issue #80 - the 'wow, you really like me' one

Filed somewhere in the depths of my ‘someday I’ll do this list’ was to find a tool that would let you share #5SmartReads with your circle easily, and for you to know how many people you’ve referred.

And for some reason, Saturday afternoon seemed like the perfect time to do this project (side note - NOT the perfect time). And I did.

And I’m really a little shook by the response. In the best way.

So many of you shared your links on social, e-mail, and even in your WhatsApp groups (and I am all about making WhatsApp smart again). And because of you all, there are a few hundred new faces around here and I am so incredibly grateful to have you here.

First - a shoutout to those who brought some new friends here:

Kate, Aliya, Karli, Elizabeth, Neha, Christina, Holly, Laurie, Purnima, Meera, Audrey, Sarah, and Melody.

My deepest thanks to you! And if you want to create your own referral link to share 5SR, you can do that here.

If you’re new, here’s a little bit about me and #5SmartReads.

I’m Hitha. I call myself a multi-hyphenate because I have a few jobs, and frankly it’s easier to call myself that than list them all off. I’m the creator of #5SmartReads and have been creating content online for 11 years (mostly on Instagram and this newsletter, these days). My day job is running a pharmaceutical company with my father and investing in companies with my husband (we primarily invest in women-founded and women-focused businesses). I wrote THE book about packing because once upon a time, I was flying over 100K miles a year and always in a carry-on suitcase. I live in New York with my husband and two boys. Besides them, the great loves of my life are books, Taco Bell, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an avid news reader. #5SmartReads is my daily curation of 5 news stories I find important (and often underreported), through Instagram Stories or the paid subscription of this newsletter. I do my best to offer a wide variety of perspectives and stories respectfully. That said, I am liberal and it does show.

Every weekend, you’ll get all the smart reads I shared this week. I also share some mini book reviews and the things I’m loving right now. I have a number of contributors who curate #5SmartReads as well, and they have excellent book reviews and product recommendations as well.

Whether you’re a new subscriber or an early one, I’m so glad to have you here.

Books We Read This Week

Hitha

• How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole (out December 1) - I love Cole’s Reluctant Royals series SO much, and the first book in her Runaway Royals series DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. We met Shanti and Sanyu in an earlier book, and I loved going deep in their story. Cole has a genius way of weaving deep stories with steamy scenes and I am so here for it.

Beth

• Beach Read by Emily Henry - I love it when a dear friend recommends a book and you just LOVE it. It feels like you are so connected. Beach Read was a great light read with enough depth to feel like a great novel.

Abigail

• Parachute by Kelly Yang - this book is a fast paced read that shows the many ways we fail to protect young women. It follows a parachute, a Chinese girl attending American high school and her host family, as they navigate relationships, parental pressure, and more. Content warning: rape, sexual

The Top 3

1. 35 Lessons From Our Quarantine Kitchens (Bon Appetit)

2. Pandemic Dread Has Me Instagram-Shopping Nonstop (Zora)

3. How To Spend Christmas Alone (BuzzFeed)

The Catch Up

Monday (curated by Beth Dyson)

• Travel Plans Derailed By COVID-19? Volunteer Ot An Organic Farm (Los Angeles Times)

• Fixing The Covid Food Disaster Can Slash Climate Emissions (Bloomberg Green)

• IKEA And LEGO Group Partner To Launch BYGGLEK (Archinect)

• Philly’s Black-Owned Business Crisis: Walloped By The Pandemic And Closing At Faster Rates (WHYY)

Tuesday

• Unpacking Joe Biden's decision to tap John Kerry as his climate envoy (Axios)

• Why Moms Should Take This Holiday Season Off (Scary Mommy)

• A Revamped Strategic National Stockpile Still Can't Match The Pandemic's Latest Surge (NPR)

• Dinosaurs would have continued to thrive had it not been for the asteroid, researchers say (CNN)

Wednesday (curated by Abigail Koffler)

• The Myths Of The Thanksgiving Story And The Lasting Damage They Imbue (Smithsonian Magazine)

• Territory Acknowledgment (Native Land)

• Priya Cooks A Minimal-Waste Thanksgiving (YouTube)

• The Cranberry Caucus Is Insanely Powerful (Modern Farmer)

Things We Love This Week

Hitha

• I’m going to leave you with my gift guide, which has all the things I love that I’ve been gifted from my loved ones OR gifted myself.

Beth

• Don't be fooled by the title, this peeler is good for everything. Its small teeth make it amazing on peaches and tomatoes but also is strong enough to take on mangoes! It's our kitchen go-to, and with a bright orange handle, I never lose it in the drawer.

Abigail

• I got a Luv Scrub for my birthday and am obsessed. It's so exfoliating and easy to clean and it looks pretty in the shower (I got the burnt sunset color). It's under $20 and from a Black owned business, the perfect gift!

Hope you have a wonderful night, and a wonderful start to your week!

xo,HPN