7 Books Perfect for Commuting

Sometimes you need to be whisked away from the everyday, boring commute. If you get to work via the subway, are a consultant who travels via plane multiple times a week, or need an interesting audiobook for your drives into work, these seven reads are sure to help you pass any length of time...

The Girl from the Sea - Shalini Boland

I haven't read this one yet, though I just received an excellent recommendation from a friend of mine. A girl washes up on shore with no memory of how it happened, and it's her experience of amnesia and running into the people who she can no longer recall that bring her back. It's officially on my holds list.  

Perfect for: commuting back from work and at home sipping a glass of wine, lengthier trips preferred

Lie Still - Julia Haeberlin  

I am so obsessed with Julia Haeberlin's books. She crafts the most gloriously horrifying twists into beautiful writing of psychological thrillers. The last two I read had me clearing my meetings and workouts in order for me to finish, so...

Perfect for: commuting back on a Friday and a weekend free of plans, lengthier trips preferred

Devil in Spring - Lisa Kleypas  

Sometimes, you don't want something scary or overtly educational when you're going too and from work. That's when I usually turn to romance novels and traditionally deemed 'beach reads'. This is the latest historical romance novel by Lisa Kleypas (correct me if I'm wrong) and the first one I've read of hers. I was absolutely addicted and read it when I woke up and before bed until it was finished. A marriage of convenience coupled with high passion and great humor, this book couldn't be better.

Perfect for: commutes when you don't have to pay attention but might be disrupted, any length

The Girls - Emily Cline

Young author gets a wild advance to write a book that closely parallels the Manson murders. I sat on the waiting list at the library for four months and checked every morning to see what number I currently held. When I finally had the book, I was stuck in my final weeks of college work, but I read the book in every moment of my free time. While it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was well-written  and eerie. Plus, the cover art is so gorgeous, I want to buy it in hard copy just to keep on my book shelf. 

Perfect for: commutes to work, any length  

Weird in a World That's Not - Jennifer Romolini

I bought this book after reading several poignant articles about interviewing and owning your individuality in the workplace. I would read them avidly, scroll down to the bottom, and see they were excerpts from Romolini's new book. I finally decided I had to read the book and purchased it to read and read again. I haven't regretted it at all, and I know it will come in handy this week without a doubt.

Perfect for: commutes to an interview or new job when you're a self-classified weirdo, any length

The Grownup - Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn wrote spine chilling Gone Girl, in case you've been living under a rock lately, and this short story is a quick, fun way to transport you out of current life and into a spooky read . I devoured this in one sitting, and while the ending was kind of predicatable, the fact that it was a short story made it like watching a movie. 

Perfect for: commuting to work, at least 45 minutes each way or longer plane rides for consulting or interviews

The Year of Yes - Shonda Rhimes

If you need a self-confidence booster, no one does it better than white-hat wearing, gladiator, Shonda Rhimes. This book, from the first page of quotes (where she quotes her own script, aka being a badass), is inspirational in a nontraditional-inspiration-script way. She talks about her experiences being a total boss, how she's managed it all, and how her world changed by saying yes more. 

Perfect for: commuting to work, any length

+What did you think of these seven books for commuting to work? Have you read any of them? 

---

Weekly Inspiration

It's a week of business travel for Emily. Check out her inspiration for success below. Xx. 

what to ask the interviewer

these six questions will make you appear insightful and interested, while also giving you all the information you want about the company quickly.

read all of them here

this spa gift 

I'm staying with an amazing woman, friend, and mentor this week, and a thoughtful thank-you gift she could enjoy time and again would be an ideal way to express my gratitude.

get the diy here

these business looks

I love the way these professional looks infuse personal styles. dressing for an interview is a cross between creative and conservative, and these looks say both without being just a traditional button down and pencil skirt.

for more outfit inspo

this tote

this tote is gorgeous and would fit everything I need for an elevated laptop carryall. plus, taking four different bags and a lunchbox to my job wouldn't be necessary. 

shop this gorgeous bag

all the diy inspo

you betcha that after my long travels, I'm going to come back and relax with a few DIYs and a lot of Netflix binges. I'm inspired by this list of 50 diys... 

see them all here

---

Friday Find

The perfect coverage without the hat hair. 

After a few beach days without anything sun protection (I know, I know), and some particularly devastating sun burn, I was on the hunt for a hat - and not just for the trend. I wanted something with a wide enough brim to protect my face, neck, and shoulders. It also needed to match my look, which the traditional straw-colored ones often do not; I find the color blends too much into my hair and never gives me the look I'm going for at the beach. When I was buying sunscreen, I came across this black hat and immediately had to put it on, noticing how perfect it would travel and how it was defined by the details (my favorite part about black pieces) with the open weaving and tie. On sale for $20, I quickly grabbed it up, and after a weekend by the pool - that's me with it on above - feeling both fashionable and protected, I'm calling it one of my most successful purchases yet. 

Shop the Item Here: Black Sun Hat, $33.

---