Penguin Random House Audio

Mimi Zhu is an inspirational figure to all of those looking to overcome relational trauma. In their early twenties, Mimi became a survivor of intimate-partner abuse, which left them broken and searching for ways to re-learn how to love. In their essay collection Be Not Afraid of Love, they explore self-esteem, friendship, family dynamics, and romantic relationships through an enlightening scope. By sharing their story, Mimi invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and learn not only how to love others, but how to love themselves.

Oftentimes, romantic relationships take precedence in the media today. Dr. Marisa G. Franco reminds us that, despite our interest in romantic love, another kind of loving relationship exists: that of friendships. Growing up, Dr. Franco was often taught to aspire for that one romantic partner who would make her complete. But after a rather hard breakup, she turned to her friends to lift her spirits. Together they started a wellness club where they would meditate, cook, do yoga, and just be with one another. The love Dr. Franco experienced in her relationships with her friends inspired her to research the bond of human interaction, and how friendships can ultimately shape our lives. Platonic is a beautiful book for those of us that need a reminder on just how valuable friendship is.

Regardless of whether or not you practice organized religion, incorporating a spiritual practice into your daily life is a great way to show yourself and others love through mindfulness and meditation. In Agapi Stassinopoulos’s book Speaking With Spirit, readers will learn how to unlock their inner strength, peace, and gratitude to propel them into a greater sense of being. Composed of 52 prayers and stories for a year of personal transformation, from navigating relationships and expanding past fears to uncovering your true self and releasing your inner creativity. Stassinopoulos guides others on how to manifest love into their lives through a spiritual journey.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote that “nature is loved by what is best in us.” We often forget the close relationship that the natural world and humans shared for thousands of years–and still share today. In Joan Strassman’s book Slow Birding, she helps bring readers back to their natural habitats through the art of bird watching and identification. Her book helps us to understand the love, dependability, and loyalty the natural world will always have for humans, and how noticing these small pleasures will help us to feel connected to the love that is all around us.

Monday again? It’s time to fall back in love with your job, and there’s no better way to do so than with Working Girls: Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Professional Womanhood. By learning to love what we do and contribute to the world around us, we can learn to better enjoy our day-to-day lives and fall back in love with ourselves. Throughout the book, Trixie and Katya dole out both savvy and satirical advice for every stage of working life, from choosing a career path to preparing for retirement, and everything in between. Listen to them become your BFFs with personal anecdotes included from their own experiences in the professional world and beyond. Witty, beautiful, and packed with wisdom, Trixie and Katya will have you loving not only them, but yourself and your Mondays, once more.