As someone who isn’t a huge fan of Colleen Hoover, I was genuinely surprised to find that I really enjoyed this book. I just so happened to see the trailer for the movie online and it made me want to read the book immediately. The trailer revealed a lot so I recommend reading the book first if you don’t want spoilers! To not reveal too much, the book is narrated by a mother and a daughter that just experienced a life changing event. The book is essentially centered around their relationship and how they navigate life while at different stages of their lives. I don’t believe I’ve read anything narrated by a mother and daughter before so it was really interesting reading that dynamic and receiving both perspectives, especially when they have an argument. As the reader, you can see who you agree with or maybe even agree with both perspectives. And if you’re like me, I reflected on what it says about me in regard to what I agreed/disagreed with in terms of their arguments. It made me reflect on my role as a daughter as well by reading the mother’s perspective which I really liked. This perspective draws attention to motherhood and selflessness; specifically focusing on being a stay at home mom and how that determines not just how society sees them, but as a result, how their own family sees them and treats them.
Whisk Me Away: A Cookbook of Romance and Celebrations by Michelle Wright
As 2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen, and August was “Romance Awareness Month,” what better time is there to try a recipe inspired by romance novels? This cookbook brings together history, etiquette tips, trivia, and of course, delicious recipes perfect for a tea party, breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Whether you are in the mood for food inspired by Regency, Victorian, Steampunk, annual celebrations, or even the American West, Whisk Me Away has something for everyone who is a romance novel enthusiast. Fun highlights include a history of women’s fashion, snippets and quotes from novels that match each recipe section, games to play for a tea party, and even a few courtship customs to try on your own. Notable recipes I am eager to devour include the cucumber sandwiches for high tea, the apple pie bar with caramel sauce for the fall, and the spiced pear cheesecake for dessert. The accompanying photos of the items listed are beautiful, so be sure to not read this cookbook on an empty stomach!
A beautifully illustrated manga, #DRCL Midnight Children is a retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula focusing on Mina Murray – the first female student at a well-respected school – and her group of companions as they fight against Count Dracula after his arrival on British soil. I absolutely adore this manga partly due to its focus on Mina, who is an important – but oft-ignored – part of the source material, and Sakamoto’s art is breath-takingly gorgeous (every panel could be a full illustration hung on a wall).. It’s a great time to get into the series, as the English translation of the fifth volume will be released in September.
I’ve been on a big Grady Hendrix kick lately and once again, he has yet to disappoint. This book feels a little different than his other books, however. It still centers around a female main character and includes elements of horror, but this story leans a little bit more into the historical fiction genre. The plot centers around a group of girls in the late 1960s and early 1970s who have all become pregnant at a young age. Their families, viewing their pregnancy as a sin and an embarrassment to their family, send the girls to this far away boarding school to have their baby and then put the baby up for adoption. The girls, feeling that they have no control over their lives or their bodies, naturally turn to witchcraft.
Otto Preminger, Fritz Lang, Marlene Dietrich, Peter Lorre and the list goes on; the Hollywood refugees that left Nazi Europe just before World War II broke out. But what happened to talented filmmakers like G.W. Pabst that stayed? This novel imagines the internal life and decisions of real-life director Pabst working for the Nazi regime, as well as the thoughts of his wife, his co-worker and his son.
Often those thoughts are conveyed from ‘unreliable’ characters; a young child, a dementia patient, an overworked assistant trying to survive the last days of the war. A perfect technique of conveying the confusing times the characters were living through.
A great book for those interested in life in wartime Germany and for those interested in the movies. I found I learned a lot about film making.
Also, there is a quirky scene where two ‘SS’ men arrive at a dinner party to arrest someone at the table. The banter between the two men is pure Quenton Tarrentino.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is a whimsical fantasy adventure about Tress, a young woman who embarks on a daring sea voyage to find a mysterious and magical treasure. Along the way, she faces numerous challenges, encounters strange creatures, and discovers hidden truths about herself and her world. It starts as a love story and quickly embarks on a glorious adventure! The story blends classic fairy tale elements with Sanderson’s signature worldbuilding, creating a charming and heartfelt journey of courage and self-discovery. It will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy!
