The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.
Mindhunter season two releases on August 16th and that is pretty much all I care about right now (other than Succession returning this weekend for its second season).
TV/MOVIES
Mindhunter Season Two Trailers
Netflix has released both a teaser and full length trailer for the upcoming second season. Both are incredible and only make me want to watch the next season immediately.
I especially love our first looks at some of the new serial killers being interviewed. This show's casting is always spot on when it comes to the interview subjects.
I was particularly glad to see Cameron Britton back as Ed Kemper. He and Holden are going to have lots to discuss after that first season finale.
Succession Season Two Trailer
Succession is returning this weekend and I could not be more happy. I was late to season one and didn't watch it until after the season had already aired so I am excited to be part of the conversation each week for this season.
Everyone in this show is horrible. I have seen it described as Game of Thrones in boardrooms but everyone is a Lannister and that is pretty accurate.
The finale of season one was bananas in the best possible way so I am excited to see where the story goes in season two. I am laughing already at the Cousin Greg and Tom scene. I also look forward to see Kieran Culkin deliver another amazing performance (still bitter that he is not up for an Emmy this year).
What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.
An unexpected tragedy leaves Professor Nathaniel Hunt a widower alone with a newborn baby.
He hires a nanny. She’s young, but well-qualified, with a simple life, a crazy name obsession, and a boyfriend she met at the grocery store.
Over time, he discovers she knows things about him—things that happened before she was born—like a hidden scar on his head, his favorite pizza, and how he cheated on a high school Spanish test.
She speaks familiar words and shares haunting memories that take him back to over two decades earlier when he lost his best friend in a tragic accident.
“I’m afraid of what’s going to happen when you realize I’m not her.”
Transcend is a sexy, mind-bending journey that uncovers possibilities, challenges beliefs, and begets the age-old question: is there life after death?
Reading Transcend feels a lot like being on a rollercoaster. An emotional one that is. It offers a book that is a perfect mix of emotionally draining and exhilarating. It is the kind of book you feel as you are reading it.
This is also the kind of book I recommend going in as blind as possible about. It's the type of book that is best experienced along with the characters. The emotional impact will be the most felt that way and the story will resonate more.
The writing feels effortless and ensures that you are pulled into the story and that the emotional beats resonate as much as they do. It is one of those books you cannot put down and that is due largely in part to the writing.
I adore all of the characters for different reasons. They all resonated with me in some way. The author gave them all room to be flawed, realistic characters who make decisions the readers are not always going to agree with while ensuring we understood them. Swayze and Griffen are both still pretty young and Nate is in the midst of grief that just seems to continuously open old hurts and pile them on top of each other. They are all going to make mistakes and flounder a bit, especially as things unravel.
The relationships are the heart of this novel in so many ways Swayze's relationship with Griffen. Her relationship with Nate. Nate's relationship with Daisy. All of these are swirling and creating this atmosphere where the tension keeps building to the point you are breathlessly waiting for something to break it. You end up caring about all of these characters and that makes this read all the more bittersweet because you know heartbreak is all that is in store.
Those who are not fans of the love triangle will want to beware. Transcend certainly is setting up one of the more complex, conflicting, and discussion worthy triangles that I have ever experienced. It is what I consider a love triangle done right and authors who want to pull off a successful one in their own books should take notes. I have a feeling it is only going to break my heart but I cannot wait to see all of the relationships progress in the next book. Both guys are worthy for different reasons and the supernatural-ish element of the story adds a complication to one of the pairings that, for me, only makes the story more interesting.
The ending offers a cliffhanger that will leave you breathlessly scrambling to pick up the sequel to get the answers to the million questions you'll undoubtedly have. It also sets up the sequel to be just as emotional and dynamic as the first.
It's a sexy, beautifully written, thought provoking read that I entirely fell into. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves intense, romantic reads that, possibly, have a hint of supernatural in them. Just make sure you have the sequel on hand because I am not kidding about that need-to-know-yesterday cliffhanger ending.
From the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi comes the first novel in a brand-new series set at an elite international boarding school, that’s a contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast. Will the princess save the beast? For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right? His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck… As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.
