Miranda’s Notebook
slowing down to live well
Hello! I’m Miranda
If you're looking for ways to slow down and escape the frenzy of modern life, then you're in the right place. Welcome!
I'm Miranda Mills, a writer, photographer and social media coach, and I create content that helps you to quiet your mind and enrich your life through the pleasures of reading, seasonal living and finding a kindred community.
Free resources for you:
I’m here for kindred spirits who…
cultivate peace and calm over endless hustle, seek beauty in the small things of daily life and appreciate timeless style over trends of the moment.
Keep scrolling for ways we can connect
Watch on YouTube
For bookish chats and recommendations, as well as seasonal living inspiration, do subscribe to my YouTube channel. Every Sunday at 4pm BST, I share a vlog that highlights everyday pleasures, from excellent reads, to favourite recipes and trips to beautiful bookshops and gardens in Yorkshire and beyond.
Watch My Videos
Browse the Blog
Through my weekly articles and photography, I share my life in the English countryside and the small pleasures that inspire me throughout the year. If you enjoy book recommendations, seasonal recipes, UK travel tips and English country style, then I hope you’ll find my blog an inspiring resource.
Read Blog Posts
Read a Comfort Book Together
I host The Comfort Book Club on my YouTube channel. Each month, my Mum and I pick a comfort classic to read together, and we invite anyone interested to read along with us and join in our discussion of the book on the last Sunday of each month.
Discover the Comfort Book Club Picks
Join the Bookish Almanac
The Bookish Almanac is my Instagram-based membership for bibliophiles seeking a daily dose of literary inspiration and a community of like-minded readers. Every day, I share quotes and book recommendations inspired by the seasons, British countryside life and literary events.
Learn More and Join Here
Discover Seasons of Story…
An online literary journal devoted to great storytelling through every season of the year.
Enjoy access to articles and poems, specially commissioned from my favourite writers, as well as exclusive monthly content from my mum (and fellow bibliophile!), Donna, and me.
pages from my notebook…
Book Reviews
Wondering what to read next? Browse my book reviews of historical novels, cosy mysteries, nature memoirs, ‘middlebrow’ fiction, vintage treasures, contemporary literature and more.
Learn More
Travel Diaries
Find inspiration for your travel itinerary, within the UK and beyond. I’m especially inspired by literary travel, and I share trips to the homes of famous writers, other literary destinations and bookshops.
Learn More
Seasonal Recipes
If you’re seeking simple recipes that highlight seasonal ingredients, then have a look through my online recipe file, where you’ll find ideas for easy meals, comforting bakes and tasty tipples.
Learn More
Let's be Pen-Pals!
Let's be Pen-Pals!
My ‘Cosy Moments’ newsletter is sent out every Sunday, in the hope that you’ll enjoy taking a quiet moment for yourself to sit down and read it (perhaps with a cup of tea and slice of cake too!).
Each newsletter contains a weekly round-up from me, with regular features on my ‘favourite thing’ of the week, ‘nature notes’ from Yorkshire and plenty more. You’ll also hear from me when I have any exciting announcements or events to share.
Join My Newsletter!
Connect on IG
You can find me on Instagram at both @mirandasnotebook (where I share snippets of country life) and @mirandasbookcase (devoted to bookish musings). Do come and say hello!
My Seasonal Reading Philosophy
Just as some books have a strong sense of place or time, many also evoke a particular season. I have always been a seasonal reader, ever since my Mum created ‘book baskets' for me as a child, gathering together picture books that somehow enhanced the delights of each season.
As an adult, I find seasonal reading helps me to slow down and appreciate the passing days more fully. This reading habit makes me more mindful of the beauties of the natural world, and the small moments of joy to be found in everyday routines.
Being a seasonal reader doesn't mean that I only read books that have a strong sense of season, but it does mean that I make a deliberate choice to include some seasonal reads in my book selections as I read through the year. I also like to consume seasonal reading inspiration in small doses: through poems, essays and short stories.
Throughout my content, I share many book recommendations for each month of the year, and I hope you in turn find these reading suggestions heighten your appreciation of the seasons.
Need ideas for your next read? Let me help:
For me, living a happy life….
means a life filled with books, art, flowers, home-cooked meals, kindred spirits, small comforts, creative inspiration and a sense of community. It is these key aspects of life that I aim to share through my words, videos and photography, and I hope my work encourages you to build a life you love, in whatever way a beautiful life looks to you.
Read More About Me
The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all details of daily life.
– William Morris