A short summer project to rebuild reading stamina – Modern Mrs Darcy

I love a summer reading project of any style, and when I read the submission from today’s guest and her quest for what she is calling a short summer of reading, I wanted to talk about it on the show.

So today, Emily Henderson joins me. She is a mom of four, writer, and runner with a passion for home design, and she loves a project. While Emily came to reading later in life, she’s found through trial and error what really works for her, and these days, for reasons we talk about, that’s often books in an audio format.

This summer, though, Emily would love to prioritize daily reading on the page. She’s looking for short reading experiences that will not only get her reading more in print, but also serve as a satisfying substitute for social media that she wants to spend less time on.

Emily is looking for short stories, essay collections, memoirs and essays, and micro histories that deliver the quick bite-sized reading experience she is hoping to log every day of summer break. And she’d especially appreciate stories that leave her breathless or make her think about them long after she finishes. I have ideas, and I can’t wait to dive in.

Please share your ideas for Emily by leaving a comment below.

Connect with Emily on Substack.

Order your Summer Reading Guide digital or print magazine

Our 2026 MMD Summer Reading Guide, the 15th edition, is available now. Buy your 38-page Summer Reading Guide PDF digital copy at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop, and you’ll also get access to the Unboxing event recording. This is also the second year we are offering a beautifully printed edition of the Guide: we sold out of our first batch, but more are on the way. If you’d like to order one, visit modernmrsdarcy.com/shop. At this time, we are only able to ship to U.S. addresses.