The Power of Content to Brighten Your Day
I spent most of my career in the content business working at brands like PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly, and InStyle, where I focused on monetizing our content through products, partnerships, and events. I loved our brands and the joy and inspiration that comes with reading a great magazine article in print or online, but, ironically, I never appreciated the power of content more than I did during the pandemic. Content became my refuge: books, podcasts, music and, of course, Netflix. I learned that:
A good story can provide a reprieve from reality.
A family read-along creates meaningful and memorable moments.
A smart newsletter can give you exactly the information you need to know, without taking you down an anxiety-filled rabbit hole.
Binge-worthy shows can change your mood for the better.
A 5-minute inspirational podcast can be just the thing to start your day off right.
Content has the power to make things a little easier during a challenging time, whether you’re looking for a good cry, a ray of hope, a belly laugh, or inspiring advice. As an author, it’s been so fun to see social media posts from readers of the international editions of my book, The Myth of the Nice Girl, and recognize the impact the book is making beyond the U.S.. Words have the ability to break down borders and take you to faraway places—even ones outside our current reality.
Here are my latest picks that check these boxes:
Reprieve from reality: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins.This suspenseful thriller is a reimagining of Jane Eyre, one of literature’s most twisted love triangles complete with dark pasts, murder, cover-ups, smart twists and turns, and a wife who just won’t stay buried! .
Family read-along: The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer. This is one of my all-time favorite family reads -- it’s a series of six books about twins who discover a land where fairy tales are real.
Smart newsletter: Need2Know. It gives you all the news you need to start your day. I love that it's digestible and there is always some humor thrown in..
Binge-worthy show: Ginny & Georgia. Reminds me of Gilmore Girls, but darker!
Quick, inspirational podcast: The Daily Poem by The Close Reads Network - I love starting my day listening to a poem. From Shakespeare to E.E. Cummings, the podcast curates the best poetry ever written. And...the podcast is usually only 5 - 10 minutes, which is very do-able no matter how crazy our lives may be.
For more book recommendations, check out my bookstagram @fransbookshelf. 📚