Friday Things #580
1. I took this picture of Joseph earlier this week and it just screamed “summer!” to me ☀️
2. What are you reading right now? I’m probably going to finish up Emily Henry’s Funny Story in the next day or so (really have liked it!), and then I have the following to choose from: Wild Dark Shore, These Summer Storms, Broken Country, and Us Against You. Weigh in on what you think I should read next!
3. Such gorgeous scenery >> 23 Best Road Trips in the U.S.
4. I mentioned the Breville toaster oven being one of our favorite small appliances during the Prime Day sale, and I saw that Cook’s Illustrated recently did a new review of toaster ovens and kept that model in the #1 spot. I als noticed that it’s still 20% off, if you’ve been thinking of getting it!
5. Did you see that Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson are making a new movie together?? Ahhhh, Joey and Pacey together again! I lived for those two when I was a teenager watching Dawson’s Creek.
6. Isabelle saw a recipe for blueberry scones in one of her kids’ cookbooks, so I think it’s time for me to whip up a batch!
7. I have boxes of school supplies that I ordered and need to divide up between the kids…. aaaaaand I also still haven’t finished cleaning out all of the papers and workbooks that came home the last couple weeks of school. I guess I need to get on that 🫣
8. A little nugget from a James Clear newsletter and it is SO TRUE:
“Whenever you are stuck searching for the optimal plan, remember:
Getting started changes everything.”
9. We finished watching Gotham (which was fantastic!), and have since started watching Cardinal (Hulu) – we’re on season three.
10. TGIF! Judith knows how to be cozy 🩷
Wild Dark Shores and Broken Country are both excellent, but heavy. These Summer Storms seems falsely advertised. It’s an instalove romance amid family dysfunction. Was not a fan. Haven’t read Us Against You as I haven’t yet been ready to return to Beartown.
I love all the shares about you, family. Thank you. Can you believe it is almost new school year? time does fly. Thinking of your share regarding James Clear .. hmmmm
I absolutely loved Broken Country – now my book club is going to read it!
Oh my gosh, what?! A Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson romance trilogy? I am here for this content! Can’t wait to watch. I wasn’t super into Dawson’s Creek but I followed it a little and I kinda love Katie Holmes! Would be so great to see her in more stuff. Thanks for sharing this fun update!
I LOVED Wild Dark Shore
Broken Country was excellent!
Re book selection: I haven’t read any that you mentioned (yet!) but just finished The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls and loved it. Also consider her memoir The Glass Castle at some point in the future. LOVE my Breville – purchased that very one last year per your recommendation!
I know some people loved Wild Dark Shore but I will tell you, it gets very, very dark in places and I’d say check trigger warnings. Broken Country was one of only a handful of 5 star books I’ve read this year! I loved this book so much and highly recommend it! The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (not to be confused with Long Bright River by another author) was another 5 star read. It’s a long book but I savored every.single.second.
Ooooh I read The Frozen River earlier this year and LOVED it… one of my most favorite books of the last couple of years.
Our book club just read Wild Dark Shore and everyone loved it. We read Frozen River a few months ago really enjoyed it, as well.
Being almost 80 it is fun to read the Richard Osman The Thursday Murder Club books. I am waiting for book 5. It is about 4 elder retired 2 men and 2 women living in a retirement home and solving murders. It is a lot of fun to read.
Wild Dark Shore for sure!!! It’s beautiful.
Glad the kids are enjoying Summer! Is your son holding a tennis racquet or Pickleball paddle? Blueberry scones are the best!
Tennis racquet! :)
Oh please read Broken Country
You won’t be disappointed!
James Clear comment is oh, so true .
Nike summed it up years ago—-
Just do it! 🤣
Happy weekend. Savor the last summer weeks.
A fabulous book to add to your list is ‘Frozen River’ by Ariel Lawhon. It will pull you in from the start-I LOVED it!
YES! I read it earlier this year and thought it was phenomenal, one of my all-time favorites!