Friday Reads 11.14.24
Books Are The Best Distraction
How are you today, friends? Happy Friday! I hope all is well and you’re as relieved as I am to see the end of this week. It’s been a long one for me. I’m doing a lot of PR in the evenings, interviews, and events, and I’m getting a little sick of myself. LOL. It happens. Last night, I came out of an interview to find Randy had made a lovely dinner, and I almost cried with relief. I get uber-focused when I have this much on the schedule, terrified I might mistake a time zone or have technical difficulties, and last night, I realized halfway through that I’d completely forgotten to make dinner before I started. My hero rescued me with a delightful chicken parm. Love that man.
I’m in love with love this week anyway. I finished the wonderful Christmas romance by Martha Waters, CHRISTMAS IS ALL AROUND, and then immediately finished Emily Henry’s FUNNY STORY. Then I wrote my pal John Charles and said MOHR, PLZ. More joy, more happy, more silly, more sweet. I’m expecting a box next week; I will report forthwith.
I also bought the fun new holiday collection from Amazon Originals, UNDER THE MISTLETOE, and started Ali Hazelwood’s story CRUEL WINTER WITH YOU last night. So good.
I don’t know why this genre has landed so hard with me right now. I’ve been in a slump for what feels like months, and I will take anything that breaks me out. But also, there’s something really sweet and fun about reading romantic comedies. I usually save these stories for vacation, especially beachy time, but something is clicking and I am here for it right now, with the chilly air and cozy fire and fuzzy cat in my lap.
Maybe it’s the uncertainty in the world; maybe it’s that I’ve mostly exited social media, stage left, for the time being. Perhaps I just needed a breath of fresh air after a year of murder and mayhem. Whatever it is, you don’t mess with a streak, right? I might even break down and watch some holiday movies this year. I mean, why not?
Some great crime books dropped this week that I’m looking forward to. Kaira Rouda’s WHAT THE NANNY SAW came out. And Liv Constantine’s EVERYONE IS A LIAR released on audio. And in exciting news, Ruth Ware is releasing a sequel to her blockbuster novel The Woman in Cabin 10 — THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11. I am ridiculously excited about this. I am a huge fan of Ruth’s work, as you all know.
We also gobbled down the second season of The Diplomat with Kerri Russell and Rufus Sewell, which was outstanding. I mean, talk about a brilliant ending. BRILLIANT. And the new season of Lioness is on, which is also killer. Zoe Saldana screaming her rage every episode is weirdly theuraputic. We started Yellowstone, too, and I have *THOUGHTS*. I won’t spoil it for those of you who haven’t watched yet, but…did I mention I have thoughts? They are not in the positive category…
Finally, I leave you with a post from earlier in the week that has a taste of how I plan my life.
That’s it from me. How about you? Reading anything fabulous this weekend? I’d love to hear your recommendations!
I'm about a third of the way through The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Allly Carter. It's a romance AND murder mystery and I'm loving it. I've never read her before but I'll definitely read her again. Very much Emily Henry vibes.
I’m exhausted this week. A wild and wacky week of school. I’ve been struggling to concentrate on a book. I only read one this past week. I think I’m going to start Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women this weekend, or try to… I might just watch season 2 of The Diplomat. I loved the first season.