Okay, I love this book. I can't really be objective about it in terms of quality, because the whole time I was reading it I was just so delighted and soothed. There are sweet little stories for each season, beginning with late winter and ending with Christmas Eve, and while the title would suggest that nothing much happens in them, I found them to be rich with detail and nostalgia and so much love. It's a very cozy book, as you might expect since it's meant to send people off to sleep, and while perhaps someone less charitable than me might say the writing is a little twee, it worked perfectly for me. I am a shameless fan of all things twee, after all, and gleefully embrace both the aesthetic and the way of life.

I can't speak to the illustrations because, you know, totally blind, but I plan to buy a print copy for my mom for Mother's Day, so I'll ask her about them then. There are also recipes and meditations sprinkled throughout, and I'm not a meditation person, being perpetually unable to quiet my mind or focus on any one thing for very long, but I still appreciate the spirit in which they're offered. And I'll definitely be trying out some of the recipes, eventually, when I turn my kitchen into a place I don't hate being. I saw a review which criticized the amount of alcoholic beverages mentioned, which strikes me as a very odd complaint, even though I myself don't drink. There was quite a bit of wine and some whiskey and champagne and so on, but like...the author is an adult? She's well within her rights to drink if she wants to? And you don't have to make those drinks for yourself?

Anyway, this is a perfect book as far as I'm concerned, and I can't wait to delve into the podcast. It's a quick read if you do it straight through from beginning to end the way I did, but you could also read a story or two at night before bed and savor it for ages if you were so inclined, and since it has stories for each season, you could even read just the ones for the season you're currently in and save the rest for when those seasons come around. It's adaptable.

I needed this shot of joy in my life at this present moment, and I'm so glad I found it when I did. Life feels just a little bit more manageable now, and even like something I might enjoy and revel in again someday.
galacticvex's profile picture

galacticvex's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 5%

there were people waiting on the hold to come thru with the library, and I just much prefer the podcast! so it was time to call it. definitely a fun listen! it's just not the format I've come to love. 
funny lighthearted relaxing

4/5 stars.

They were nice stories!

haniaaaa's review


nie wiem jak to ocenić. czasem słucham do snu, przyjemne opowiadania które chyba spełniają swoją rolę bo w końcu usypiam przez co niestety nic równiez nie pamietam

Sleeping is a modern superpower. Stories are old magic.

I've been a fan of the author's podcast by the same name since soon after it started, and it's been a big help for my insomniac tendencies. This book is just as lovely as the podcast. The stories are indeed cozy and calming and sometimes a bit nostalgic or magical. The illustrations reflect this feeling perfectly. I received a digital ARC from NetGalley, but I loved the book so much that I pre-ordered a copy and it has taken up permanent residence on my nightstand.
lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced

Absolutely delightful! Such sweet and soothing stories from the town of Nothing Much read in Kathryn's wonderful voice. Worth every penny of buying both the paper and audio versions