Hi guys! Right now I’m cozied up on my couch, well fed and well blanketed and waiting for a cloudy day to pass. I start work tomorrow at my local library, and as excited as I am to begin (which believe me, if you know me at all, you know that I am) I’m still mourning sweet summer days where absolutely nothing is required of me. This issue is just gonna be a short and sweet roundup of things I liked (and didn’t like) this week in media and more. Enjoy!!
Dance Fever by Florence + The Machine
We all know I love me some Florence, and typically HBHBHB is my go-to summer album but there’s new material to be dealt with! I loved this album as an explosion of maximalist sound and triumphant vulnerability that reminds me of the band’s early material, and thought it was a perfect culmination of a few years of silence and rebirth for artists and audiences alike.
Nice Girls by Catherine Dang
This book was a new fiction pick and mystery read I snagged last minute based upon the cover and synopsis. I expected a thriller about a failed ex-Ivy Leaguer who uncovers her own demons as well as those of others in her small hometown, but instead received a half-baked tale of a DIY detective who discovers wealth disparity for the first time and decides to unearth a murder investigation around her. I DNFed after Chapter 17, when the protag lied to the mother of a murder victim in order to find out (?) her correlation to a high school acquaintance.
Tides by Sara Freeman
In contrast to the previous book, this read was short and sweet in a saltwater way. If you’ve read it, you know what I mean. The super stylistic format and vague descriptions of basically all characters and settings give you a “going in blind” effect by the halfway point of the book, but it kind of works. I appreciated a brief summer read about change, relief, and the unending power of the ocean.
Wide leg slacks
I’m furnishing a business casual wardrobe that functions as both summer-cute and girlboss-cute, and most of my thrift finds have been classic pants that will work day in and day out. I know that as a short queen I have a responsibility to my own legs to search for wide silhouettes, and I’ve super happy with the ones I’ve found! Notable brands include Nine West and Old Navy.
Big Little Lies on HBO Max (yes, I know)
I finally watched this show this month after reading the book in a haze in the middle of my sophomore year. Given that I’ve missed both waves of hype and recognition for the show and its source material, I’m coming from a weaker perspective on reception. By the end, I felt like I had absorbed nothing but sea brine and DryBar formulas, and to my best memory would appreciate the lasting impact of the book as a standalone. It looks nice, it sounds nice sometimes, but the style outweighs the substance pretty heavily.
Ibuprofen
With that and four gaps where my wisdom teeth used to be, I’m signing off for a nap! I love you, and I’ll see you next week :)