What are you up to this weekend? We’re working on a home project around here, so this weekend I have to tackle the dreaded task of picking a paint color. Wish me luck? I’m also hoping to finish a good book, make a great dinner (thanks for all those pasta recipes last week), and get out and enjoy the spring sunshine.
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.
The 2025 Summer Reading Guide is coming!
Buckle up, it’s almost time for summer reading! The 14th annual Modern Mrs Darcy Summer Reading Guide and Unboxing event will be here on May 15!
There are four ways to get the guide:
- Join MMD Book Club
- Support our What Should I Read Next? Patreon community
- Purchase a la carte access
- New this year: purchase a printed copy of the Summer Reading Guide magazine (US only)
I hope you enjoy this summer’s reading road trip!
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 service like Pocket.
Meryl Streep In Talks To Play Aslan In Greta Gerwig & Netflix’s Narnia Movie. (Deadline) Whoa!
Inside a Book Tour Turned Road Trip With Best Friends and Best-Selling Authors Tommy Orange and Kaveh Akbar. (Vanity Fair) I love when authors become real life friends.
Have you seen the Target x kate spade collab? Some of the styles were gone in a snap but I just adored this darling plaid midi dress (S–4X) and this adorable midi mini polka dot dress (S–4X). I also grabbed this cute hat for a future birthday gift.
World War II novels that are worth your time. (MMD) For readers who can’t get enough of World War II fiction.
I made this Fresh Fruit Tart with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream for Easter and it was so beautiful and easy. (Sally’s Baking)
DOGE’s Latest Cuts Will Hit Local Culture Hard. (Slate) “If the cuts are upheld, however, small local museums and libraries will almost certainly close. Efforts to digitize local newspapers have ceased. The book festival your kids love each summer? It won’t happen without funding to the state humanities council that supports it.”
This is a great openwork sweater vest, available in cream and black. (XS–4X)
Burnout and the reading life. (What Should I Read Next?) Encouragement and insight for when reading feels tricky.
Is it Perimenopause or Is It Aging? (The Vajenda) “One of the issues in understanding what is caused by menopause and what it is not, is that aging and menopause happen simultaneously.”
First Look: New bookstore TBR Books and Tea set to open April 12. (225 Baton Rouge) Congrats to MMD-er Jamie on her new bookstore!
After twenty years of collecting compost materials in an open flimsy plastic container I finally bought a real compost bin—and wish I’d done this twenty years ago.
Katie Kitamura Knows We’re Faking It. (The New Yorker) “I’m very preoccupied by interpretation. It’s been a theme in the last three novels. I had a central character who is a translator, one who is an interpreter, and then this character who is an actor interpreting parts, interpreting this new play and struggling.” I loved her new book!
Looking forward to a rousing discussion of our MMD Book Club selection for May 2025: Search by Michelle Huneven. The author will join us for a discussion on May 28.
Move Over Curtain Bangs, This Spring It’s All About Jane Austen Bangs. (Vogue) “The beauty of these bangs are that they exude personality—they’re intensely feminine yet expressive, channeling the strong, determined, courageous, and tenacious heroines of the Regency period.”
Don’t miss these posts:
Books I’m glad I came back to. “There are countless books I initially struggled with that ended up becoming favorites…. These are titles that I put down early on in the reading process, but picked up again because I (rightly) suspected the problem was one of timing.”
Every bookstore has its own personality. Spreading the love for Independent Bookstore Day.
12 bookish mysteries about bibliophiles and bookstores. Lean in to your love of books and bookstores with one of these literary mysteries!
Have a great weekend!
9 comments
Anne & bookish friends- I am terrible at picking paint colors! Great free hack, Sherwin Williams offers free (or they were free last year) color consults over FaceTime. You upload pictures, preferences & then have a delightful chat about what colors & palates could be a fit. Highly recommend for anyone who wrestles with choosing paint colors!
Happy Weekend, Anne and MMD Team! Thanks for recommending We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (I think you linked to it last Fall on a Friday post). The audio narrated by the amazing Nicola Walker was one of the best books I’ve listened to in ages. She does all the characters–at least 20 of them – in multiple accents. Funny, twisty, poignant writing. I have loved all of Osman’s mysteries and want to share the recommendation!
I always look forward to your “Links I love” and appreciate your wide-ranging recommendations — books (of course), magazine articles, recipes, and clothes! So excited for the news about Meryl Streep, btw. Gotta say though I’m a bit disappointed to see two recommendations for Target after their continued anti-DEI stance. Still boycotting over here.
I hear you. Figuring out where to shop these days has become ever more complicated.
The menopause article was a little confusing, to be honest. there is such an influx of information right now and I’ve been starting to feel like I had a good handle on it, but then an article like this and I’m just like, the more I know the less I know. Is it just me?
I completely understand this comment! As a trainer and wellness coach who primarily works with perimenopausal and menopausal women, I highly recommend Dr. Gunter’s book, The Menopause Manifesto. She is actually much more nuanced and less simplistic about what menopause does and does not or may or may not cause than many other popular books/authors discussing this subject right now. I feel like it’s a much more responsibly written book. There is so much information now coming at us from all sides- after having almost none for generations! My advice is to find just a couple of really responsible and knowledgeable professionals to follow on this topic and stick with them. My other recommendation would be “The Cognition Dietician”, Barbie Boules.
LeAnne, thank you so much for your reply! So much good information, I really appreciate it. I have heard of the book Menopause Manifesto, I will check it out.
The best part about all the menopause publications, aside from all the information that is readily available, is the dialogue that is happening. It is invaluable! Thanks again! And thank you Anne for starting the discussion!
I just bought a countertop compost bin as well! I got one with carbon filters built into the top, and it’s been helpful for any smells. Also, I saw that Aldi is currently selling compost bins this week!
I love the website Sally’s Baking Addiction. I have been baking her recipes for several years and they never disappoint . The tips she shares are so helpful —she is excellent at explaining the how and why. I have yet to bake one of her recipes that wasn’t a huge hit with my entire large family . Don’t miss her lemon blueberry cake . It’s incredible .
Comments are closed.