The Raw and The Cooked - Simple Rhythms for SAHM, Honest Motherhood, and Books Worth Reading

Dara Boxer is a stay-at-home mom to four kids six and under, committed to living a simple, well-organized, and beautifully functional life — mostly for her own sanity. A former personal chef and cooking instructor, she brings that same intention to her home: from seasonal meal planning to laundry systems, quiet time routines, toy storage, and everything in between.

Episodes release on Thursdays, and alternate between honest book reviews and practical strategies for managing the chaos of home life with little kids. Come for the rhythm tips, stay for the raw motherhood truths — and maybe leave with a better grocery list.

All Episodes

The Raw and The Cooked - Simple Rhythms for SAHM, Honest Motherhood, and Books Worth Reading

#229: Recent Library Hauls

July 09, 2026 • Season 6 • Episode 229

0:00 | 14:21

One of my favorite rhythms we've added to our summer is a weekly trip to the library.

In this episode, I'm sharing everything I've borrowed over the past few weeks—from books I absolutely loved to the ones I returned after only a few chapters. That's the beauty of the library: when the books are free, it's so much easier to take risks on new authors and genres.

Not every book was a winner, but each one taught me something about my reading tastes.

Books Mentioned:

Returned Early

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
A Better World by Sarah Langan
Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Worth Borrowing (But Not Buying)

The Names by Florence Knapp
Exiles by Jane Harper
The Float Test by Lynn Steger Strong
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovitz
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Not for Me

Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

Mentioned in This Episode

Episode #224: Camp Mommy

I'd love to hear from you! Have you read any of these books? What should I borrow from the library next? Come join the conversation on Instagram or leave a comment on the blog.

Send us Fan Mail