Why Read?
Imagine being curled up in bed reading a good book with the ambiance of candles and a warm drink in your hand – or wine.
I can think of worse that I could be doing and by that I mean that it is quite possibly the best thing that I can think of doing.
Maybe this is just me and maybe the idea of sitting down and reading a book sounds very dull to you. I know this is my husband’s opinion but he enjoys American Muscle Cars and Banger Racing so naturally he won’t be sitting down to read Wuthering Heights any time soon.
Regardless of whether reading seems boring or not, many people do not know the benefits of it and the simple, cheap, pleasure that it truly is. Reading, in my experience, allows me to switch off every time, it helps me to sleep, and it expands my imagination and vocabulary. It helps me to relax in a way that TV cannot and it’s not just me.
An article from The Telegraph quotes that reading can reduce stress levels by 68% according to the research of The University of Sussex. Reading a book lowered stress levels in the study of volunteers the most. It has beaten the PS4, walking, listening to music, and even just having a brew for reducing stress.
Hopefully, this is making you think twice about picking up a book this week. Question is, what do you read?
Meet Milly Johnson
In order to relax, you want a book that is warm, light-hearted escapism but still reflects every day life. Well, look no further than Milly Johnson!
A woman who writes about (in her words)
‘the extraordinary that exists within the parameters of ordinary, every day life.’ An author that manages to make you laugh, give you hope, provokes your thinking, and causes you to fall in love with every single 30 something female protagonist that she writes about. In fact, her books most likely invented the term ‘feel-good’.
I’m a pretty cynical person but I still love the guaranteed happy ending that Johnson’s books provide. Each book has the message of self-discovery which everyone can relate to! She gives hope that no matter what has happened in life, no matter where you are at in life, it will all work out and you will eventually ‘find your way back to your passion’.
The best thing about these books is that they still manage to bring you genuine hope without being cringey. She writes in a way that is blunt, witty, crude – and quite explicit – while dealing with some pretty heavy stuff – especially in The Perfectly Imperfect Woman. Yes, the name says it all.
No matter what topic though, the books are always funny. They always celebrate friendship and dreams, and they always feature a gorgeous man who is classically one of the few good guys.
Still not convinced?
If that is not tempting enough, Milly manages to include every kind of nostalgia that Pinterest loves and that makes for the perfect escapism. Just a few examples of her books…
- An Autumn Crush – features a cosy cottage and gorgeous autumn nostalgia.
- A Spring Affair – The season of change, minimalism, out with the old and in with the new!
- Here Come The Girls – A Greek Island – don’t need to say much more.
- The Queen of Wishful Thinking – An antique shop.
- The Perfectly Imperfect Woman – Gorgeous cottages by a stream with cute names like Little Raspberries or Clementine Cottage.
These books truly are addictive. The books are like wine and chocolate but without the depressing calories; the books are a boost of endorphins leaving you feeling hopeful after every read.
This is simply because Milly Johnson manages to combine complete wittiness while being thought – provoking. She has a style of writing that gives a complete easiness to read while still writing in great detail with great depth.
Only truly good writers can do that.
To be honest, the only thing that I do really hate about these books is that they inevitably end.
As the author Paul Sweeney once wrote, and was then quoted by Juliet in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society,
“You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.”
For Milly Johnson’s books, this could not be more true.
Try them for yourself and let me know what you think!
The Simple Life 
Well done Georgia, thank you. I l9ve to read last thing at night, my books of choice tend to be by Terry Pratchett, humorous, escapist and of course, very satisfactory endings.
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Thank you for reading Anita! Ahh, I will definitely have to check him out. Which book do you recommend?
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