Audiobooks Are Saving My Sanity

Dear Lola & Tots Families,

Let me just say—I love to read. I romanticize the idea of curling up with a good book, coffee in hand, sunlight pouring in. But between mom life, running a business, and trying to keep up with the never-ending calendar of birthdays, graduations, and life events, that moment rarely (aka never) happens.

Enter: audiobooks.

They’ve become my secret weapon. I listen while commuting, doing dishes, walking around the city, working out—basically anytime I’m not being directly spoken to by a child, team member, or my group chat.

I recently joined a book club (shout out to all the NYC women trying to align schedules like it’s a NASA launch), and while it’s chaotic, it’s been such a good accountability check. I feel like I’m a student again—learning, reflecting, and seeing the world in new ways.

Here’s what I’ve listened to this year, from favorite to least favorite—though honestly, they all had something valuable:

1. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
   Hilarious, heartbreaking, and powerful—his stories are unforgettable.
   
2. Abundance by Ezra Klein
   A deep and hopeful dive into how we could build a better, fairer society.
   
3. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
   Eye-opening and necessary—a framework that changed how I see injustice.
   
4. Breath by James Nestor
   Who knew breathing right could change your life? Wildly fascinating.
   
5. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
   A twisty psychological thriller that had me gasping in public.
   
6. The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
   A raw redemption story that made me think twice about judgment and identity.
   

Oh, and I also read (yes, read!) Black Earth by Timothy Snyder—dense but powerful. It’s definitely more for the history buffs.

Now I want to hear from you—what are your audiobook or book recs? I’m always looking for my next listen.

With love (and headphones on)!