Books that will inspire you to grow

Megan Collins of @TheManicuredShelf has put together an incredibly thoughtful reading list for April built around this month’s theme of GROWTH. A personal favorite is The Awakening by Kate Chopin that I’m excited to re-read as an adult, since the last time I was in high school. Let us know if you’re reading along! xo, Melissa

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Megan Collins, Cultural Insights Analyst & Founder of @themanicuredshelf

Megan Collins, Cultural Insights Analyst & Founder of @themanicuredshelf

THE AWAKENING by Kate Chopin 

I first read this book for a sociology course, and it was integral to my feminist awakening, so I’ve been thinking about rereading it. We just had women’s history month, and it was an essential part of my personal growth journey, so I thought it might be cool to revisit it all these years later. 

  • CULTURAL THEMES: Women, Feminism, Class, Mental Health

  • READ SPEED: Slow


EXCITING TIMES by Naoise Dolan

This is a book about how growth can be uncomfortable. It’s essentially about a woman going through a journey of personal growth and her trials, tribulations, and inner-most thoughts. I highly recommended Exciting Times to fans of Sally Rooney. 

  • CULTURAL THEMES: Sexual Identity, Women, Class, Mental Health, Belonging, Wealth, Happiness, Gender 

  • READ SPEED: Fast 

TIES THAT TETHER by Jane Igharo 

This delightfully melodramatic read follows a woman going through a specific growth process—that I’ve been discussing a lot recently concerning Gen Z—individuation. This is when someone psychologically (and often physically) separates from their family of origin to become their own person. This takes the romance novel POV on the entwined nature of familial, personal, and relationship growth. 

  • CULTURAL THEMES: Dynamics of Race, Millennial Romance, Generational Conflict 

  • READ SPEED: Very fast 

TOGETHER: THE HEALING POWER OF CONNECTION IN A SOMETIMES LONELY WORLD  by Dr. Vivek Murthy

I have found this book so helpful and so insightful, and very timely given the pandemic and the separation and our need for human connection. It’s been super interesting to read so many great insights that I recommend for anyone interested in growing a rich community of any kind. 

  • CULTURAL THEMES: Community, Mental Health, Wellness, Society, Workplace 

  • READ SPEED: Slow

Megan Collins is a Cultural Insights Analyst & Founder of @themanicuredshelf and a regular contributor to the M.T. Deco Blog

SeriesMelissa Blum