At Yorkshire Publishing, we’re always talking about books—what we’re reading, what we can’t put down, and what books we’re recommending to everyone lately. Reading is a huge part of what we do, but like anyone else, we have to be intentional about making time for it. So we thought it’d be fun to share a behind-the-scenes look at what our team is currently reading, along with the little habits that help us stay consistent. If you’re looking for your next read or trying to get back into a reading routine, you’re in the right place.
Kent, President and Owner: I am an avid Michael Connelly fan, and recently read his latest, The Proving Ground. This is Book Eight in his Lincoln Lawyer series, which is a spin off from the original Harry Bosch LA Detective stories.
This particular plot line is a courtroom drama that involves AI, an impressionable teenager, and murder. I enjoy Connelly’s character development and dialogue, but the hook to keep reading is always with the plot twist!
Regarding reading habits, while audio books make more sense from a time management perspective, I struggle to get past the need to hold a physical book and have the satisfaction of progressing from the front to back cover turning the pages. Practically that means, even though I will always get my favorite author books on the day they are released, it’s usually a couple weeks (months?) until I carve out the time to binge the entire book in one sitting. Unless it’s a Brandon Sanderson tome…then it will be a week of being essentially useless for anything else until I’m done reading.
Serena, Publishing Director: I’m currently reading The Sirens by Emilia Hart, a salty seaweed tale about sisterhood, magic, and four women bound across time. It is a multiple-POV novel, jumping back and forth between 2019, 1999, and 1800, exploring the history of women convicts exiled to Australia.
How I sustain my reading habit boils down to one word: audiobooks. I don’t have much time to sit down with a book, let alone binge-read for eight hours straight, which is my preferred method. But I have a long commute. Audiobooks let me fit in my reading while keeping me awake on the road. And on the weekend, they help me tackle the housework. Who wants to clean a toilet? No one. But if you get to find out “who dun it” while you scrub, it’s a lot more bearable.
Lori, Marketing Director: I typically gravitate toward historical fiction and thrillers, but those can feel a bit heavy at times. Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to mix in lighter, feel-good reads I can enjoy outdoors. Living in Chicago, I’m more than ready to trade a long winter for afternoons reading in parks and soaking up some sunshine. Recent favorites include The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez and Happy Place by Emily Henry.
When it comes to maintaining a reading habit, routine is everything for me. I read for at least thirty minutes every night before bed. It’s become something I genuinely look forward to and a much more relaxing alternative to watching TV. I also make the most of small pockets of time, like waiting in school pickup lines, which have turned into some of my most consistent reading moments. It all adds up, and before you know it, you’ve made real progress in a book.
Finally, I set a reading goal at the beginning of each year. This year, I’m aiming for fifty books (one book a week, or about forty-five to sixty minutes daily). I love the challenge and the motivation it gives me to keep going and see if I can surpass my goal.
Nina, Publishing Assistant: I can never have just one book going at a time, so I usually have a sweet romance on audiobook and a high stakes fantasy on my Kindle. Right now, I’m listening to American Royals by Katherine McGee, which takes place in an alternate world where America was established as a monarchy 200 years ago—and the first Washington queen is about to take the throne.
On my Kindle, I’m reading the second book in The Crucible duology, The Things Gods Break by Abigail Owen. Greek mythology. Enemies to lovers. Trials. What could go wrong?
One thing that helps me stay on top of my reading goals is eliminating distractions. It sounds simple, but it’s not always easy when our phones are constantly buzzing nearby. To combat that, I created a setting on my phone that silences notifications and limits me to a few reader-friendly apps, like Goodreads, Libby, and Kindle. It helps quiet the noise and keeps my brain from getting pulled into the scroll, so I can focus on what I actually want to be doing—reading.
There’s no one “right” way to be a reader, just the way that works for you. Whether you’re picking up a book for five minutes or getting lost in a story for hours, it all counts. We hope our team’s current reads gave you a few ideas to add to your list (and maybe a little motivation to pick up your next book.) And if you’re ever in need of more recommendations, Yorkshire Publishing is always a good place to start.
