When it comes to fiction I generally prefer to read it rather than listen to it and seeing as fiction is my first love, most of the reviews on here will be for those books I have curled up with on the sofa with. That said, I do love listening to a non-fiction audiobook, particularly in the self-development category. I love being able to plug in my earphones and feel like I am learning something as I go for a walk around the park or just potter around the house tidying or doing the washing. Here are a few of my favourites that I have listened to over the past year that deserve a bit of light shined on them for getting me through tough times.

Open When – Dr Julie Smith

This is a series of ‘Open When’ style letters from Dr Julie to help navigate the moments of overwhelm, confusion or self-doubt that we all face when life gets messy. I really like how you can dip in and out of this depending on what you are struggling with and found myself replaying sections that particularly resonated with me. I would recommend this in addition to Dr Julie’s other bestseller, Why has nobody told me this before?

Women Living Deliciously – Florence Given

Women Living Deliciously unpacks the many barriers women face when trying to access joy so that they can discover the delicious life that’s theirs for the taking. This is a real pep talk of a book to boost you up when you feel like you have lost your sparkle and just want to hide yourself away. I actually listened to this through twice as it really got me in a positive, kick-ass mindset that I needed at the time.

The Wardrobe Project – Emma Edwards

In The Wardrobe Project, Emma shares her year of not buying clothes. She confronts our culture of consumption and the impossible standards women are forced to chase – and reveals the empowering transformation that followed. I really enjoy Emma’s podcast, The Broke Generation, and as a recovering shopaholic this was very much a book that I needed to listen to. I would also recommend listening to her other book, Good With Money.

The Hustle Cure – Sophie Cliff

Part manifesto and part manual, The Hustle Cure is a book that helps you redefine productivity and create a personalised routine aligned with your energy levels, family needs, work demands, your body’s natural cycles and more. I really love Sophie’s work and enjoyed her first book Choose Joy. This book is a great reminder that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to productivity and it is important to focus on what works for you.