The Social Work Book Club: For Lovers Only

Initial assessments. Lack of resources. Angry patients. Upset families. Meetings. Deadlines. Housing crisis.

Stress, stress, stress!

The last thing I want to do after a long day of work is read something that keeps me on edge or spikes my anxiety. That’s why I turn to romance novels.

Every year, I make it a goal to “become a reader.” I go all in—buying physical books, subscribing to Kindle Unlimited, and following the latest BookTubers—before it all fizzles out. But this time feels different. I’ve stepped away from social media distractions and can finally focus on the things I actually want to do. It’s wild how wrapped up we can get in social media… but that’s a conversation for another blog.

I’ve wanted to start a blog for years and never did—until now. I’ve wanted to become a reader—and now I am! When we were in Scotland for our honeymoon, I picked up three new books: Seven Days in June and A Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams, and Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola. My mission is to finish at least one (preferably two) of these books by the end of the year. I started Sweet Heat and really enjoyed it—I just need to sit down and get back into it.

Romance novels are warm and inviting. They don’t make me anxious or angry. I’ve heard people talk down on the genre, but here’s the thing: as social workers, we fight injustices daily. We manage crises, support families, juggle deadlines, and navigate endless emotions. Why would I want to keep feeling that intensity when I’m trying to practice self-care?

Two books I had to DNF (Did Not Finish) were Five Days at Memorial and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Both were powerful, but they brought up a lot of heavy emotions. I’m not saying I’d never pick them up again… but I’m also not saying I will.

Self-care should be enjoyable and stress-free. I’m done with doom scrolling during my downtime—I’d rather curl up with a good book. Here’s to becoming a reader!

This isn’t the official start of a book club… but it could be!What are you reading right now? What’s your favorite genre?

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Sincerely, SC