Downtime is a newsletter for people who think too hard about what to read next, care deeply about their throw pillows, and can’t resist a beautifully constructed sentence.

It’s a curated grab bag of book recs, cultural dispatches, essays, interviews with creatives, and delightful recommendations (like really good throw pillows) — the kind of stuff that makes your brain fizz in a good way.

Downtime is one of Substack’s top culture newsletters, with hundreds of thousands of readers. Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll join us by subscribing.

xo,
Alisha

“It’s like getting an email from your smart, funny, in-the-know friend.”

What do I get with a subscription?

Free subscribers receive:

  • Previews of every email, with the occasional essay or book post

Paid subscribers receive the full experience, including:

  • The Friday Recs, in all their glory: a weekly dispatch of books, links, articles, and assorted cultural ephemera

  • The midweek post, where I share book reviews, cultural deep dives, essays, interviews, curated finds to click (and maybe buy), and behind-the-scenes stuff

  • Access to our reader community, aka smart, thoughtful people who actually like commenting on the internet (they exist!)

  • Occasional surprises, little extras, and the general satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting independent work that’s algorithm-free and crafted with care

Your subscription keeps this whole operation running — and I’m genuinely grateful. Thank you for reading, sharing, and showing up.


Who’s behind Downtime?

I’m Alisha Ramos — a writer, editor, and creative strategist. I used to design tech products and founded the Girls’ Night In newsletter and community. Now I focus on writing full-time and consulting behind the scenes with brands and other newsletters.

I live just outside Washington, D.C., with my husband and two-year-old daughter. I’m always reading five books at once, perpetually reorganizing my Notes app, and am especially interested in how women make creative lives work — both on the page and off.


Where should I start?

Try a Recs post — short, high-signal, and built for skimming.

Then maybe jump into one of these past posts…


How can I reach you?

  • General inquiries: alisha@downtimenewsletter.com

  • Brand partnerships or sponsorships (selective): kristin@downtimenewsletter.com

  • Tech or billing questions? Visit Substack’s FAQ.

Downtime is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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Things to read, try, and ponder in your downtime — books, culture recs, and small delights.

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Writer, reader, editor. Author of the bestselling culture newsletter, Downtime. Other than that, I chase after a toddler and buy way too many books I'll never have time to read.