What are you up to this weekend? The kids are off school Monday, so we’re trying to plan something fun, something productive, plus cross one lingering task off our to-do list. (We need patio furniture for our newly completed outdoor space—do you have any you love? Please share in comments!)
I hope you have something to look forward to this weekend, and that this assortment of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.
Fall Book Preview is almost here!
Also on my weekend list: to enjoy another fall release or two because Fall Book Preview is less than a week away! We’re meeting live on September 8 at 7:00 pm EDT, and as always we’ll record the event for those who can’t attend live or want to re-watch as they cultivate their fall TBR.
Kick off your reading season with our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club members and What Should I Read Next Patreon supporters. We’ll feature 42 titles publishing between August 30 and the end of the year(and let’s be honest, I’m certain to drop in a few more), spanning books I’ve read and loved, books I can’t wait to read, and publishers’ top picks for the season. We’d love to see you there!
It’s easy to get started with either or both of our communities, which also gets you immediate access to our fall event. Sign up for Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club or our What Should I Read Next Patreon and we’ll see you on September 8th!
My favorite finds from around the web:
- The four-year anniversary for I’d Rather Be Reading is this Sunday! Celebrate with me by sharing with a fellow reader, writing a review, getting a copy for yourself or a friend, or just pausing to celebrate your reading life.
- I’m coming in hot with a last-second addition: I just found out my Goodreads Choice Award Finalist book Don’t Overthink It is on sale for $1.99 for Kindle! Click here to get your copy for yourself or a friend.
- Ewan McGregor to Star in Drama Series ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ for Paramount+ Internationally, Showtime in U.S. Exciting casting news.
- The women of my family are obsessed with this Mario Badescu drying duo set. My girls are longtime fans of the dots and we couldn’t resist trying the drying lotion as well because the set was a steal. We dig it.
- How to Get Published: A Book’s Journey From ‘Very Messy’ Draft to Best Seller. (Gift link.) Loved this in-depth look at the road to publication for The School for Good Mothers.
- Your Fall 2022 TV Preview. My family is most excited about the return of Abbott Elementary.
- Speaking of the small screen: the streaming service my family now uses the most is HBO Max. Right now save over 40% when you prepay for a year (that’s like getting 5 months FREE). They’re running the promo because of the new House of the Dragon but we’re all about Abbott Elementary, Free Guy, and Friends.
- My favorite new Jane Austen adaptation is an elaborate game of Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve been hearing good things about this!
- Why Your Social Life Is Not What It Should Be. (Gift link.) Ginger shared this essay about talking to strangers in yesterday’s MMD Book Club gathering. Oddly enough, the premise reminds me of Rick Steves’s travel philosophy, which he shares in this new episode of Pantsuit Politics.
- My daughter adores these $17 athletic shorts we bought as a dupe for $68 ones from Lululemon. Super cute and you can’t beat the price.
- Which Vanilla Ice Cream Tastes Best? A Blind Taste Test From Trader Joe’s, Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs, and More. This is the content I need in my life.
- Queer YA books are selling in record numbers despite bans targeting them. “School librarians are putting their jobs on the line right now, but it’s so heartening that people realize how important this is and that it is worth defending.”
- 8 audiobooks I’ve enjoyed lately. An assortment of great audiobook listens, with a robust comments section.
- Narnia Wardrobe: A Hidden Children’s Library. Truly magical!
Don’t miss these posts:
- 20 coming-of-age novels for your fall reading. Exactly what I want to read right now: coming-of-age stories feature young protagonists learning big life lessons and finding their place in the world.
- Why star ratings matter—and when they don’t. My feelings about star ratings have evolved over the years.
- 20 historical mysteries featuring feisty female protagonists. My love of strong literary heroines is no secret.
Upcoming Events:
- September 8: Fall Book Preview: An exclusive live event for Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club members and Patreon supporters where I share a curated list of this fall’s exciting new releases. I’ll feature a mix of titles I’ve read and loved, titles I can’t wait to read, and titles the book industry is abuzz about for the season to come so you can decide which ones belong on your To Be Read list.
- September 28: Live discussion of Breaking Bread with the Dead: Time for our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club discussion of Breaking Bread with the Dead!
- October 20: WSIRN Trivia Night: Our team has been talking about putting on Trivia Night for ages and we’re thrilled to finally offer this fun bookish event for our What Should I Read Next Patreon community!
You can find more upcoming events here.
Have a great weekend!
25 comments
Love the new website design!!
Thank you!
Oh hi.