This Beauty and the Beast retelling captured my attention for obvious reasons. I not only love fairytale retellings but this one also happens to be set in an international boarding school! This is going to be a series that features different fairytales from what I understand and I am excited that Beauty and the Beast is first.
This one doesn't come out until February but it'll be the perfect way to spending an evening right after Valentine's Day.
Synopsis: Quentin Tarantino's ninth feature film is a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don't recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor...Sharon Tate.
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My interest in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood should really surprise nobody. It connects my love of Hollywood with my fascination with true crime. There were many things that led to the end of the 1960's era of peace, free love, and flower power and the Manson murders are definitely on that list. Tarantino's latest uses a Hollywood on the cusp of change as its backdrop and delivers a standard Tarntino movie in the process.
The performances of both Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are the stand out in the film. Brad, as Cliff Booth, is all effortless cool and charm circa Brad in Thelma and Louise. He reminds you why he is a bonafide movie star. It is a fun, enjoyable to watch performance that has a Best Supporting Actor nomination written all over it.
DiCaprio's Rick Dalton is just as strong with DiCaprio giving a more vulnerable performance than I have seen from him in a while. Dalton is an actor looking at the brightest moments of their career being behind them and DiCaprio taps into the razor's edge the character is on emotion wise perfectly. We see Dalton's insecurities reflected in one of my favourite Sharon Tate moments. We see Robbie's Tate's watching one of her movies with a crowd of people in theatre. The delight that registers as people react positively to her performance is a moment that lingers. It hammers home that both of these actors are worried about their appeal to audiences and how they are perceived.
The chemistry between Cliff and Rick is a testament to how well Pitt and DiCaprio play off one another. I would easily watch these two together in another movie. It wasn't a pairing that immediately came to mind when thinking of who I would like to see together on screen but they work extremely well together as these characters.
I, like many who are interested in true crime, have experienced the Manson murders told in many different formats and from just as many perspectives. Tarantino's version is the first in which I feel that I actually got to know Sharon Tate. It is certainly the first that focuses on her life rather than her horrific death. Margot Robbie is criminally underused but the movie makes you love her Sharon. She's incandescent and filled with joy. She is a sweet, luminous presence that takes back some of her narrative. Charles Manson is a footnote in this movie, barely worth a mention. This is Tarantino saying that Manson doesn't get to be the focus. It is Sharon's turn (and Jay's, and Abigail's and etc) to be the focus. This is, perhaps, the most refreshing aspect of this story. We got to see Sharon just living her life, blissfully happy, and I cannot express how much that matters.
This movie is filled with a bunch of actors playing small parts and many of them stood out for various reasons. Dakota Fanning is terrifying as Squeaky Fromme. Margret Qualley offers a memorable performance as Pussycat. Austin Butler made me really excited to see what else he can do after his role as Tex Watson. These are just some of the few memorable 'cameos' from the movie. One of my favourite parts of a Tarantino movie is seeing all of the big names that pop up in small roles and this one definitely doesn't disappoint. It is even, dare I say, more embraced because of the nature of the story being told.
There will be much discussion about the violence in this movie, specifically the ending, and how it relates to the rest of the movie. It certainly made me think about the violence we consume and the whos and whys behind how we feel about it and when we deem it acceptable versus reprehensible. A lot of it comes down to who is committing the violence and against whom the violence is being committed and that feels really apparent here.
The next section is going to be within spoiler tags. It relates to my point about violence, but gives away the ending. Read at your own risk.
There is a scene in which Cliff is shown to have maybe (probably) killed his wife on a boat trip. The scene is left ambiguous and it is never brought up again. The answer to this question, for me, could shift the lens you view the rest of the movie and violence through in sharp ways.
This scene also reminded me of another real life Hollywood mystery - the death of Natalie Wood. The mysterious death of a woman on a boat with her husband. I am not sure if Tarantino had this in mind when he directed that scene but the comparison jumped out to me immediately.
