requests. I have always tried to be supportive but I need to read for my own writing now.

πŸ™

26.11.2025 15:50 πŸ‘ 61 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Sooooo excited for this πŸ–€

22.11.2025 19:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

That murmuration is incredible!

22.11.2025 19:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

20 more mins of this and my husband is already beyond grumpy! We’re going to need stronger drink πŸ₯ƒοΏΌπŸ«£ #IREvRSA

22.11.2025 19:25 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Can’t see how to do this on my phone but yes f em

22.11.2025 19:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

One day I WILL travel to India. It has always held a special place in my heart, yet a country I only understand via the literature I’ve read.
In the meantime this new epic (in every sense) will suffice

#booksky #amreading

#GreatEasternHotel #RuchirJoshi @4thestatebooks.bsky.social

22.11.2025 16:44 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Fantastic news Tariq πŸŽ‰ huge congratulations. Your podcast is a highlight of my week

07.09.2025 17:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Fussbudgetry is a most excellent word

18.08.2025 16:41 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Will do!

18.08.2025 16:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks lovely xx

17.08.2025 17:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Damn that looks good πŸ˜‹

17.08.2025 14:58 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

72 hours until I can get back here. The mountain of work and life-stuff that needs to happen between now and then seems insurmountable but Connemara, I’m coming for you πŸ’š

17.08.2025 14:51 πŸ‘ 23 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0

Ouch 😩

15.08.2025 15:42 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
a cat is laying on its back on a wooden floor next to a radiator . ALT: a cat is laying on its back on a wooden floor next to a radiator .

Another working week done and once again I’m coiled like a spring. Going to sack off my usual Friday chores and get in a sneaky nap to see if it will reset my nervous system somewhat ahead of a busy weekend.

15.08.2025 15:41 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Lidija it’s so beautiful! I’m reading and then re-reading whole sections to take in all your wonderful prose x

13.08.2025 16:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Ooh jealous! Have fun x

13.08.2025 16:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Same. Just had to sack off my beloved Pilates this evening but studio will be like a furnace and I’ve maxed out on my asthma inhaler - plus I don’t need a UTI on top of everything else! 🀣πŸ₯΅

12.08.2025 16:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Absolutely adored This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things… how are you lovely? X

11.08.2025 18:09 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆπŸ“š Not gonna lie, our books? They damn slap.

Plot twists. Vibes. Chaos. Feels. Wreckage.

If you’re not reading us yet, what are you doing?

#SapphicSky #LGBTQSky #BookSky

10.08.2025 10:35 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Oh so good to know. I just love when you start a book and immediately know it’s going to be fab. Such an interesting setting/time period too

10.08.2025 17:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

#SlantingTowardsTheSea by @lidijahilje.bsky.social I’m only two chapters in and this is giving me ALL the feels!

#amreading

10.08.2025 16:48 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1