Links I love

What are you up to this weekend? We’re supposed to get a long-awaited break from the rain where I live, and I’m excited to be outdoors for soccer games, picnics, and local botanical garden happenings. I also have thirty pages to go in my current read—an old Anne Tyler—and I’m excited to see how it ends.

I hope YOU have something to look forward to these next few days, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.

My favorite finds from around the web:

I offer gift links for articles whenever possible (you may still need to create an account with the publication); if there’s no gift link and you’re not a subscriber, check to see if your library carries the publication or use a bookmarking service.

The Man Who Reads Books For a Living (One Every Two Days). (Literary Hub) Clarke Speicher evaluates books for screen adaptation: “If you can’t summarize the basic idea of a book in a sentence, it’s probably gonna be harder to adapt.” (If you’re intrigued by the book-to-screen adaptation process, don’t miss this WSIRN episode with another reader who acquires books for adaptations for a major streaming service: WSIRN Ep 382: How your favorite books become shows and movies.)

Tenderly Tracking My Husband. (The New York Times gift link) “It was a marvel to see that the same guy who could no longer operate the toaster or see a fork next to his dinner plate could still manage a two-train ride to Citi Field without missing a beat.” Beautiful, poignant Modern Love piece grounded in an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

7 novels featuring a book within a book. (MMD) Is there anything more delightful than discovering a novel with a book within a book? The comments section is so good.

We Tried 8 Store-Bought Guacamoles — and Our Favorite Is Made With More Than 5 Avocados. (Food & Wine) Grateful for this kind of journalism.

This Romance Writer Has the Spotlight. She’s Not Going to Waste It. (The New York Times) “I write books that are deeply curious about the human condition…. For me, there is no safer genre landscape to unpack these issues and these conditions because I know there is guaranteed joy at the end.” Wonderful profile of romance writer Kennedy Ryan.

When I Lost Myself to ME, Fragrance Helped Me Find My Way Back. (Marie Claire UK) “Smell has a way of reaching parts of us that language cannot. Before logic has caught up, before we’ve consciously placed a feeling, a scent can pull us somewhere else entirely—back into a person, a room, a version of ourselves we thought had slipped out of reach.”

The perfect books for readers fascinated by museums, art, and the creative process. (What Should I Read Next?) This week’s guest is seeking a literary doorway into the creative world of art and museums.

I’ll Take This Costco Sample, but Only So I Can Make an Informed Purchasing Decision. (McSweeney’s Internet Tendency) “Why is it important to me that you don’t think I’m just grabbing a free sample? I don’t know. Why is a sunset? How is love? There are things in this life that can’t be explained. This is one of those things.”

The Painted Book Cover Is Back. (Hyperallergic) “The recent shift toward figuration on book covers may reflect a broader desire for physical presence — proof of the artist’s hand in the digital age.” (Fun to see WSIRN alum Sarah Kellogg—a book designer for a Big Five publisher—quoted in this piece.)

Finally got around to trying Merit’s Flush Balm and okay, I can see what all the hype is about. Mine is shade Beverly Hills from their “Classic Pinks” collection.

Your Mattress Got Worse On Purpose. (Worse on Purpose) “The mattress industry is not a unique offender. The pattern is everywhere now…. Information is deliberately fragmented, prices are deliberately impossible to compare, warranties are deliberately written to never pay out, and the regulatory bodies that exist to prevent this kind of vertical capture are impotent.”

I’m excited to announce our June 2026 selection for Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club (and 2026 Minimalist Summer Reading Guide pick): Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan. The author will join us for a live discussion on June 25!

I’m on the hunt for a classic trench that will last forever, to replace my beat-up one I’ve now worn for twenty years. This Gap style comes highly recommended, but I’m tempted by this adorable Banana Republic number. Do you have a trench you love? Do tell!

A viral video says booking a flight at a library is cheaper. We investigated. (Washington Post gift link) TL;DR: this trick doesn’t work but the why of it all is worth reading.

The Long and Unprofitable Life of the Short Story Collection. (textCrunch) “The short story, now, demonstrates the opposite of commerciality. It is about proving one’s literary aspirations, aesthetic commitments, and artistic worthiness. To write short stories is a mark of distinction. Only a certain sort of writer commits to the form— and only a certain sort of agent will agree to represent them.”

Don’t miss these posts:

Hit the road with these 10 road trip romances. Forced proximity leads to love in these road trip romances.

7 steps to read “hard” books. “Hard” books are the books we want to read but feel intimidated by because of difficult themes or subject matter. These tips will help!

15 favorite novels about sibling relationships. Sibling bonds are the focus in these novels about complicated families!

Have a great weekend!