Sister Chat — How We Really Read as Busy Moms
We couldn’t write about busy mom reading habits without laughing a little at our own. Some days we’re finishing a chapter in the carpool line; other days we fall asleep before page two.
Reading as busy moms isn’t always graceful — sometimes it’s chaotic, sleepy, and a little bit funny. So we thought we’d end this series with an honest sister chat about how reading actually fits into our lives right now.
Finding Time to Read When You Don’t Have Time — A Series
This post is part of a 5-part series about making space for reading in real life—busy seasons, small moments, and grace along the way.
Real Talk and Laughs
Q: Who’s reading more right now?
Emily:
Probably you? I don’t know! I have three. What are you at?
Katie:
You’ve got me beat. I’m in a focus zone right now, trying to get things done, so I’ve narrowed it down to just one audiobook and one physical book. That’s about all my brain can handle at the moment!
Q: Who’s more likely to start five books and finish none?
Katie:
Oh, that’s definitely me! I’ve got a book going in nearly every room — plus a few queued up on my Kindle — and then I’ll get totally sidetracked by something new. It’s a chaotic kind of reading system, but it works… most of the time.
Emily:
Yeah, that’s not me. There are very few occasions where I DNF a book. Now, that said, I do typically have an audiobook, Kindle, and physical book going at the same time.
Q: What’s your current read — and how long have you been reading it?
Emily:
For my audiobook, I’m working on Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda. For my physical book, I’m reading Second Chance Cinema, which was my Book of the Month from October. For my Kindle book, I am working on Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy! I started these this week, and I’ll finish all by Friday.
Katie:
Wow, you’re flying through those! I just started Remain by Nicholas Sparks for my physical book and The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association on audio yesterday. Both are off to a great start — we’ll see which one I finish first!
Cozy Comfort Reads
Q: What’s your go-to comfort author or genre?
Katie:
I’m a sucker for a cozy, feel-good read — the kind that leaves you smiling when you close the book. I devour those stories so fast. They’re like a reset button for my brain after a long, busy day.
Emily:
Hmmm…comfort author would for sure be JK Rowling. It’s easy and comfortable for me to pick up any of the Harry Potter books. They feel like home to me.
Q: Who’s cried hardest over a book?
Emily:
Oh gosh, I have fetal-position-sobbed over a book before. Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah really found me at a vulnerable time. It was pretty intense.
Katie:
And again… you win. I do have a heart, I promise! I think being a mom has made me too emotional, so I’ve been avoiding the real tearjerkers. Some days I just want stories that don’t make me feel all the feelings.
The Dream Reading Day
Q: What’s your dream reading day look like?
Katie:
A day when I’m not needed for anything. I’d be sitting on a deck overlooking something peaceful — maybe the ocean — soaking up the sun with a cold drink and a stack of books. No schedule, no noise, just me and the sound of waves while I read as much as my heart desires. That’s the dream. Maybe that’s what our next sisters’ reading retreat should look like.
Emily:
I am so there! You know that sounds like a dream to me too — give me sunshine, snacks, and silence, and I’m good for hours.
Q: What’s one book you’d both love to read together someday?
Emily:
Oooh! Something about sisters. Maybe witchy sisters?
Katie:
That sounds so good — a witchy sister story full of chaos, laughter, and maybe a touch of magic gone wrong. If that doesn’t exist yet, I think the universe is hinting we should make it happen.
Keep Reading, Even When Life Is Full
Reading might look different now, but it’s still one of the best ways for busy moms to slow down and reconnect with themselves.
Staying Motivated to Read During Busy Seasons
Q: How do you stay motivated to read during busy seasons?
Katie:
I remind myself that reading is my way of taking care of me. I can’t keep running on empty and expect to have anything left for everyone else. Even ten minutes with a book helps me reset and feel a little more like myself again.
Emily:
I love making a TBR and aiming to finish each month. I’m such a Type A box checker, so that motivation makes it pretty easy for me. Plus, there’s something satisfying about actually checking that “finished” box!
Q: What’s one mindset shift that’s helped you read more?
Katie:
I stopped seeing reading as a “reward” and started seeing it as something I need. It’s how I reset and refill my tank — even ten minutes makes a difference.
Emily:
My happiness rises and falls with my reading time. Reading = Happiness for me. It’s the simplest equation there is.
Encouragement for Moms Who Think They Don’t Have Time
Q: What would you tell another mom who says, “I don’t have time to read anymore”?
Katie:
Make time. I know that sounds tough, but it’s true — you have to carve it out wherever you can. Read in the school pickup line, during your lunch break, or while you’re pumping or nursing a little one. Get up fifteen minutes early and squeeze in a chapter. Skip the mindless social scrolling for a few minutes and read a few pages instead. And when all else fails, listen to an audiobook while you drive. It might not seem like much, but it all adds up — every little bit counts.
Emily:
I feel you! If you don’t have time to read today, that’s OK. But if you have that itch to read, give yourself permission to take a few minutes just for you. As moms, we’re so used to serving everyone else — our kids, our partners, our homes. Sometimes the best thing we can do is pause and serve ourselves for a change.
Why Reading Is Always Worth the Time
Q: How do you remind yourself that reading is still worth making time for?
Katie:
I can’t imagine a world without reading — it’s part of who I am, right down to my core. Honestly, Emily and I have joked that maybe that’s why we made it through our childhood halfway sane. Books have always been our constant — the one thing that’s always there, no matter what life looks like. That reminder alone makes it worth making time for.
Emily:
Once I realized how closely my happiness is tied to how much I read, it made the choice simple. Reading fills my cup — and when I’m full, everyone around me benefits too.
Rapid Fire Fun
Current read:
Katie:
Remain and The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association
Emily:
Wild Dark Shore, Reese Witherspoon’s November pick! Second Chance Cinema – Book of the Month club pick, and Such a Quiet Place, my audiobook pick!
Favorite genre:
Katie:
At the moment, contemporary women’s fiction
Emily:
Lit Fic
Last book that made you cry:
Katie:
I can’t remember, but it was an audiobook as I was driving…not a good combo
Emily:
Oh man, I’m an easy cryer…Demon Copperhead made me feel all the feelings.
Reading snack of choice:
Katie:
Cheesy crackers or sour Skittles
Emily:
Skittles or pretzels!
Book you’d love to read again:
Katie:
Where the Crawdads Sing
Emily:
Harry Potter series, any day!
Dream reading location:
Katie:
Somewhere near the ocean waves
Emily:
On my back patio.
If reading is something you want to keep making space for — even on the busiest days — we created something to support that.
A Word of Encouragement to Fellow Moms
Q: What’s one piece of encouragement you’d want to leave your readers with?
Katie:
Do it — just do it. Do it for you. Do it for your kids. They see you. They notice when you take time for yourself, when you pick up a book, when you choose something that fills your cup. Let them see that it’s okay to slow down and make space for what you love. You deserve that time — and it matters more than you think.
Emily:
If reading makes you happy, sneak in those minutes. Read “one last chapter.” Stay up a few minutes later. There’s always something waiting for your attention — but joy doesn’t have to wait.
One Page at a Time
However reading looks in your life right now — messy, inconsistent, joyful, or brief — it still matters. Stories don’t ask for perfection; they just ask us to show up.
One page at a time is enough.