Lastly, we have the alternative history where Cliff and Rick end up the targets of the Manson Family and kill them, in an extremely violent fashion, rather than being killed themselves. This means that there is a lot of violence mostly against women which ties into the complicated issue of violence I mentioned above. This, also however, means that Sharon (and the rest) are alive at the end. The final scene is one that was strangely therapeutic for me. The camera pans away from Rick walking up the infamous Cielo Drive driveway with Sharon and Jay to slowly reveal the rest of Hollywood. It leaves you on a wistful 'what if' moment that also hammers home the entire point of the title. This is Tarantino's Hollywood fable. It is his love letter to a time he clearly has immense affection for. This story could only be one that starts with 'once upon a time' because we all know the cruel reality of what happened.
There are, naturally, a few issues I had with the movie, some of which I have already discussed such as the treatment of its female characters. Plenty of people more eloquent than than I have discussed the Bruce Lee portrayal and the problems within it. Mike Moh, the actor who portrayed him certainly did the best with what he was given. I much preferred the second, quieter, scene where he is seen training Sharon Tate some stunt fighting for one of her roles to the problematic first.
Ultimately this is a movie that will leave you with a lot to talk about and will not be for everyone. This is a very Tarantino movie, even if I do think it is his most accessible, and that either appeals to you or it doesn't.
The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.
BOOKS Cover for Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon (goodreads)
Fairytale retellings are always a favourite of mine and the fact that this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling set in a boarding school was enough for me to want it immediately.
The incredibly fun cover was revealed and I want to read it even more now.
I love the colour scheme and the font used for the title. It also done in a style that is very popular right now with the characters being drawn instead of using real people. This is a highly anticipated one for me and I cannot wait to read it. Cover of Anna K by Jenny Lee (goodreads)
A story inspired by Anna Karenina and set in modern times. That alone should have you taking a second look at this novel. The adorable cover doesn't hurt either.
It's bright, and eye catching in a great way. I cannot wait to read this one!
TV/MOVIES Queen and Slim Trailer
We had a teaser trailer which looked awesome, but not the full trailer for Queen and Slim has been released. It is sort of a Bonnie and Clyde story (which I have always been fascinated by) so I am obviously going to see it. Daniel Kaluuya looks to be giving a heck of a performance in this one.
The line 'Can I be your legacy?' gets me for some reason. This looks like it'll be romantic, heartbreaking and hard to watch at times.
OTHER Recent Etsy Finds
I loved the third season of Stranger Things so was thrilled when one of my favourite Etsy shops, HappyHello, has these adorable Robin and Steve bookmarks from the third season.
Picture copywrite @ HappyHelloCo
The next item I absolutely love is this cute pin from the KrystanSaintCat Etsy shop. It is available in different colours, but the black and silver one caught my eye. I, obviously, needed to get one because it is very much on brand for me.
Picture copywrite @ KrystanSaintCat
Stand By Me is one of my favourite movies (if not my absolute favourite). I immediately coveted this adorable art print that I found on the AnchoredDesignsUK Etsy shop. It has so many of my favourite quotes and just makes me so happy. Hopefully I'll get to own this soon and it'll find its way on to my wall at some point. It's too good for me not to own.
What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.
After four months of unemployment, former book editor Clara Montgomery is still stuck sleeping on her little brother’s ugly couch in Queens. Determined to keep her minuscule savings account intact, she takes a job clearing out abandoned storage units, but is in no way prepared for stumbling upon dead snakes or trying to identify exactly where the perpetual stench of beets is emanating from.
Unfortunately, Caspian misinterprets Clara’s attempt at altruism and shows up on her doorstep, accusing her of blackmail. When the paparazzi capture a photo of them together, Caspian’s PR team sees an opportunity to promote his latest film—and if Clara wants to atone for her “crimes,” she’ll have to play along. Pretending to be Caspian’s girlfriend seems like it will be a tolerable, if somewhat daunting, penance… until their fake romance becomes something more than either of them expected.
