26 Comments
Jul 3·edited Jul 3Liked by Steph

Hooray, just borrowed Blue Sisters from the library and looking forward to getting into it. I recently read The Age of Magical Overthinking too and felt it bit off more than it could chew, but who cares. It was fun and as you say, entirely readable.

Expand full comment
author

lol so true, sometimes you just have to take a book as it is and move on. Hope you enjoy blue sisters!!

Expand full comment

Intrigue re Chlorine!!! I kinda hate YA so… I look forward to a more in depth essay from you on it - thanks for doing me a service and reading it for me 🫡

Also June Music was just Troye/chappell/charli rotation. I’m not sure what I used to listen to before all their latest albums lmao?

Expand full comment
author

Any time 🫡 I’ll include pics from my swimming days as a treat because every book review is just an opportunity to talk about myself!

Also can’t believe I forgot Troye how embarrassing

Expand full comment

Wait I didn't know people found The Great Believers boring??? It hit me like a punch in the gut when I read it and even now, years later, I'll find myself thinking about it and getting misty-eyed over it every few months. 10/10 recommend The Heart's Invisible Furies btw.

Expand full comment
author

I could understand not liking it, but boring?! While there are tears streaming down my face?!

Expand full comment

The great believers is probably one of my favorite books! Sad that people found it boring (boooo) I bawled my eyes out at the end so so good

Expand full comment

Here to enable all your international book buying... Blackwell's ships free to the US from the UK. Au revoir, pricey international shipping fee!

Expand full comment
author

Ha yes, a few people have reminded me of that and I can’t believe I forgot!!

Expand full comment

Steph I love that I found you through that lit girl article! So glad it's got the love it deserves. I'm currently listening to the Amanda Montell book. I've read her others, and I 100% agree with your statement about how they're enjoyable by *not* focusing on being too academic. That conversational tone is exactly the sort of thing I love about these social topic books! Also feel the same about The Idea of You also; if I hadn't been so immersed in the book world when it first came out and the way the author heavily leaned into the Harry Styles thing to market it (which she's now saying isn't a thing), I would have enjoyed it a lot more).

Expand full comment

Oh, I cannot wait to hear what you think of the new Julia Armfield! I haven't taken the plunge to order the UK version yet. Also, you must got on the Blackwell's train...free shipping to the US!

Expand full comment

All I want for Christmas (in July) is for you to read The Book of Love by Kelly Link so we can discuss!! Also Codex by Lev Grossman.

Also how did I not know that Rebecca Makkai went to W&L? I’ve been intrigued by the Great Believers, putting it on my list!

Expand full comment

I also listened to Magical Overthinking and thought it was a fun read. I enjoyed the personal touches from the author even if I don't think her and I would be friends or anything ha. And thank you for the alert on Armfield's upcoming book--I looooved Our Wives Under the Sea as well. Thanks for the lovely round up!

Expand full comment

I picked up Blue Sisters whenI was on vacation in Europe last month. I kept seeing it everywhere! Just echoing what others have said -- Blackwell's offers free shipping to the US!

Expand full comment
author

I haven’t seen it in the wild much in the US but to be expected I guess! I wish I’d bought a copy IN Europe, how chic 🙂‍↕️ will never forget about blackwells again though lmao I’m so dumb

Expand full comment

100% yes to your comments on Glenn Powell. Is he good looking? Or am I attracted to the personality? I cannot tell.

Expand full comment
author

One of the great mysteries of our time

Expand full comment

Fyi Blackwells has free shipping to the US! Makes it way too tempting for me to buy the beautiful UK covers of every book on my wishlist 😅

Expand full comment
author

I’m not sure why I didn’t consider blackwells this time?! Clearly never noticed they had free shipping before 😭

Expand full comment

I read The Age of Magical Overthinking last month and loved it! I had no idea Amanda had haters lol - I think about her book Cultish all the time. Right now I’m reading Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker- Martin and loving it but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart!!

Expand full comment
author

I’m probably being dramatic by calling them haters lol it’s more just that I’ve noticed a lot of really consistent criticism, mainly about her credibility. So I’m just assuming there is a firm anti-Montell camp! I also enjoyed Cultish; I think you could say it wasn’t in-depth either but it was fun and accessible.

Expand full comment

Ahhh I can’t believe you just saw Moonlight! One of my all time favorites.

Expand full comment
author

Me neither 😭 embarrassing tbh but now it gets to be one of my favs too

Expand full comment

Starting Blue Sisters next 🙏🏾

Expand full comment
author

!!!!! Let me know immediately

Expand full comment
deletedJul 3
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
author

like watching a train wreck!

Expand full comment