What are you up to this weekend? This week has been full of back to school everything and I’m in need of a little quality couch (or patio?) time with a good book. (Thanks to a rec from a friend + our WSIRN team best books of summer episode, I know exactly what I’m reading next!) Aside from the reading, this weekend we’re making All The Food as we host family and friends and I couldn’t be happier about it.
I hope you have something to look forward to this weekend, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.
Fall Book Preview is coming!
Many of you said you found the short videos I shared leading up to the Summer Reading Guide to be super helpful, so I did the same for our upcoming Fall Book Preview. I hope you find it useful, and enjoy checking out the bookshelves I haven’t shared on video before!
What you need to know: our fifth annual Fall Book Preview is coming soon! In this live, 90ish minute event I’ll share 42 noteworthy titles publishing between August 29 and year’s end. Expect to hear about books I’ve read and LOVED, books I can’t wait to read, and books the industry is especially excited about this fall. Your ticket includes your live event invite, the replay video to watch whenever and as many times as you want, and our beautifully designed Fall Book Preview PDF booklet, a handy 12-page accompaniment that includes all the titles laid out by category, more info on our spotlight titles, and 9 bonus selections.
Fall Book Preview is happening Thursday, September 14. Preorder your Fall Book Preview ticket now, or get it as a free perk of one of our member communities. (We talk more about how to choose the one that’s right for you on that page.) Your membership gets you all sorts of bookish goodness—and sustains our work for the long haul.
My favorite finds from around the web:
The Ritual of Rearranging Your Books. (Tor.com) “When our holiday plans went awry, I did what any sensible book collector would do in my place: I spent Christmas Eve piling every single book from the unread books bookcase onto the dining room table, dusting them, considering them, and deciding their fates.”
And the summer’s gathering MVPs are … (Priya Parker) “This summer Taylor, Beyoncé and Greta reminded us, invited us, allowed us to experience the transcendent power of gathering in public with strangers again. And I am so here for it.” I love this. (If I had a dollar for every time I’ve recommended Parker’s book The Art of Gathering that would cover the cost of an Eras tour ticket!)
Meg Ryan Makes Her Rom-Com Return in First Trailer for ‘What Happens Later’ with David Duchovny. (People) This was not on my radar; I had no idea it was filmed prior to the actors’ strike. Yay!
This has been a month of big change and big feelings and also new beauty and skincare products have been looking especially enticing lately. Coincidence? Unlikely. Related: I’m loving this new-to-me, easy-to-wear red from Merit Beauty. (The shade is Cabo.) I’m wearing a single layer in the above video, but it gets considerably bolder with another coat if that’s your jam.
Speaking of lipstick: Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty is happening now, otherwise known as your way to stock up on old favorites or new-to-you goodies for a whopping 50% off. Today’s offerings only look all right to me (but maybe YOU love OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter, Clarins Total Eye Lift Firming & Smoothing Eye Cream, or Lancôme Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara?) I AM intrigued by the 1500 5-star reviews on today’s fresh Floral Recovery Calming Mask, and will be back tomorrow for the FENTY Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (I emptied mine in the Mean Money/ Hu$tla Baby color, I loved it so much) and Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer.
Finding Hidden Treasures in Used Books. (Geek Mom) Always fun to hear about these kinds of discoveries.
Why Are We So Obsessed With Wegmans? (Philly Mag) “The best supermarkets provide what I call a Lack of Restraint Experience, by which I mean permission to transgress sensible shopping norms. I think that’s why we treasure them.” I’ve never stepped inside a Wegman’s, but this article reminds me of my fondness for Trader Joe’s.
Author R.O. Kwon’s Guide to Seoul — Where She Loves to Eat, Drink, and Shop. (Travel + Leisure) This is a great companion to our new Literary Tourism book list: 14 recommended reads for those traveling to South Korea.
Last weekend we slept in and then made this new-to-us recipe for Buttermilk Diner-Style Pancakes. (Epicurious) I was skeptical—I mean, seltzer, really?—but they were delicious. We’re making them again on Sunday.
What Happened to All the Sports Books? (Esquire) “In the past, a popular sports book could cement an athlete’s legacy for the next generation of fans. Today, a documentary is more likely to hold that power, which complicates matters for sportswriters.”
Don’t Overthink Gardening. (The Atlantic) “Gardening, no matter the scale, is downright relaxing.”
I followed my friend Bri McKoy’s lead, got out my frother for the first time in ages, and whipped up this Dalgona coffee. Easy and delicious. (Congrats to Bri on her new release The Cook’s Book. You’ll hear more about that soon!)
Why Do Old Books Smell So Good? (ScienceSwitch) Now you know!
70 years of your national park photos. (The Washington Post gift link) What a treat.
Don’t miss these posts:
31 mystery novels avid readers recommend again and again. Calling all mystery readers!
Why star ratings matter—and when they don’t. My feelings about star ratings have evolved over the years.
25 boarding school novels that are better than your class reunion. This title may or may not tell you how I feel about class reunions.
Have a great weekend!
16 comments
Anne–which color of red are you wearing in the Merit lipstick–it looks great!
It’s Cabo! I’ll add that to the post. 🙂
Thanks!
Your lips resemble Meg’s in the trailer! Gorgeous!! I had tears in my eyes watching it…she’s been gone much too long! Have a fabulous weekend.
I definitely want to try this pancake recipe and the Dalgona coffee. And yes, I’d consider myself a “Wegmaniac” definitely my favorite grocery store and thankfully have one 10 minutes from my house so am in there weekly. Lives up to the hype in my opinion. The prepared foods department, bakery, and cookie department are amazing.
Wegmans is a destination place🥰 when I lived in Florida, the closest store we had to Wegmans was Publix. They were good, but not Wegmans. Now that I’ve moved back to Central NY, I’m home in more ways than one. I love Wegmans!
Oh, I miss Publix. Went to grad school in Florida and Friday night’s at Publix were their own scene. I don’t know if the same is true for Wegmans (coded produce basket anyone?), but now I’m curious…
I live in the Rochester NY area where Wegmans is everywhere. I didn’t get the hype until I lived here. And while I do love Trader Joe’s, I love Wegmans so much more. 🙂
Love the article about rearranging bookshelves! And that lipstick is beautiful on you.
Last weekend I made pancakes for probably the first time in 5 years. It was so nice, they’re definitely a comfort food. Had them with peanut butter and blackberries and felt so very cozy!
Sounds delicious!
When I was a college student in Syracuse, NY, my friend Maria would volunteer to do grocery shopping for friends just so she could go to Wegmans. This was in the late 80s before Wegmans began to spread down the East Coast. I haven’t lived on the East Coast in 30+ years, yet I still think of Wegmans as the ultimate grocery shopping experience. Trader Joe’s does not begin to compare.
My takeaway from this is: how soon until I can get to a Wegman’s? 😂
The National Park photos made me cry. All my National Park visits have been amazing family experiences. Thank you for sharing, since I don’t have a subscription. I love the Field Trip podcast too.
I briefly lived in an area that had both Wegman’s and Trader Joe’s. They are both amazing in different ways. I’d love to shop at both again.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Wegmans article (cleverly written and true!) and the National Parks post (so heartwarming! Makes me recommit to making sure my children visit National Parks). Thank you for putting together these links each week 😁