Our first book club pick for the Commons (our new community) is ​Styles of Joy​, and I’m beyond excited that author SC Perot will be joining us for an intimate conversation next Thursday, Sept 4, 2025 at 1pm ET. Members will get a reminder email next week. If you’re not a member yet and would like to join us, ​learn more and sign up here.​

I loved this book. And, I’ll admit that when I first heard the topic, I wasn’t sure it was for me. A recently divorced woman finds joy by attending dozens of Harry Styles concerts? But as I dove in, I found myself completely charmed by the way fandom became a source of community and strength for a woman whose anchors had come unmoored, and maybe even a little envious of the easy sense of belonging that this culture created in her life. Maybe I could be a fan of something too?

There are big lessons in this book on letting go of judgment to be able to embrace joy, about small joys as a life raft during hard times, and about the power of shared joy to create fast, unbreakable bonds among strangers. There are also memorable characters and moments that linger long after the last page.

Ahead of our Commons conversation, we asked SC a few lighthearted questions. In this Q&A, she talks about the small delights that shape her life — from butterfly clips and Spice Girls to dream jobs, travel hacks, and the snack she knows might be a little polarizing..

Q&A with Styles of Joy Author SC Perot

What’s one thing you wish you’d started doing 5 years ago?

In the past few years, I have become very committed to only packing in a carryon when I travel. It is truly a game changer. Not only does it guarantee smoother travel, but it simplifies the trip itself. Fewer options mean less time in the hotel room and more time exploring!

What job do you secretly think you’d be really good at, and why? 

I think I’d make a great spy. I almost didn’t put that as my answer because I delusionally think there’s still hope–ha! 

If you had unlimited time and money, what hobby would you take up? 

I absolutely love architecture and interior design. If I could flip houses and make creative selections all day long, I’d be a very happy camper. When friends ask my advice on furniture or fabrics, I relish the opportunity to go down an internet rabbit hole to help. Don’t tempt me with a Pinterest board.

What book have you re-read the most times? 

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist is my most dog-eared and marked up book. I love lending books to friends but that one is off limits and has to stay in my library! It’s gentle, loving, and feels like you’re sitting down with an old friend over a cup of tea.

What’s your favorite weird snack? 

Top Seedz 6-Seed crackers with cottage cheese is my favorite snack at the moment. I’m not sure if that’s weird but it might be controversial given that ever-polarizing cottage cheese is involved! 

What’s one word you use so much that your editor would ban it from your next book? 

Joy? Kidding, kidding! Probably “kaleidoscopic”–it’s one of my favorite words because it paints such a vivid visual of movement, colors, vibrancy, and energy. 

What’s the first concert you ever went to? 

August 26, 1998 — a night I’ll never forget: seeing the Spice Girls with my incredible aunt Katherine when I was seven years old…peak butterfly clips era. I’ll never forget my mom telling me “Aunt Kat” had a surprise for me as I was handed the landline phone with its long, curly cord trailing behind the receiver. I think it was the first time I fell on the floor from excitement. 

What’s something everyone should try at least once? 

Dining alone is underrated and a lost art. Being confident enough to sit at a restaurant alone with a book (and not just on your cell phone) is a great personal growth opportunity. And once you learn to be your own best company, life gets really good.

What book, movie, or song do you wish you could experience for the first time again? 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. My partner was visiting town when I was savoring (and sobbing over) the last few pages. “Are you okay…?” he asked with concern. “Never…better…” I wept.

Who is someone you met only once, but made a huge impression on you? 

When I served as a U.S. Senate Page (one of those high school kids in navy uniforms you see scurrying around if you watch C-SPAN), I very briefly met then-Senator Obama. He was busy on the campaign trail (summer of 2008) but he once came by the Senate Floor for a particular vote; his energy was unlike anything I’ve ever seen or experienced. I’ve never been around anyone so commanding yet undeniably calm at the same time. It was a great learning moment that stress doesn’t have to be outward or contagious. 

If you could win a medal in any Olympic event, which would you choose? 

Table tennis because you’ve forever accomplished something incredibly impressive (earning an Olympic medal) but your answer to “in which event?” would elicit entertaining reactions for a lifetime. 

Click here to get more info about Styles of Joy and get a copy. And if you’d like to join us for our conversation on Sept 4, 2025, and for more conversations with authors and guest experts, join us in the Commons here.