BOOKS

Welcome back to our Bestie Book Club—a community for book lovers from Girls' Life magazine.

If you're new here, hello and welcome! Here's how this works: Each month, we read, discuss and obsess over a new book. If you haven't already, be sure to follow us on TikTok and Instagram for Bestie Book Club updates, fun reading challenges, amaze giveaways and so much more!

'Tis the season...for piles of end-of-semester schoolwork, a planner full of family functions and major pre-holiday hullabaloo. If you're trying to bring your anxiety-o-meter from 100 to 0, it might be time to get back in touch with the gal that's always got your back—Mother Nature.

Let us introduce you to Greenwild, the perfect novel to help you escape from that everyday grind. Tag along on Daisy Thistledown's quest for her missing mother and get lost in a wondrous natural realm with enchanted plants and mythical creatures galore. 

Sure, it's unlikely you'll happen upon an IRL magical portal like Daisy did, but reading Greenwild (and the equally awesome sequel Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea) def transports you to a whole other world. Couple that with a few eco-inspired activities recommended by our Book Besties, and consider it your reconnect-with-nature reset button. 

Hey, Besties! What made you love certified nature girlie Daisy Thistledown?
"Daisy is curious, brave and always eager to help others, especially when it comes to protecting the magical world of Greenwild." — Shelia'Celine
"Daisy is extremely helpful and kind—just like me!" — Kori
"Daisy is adventurous, makes friends easily and loves cats." — Danika & Delaney

Truth: Cool temps can't stop a true nature girl from enjoying the great outdoors.

It may sound obvious, but one of the best ways to reap the calming benefits of nature is to actually get out there. Bundling up for a hike, breaking out your bike or even just strolling down a new street in your neighborhood can bring a wave of stress relief. 

Once you're out in the open air, try this mindfulness exercise that's great for banishing bad vibes: Take a big deep breath then make a mental note of three living things you see—whether it's a tiny weed sprouting through the sidewalk, a bird passing by overhead or some fellow humans on an outdoor adventure of their own.

Slowing down and intentionally taking in the sights and sounds of nature can help calm racing thoughts, as GL Book Bestie Mia can attest to: "I love going outside for walks and taking in all the details, from the flower petals to the butterflies and the sunset." 

And if you happen to live somewhere where that winter chill hasn't yet hit, bringing a copy of Greenwild to your fave outdoor spot for a reading sesh can be oh-so-therapeutic. GL Book Bestie Kori agrees: "That's one of my fave ways to enjoy nature. Lying under a tree at the park is one of the best places to read a book."

Keep up the exploring:
✏️ Sketch it out. GL Bestie Shelia'Celine suggests channeling your inner artist by capturing all the fantastic flora and fauna. "Sometimes I take a sketchbook and draw things I see like flowers, animals or cool trees," she says. 
📲 Go off the grid. It's harder to soak in all nature's beauty when you're distracted by incoming Snap Streaks. Hit DnD for the duration of your outdoor journey (those messages will still be there when you get back). 
🐶 Buddy up with a furry friend. One does not simply go on a W-A-L-K without letting their cutest companion tag along (just ask Daisy and her spunky cat, Napoleon). 

Hey, Besties! What's your fave season?
"Fall. The foliage is so pretty where we live." — Danika & Delaney
"Summer. I love to swim and go to the beach." — Mia
"Fall. I love the crisp air, the way the leaves turn bright colors and the cool weather that’s perfect for wearing cozy sweaters." — Shelia'Celine

For those days when you can't drop everything and head outside, it's important to curate an at-home hideaway (where you can curl up with, ahem, a certain excellent new read). 

You can bring that nature girlie essence to your room by decorating with greenery that's easy to take care of (especially if you're a first-time plant parent). You may not have a genius botanist by your side like Daisy, but turning to Google (or better yet, the expert who works at your local plant store) can help match you up with a flowery friend that doesn't need too much water, sunlight or around-the-clock care. 

On the walls, pin up postcards from your fave travel destinations (extra points for shots of national parks!) to remind you just how wide the world really is. GL Bestie Shelia'Celine still remembers the fresh perspective she got from her trip out west. "I’ve visited Yosemite National Park and loved seeing Yosemite Falls, which looked so peaceful but powerful at the same time," she says. "Being in the national park made me feel small in a good way, like I was part of something much bigger and older than me."

Bring the outdoors in: 
🕯️ Find a signature scent. A nature-inspired room needs to smell fab and fresh, so snag a candle in your fave woodsy or floral fragrance. 
🧚‍♀️ Lighten up. Chances are, your overhead fluorescent bulbs aren't exactly giving sunshine. Swap for some soft fairy lights or a sunset lamp to capture that under-the-sky vibe. 
🪴 Fake it 'til you make it. For those of us who don't share Daisy's green thumb, sometimes a faux succulent or draping ivy can be a lovely-yet-low-maintenance addition to greenify your reading corner. 

Another key part of embracing the nature girl lifestyle? Caring about the environment—and doing your part to protect it. 

GL Besties Danika and Delaney learned a thing or two about the interconnectedness of nature from Greenwild: "It's important to care about nature—there are so many living creatures and their habitats, food chains and environments all depend on each other." And, like Daisy defends her precious plant kingdom from dangerous enemies, we each can do our part to help the planet stay happy and healthy. 

"Nature provides us with so many beautiful and peaceful places, where we can relax and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves," GL Bestie Shelia'Celine shares. "Taking care of the outdoors helps ensure that future generations can enjoy it, too." 
 

Take a page out of Daisy's book (literally) and look out for Mother Earth:
🌎 Join a clean-up crew — Even when your cal is chaotic, carve out a moment for doing good. Grab some buds, gloves and a few trash bags and pick up litter around your neighborhood.
♻️ Aim for zero-waste — Swap your single-use plastic water bottles for a reusable option (dare we say it's your excuse to splurge on that Stanley?).
👗 Hit the thrift store — Nix fast fashion in favor of buying pieces secondhand (which is much more sustainable!). Going green never looked so good. 

Want to get involved with our Bestie Book Club? Here’s how…
+ SOLO. Snag your copy of Greenwild then follow up with Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea. Let the read-a-thon begin! 
+ ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Connect with us @glbestiebookclub and find your fellow book nerds from all over. Hello, instant community. 
+ WITH YOUR SQUAD. Gather everyone in your GC for a nature-appreciation hike. Don't forget the trail mix (with extra M&Ms, pls). 

by GL | 11/21/2024