What I Loved This Week (73)

I'm all about the book of the summer, a Clue-like murder mystery and Eric Bana this week.

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📚What I Read and Loved

Wedding People: I hate it when people crown books as “The book of the summer”, and I hate it even more when they are right. Enough has been said about this one by Booktok, librarians, and my Substack colleagues. It is enchanting and heartfelt and not to be missed.

Midnight Feast: This one worked really well as an audiobook! I had avoided mysteries and thrillers for weeks since finishing The God of the Woods (I knew nothing would compare), but I’m glad I picked this one; Lucy Foley is the new queen of the whodunit Clue-type murder mystery.

It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; Everyone is wearing linen.

But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered.

📺 What I Watched and Loved

Dark Winds: I’m always trying to find a show to watch with my husband, and oh, reader, this is it: gritty, mysterious, gripping, and character-driven. It also has a perfect Rotten Tomato score - to note: It's part of the AMC+ deal with Netflix, so hurry up and watch if you don’t want to join yet another streaming service for it (Netflix)

Follows Leaphorn and Chee, two Navajo police officers in the 1970s Southwest that are forced to challenge their own spiritual beliefs when they search for clues in a double murder case.

Psst, there are other notable titles in that deal, and most of them have been highlighted in this newsletter: Interview with the Vampire (top tier), A Discovery of Witches, and Mayfair Witches (prime treadmill shows and perfect for fall/October)

Force of Nature: The Dry 2: I recently commented on

the misstery 💌

(I love her stack!) telling Ani to watch The Dry (AKA Eric Bana smashing it as a hot and diligent detective), and by chance that evening, I saw that there was a sequel!!! When I tell you I cleared my plans, I’m not exaggerating. Not as legendary as the first, but it was a great watch. (AMC+)

Five women participate in a hiking retreat but only four come out the other side. Federal agents Aaron Falk and Carmen Cooper head into the mountains hoping to find their informant still alive.

Only Murders in the Building: My favorite cozy mystery show is back! And the first episode did not disappoint! (Hulu)

🛍️ What I Bought and Loved

I have not bought a ton of things lately, so I’m not sure if you noticed that I haven’t been adding this section to the newsletter, as I’ve got a moderate case of shopper fatigue, but I finished my Ilia blush, and out of necessity, I went to Sephora. The lady at the store recommended that I try this blush bronze product, and a new holy grail blush emerged. I feel really glowy and pretty wearing it. ($34, a little goes a long way)

💕 Micro-Joy

My morning walks are enjoyable again. I live in SFLO, where it’s hot year-round but unbearably hot in the summer. I usually walk for 15 minutes every morning. During July and August, even at 7 am, it was scorching and not enjoyable. September means that the weather at that time is perfect for my morning stroll.

🐰 Rabbit Holes I Went Into

• The best thing I read all week: Longform paleontology high-stakes drama

• This tweet alerted me that this was happening - Are they stranded? (NASA says don’t use that word) and what happens when you actually ARE stranded in space

• Crowdsourcing excellent book recommendations via

  ItsBookTalk & More

• The allure and destructiveness of “snark” forums

• The future is for bookish introverts: Book bars (yes, please), and literary Road Trips

• The best kind of rabbit hole is pen reviews! via

  Bailey Marie-Foret

🧜🏼‍♀️  Articles and Bits I loved

• The cult of wellness - Wellness clubs are replacing clubbing. What a time to be alive

• The real subjects of the Mean Girls movie all grown up

• Loved EVERY single word of

  Brittany Viklund
  Fall Reset - fall rituals that embrace the new season.

• While growing old waiting for our fave prestige TV show, let’s all embrace the B+ shows summer has to offer

😄 Free Happiness

• Wholesome feedback

• What I tell myself every day

• The only flight that matters

• Instagram Bios of ppl we went to high school with

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