📚 Summer Reading Review: Poolside Pages, Big Ideas, and a Few Sh*t Sandwiches

Let’s be honest — we’re all a little digitally fried. Between nonstop pings, doomscrolling, and the temptation to turn to TikTok for “mental health hacks,” sometimes the most radical thing you can do is put your phone down and pick up a book.

Or… hit play on Audible.
True confession: Less than half of these books I actually read with my eyes. The rest? Listened to while driving, walking, cleaning, or pretending to fold laundry. Shoutout to audiobooks for letting me keep learning while life keeps lifing.

This summer, I made reading less of a luxury and more of a life tool. Whether I was learning how to lead better, laughing at the chaos of life, or reminding myself that no one’s got it all figured out — these books gave me both an escape and a mirror. Here’s what I read (and listened to), and why I think you should too.

---

🧠 Start With Why — by Simon Sinek

This one’s been around for a while, but if you haven’t read it (or revisited it in a minute), it’s worth your time. I finally picked it up because I wanted to get re-centered — to make sure my what and how are still aligned with my why.

Sinek’s whole point is simple but game-changing: People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. Whether it’s business, leadership, or life in general — knowing your why is what keeps you steady when things feel chaotic or unclear.

And let’s be real — the “why” can drift. Especially when you’re busy building, grinding, showing up for everyone else. This book reminded me to pause and ask:

What’s driving me right now? Is it aligned? Does it feel like mine?

Real takeaway: When you lead with clarity and purpose, everything else — the how, the hustle, the connection — gets stronger. And more fulfilling.

Perfect for: Anyone feeling a little off-track, in transition, or craving a deeper sense of alignment in work or life.

---

💪 No One Succeeds Alone — by Robert Reffkin

I got this book at the Compass Retreat in Denver this past June — right after joining, and right when I was trying to figure out my place in this new brokerage after being at KW for so many years. And honestly? It couldn’t have landed in my hands at a better time.

Reffkin doesn’t just talk about his success — he shares the people, struggles, and support that made it possible. His message is clear: no one makes it alone. Success takes community, curiosity, and the courage to ask for help.

Biggest takeaway — and now on my vision board:
“Every interaction is an opportunity.”
Even on the off days, say yes, say hello — you never know who you’ll meet tomorrow who might change your life (or whose life you might change).

Real takeaway: Don’t just dream — DREAM BIG. And build it with people who lift you.

Perfect for: Anyone chasing something new and needing a reminder that support is strategy.

---

😂 I’ll Have What She’s Having — by Chelsea Handler

I listened to this one on Audible, and it felt like being at one of Chelsea’s comedy shows — only more intimate, more honest, and surprisingly therapeutic. She’s still hilarious and sharp as ever, but this time, the jokes come with deeper reflection: grief, identity, and the hard-but-worth-it work of emotional growth.

Chelsea leans into therapy and meditation not as trendy wellness buzzwords, but as actual tools that changed her life. And she’s not embarrassed about it — she’s proud of her evolution. The most powerful part? She proves that you can grow up, open up, and still be entirely yourself while doing it.

Real takeaway: You don’t have to choose between being funny and being self-aware. You can believe in growth, healing, and still crack a dirty joke along the way.

Perfect for: Anyone navigating their next chapter who wants less preachy self-help and more permission to laugh while evolving.

---

💅 Life Is a Lazy Susan of Sht Sandwiches* — by Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan

This book was part confessional, part comedy show — and honestly, a welcome reminder that life doesn’t need to be curated to be meaningful. Welch and Pumps are two no-filter best friends who lay it all out: addiction, heartbreak, menopause, single parenting, weird friendships, political rants, personal growth, and zero apologies.

Their writing feels like a long-overdue catch-up with your most brutally honest girlfriends — the kind who make you spit out your wine laughing, then hit you with something unexpectedly wise. Their brand of “hopeful cynicism” doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it does help you laugh through the mess and find power in the fact that everyone’s spinning their own Lazy Susan of life struggles.

These women are real, raw, and unfiltered — and while I’m already a big fan of their podcast, it was refreshing to see their origin story laid out so vulnerably. Getting a peek behind the curtain gave their humor even more heart and their friendship even more depth.

Real takeaway: You can be a total mess and still be wildly lovable, hilarious, and healing to others. Authenticity isn’t a trend — it’s how we survive, and sometimes even thrive.

Perfect for: Anyone who’s over the curated self-help vibes and needs something a little messier, a lot more real — and wants to laugh, cry, and feel human again.

---

🧠 Who Better Than You? — by Will Packer

If there’s ever been a book that felt like a pep rally for your soul, it’s this one. Will Packer — Hollywood producer, mogul, and all-around motivator — shares his journey with humor, heart, and hard-earned insight. But it never feels preachy. It’s more like he’s your personal hype man yelling, “Let’s go!” while handing you the playbook.

What hit hardest wasn’t just his success — it was his mindset. Confidence isn’t born — it’s built. You earn it, piece by piece, by showing up, taking risks, and proving to yourself (over and over) that you’re capable.

The standout for me? He walks into any room knowing he belongs — because he brings unique value with him. That perspective is powerful, especially in a world that constantly wants to compare, divide, and make you second-guess yourself. His message is clear:
Your worth isn’t up for debate.

Real takeaway: Stop waiting to feel “ready.” Send the email. Start the thing. Walk into the room. You belong — not because someone says so, but because you bring something no one else can.
And if you need a mantra to get you going? YES I CAN.

---

☀️ Final Chapter: Summer Isn’t Over Yet

So yes — some of these books made me think deeper. Some made me laugh out loud. A few made me cry (okay, more than a few). But all of them reminded me that storytelling is how we connect, grow, and survive the chaos.

Books gave my brain a break and a workout this summer — and in a world that wants you to scroll, zone out, and stay numb, that felt kind of radical.

If you’re looking for your next read, want to swap recs, or even feel inspired to start a book club (wine pairings optional but encouraged) — call me. 📞 Or invite me to yours!

I’ll bring the books. And the rosé. 🍷