I love a good story about human nature in challenging times–especially in the form of a dramatic, satirical movie! The movie’s most notable aspect? Robert Pattinson’s skill at playing the two regenerations of Mickey. The two characters were so distinct in personality and voice that it felt they weren’t played by the same actor. I adored the contrast of humor with violence and aggression, making me eager to see what played out next. With its star-studded cast and vibrant writing, Mickey 17 is a movie that shines.
Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of Japan’s premiere film directors. Perhaps best known in the west for his tearjerking family dramas, Nobody Knows (2004) and Shoplifters (2018), Kore-eda was recently a guest of honor at the Chicago International Film Festival, where all of his movies were screened and where he received the Career Achievement Award. As with his previous movies, his most recent one, 2023’s Monster, received widespread acclaim, appearing on numerous top ten best movies of the year lists and receiving prestigious awards such as Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival. This coming-of-age school drama employs a Rashomonic multiple POV structure, following fifth graders, their teachers, and their parents, in order to explore a central mystery: that of a bullying incident that occurred in the classroom. Is the student Minato bullying his fellow classmates, or is it actually their teacher Mr. Hori?
LISTEN
Recommended by Beca
Recommended by Jessica
Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye) by Role Model
Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye) is Role Model’s second album, one that is completely different from his first album in the best way. Tucker Pillsbury (Role Model) switches gears from his alternative beginnings to a more pop/acoustic-centric direction. This is a breakup album in that it documents Tucker’s end of a three year relationship, but it’s also an album about healing through that heartbreak. You have pop hits on the album like “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” and “Writing’s On The Wall” but you also have slow-burn songs like “Some Protector” and “The Longest Goodbye.” This album has easily become one of my favorites, and with the success of this album, I’m excited to see what Tucker comes out with next!
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros - Version: Dramatized Adaptation by GraphicAudio
All the hype was justified! GraphicAudio advertises their book adaptations as “a movie in your mind,” and this tagline could not be more accurate. With a full cast, sound effects, and cinematic music scores in the background, it really is like listening to a movie… and it’s glorious. This book doesn’t disappoint. It’s a perfect romantasy with expansive world building and rich sub-plots with great character development, but also with enough spice for romance fans, though it’s less compared to the previous books. The stakes get higher for Violet as the war grows more intense against the venin. As the twists, betrayals, and casualties grow, the people around her may not be so lucky as to get out alive. With dragons, gryphons, and a complex and impressive magic system, this book also has phenomenal disability representation - which includes the main character! - that is incorporated seamlessly. This book will continue to keep you on your toes, keep you guessing, and - most importantly - keep you immersed in the action as the scenes come to life in your mind’s eye.
We had a blast running adventures out of the latest D&D adventure book in August, which features ten unique one-shots (aka gaming sessions that you can complete in 2-4 hours) that include a unique dragon. What is great about this book is that people new to Dungeons & Dragons will find these adventures easy to run for friends, and the stories within are fun and engaging. Plus the artwork from different artists and background of dragon history within the D&D universe is extra cool! Delight and terrify your players with a new dragon today.
Looking for a filler game for Game Night or some new family fun? Cheating Moth uses cheating as a creative game mechanic to make a lighthearted, fast-paced card game. Once you learn the various insect-themed action cards, the rules are straightforward, making it accessible for players of all ages and skills. The rounds are quick, the artwork is fun, and the addition of cheating as a recommended part of the game keeps everyone guessing and laughing. How could I have missed my sneaky kid slipping a card under his hat?!
Scythe is a strategic and methodical board game that has you command a steampunk warband vying for control of eastern Europe in the wake of WWI. You start the game with only a few workers and resources, then slowly grow your strength and influence by helping farmers, deploying mechs, and seizing control of nearby resources. A mash-up of games like Settlers of Catan and Risk, Scythe scratches an itch for strategically minded board gamers looking for that next step in complexity.
Join our virtual film discussion. Watch the movie beforehand on Kanopy or Hoopla and then join us on Zoom to talk about it. If you need help using Zoom, see our guide here
Join our virtual film discussion. Watch the movie beforehand on Kanopy or Hoopla and then join us on Zoom to talk about it. If you need help using Zoom, see our guide here
