Why I Fell Hard for Euphoria by Lily King

When we sold our house six weeks ago and decided to hit the road for a while before finding our next home, I sent 95% of my book collection to storage and promised my family I would lean into my love for audiobooks and wouldn’t buy any physical books until we were at least a little more settled.

I lied.

I’ve bought 11 so far.

They keep calling me.

But today, I’m writing to you about a book I don’t own yet ~ one that fell into my lap like the best kind of gift from the best kind of Universe magic. The story goes like this. . .

“Where did you get that book?” I didn’t mean for it to come out so accusingly. It’s just that I’d never seen the book on his nightstand before and it didn’t look like something he would especially like. But it looked like exactly my cup of tea.

It was.

It is.

My husband had found exactly one random novel in the rental house we just moved into and it was Euphoria by Lily King — a masterpiece of a jungle-filled, love triangle-esque, woman power-inspiring, Margaret Mead-flavored novel ⤵

This book chose me, and I’m so glad it did.

I loved it.

Admittedly, the first couple of chapters were of the slow-burn variety. But by the time I hit chapter four, I was hooked. I quickly started devouring the rest, googling Margaret Mead, and putting every book Lily King has ever written on my Wish List.

When I reached the final chapter last Sunday, my heart racing, I fought back tears and decided I could only soothe the ache in my chest in one way — by rushing to the bookshop down the street from my house to buy something else, anything else, written by Lily King and diving in right away.

Except our little bookshop isn’t open on Sundays, so I had to wait. I think they call what I was feeling in that moment booklover’s torture. I waited nonetheless. If you’re intrigued the least little bit, here’s what you need to know⤵

I don’t fall this hard for just any book.

I don’t fall this hard often at all.

While I’ve truly loved the books I’ve recently gushed over here in this little book club of ours — Happy Place, A Man Called Ove, How to Read a Book, Between the Mountain and the Sky, In Praise of Slow, everything by Emily Henry & Taylor Jenkins Reid & Kevin Wilson, A Gift from the Sea, and others —  it’s been a while since I felt exactly this way.

But I believe there’s a good reason why I fell so hard for Euphoria. It’s because it reminds me so much of another novel I fell hard for a few years back ~ Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder ⤵

They’re both anthropologically inspired, both set in remote locales, both gorgeously written, and both a little spunky. I bought State of Wonder because of what Elizabeth Gilbert said about Ann Patchett in her book Big Magic.

It was love at first word.

I was hooked after the first paragraph.

I’ve read it at least three times.

I still love it.

These books aren’t new. They’ve been around for a while, so you may have read them already. But just in case. . .

If you loved State of Wonder you’ll love Euphoria.

I can almost guarantee it.

If you loved Euphoria you’ll love State of Wonder.

If you haven’t read either of them, maybe it’s time. If you’re in a reading slump right now or just looking for something to get lost in, you might want to grab both together so you don’t have to go through any booklover’s torture when you finish one. Just sayin’.

And here’s what’s next. . .

I made it to that bookshop this week and bought Lily King’s first short story collection Five Tuesdays in Winter ~ a book with this quote from none other than Ann Patchett herself right at the top of the back cover: “It moved me, inspired me, thrilled me. It filled up every chamber of my heart. I loved this book.”

Seems like just what I need.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

💛

Now I’m off to pick up my favorite college student and bring him home for what I hope is a really good long weekend. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. (Also, he lives in a city with a few great used bookshops, so I’m hoping to find some deals on the rest of Lily King’s collection.)

I hope you’re at the start of a really good weekend, too.

Or, if you’re reading this from a hard week, a tough season, or a state-of-emergency area in the Southeastern US, I hope this message brings you at least a smile or some small bit of comfort. If you ever want to chat, you know where to find me.

Email me anytime.

I’m here.

💛

Celeste

Showing off Monday-Thursday Celeste b/c it’s her busy season & she’s been stuck inside her computer this week ⤵

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