Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This month, I turned my reading life into a personal experiment — no TBRs, no pressure, just pure mood reading. In this video, I share what I picked up, what surprised me, and what I learned from letting curiosity lead the way. It’s part reading wrap-up, part reflection, and a little peek into how I choose books when I stop overthinking it.
If you enjoy mood reader content, cozy Booktube wrap-ups, or thoughtful reading experiments, you’ll probably love this one. Whether you’re trying to reconnect with your reading joy or just want to see what happens when a book lover lets go of the plan — let’s see how this goes.
Folks mentioned:
Sarah @FreshlyReadBooks
Steve @saintdonoghue
0:00 bookish challenges and games
2:30 mood reader’s challenge
3:10 Serena by Ron Rash
4:18 My Policeman by Bethan Roberts
8:08 The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
12:55 Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
17:45 Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
22:35 The Curve of Time by M. Wylie Blanchet
25:55 Takedown by Laila Mickelwait
29:55 The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
33:17 Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Books mentioned (according to the author's last name)
The Curve of Time M. Wylie Blanchet
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Takedown by Laila Mickelwait
Radium Girls by Kate Moore amzn.to/4heFJ5W
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian amzn.to/4njdrJ9
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Serena by Ron Rash
My Policeman by Bethan Roberts amzn.to/4oacyna
Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff amzn.to/3KWh1LL
Videos you might enjoy:
50 videos in 50 days playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtC_w7mkdBBylbDYg1NLcGXSXlZ8dhKKv
The Best Books of 2025 (so far) | youtu.be/utOF42bQRvs
5 historical fiction books you've probably never heard of | youtu.be/nX32K3ZKIpc
Why so many Booktubers disappear (original video): youtu.be/OuLzxm4tISs
Why so many Booktubers disappear (playlist): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtC_w7mkdBBxizo0D9evc_FplP8hfUx-2
Products mentioned:
Rephr brushes: rephr.com/collections/eye-brushes
NARS Explicit Refillable Satin Lipstick in Bewitched sephora.com/product/nars-explicit-refillable-satin-lipstick-P512469?country_switch=us&lang=en&skuId=2797116&om_mmc=ppc-GG_17789371101___2797116__9010555_c&country_switch=us&lang=en&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17790677989&gbraid=0AAAAADnIXb1yqhZLLxv_ReEovAgzivwWx&gclid=CjwKCAiAwqHIBhAEEiwAx9cTeRQsMjYL8gOooCgFg9Vh92GssZ70Z8ckI6ucSUft9R8MkLhP3N9WRhoC3MAQAvD_BwE
Foundation amzn.to/4owxB3p
Brows amzn.to/47v7sfs
Blush singebeauty.com/products/evocative-silk-blush?variant=49523890618673
PHYTOSURGENCE Flash Florescence "Celestial Ceremony" in Lunar Lightwave phytosurgence.com/product-page/flash-florescence-celestial-ceremony-collection
Sigma Lash Icon Lengthening & Volumizing Tubing Mascara sigmabeauty.com/products/lash-icon-lengthening-and-volumizing-tubing-mascara?srsltid=AfmBOor3HkYQH6gRnDh2rgH-BBGr0KMazeFJLoJnbCWOTXjZN58y-yqG
Amuse me in my inbox - rachelle.e.swearingen (at) gmail.com
Befriend me on Goodreads -goodreads.com/user/show/139310469-shelly-swearingen
Drop by on Instagram - Shellyish
FTC disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of the links.
This month, I turned my reading life into a personal experiment — no TBRs, no pressure, just pure mood reading. In this video, I share what I picked up, what surprised me, and what I learned from letting curiosity lead the way. It’s part reading wrap-up, part reflection, and a little peek into how I choose books when I stop overthinking it.
If you enjoy mood reader content, cozy Booktube wrap-ups, or thoughtful reading experiments, you’ll probably love this one. Whether you’re trying to reconnect with your reading joy or just want to see what happens when a book lover lets go of the plan — let’s see how this goes.
Folks mentioned:
Sarah @FreshlyReadBooks
Steve @saintdonoghue
0:00 bookish challenges and games
2:30 mood reader’s challenge
3:10 Serena by Ron Rash
4:18 My Policeman by Bethan Roberts
8:08 The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
12:55 Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
17:45 Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
22:35 The Curve of Time by M. Wylie Blanchet
25:55 Takedown by Laila Mickelwait
29:55 The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
33:17 Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Books mentioned (according to the author's last name)
The Curve of Time M. Wylie Blanchet
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Takedown by Laila Mickelwait
Radium Girls by Kate Moore amzn.to/4heFJ5W
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian amzn.to/4njdrJ9
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Serena by Ron Rash
My Policeman by Bethan Roberts amzn.to/4oacyna
Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff amzn.to/3KWh1LL
Videos you might enjoy:
50 videos in 50 days playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtC_w7mkdBBylbDYg1NLcGXSXlZ8dhKKv
The Best Books of 2025 (so far) | youtu.be/utOF42bQRvs
5 historical fiction books you've probably never heard of | youtu.be/nX32K3ZKIpc
Why so many Booktubers disappear (original video): youtu.be/OuLzxm4tISs
Why so many Booktubers disappear (playlist): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtC_w7mkdBBxizo0D9evc_FplP8hfUx-2
Products mentioned:
Rephr brushes: rephr.com/collections/eye-brushes
NARS Explicit Refillable Satin Lipstick in Bewitched sephora.com/product/nars-explicit-refillable-satin-lipstick-P512469?country_switch=us&lang=en&skuId=2797116&om_mmc=ppc-GG_17789371101___2797116__9010555_c&country_switch=us&lang=en&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17790677989&gbraid=0AAAAADnIXb1yqhZLLxv_ReEovAgzivwWx&gclid=CjwKCAiAwqHIBhAEEiwAx9cTeRQsMjYL8gOooCgFg9Vh92GssZ70Z8ckI6ucSUft9R8MkLhP3N9WRhoC3MAQAvD_BwE
Foundation amzn.to/4owxB3p
Brows amzn.to/47v7sfs
Blush singebeauty.com/products/evocative-silk-blush?variant=49523890618673
PHYTOSURGENCE Flash Florescence "Celestial Ceremony" in Lunar Lightwave phytosurgence.com/product-page/flash-florescence-celestial-ceremony-collection
Sigma Lash Icon Lengthening & Volumizing Tubing Mascara sigmabeauty.com/products/lash-icon-lengthening-and-volumizing-tubing-mascara?srsltid=AfmBOor3HkYQH6gRnDh2rgH-BBGr0KMazeFJLoJnbCWOTXjZN58y-yqG
Amuse me in my inbox - rachelle.e.swearingen (at) gmail.com
Befriend me on Goodreads -goodreads.com/user/show/139310469-shelly-swearingen
Drop by on Instagram - Shellyish
FTC disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of the links.