Will this: Fall Book Preview is almost here!
listing of titles be available to those of us NOT in your Book Club and/or NOT in the patreons community?
What a bummer if so.
So is this a “push” to join either/and or the MMDBC and Patreon community?
Ellen
My book club consists of phone calls back and forth to my sister and son re: “gotta reads” and “have you reads?”
Your book club sounds amazing!
Yes, our Fall Book Preview live event and accompanying PDF are for our member communities.
An ice cream taste test and they didn’t even include Blue Bell?! Well, I can’t even take this seriously. Crazy people.
I’m going to take that as a vote for Blue Bell 😂
I agree, Blue Bell is the best!
My vanilla ice cream two-cents: Fat Boy! I found it this summer when I was looking for something larger than a pint but smaller than a quart. Oh my gosh, it is incredible!
I’ve never heard of this! I’ll keep an eye out but I’m wondering if it’s regional?
Hey, where do you buy Fat Boy ice cream?
Anne,
Love the podcast so much. However, I always have a hard time finding the book notes. I’m always listening in the car and can’t remember the titles! Can you make the link easier to find? Thanks!
Kathleen, I’m not sure what link you’re referring to, but please know we always include a full list of book titles in the show notes here on the blog! For example, the show notes (including the full list of books mentioned in this week’s episode) are right here: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/345-episode/
The link as we announce it in each episode would be https://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/345 episode, since that’s easy to remember. Both links direct to the same show notes and book list.
Patio furniture: Polywood! It looks like wood but is made from recycled plastic and is heavy, durable, and guaranteed to last 20 years. We bought a dining set last year, which still looks brand new despite sitting outside (we did tarp it) in a Chicago winter. We added a conversation set this summer—the cushions are thick and covered with Sunbrella so they can stay outside in the rain. We bought ours from Costco. Highly recommend!
Thank you for this suggestion! I wasn’t previously familiar with this brand name and might have skipped right over it. I appreciate you sharing your experience.
I’ll second the Polywood! I’m in Ohio winters and we leave ours uncovered, but it’s just like brand new after a hosing off in the spring.
Polywood is a great idea and has nice stuff, but I’m going to recommend the company I’m constantly swooning over, whose furniture is also made of recycled plastic and stands up to being outside year round here in Minnesota. The company is Loll, and they make absolutely gorgeous, modern furniture right here in Duluth, Minnesota.
I enjoyed the article about your social life isn’t what you’re used to. My 2 minute conversation with another parent at the ice skating rink last night was delightful. The article also reminds me of being on a ski life and riding with random strangers. Everyone is happy to be outside and enjoying skiing/riding. You get a 2 minute conversation with people all over the country and the world. And then off you go. And I’ve downloaded the Rick Steve’s conversation at Pantsuits Politics to listen to. I find these types of conversations so much easier when traveling that I need to remember to do something like that when I’m at home.
That’s such an interesting observation about travel! Funny thing, I think the most recent meaningful conversation I had with a stranger was indeed when I was on a trip, hiking. And I can certainly recall wonderful conversations with strangers from years ago that happened abroad. Thanks so much for prodding me to think about the connection.
As soon as I read the 3-ingredient fruit trick, I immediately sliced up a ripe honeydew, zested a lime from our tree, and pulled out the olive oil and kosher salt. I cannot believe how much this simple trio elevated the already sweet melon. So happy you shared that link, Anne!
I’m delighted to hear how well it worked for you!
I hooted aloud here at work when I saw the link to the Polygon article about A Court of Fey and Flowers. It is my Favorite Thing right now! I can recommend it wholeheartedly, even for the non- Dungeons and Dragons people. So fun! Regency intrigue! Goblins and fairies, oh my!
Your post today was chock-full of great stuff! I’ve downloaded the Rick Steves podcast episode and would have totally missed it without your listing it. And the Narnia wardrobe is beyond fabulous. I would have loved something like this as a kid, and would actually love it now as an adult. Wondering if there is some way to find an extra nook or cubby in my home?
Thanks for the great way to start the weekend.
Thank you for sharing the article “Why Your Social Life is not What It Should Be”. I found it so interesting and insightful.
I’m not sure where to post this but I visited The Tattered Cover in Colorado Springs after listening to you and Will talk about it. I took pics of the final renovation. Unfortunately none of your books in store for me to photograph, some in Denver stores. I told the bookseller I owned them all, I just wanted a pic! Lol!
I loved the article about our social lives not being what they should be. It has really changed how I think about speaking to people (and people speaking to me).