Monthly rundown vol. 19

Magic, romance, more magic, punk rock, and movie stars

Hello, summer people! (I assume summer people…does anyone here live in the southern hemisphere? Please let me know if you do! And if that’s the case…I hope you are cozy and warm!). July was it’s typical delightfully on-the-go self: road trip to Missouri to visit family, working at youth camp for me and J, “camp” grandparents-in-the-country for the kiddos, then sleepaway camp for the kids (three nights) while I live my best movie watching, TV binging, bookstore-haunting life. I’ve also been fully leaning into the summer Olympics this year. The last few times the Olympics rolled around, watching them felt like a lot of work, and I just didn’t get invested. But this year I am making time for it, and my current favorite sports to watch are soccer, beach volleyball, and any kind of rowing or paddling sport. My new favorite is rugby. It certainly helps that the US women’s rugby team has some of the most darling, inspiring, and charming players who are active on social media. It definitely makes me more invested to feel like I “know” the players. The game is also just a lot of fun to watch. (Side note: the author of one of my favorite writing-related newsletter had some excellent things to say about how the gorgeous excess and deliberate chaotic energy of this year’s opening ceremonies can positively inspire writers’ creativity in their work. You can check it out here.) 

In book news, my first novel, You Again is now available as an audiobook! So if you haven’t read it, now is the perfect time if you’re in the mood for a feel-good romance. In the next few weeks I’ll dive into revisions on my current work in progress, and in the meantime I’ve started daydreaming and brainstorming for my next novel.

Reviews:

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall. This is one of the books I picked up at a new-to-me local bookstore, and while it was ultimately fine, I wanted to like it more than I did. The premise and set-up checked a lot of boxes: magical realism, family drama, a love story with a past and plenty of baggage, so much delicious baking. The main character has to reckon with the ways in which her family heritage–her magic–has shaped her in both good and not-so-good ways, and she’s forced to make a choice about what she really wants her future to look like. All good stuff. That said, the pacing felt a little chaotic, and most of the side characters weren’t given enough depth. So, I liked it but didn’t love it, which means it might be a perfect fit for someone else! 

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye. It’s been a while since I’ve read any YA fantasy, but when I came across this author’s Substack, I thought I’d give this one a try and am really glad I did! I really enjoyed it. It’s set in 19th century Imperial Russia, in an alternate world where magic is real, although not widely acknowledged or wide spread. Two magic wielders are pitted against each other in a contest from which one will emerge as the sole enchanter and advisor to the Tzar. Of course things get complicated by love, secrets, ambition, and hidden identities. It’s a little like The Night Circus meets The Prestige and with teenagers.

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens. I adored this book! It made me laugh and cry and swoon…so basically everything I want from a rom-com. Although, calling it a straight rom-com isn’t quite right because the story is about a lot more than the romantic elements. Lucy is in her mid-twenties, and feeling life she’s getting left behind in life. After a fight with her best friend and a disastrous date, she waits out a rainstorm in a convenience store with a “wish machine.” She wishes to “skip to the good part” of her life, when she’s got “everything sorted.” The next morning, she wakes up twenty years in the future–married, kids, and working her dream job. But fast forwarding through her life isn’t exactly what she thought it would be like. Every element of this story is pitch perfect, in my opinion, the perfect balance of introspection and heart and humor.

Funny Story, Emily Henry. This was a solid, frothy rom-com with endearing characters and a fun take on forced-proximity-fake-dating tropes. There are themes of trust and friendship that I thought were well done, and it made me want to take a vacation to Lake Michigan. (fyi, if you’ve never read Emily Henry before, her books are pretty spicy).

All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny was my travel read this month, appropriate to read right before spending so much time virtually in France while watching the Olympics! It wasn’t my favorite Armand Gamache novel, but I still enjoyed it, and the mystery kept me guessing.

We Are Lady Parts (season 1) Since we temporarily subscribed to Peacock for Olympics viewing, I decided to see if there were any series or movies that I’d never seen before and came across a show I’d heard about but never seen: We Are Lady Parts. Holy moly, I am LOVING this show! It’s a British comedy about a group of twenty-something young women in a punk band. It’s so funny and heartfelt, and I’ve smiled through almost every episode of the first season. It’s about family and friendship and finding your voice. And while I am not typically drawn to punk music, the show has me wishing that Lady Parts (the name of the band in the show) had an actual album.

The Bear (season 3) The latest season of The Bear has not been as universally well-loved as the previous two seasons, but both J and I really enjoyed it. To me, while it was definitely less plot drive, I didn’t mind spending time just digging into the characters because the actors do that so well. But man, that last episode! I need season 4 right away.

Twisters Listen. Is this movie high art? No. Does it require some significant suspension of disbelief? Absolutely. Was it a good time? One hundred percent. It’s the perfect fun, movie theater, popcorn movie. The special effects were fantastic, Glen Powell was–as Erin Moon said on Instagram–”made in a movie star factory”, and the supporting cast sparkled. 

All right, guys and gals, that’s it for this month. Thanks for reading and au revoir!