Welcome to Sunday Sundries, the antidote to—or at least a distraction from—your Sunday Scaries.
Hi pals,
Whew it’s been a busy week! On Wednesday I was in Chicago for a Bad on Paper LIVE book club event, then I popped to Boston for 24 hours and one bowl of Legal Seafoods clam chowder, and later today (Friday) I’ll head up to Maine for what has historically been my favorite weekend of the year—no pressure!—the annual lobster roll off!
I tested my roll on Monday on my mahjong gals, made some tweaks, and am ready to defend my title! Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until next weekend to hear all about it because I plan on living my best Maine life all weekend. No work breaks allowed! But you might catch some glimpses on Instagram to tide you over.
Let’s get into the sundries!
A couple reading thoughts that don’t rise to the level of being their own sundry:
First, are we ready for the return of vampire romance? I might be! I was delighted when I read the pitch for Shirlene Obuobi’s new release, Die for Me, which sounds like a mash up of Twilight and Grey’s Anatomy. Here’s the abridged marketing copy:
Sean’s not in the market for love. The only female, let alone Black, interventional cardiologist at her hospital, she’s watched too many of her male colleagues divorce their first wives to marry younger models […] Then she meets Julian. Brooding, beautiful and eleven years her junior. In short: A bad idea. Julian pursues her in a way that sets off alarm bells in her mind, but she finds herself unable to resist their undeniable chemistry […] But the more Sean gets to know him, the more impossible Julian seems.
I gave V.E. Schwab’s female vampire epic, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, a try last year and quit in a rage when new characters were being introduced at the 400-page mark. (It was just too long for me!) But this one sounds worth a shot.
Second, The Wedding People comps are coming! For the past couple years, I’ve heard the hosts of The Shit No One Told You About Writing podcast say The Wedding People by Alison Espach is the #1 comp title popping up on the pitches flowing through their inboxes. And for me, that’s a very good thing. I all-caps LOVED The Wedding People. Well, as long as these authors can live up to the very high bar that book sets.
And last week, I saw my first TWP-comped book that made it through the publishing gauntlet: Make Nice by Ryan Effgen, which is pitched as Sandwich meets The Wedding People. (Double win!)
In it, three adult siblings head to a historic resort on an island in Lake Michigan to reunite with their patriarch, and they packed plenty of secrets in their carry-ons. So, far—I’m about 40% in—it has a similar voicey-ness and humor to The Wedding People, though lacks the dark backstory bit (not a problem for me). I’m excited to read more!
Let’s check the receipts on the best purchases I’ve made this summer:
Aerie Summer-Weight Sweatshirts: I’ve bought not one, not two, but three unlined, summer-weight sweatshirts from Aerie this summer, and I will not be forced to pick a favorite. They’re a perfect plane layer or option to throw on for a breezy (but not that cold) night. (Sizing note: I go down 1-2 sizes in all three; they’re very oversized.)
JVN Air Dry Cream: This is the first product I’ve tried in my almost-40 years (and I’ve tried a lot of them) that has allowed me to successfully air-dry my curly, but damaged hair. I use a blueberry-sized amount on each side, but you may want to use more because my hair is pretty fine. As a bonus: I bought the travel-sized version to try without a whole lot of hope it would work, so it’s TSA-approved for my upcoming travels.
Drew Barrymore Air Fryer: I have you all to thank for this discovery. A few weeks ago, I was complaining that the air fryer I bought for my new apartment was a total dud. I’d never taken anything out and thought “Damn, that’s crispy.” And three of you recommended this compact air fryer in the comments. I bought one, and it blows my old one out of the water! Crisp city! Good on you, Drew.
Patterned sheets: I was on the hunt for patterned bed sheets, but I’m quite a tough customer when it comes to bedding. I don’t like a sateen finish, which seems to be very popular. But I found these patterned percale sheets at Anthropologie. I have the rosettes, but they come in a bunch of fun patterns. They really add some oomph to my still WIP bedroom.
Ric-Rac Dress: I have gotten so much wear out of this black linen dress. I’ve worn it as a bathing suit coverup. I’ve worn it as an outfit. It’s kind of a sack, but not in a way that I find unflattering. The strap details give it a little something extra to make it veer more outfit-y. Sadly, it’s sold out in most sizes, but I just realized there’s a midi version that’s fully stocked up. (I took my regular size.)
My friend—and one of my fave authors—Laura Hankin wrote a movie!!! And the trailer looks so, so good. I can already tell it’s going to make me sob.
I’m in no way ready for fall shopping: but Hunter Bell released their first fall drop and everything always sells out fast. I’m eyeing this fun, fringed skirt. Also, if money were no object, I’d for sure be wearing this dress come fall.
This woman is tracking down the hunks from the board game Dream Phone, and I’m living for her sleuthing.
The RHONY season 16 trailer is here and I’m already stressed.
So excited to wear this bright blue open-weave cardigan with jean shorts while I’m in Maine.
I listened to this interview with The Correspondent author Virginia Evans on Jenna Bush Hager’s podcast on my flight yesterday and tremendously enjoyed hearing her version of the book’s breakout success story.
Not fall: I might grab this dress in Staud’s end of season sale. (The sale is def worth a peruse since it’s an extra 20% off right now.)
Have you been following the book gossip that Rachel Cusk’s new book is a fictionalized tell-all about her friend Natalie Portman?
She nailed this take.
More soon,
Becca
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