Romance novels that involve Hollywood in some format are a weakness of mine. I will immediately want to add it to my reading list. Crashing The A-List was no exception when it came to my attention. It turns out that this novel really has the best of both worlds - it involves a Hollywood actor, but is set mostly in New York. Summer Heacock has infused a Hollywood love interest into a story that only sort of involves Hollywood. The reader gets something that ends up feeling more realistic, less wish fulfillment, and an all together fun read.
When we meet Clara she is having the worst luck. She's just lost her job and has to move in with her brother while looking for a new one. She's feeling more than a little sorry for herself and what her future holds. She's a bit of a mess, but an entirely relatable one. She's the type of character that the reader immediately identifies with because of her imprefections. The author wasn't afraid of making Clara flawed. It is her owning up to her mistakes that makes the reader love her.
Caspian Tiddleswich is, as you probably guessed, inspired by certain famous British actor who has played both a world famous detective and a superhero (and it is not Robert Downey Jr). Anyone who is a fan will delight in the comparisons found within the novel. Heacock has ensured that Caspian becomes a fully developed character however, and not just a stand in. The readers will equally delight in the things that make up the character of Caspian that have nothing to do with his inspiration. It takes a bit to get past his frosty demeanour but he ends up being a rather fantastic love interest.
The romance is, naturally, a rocky one. Miscommunication is culprit of much of this couples woes. They both tend to react rashly and strongly before talking which leads to plenty of misunderstandings. There is some great banter that happens between Clara and Caspian but there are also a lot of moments that just feel a little too aggressive and mean. Care is taken to balance this by showing the characters having real remorse for their actions, and actually admitting wrongdoing and apologizing. They both can be abrasive at times, but Caspian's demeanor can be repellent at time and I am glad that is addressed in a meaningful way. He is properly contrite and, more importantly, actively wants to change. It's refreshing and showcases that only real apologize for bad behaviour is the modification of that behaviour.
Clara's friendship with CiCi is the true heart of the story. Their friendship is supportive, honest, and caring. They felt more like the closest of sisters than just best friends. They can call each other out on their bullshit in a way that shows how much they care about each other. I appreciated a female friendship that didn't have even a hint of jealousy, backstabbing, or competition. I would love a companion novel that was CiCi's story because she really was a stand out character.
This is a fast paced, enjoyable read that felt like it would appeal to both those who love Hollywood inspired stories and those who typically do not. It won me over with its banter filled romance, sweet friendship, and actual repercussions for bad behaviour. I predict romance readers will love it and immediately want to get their hands on whatever Summer Heacock writes next.
It is time, once again, to check in with my monthly reading. It's obvious that summer has not gotten me back on track but I am hoping August will at least show some improvement.
July was a crazy month (as I anticipated it would be) but I did manage to get some books read.
To wrap up July ....
The books that were on my list are:
Finale by Stephanie Garber (goodreads)
Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo (goodreads)
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte (goodreads)
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (goodreads)
Transcend by Jewel E Ann (goodreads)
Plus I had a bunch of ebooks on my list:
Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett (goodreads)
King Of Fools by Amanda Foody (goodreads)
There's Something About Sweetie by Shandya Menon (goodreads)
Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey (goodreads)
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory (goodreads)
Crashing The A List by Summer Heacock (goodreads)
I managed to read four books this month which I am pretty happy about considering how much travel I did. I read:
Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey (goodreads)
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory (goodreads)
Crashing The A List by Summer Heacock (goodreads)
The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter (goodreads)
As you can see they were mostly ebooks that I managed to read. This means that my reading pile for August is exactly the same as what it was for July. I am hoping August changes that and I have entirely new books. I will be focusing on my physical books this month more than my ebooks.
Finale by Stephanie Garber (goodreads)
Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo (goodreads)
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte (goodreads)
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (goodreads)
Transcend by Jewel E Ann (goodreads)
I have some ebooks on my reading list this month as well. Keeping it small so that I can focus on getting some of my physical ARCs read.
Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer (goodreads)
These Divided Shores by Sara Raasch (goodreads)
Interference by Harlow Cole (goodreads)
Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour (goodreads)
What books are you reading this month? Have you read any of the ones in my list? If so, let me know what you think in the comments.
