In partnership with
Heads up: some of the links in here are affiliate/referral links (including my Bookshop.org storefront). That means I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you buy through them. It helps support this newsletter and keeps the good recommendations coming.
Hey there,
We are firmly in 2026… and I’m not sure how much I like it, but the only way out is through.
I did end my 2025 with some really great small moments of joy. One of my favorites was going to paint pottery with my sister, her kids, and my kiddo. They can be a rowdy bunch but everyone had a good time and it was really fun to see each child approach the process a bit differently.
I know that earlier this month I wrote about letting winter be winter… and it’s actually been really hard to feel ok with that. It is not in my natural rhythm anymore to start January with a “bang” but it has been so conditioned into me that it’s hard to let go of without feeling like I’m behind.
I’ve had to remind myself to slow down, take a breath, and trust that I’ll get to where I need to be.
Scroll for a quick update and to see the new additions to the ⚒️Workbench!
P.S. If this was forwarded to you, welcome! Click here to subscribe so you don’t miss the next edition.
P.P.S. Make sure you add this email to your contacts so next month’s edition doesn’t hit your spam folder.
🧪Alchemy Notes
One small way that I’ve noticed “wintering” showing up is a desire to lean heavily into reading fiction and not necessarily speeding through it.
I haven’t been feeling non-fiction as much lately, unless it’s a memoir. Instead of forcing myself to find a business book that sparks something, I’ve let myself lean into the fiction holds that finally came in from the library. I’ve decided to not push myself through things I don’t actually want to read.
The world has just felt too heavy to read anything too serious. I recently revisited an author I read a lot in my early 20s (Sophie Kinsella) and while I hadn’t read this specific book before, her writing still took me back to a lighter time and feeling. It was comforting.
My goal isn’t to tear through books like I did last year (that wasn’t even my goal last year… it just kind of happened). It also isn’t realistic, at least at the moment, since this month has been mostly focused on work (so much work…).
But there has also been something nice about working my way through books slower. The frantic pace of full time corporate life had wormed it’s way into everything apparently, even how I read, and it feels good to recognize that and start to let it go… to learn how to not rush the parts I actually enjoy.
⚒️The Alchemist’s Workbench
Why Workbench instead of TBR?
Because these are the books checked out from the library right now… aka the ones I’ll be reading soon since… you know… deadlines/due dates.
(I also have a stack of ‘owned but unread’ books, a queue of holds, and an endless ‘for later’ list on my library profile.)
But this Workbench is what’s literally on my table, not just on a list.
📖Eldritch by Keri Lake (Currently Reading)
I had searched bookstagram for stand alone fantasy/romance books and Anathema by Keri Lake showed up multiple times, so I read it…. HOWEVER, it ended in a cliffhanger so I’m reading the second book now that it’s been released.
So, if you are looking for a new, dark series this one has been good so far. If you don’t want another series or anything too gothic keep scrolling.
📗Wife, Mother, Spy: An Extraordinary Life Filled with Ordinary Days by Ann E Butler
Ok, so my holds may actually not be as light as I was thinking, but I recently read a book about the women of the CIA and am now finding myself interested in spy memoirs… especially those by women.
📗A Kingdom of Venom and Vows by Holly Renee
This is another series… I’m on the 3rd (and final?) book. These ones are short compared to a lot of fantasy books, but still written well enough that I feel transported.
📗Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry
What can I say? I really enjoy memoirs and Back to the Future was something I watched on repeat as a kid. I absolutely loved these movies, so I’m looking forward to a peek behind the curtain.
📗The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
I read The Spellshop by the same author last year and really enjoyed the softer, gentler fantasy story. Given the harshness of reality sometimes I’m looking forward to cozying up with another one of her books.
💥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).
✨There are no new additions this month, much to the relief of my family.✨
📚 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).
⚗️Potion Shelf Picks
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.
💊Ritual Vitamins: It’s still cold and flu season. I swear by these multi-vitamins that I’ve been taking for a couple of years now.
👗Armoire: I know many of you are tired of hearing about this, but I really love renting a few pieces each month. It keeps me from buying a bunch of stuff I’ll only wear once and lets me try out some things I normally wouldn’t without the risk. The link gets you a discount and me some account credit (you can also use the code taral18 at checkout).
👩🏻🦳Prose Custom Haircare: I used Prose’s hair products for years and then decided that I could find something that works as well for less… well, it’s been over a year of trying other hair care and I just placed my first Prose order in a while. Nothing can beat it… it really does work better for my gray, curly hair than anything else I’ve tried.
I only say yes to things that aren’t junk… but I don’t personally use or swear by every one.
Clicking helps support the newsletter, and I appreciate it.
👋🏻Let’s Not Make It Weird
Hi, I’m Tara, Founder and Chief Alchemist at Alchemy Advising. I help founders and execs untangle their finances, rethink pricing, and build smarter systems so their businesses can scale without burnout. After nearly 20 years in finance and ops (with brands like HOKA and UGG), I now bring that big-brand strategy to growing businesses who need clarity, not just spreadsheets.
If you’re new here, here’s how to stick around:
💬 Hit reply if you’ve got a book recommendation for me (or you just want to say “Hi!”).
📬 Forward this to a friend whose TBR pile or P&L is getting out of hand.
📅 Want to talk shop? Visit www.alchemyadvising.co and learn about working together or book a chat.
“I’m not afraid of storms,
for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”