Shellshocked | Shelly | Substack

Sky Daddy By Kate Folk

The most committed love story you'll ever read

3 hrs ago • Shelly

Welcome to Shellshocked: Rethinking Your Life in Real Time

Essays on womanhood, work & identity. Honest takes on books, culture & midlife.

Dec 5, 2025 • Shelly

We Don’t Owe You an Explanation

On women’s interests, and the compulsion to pathologize them

Mar 2 • Shelly

Wherin I was busy, became gainfully employed, and men were disappointing as usual

Feb 26 • Shelly

The Secret Third Thing: Exhaustion Edition

On wanting it all and having the energy for nothing

Feb 23 • Shelly

Most Popular

Something Has Cracked

Oct 26, 2025 • Shelly

How To Do Nothing

Sep 14, 2025 • Shelly

I Am Not a Candy Bar

Nov 2, 2025 • Shelly

Your Body is a Dashboard

Oct 12, 2025 • Shelly

Recent posts

10 Great Books By Contemporary Black Authors

Books to check out during Black History Month (and every other month, too)

Feb 19 • Shelly

Best Offer Wins By Marisa Kashino

A dark comedy about the housing market from hell

Feb 15 • Shelly

How I’m Romanticizing Valentine’s Day This Year

Simple rituals to make the day feel special

Feb 12 • Shelly

I Love Travel. I Hate Preparing for It.

Confessions of an anxious traveler

Feb 8 • Shelly

His & Hers: On Page and On Screen

Thoughts on Alice Feeney’s novel and the Netflix adaptation

Feb 5 • Shelly

What Heated Rivalry Means to a Female Hockey Fan

A love story without the usual tradeoffs

Feb 1 • Shelly

Shellshocked

Shellshocked

Twice a week you get honest stories, thoughtful book reviews, and observations on midlife, dating, work, identity, and culture.

Book Reviews

Sky Daddy By Kate Folk

The most committed love story you'll ever read

3 hrs ago • Shelly

10 Great Books By Contemporary Black Authors

Books to check out during Black History Month (and every other month, too)

Feb 19 • Shelly

Best Offer Wins By Marisa Kashino

A dark comedy about the housing market from hell

Feb 15 • Shelly

His & Hers: On Page and On Screen

Thoughts on Alice Feeney’s novel and the Netflix adaptation

Feb 5 • Shelly

What Heated Rivalry Means to a Female Hockey Fan

A love story without the usual tradeoffs

Feb 1 • Shelly

Deep Cuts By Holly Brickley

A novel about obsession, early-2000s nostalgia, and taking everything too seriously

Jan 15 • Shelly

Recommendations

Things that Make me Happy!

Sara H

Reading Through Life

Sarah Hartley

Lizzie Campbell

The Quiet Hours

Sarah Hartley

The Shift With Sam Baker

sam baker

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