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Hey there,
It is finally summer vacay over here (at least for one of us)! School is out (finally), but I am still very much working.
It’s a time of big transition as I am wrapping my head around the fact that I am now the mother to a middle schooler. It’s our last “normal” summer before she ages out of most of our usual summer camps, so I’ll be over here trying to soak it up before it’s over. Summer camp signups are no joke (iykyk)… it's all been planned since January, but I'm still expecting we'll make some time for spontaneous summer fun.
I’ll still be reading plenty and would love to hear your favorite summer/beach reads. I could use a change of pace, so hit “reply” on this email and let me know your favorites.
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🧪Alchemy Notes
Since this year has been flying by in a way that I should have expected, but somehow was not prepared for, I missed last month’s mid-month note. (I know… the name is boring… but I haven’t had a moment of inspiration on it yet. Open to suggestions.)
I felt like I hadn’t done much reading, but then I pulled my reading stats (graphics from my The StoryGraph account) and I actually read more than I thought! I guess even when life is moving fast, reading stays in the rotation.
I’ve got some summer travel coming up and I'm already looking forward to the airport and airplane time. There is no better excuse to get lost in a book. I’m also trying to fill out some squares on my Seattle Public Library summer reading bingo card, which is one of my favorite ways to read something I’d normally never pick up.
If you’ve never done a summer book bingo challenge I highly recommend it. Low stakes, surprisingly fun, and it might just get you out of your reading rut or find a new favorite genre.
⚒️The Alchemist’s Workbench
This Workbench is what’s literally on my table, not just on a list.
The much anticipated sequel to The Rose Bargain - think faeries + Bridgerton. I love a good duology and am looking forward to seeing where this one goes.
A coworker recommended this one years ago and it finally made it off my “for later” list to my workbench.
I can’t fathom what it took for her to write this book, so it deserves a read… no matter how uncomfortable.
This one keeps showing up on my Bookstagram and is a seemingly rare stand alone romance/fantasy. Sometimes I just don’t want to start a new series.
The Home Collection
Alongside the Alchemist’s Workbench, I also have what I call The Home Collection…books I own and plan to savor slowly, revisit often, or keep for reference. There will only be books here if I have purchased or been gifted a new book, so it won’t have content every month (or at least that’s what my family hopes).
Jenny Lawson is one of my favorite authors, but somehow this is the first book of hers that I’ve bought for myself (I have gifted many though). I’m always excited when she releases something new. Her humor, even on the tough subjects, makes me laugh and there is something about the way she writes that makes me think we’d be friends if we knew each other IRL… but the type of friends who never actually meet up because neither one of them wants to leave the house.
📚 P.S. I read a lot… across strategy, memoir, psychology, and the occasional fantasy/romance/thriller/witchy novel. The book recs in this newsletter aren’t filler. They’re part of how I think, lead, and help clients navigate complexity. Want to see what else is on my shelf? Take a peek at my bookstore (affiliate link, updated regularly).
🎧P.P.S. If you prefer audiobooks and want to support independent bookstores (not Amazon) be sure to check out Libro.fm.
⚗️Potion Shelf Pick
I only recommend things when I think, “Oh, this could actually help someone skip the spiral.” This is the stuff I use, enjoy, and would suggest over coffee if you mentioned the right kind of headache.
Don’t forget that through the end of June Bookshop.org is offering 15% off their curated lists for Pride Month using the code PRIDE26.
You can find my recommendations here.
👋🏻Let’s Not Make It Weird
Hi, I’m Tara, Founder and Chief Alchemist of Alchemy Advising. I help growing businesses untangle their finances, rethink pricing, and build smarter systems so they can scale without burning out.
With nearly 20 years in operations and finance, including FP&A leadership at brands like HOKA and UGG, I now work with founders and execs who need clarity, not just spreadsheets.
Think: budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and big-picture planning that actually connects to how your business runs day-to-day.
If this newsletter made you nod, pause, or breathe a little easier - here’s what’s next:
📬 Forward this to a founder or leader who’s buried in numbers but hungry for insight.
💬 Hit reply if something sparked (or you just want to say “Hi!”).
📅 Want to talk shop? Visit www.alchemyadvising.co and learn about working together or book a chat.
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”