It’s the end of the month, so that means it’s time for our March wrap-up where we detail everything that’s been consuming us!
What We’re Reading
Jen: I’ve been on a hot reading streak. First I read The Lost Summers of Newport, a joint effort from popular authors Karen White, Lauren Willig, and Beatriz Williams. I know three authors sounds like too many authors, but they pulled off this book impeccably AND remained friends. (That part is key, I think.) There are three timelines that take place in an historic Newport mansion, and I believe each woman was responsible for writing an individual timeline. One timeline was at the turn of the century, one in the late 1950s, and one modern day. I know they’ve done group books before, so their styles blended together seamlessly and I couldn’t tell you who wrote what. I can tell you that I loved it.
I also just finished Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women and this one takes the lead for the best book I’ve read so far this year. (FYI, inhaled her first, didn’t care for her second, so I was hesitant to try her third, yet I’m so glad I did.) The story is a semi-fictionalized account of how the Ted Bundy sorority house murders impacted that chapter’s president and her life going forward. Were there parts that gave me nightmares? Yes. But the scary bits weren’t the crux of the book—mostly I came out the other side being inspired by such an empowered and determined protagonist.
Karyn: As I’ve mentioned previously, I set a goal this year to read three books a month (two fiction and one non-fiction), so I’m reading Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano, Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen, and Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan — BUT I’M NOT DONE WITH ANY OF THEM AND IT’S THE END OF THE MONTH. The only good thing is that it’s going to rain in LA this weekend, so I plan to cuddle up on the sofa and finish them all to meet my goal.
A word on Bonjour Tristesse: I learned about this book during Oui Oui week! It’s a 1954 French novel written by an 18-year-old girl and a much-beloved classic. It’s about a precocious teenager on the brink of womanhood who spends the summer in the French Riviera with her playboy father.
What We’re Watching
Jen: I am mad at everyone who didn’t insist I watch Girls5Eva on Netflix sooner. Full disclosure, I thought the story of a 90s-00s girl group reuniting looked a little silly and nothing about the cast interested me. So, if you did tell me, I ignored you and that’s on me. However, I loved every character and their unwavering support for each other. And the dialogue—there were so many great lines and running jokes that I’d have to stop and replay them. Plus, they cast actual singers, so they sound fantastic. And Paula Pell is everything.
I’m also eagerly awaiting the next episodes of Palm Royale on Apple+. I am not a Kristen Wiig fan—at all—and I’m one of the few people on earth who despised Bridesmaids. That said, Wiig’s performance in this show about trying to breaking into Palm Beach society is a chef’s kiss. She’s not overplaying the role at all, which is why I usually don’t like her. I kept reading bad reviews about this show, saying how the VFX were over the top and everyone looked airbrushed to perfection, but it works. At 50, Wiig is easily pulling off ingenue. Everything about this show is a visual treat, from the dreamy color saturation in every scene to the hair, clothes, decor, etc. If they’d have dropped the whole show at once, that would have been my whole weekend.
Karyn: I also started Palm Royale on Apple+ and I’m loving it. Unlike Jen, I love Kristen Wiig (especially Bridesmaids!) and she is fantastic in it. Re: Girls5Eva, I watched the first episode at my friend Mark’s house when it first came out but didn’t want to subscribe to Peacock to watch the rest, so I’m excited to hear it’s on Netflix!
What We’re Listening To
Jen: Fletch has been mocking me for listening to 1989 while I’ve been cooking or doing minor home improvements, but when 54% of a country as divided as ours can say they are Taylor Swift fans, that’s significant. My favorite songs on it keep changing; currently they’re Clean and I Know Places. I’ve also been listening to Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel album, which has taken on new meaning after our recent deep dive into all sorts of Oxy-tragedy-related shows, like Painkiller and Pain Hustlers.
I’ve also had to change up my podcasts, as the Watch What Crappens guys are covering a lot of shows I don’t watch. There are some I’ll listen to regardless, but I don’t know anything about Summer House and I don’t care to find out. So, I’ve been listening to Something Was Wrong, which really should be titled Jen Blames the Victims. I understand there are bad people out there who will take advantage of others. But once someone shows you who they are again and again, in no uncertain terms, when your family and friends scream to you about all the red flags, when this person is actively ruining your life in ways you can list, maybe your best bet is not to decide to have his baby to see if that makes things better. Heavy sigh.
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