Links I love

What are you up to this weekend? Here in Louisville, it FINALLY feels like fall; today is our first 50-degree morning in ages and it is glorious. This weekend I’m looking forward to catching up on life stuff after everything Fall Book Preview and getting to see one of my college kids. Maybe baking something with warm spices since it’s not too hot to turn on the oven? And read a good book, of course.

I hope you have something good 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.

Fall Book Preview

Our companion to this superlative literary season is out in the world and available now! Get the lowdown here. We have a limited quantity of physical delivered-by-snail-mail lookbooks available, plus fall goodies like a new seasonal sticker, sweatshirts, and journals. Check out our shop right here. Happy fall reading!

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.

40 years later, ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ is still helping readers see themselves. (NPR) “Though some references have changed along the way — VCRs have largely disappeared and cellphones have entered the picture — Claudia’s landline, somehow, endures. And so do the characters. Martin says they remain, in her mind, fundamentally themselves. It’s part of the reason we all still know exactly which ones we identify with.”

Get a trick or treat with these 7 Halloween mysteries. (MMD) Pick up a tale that takes place at the end of October.

Sense and Sensibility review – Daisy Edgar-Jones leads sober-minded next-gen do-over of Austen romcom. (The Guardian) “This turns out to be a more downbeat, ruminative version, happening in much cloudier weather than 30 years ago and without the sugar-rush final wedding scene. The mood is cooler, but interestingly austere, sober and thoughtful.” I hope to see this in the theater when it hits the U.S. on October 16. The trailer is embedded here: I was delighted to see that John Brooke—that is, Coe on Slow Horses—plays the small but important role of John Dashwood.

Shelf Life: Elizabeth Acevedo. (Elle) I love Acevedo and of course I want to hear about her favorite and memorable reads.

I’ve been on the hunt for a dressier ballet flat (dressier, that is, than the Tieks I still constantly wear) and a comfortable, low block heel—and I’m making progress. Shoes are never easy because my feet are big and wide! My favorite find so far is these Vionic low-heeled, square-toed pumps. (5–13) I’m still trying to get the size/width combo right but another happy find has been Naturalizer’s 27 Edit line, notable for its size range and availability of narrow, medium, and wide widths. (It’s the Carla flat I’m trying to get right.)

‘They’ve Got to Occasionally Nominate a Book That We’ve Actually Heard Of.’ (Book Gossip) “Last week, the National Book Awards rolled out the longlists for its 2026 awards in fiction, nonfiction, translated literature, poetry, and young people’s literature, and today, the shortlist for the Booker Prize was unveiled in London. We asked some industry people for their unfiltered reactions to where the biggest prizes in books currently stand.”

Winners of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2026. (The Atlantic gift link) No words, except to say I’d be stunned if a quick scroll through these photos doesn’t make your day better.

Emily St. John Mandel on Writing a Novel of Dystopian Counterlives. (Literary Hub) Great interview about Exit Party and its key ingredients of art, criminality, and quantum entanglement theory.

Are Clothes Actually Worse Now? An Investigation. (InStyle) In a word: YES. (But you already knew that.) I appreciated this deep dive into what’s shifted and how savvy consumers can still seek out quality garments today.

Watch (and Hear) a Buzzy New Novel Become an Audiobook. (New York Times gift link) “We spent seven months following one book — “Switzy,” the latest novel by Emma Cline, which is performed by a single narrator — from start to finish. From casting to recording and tongue twisters to intensive quality control, here’s how an audiobook comes together.”

I made this No-Cook Chili Bean Salad for a potluck last week and it was a HIT. (New York Times Cooking gift link) I hewed to my mom’s old advice regarding this sort of dish and made it a day ahead to let the flavors meld and highly recommend this approach if you have the time.

Will joined me for this week’s episode of What Should I Read Next?: we go behind the scenes of Fall Book Preview, from the event’s origins to how it’s changed over the years and so much more.

Librarymaxxing: The Secrets Librarians Wish You Knew. (Elle Reads Library Books) “The library is already yours. You’re just not using all of it yet, and librarians are ready to help you change that.” Lots of great tips.

Sherwin-Williams Just Announced Its 2027 Color of the Year—and It’s a Fresh Take on a Familiar Favorite. (Real Simple) “The winning shade is Celery SW 6421, a soft yellow-green that’s cheery and surprisingly easy to decorate with.” It’s remarkably similar to the color I’m contemplating painting my dining room.

Join Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club on October 27 for a live discussion of Finding Grace with author Loretta Rothschild.