Cruel Summer Book Club

Cruel Summer Book Club is a complimentary newsletter created by Jillian Anthony that delves into themes of transformation, heartbreak, and healing. The key takeaway is: You will be alright.

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How I'm merging my values and finances

1 week ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony |Nic Antoinette

Today, I’m sharing the system I’ve set up to ensure that 5% of my income goes to supporting causes, organizations, and people I care about.* Moving forward, every month I’ll be donating that amount to a cause of my choice and sharing it with you here. This month, I donated $313 to Gaza Orphanage, which my Palestinian-American friend recommended to me as one of the most vital Palestinian organizations to give to now.
Cruel Compendium #87 ♈

2 weeks ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony

Here’s my birthday mood board:ICYMI, I recently shared my new and improved, FREE list of my favorite tools and resources for freelancers! Get it!!!An excerpt from the soon-to-be-released book, Notes to John, of her journals written as letters to her husband. Reading about someone else’s therapy sessions is so titillating to me, I pre-ordered the book. I’m in a WhatsApp group with mostly 40-something women in Austin inspired to connect by July’s magnificent book, All Fours.
Your FREE gift: 142 of my favorite resources for freelancers ūüéĀ

1 month ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony |Amber Petty

Hi everyone!The list includes the useful websites, job boards, tips, courses, newsletters, podcasts, books and much more that I‚Äôve been collecting for 13+ years as a writer, editor, podcaster, and businesswoman. Inside, you‚Äôll find links for writing, pitching, freelancing, podcasting, design, finances, interviewing, productivity, creating a business ‚ÄĒ and everything else you may need for your creative path.
Alive, offline

1 month ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony

Before we begin: I had two big articles come out this month!For Vox:I wrote aboutsetting rejection goals to get what you want in life — and the brain science behind cultivating a rejection mindset. Thank you to the CSBC readers who took part in November of No, which makes a special appearance in this piece! (Read the full piece on archive.is.)For the March cover story of Austin Woman magazine: I profiled Nicole Trunfio, a model, jeweler, and founder of modern maternity line Bumpsuit.
Revisiting the illusion of job security

1 month ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony

Greetings from my offline vacation! I’m currently on a boat somewhere in Mexico whale watching with my mom (can you believe?). While I’m soaking in EIGHT days away from civilization and healing my brain and soul, I wanted to reshare one of my most popular essays from 2023 that really gets to the heart of what I write about here.
Manifest your dream life

1 month ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony |Lola Kolade

Writer and digital content creator Lola Kolade manifested every single detail about the life she’s living now — and she wants to teach you how to do it, too. She writes , hosts the wonderful The New New podcast that I LOVE to listen to and learn from out on my hot girl walks, and has been making me laugh with real talk on TikTok for years — ever since she told me to get outside and have a Rat Girl Summer in 2023.
Cruel Compendium #86 đ

1 month ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Arthur Brooks |Hurley Winkler |Rebecca Traister |Janus Rose

Hello from the far side of February, and a sunny week in Austin after yet another deep freeze. Many of you may be familiar with , the author of the bestselling book, Real Self-Care: Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included, and her wonderful newsletter of the same name. Pooja recently introduced me as her Newsletter Editor, and I wanted to share that news with all of you! Weâve been working together since August, and itâs been a wonderful partnership and work I truly enjoy.
Building a mystery

2 months ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony

In my most recent piece for Tribeza, I spoke with Texas artist and current Fulbright scholar Candace Hicks, whose embroidery work I have been fascinated with for years. (For those in Austin, her current show is on at the Ivester through Feb. 22 — go see it!) I wrote about the wonder Hicks’ art inspired in me:When I first laid eyes on Hicks’ work at the Ivester Contemporary in 2022, I was drawn to it like a child to a shiny balloon.
"Wintering" wisdom from my favorite newsletter writers

2 months ago | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony |Catherine Andrews |Caitlin Dewey |Madeleine Dore

I recently finished the book Wintering by Katherine May for the second time. I reached for it again because I am having quite the winter — grieving the death of my older brother, feeling the weight of rampant chaos and hate in my nation — and I am trying my very best to lean into it rather than push it away. I had an extremely quiet and somber January, which is not new. What is new is the blanket of sadness that kept me company. I spent much of January in bed, both while sleeping and awake.
That has nothing to do with me

Jan 21, 2025 | cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com | Jillian Anthony

Earlier this week, I received a hate email from a digital stranger. I’ll spare you most of the details, but I will share that they told me to go f*ck myself more than once. (Don’t threaten me with a good time.) While it never feels good to receive online hate like this (and if you exist as a woman online long enough, you certainly will), I noted how it felt for me this time: like not much at all.